Binocular recommendation req.

[Wilso]

Hi all,

My sister and brother in law are looking for a pair of binos that are good for both terrestrial and astronomical use as they do a lot of traveling and camping.

I've had a pair of Sonoma 10x50 binos that I've had for 25+ yrs now and have served me well.
They are fully coated lenses and are rubberised.
I'm not too sure as what to recommend as I've only ever had these.

Any other recommendations would be appreciated. (Mid price range)
Cheers

[baileys2611 (Simon Bailey)]

I use 15 x 70 for general and night viewing.

Bintel and Andrews Communications sell them - I have a preference to buy from Bintel.

https://www.bintel.com.au/product/ce...ymaster-15x70/
http://www.andrewscom.com.au/binoculars

Andrews also do a 12 - 36 x 70 zoom version which is in the right price range.

[OzEclipse (Joe Cali)]

These are all in the $110-$160 range and should be ok :

I looked into these recently

Olympus 10x50 DPS
NIKON BAA814SA ACULON A211 10X50 BINOCULARS
BUSHNELL 10X 50MM POWERVIEW BINOCULARS (131056)

These are about double, $200+, nitrogen filled anti fog etc
NIKON BAA663AA ACTION EX 10X50 CF BINOCULARS

Vixen 10x50 from Myastroshop are around $350

All very decent but not earth shattering eg not cheap Zeiss or Leica

Joe

[dannat (Daniel)]

imo 15x power is not a wise choice for hand holding, id stay away from zooms also, nikon aculon is basic, action extreme is good but cheaper online overseas. vixen is overpriced [can almost get overseas zeiss terra 10x42], pentax 10x50 is a good buy [bintel have 12x50 on ale @229], as is Nikon prostaff or monarch [higher price]
if this seler ships to Oz this a great buy https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bushnell-8x....c100041.m2061
want to give a more specific $ figure?

vanguard endeavour 10x42 is also a good buy, zen ray are good value binos

[Ausrock (Chris)]

Having received Celestron 15x70 binos for Xmas and only had a chance to use them tonight, I'd agree that hand held use can be frustrating and ideally a stable camera tripod would be a good addition.....the bino's come with an adaptor.

One thing I found was that I reduced the wobbles by changing my "grip".........most people hold bino's with thumb under and fingers over, for some reason I tried "cupping" my hands (including thumbs) around the sides of the bino's, the reduction in wobble was significant.

That said, for $159 from Aust., Geographic, they're bloody good value........due to trees at home, I'd never seen M42, we're up the coast for the weekend without visual obstructions and the wife and I have had a ball seeing things we can't see from home. She reckons it's one of the best pressies she's given me.

[ab1963 (Andrew)]

For hand held 7x is perfect and 8x is the limit IMO