Who has what binoculars ?

[Ian Robinson]

Zeiss 20x65s ...1960s vintage .... they've had a hard life and are not too pretty looking now.

Unitron 20x80s ... very happy with them .

[sheeny (Al)]

Pentax 7x50s...late 80's vintage. Superb optics in their day, maybe not so sharp now but still good.

AOE 20x80s... great value for the money!

...and a cheapie set of 8x20s that ride everywhere in the glovebox...

Al.

[bindibadgi]

Nikon 10x50s, which I bought when the shop mislabelled them at about half the retail price.

[Dog Star (Phil)]

AOE 20 x80 mounted on an Optex PT765 tripod and a pair of cheap 8x40's manufactured by Siam Cat Optics?! Bought 'em from a hock shop 20 odd years ago and I still think they're a great little set of nokkies.

[Karlsson]

- Nikon Action 8x40 for the missus, whose IPD is only 53mm; this limits the choices
- Kunming BA8 10x50MS (aka AOE MX Ultra, etc, etc)
- Vixen Ark BR20×80WP, which I support on a monopod with a ballhead
and various other combinations that see little use

I had 2 sets of 7x50's (Vixen Ascot and Nikon Action), but I sold them a few weeks ago, as I had 'outgrown' their 7.1 mm exit pupils...

[AlexN]

Gerber 7x50
Nikon 10x50

[Liz]

Have recently bought a set of Andrews 11x70 - beautiful views, amazingly light, and not expensive, have been able to spot Comet Boattini easily each time.

[chris lewis]

I have a bout 40 binos in my current collection. My top 5x would be from [big to small] Oberwerk 100x 25 IF - great light gatherers with sharp contasty images. Horizon 15X80 - older Japanese assembled binos with Bak 4 / FMC's - built like a tank. Orion Resolux 15x70 - probably my best 'all round' binos, Nikon 10x56 Monarch’s – good quality roofs and my Carl Zeiss 10x50 Jenoptem WA – limited eye relief but just great optics. I have a large collection of 1960 – 1990 Japanese made binos – the best ones being - Canon 7x50, Ashai Pentax 10x50, Pentax PCF 111’s 12x50 and Yashica 7x50’s – these earlier Jap binos have excellent build and optical qualities - the main issues being limited eye relief.

[gmbfilter (Geoff)]

Gerber 7 x 50 had them for years
William Optic ED 10 X 50......have compared these to some other premium brands and will probably buy another pair to put in cupboard

[matt]

Pentax 10x50 PCF WPII

[koputai (Jason)]

Gerber 8x56, fully coated, 6 degree field, I love 'em.
I had to modify them though, as they, like most bino's couldn't close to my IPD of 55mm. I can see the Sculptor Galaxy with them here in suburban Sydney.

Cheers,
Jason.

[Suzy_A]

Carl Zeiss 7x40 NVA - 'Nationale Volks Armee'
Rubber armoured, water proof, InfraRed adapter. http://binofan.home.att.net/zjena7x40.htm
Bought them at a car park sale 10 years ago in Berlin for $95. Also a 8 x 50 Russian sniper's rifle scope - makes a great finder scope!

[beren]

Zeiss 7x50b marines, Fujinon 16x70s, Aoe 20x80s.......and a Universal astronomics unimount which makes observing from a reclining chair very relaxing

[WadeH (Wade)]

Three sets:

Nikon 8X21, mainly for bushwalking etc but useful for a quick skyward glance.

Saxon 10X50, The focusing leaves a little to be desired but hey, they were only $90. Good optics though. Great as finder binos and general use.

My pet and latest aquisition AOE 30X100. Just love this monster. Good optics and the view is great. Best of all quick to set up. Terrific on comets!!

Binoculars, wouldnt be without them!

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Andrews - 11x70 binoculars, great contrast and not too heavy at 1.6kg, only $129, great for a quick fix when I couldnt be bothered with the scope.

Chris

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Pentax 16x60 PCF WPII
This are a very great set of Bino's in a reclining chair.
I Carry a set of Bush Master 8x25 WPR binos most places.
I find these good for seeing bright but diffuse objects like the Triangulum Galaxy and for a quick peek at the night sky when traveling very light.