Buying bino

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Capt. Midnight
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Buying bino

#1

Post by Capt. Midnight »


How would this one be for general astro use?

https://www.binoculars.com/vortex-viper ... 131129.uts

Thanks
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Richard South Africa
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Re: Buying bino

#2

Post by Richard »


Nice but for me expensive but with this covid everything is getting costly
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Max Nomad United States of America
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Re: Buying bino

#3

Post by Max Nomad »


Capt. Midnight wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 3:42 pm How would this one be for general astro use?

https://www.binoculars.com/vortex-viper ... 131129.uts

Thanks
Before I spill any snarky remarks about how expensive those binoculars are, I should ask: is there a reason you're okay with spending that amount of money on that particular set of binos instead of a set with larger aperture or a telescope?
SKYWARE: "BANNEKER" (Orion XT8 Classic w/ 9x50 RACI), "SOJOURNER" (Celestron NexStar 90 GT), "HARRIET" (Celestron Travel Scope 70), "THE NIKES" (Nikon WP 10x50 ATB), "SPOTTER" (8x56 Celestron Skymaster DX), "HAWK" (9x60 Oberwerk LW) and "GOGGLES" (2.3x42 Kasai Wide Field). EPs: (1.25") Plossl 6mm, 8 to 24 Zoom, 25mm, 32mm, 2X Barlow, 3X Barlow. SOFTWARE: Android (Camera FV-5, Daff Moon, Sky Map, SkyPortal, Heavens Above), Linux (Cartes du Ciel, Stellarium, BOINC SETI), Windows (Celestia, Starry Night 7, TheSkyX, TUBA, Adobe CS5)
Capt. Midnight
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Re: Buying bino

#4

Post by Capt. Midnight »


You know, they struck me as kind of expensive also. But they only had one decent 10 X 50 that was cheaper, and it was about $250.
I saw the Vortex on a different website for the same price, although they did throw in some kind of fancy flashlight or something.
Someone recommended telescope.com , so I kind of trusted them.
And I have a telescope on order from them, but it’s back ordered. I figured I would keep the binocular in my truck, for impromptu viewing.
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Re: Buying bino

#5

Post by notFritzArgelander »


I use these regularly when I don't want to use a scope. There's an aspheric lens that makes the views sharp.

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-8248-ACULO ... 7578&psc=1
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: Buying bino

#6

Post by Ylem »


If you want ED glass, how about these;
https://www.telescope.com/Orion-GiantVi ... 130269.uts

Available in 16x a little cheaper.

Yes, you would need a photo tripod, but IMHO, that's a good price for ED glass.
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Re: Buying bino

#7

Post by Refractordude »


If you have room in your truck get this mount. Once out the truck it can be set up in a little more than a minute. This mount is good up to 20x80 binoculars.

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-P ... p/5379.uts

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Re: Buying bino

#8

Post by Refractordude »


Ylem wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:50 am If you want ED glass, how about these;
https://www.telescope.com/Orion-GiantVi ... 130269.uts

Available in 16x a little cheaper.

Yes, you would need a photo tripod, but IMHO, that's a good price for ED glass.
Did you order the Ed 20x80?
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Re: Buying bino

#9

Post by Ylem »


Refractordude wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 10:33 pm
Ylem wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:50 am If you want ED glass, how about these;
https://www.telescope.com/Orion-GiantVi ... 130269.uts

Available in 16x a little cheaper.

Yes, you would need a photo tripod, but IMHO, that's a good price for ED glass.
Did you order the Ed 20x80?
Not yet, I bought stupid tires for the stupid car lol.
Clear Skies,
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Re: Buying bino

#10

Post by pakarinen »


I have the 10x50 Aculons that nFA has. Very nice under dark skies and they're light weight.

Vortex gets good reviews but I think $550 for 10x50s is excessive.
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AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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Re: Buying bino

#11

Post by Bigzmey »


pakarinen wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 8:20 pm I have the 10x50 Aculons that nFA has. Very nice under dark skies and they're light weight.

Vortex gets good reviews but I think $550 for 10x50s is excessive.
I am a big fan of Nikon Action EX line



However, if having ED glass is a requirement the price will go up. My concerns about Vortex is that they have roof prism design. I believe those are more suitable for daytime viewing since more light is lost on prisms compared to the porro prism design.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
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Re: Buying bino

#12

Post by helicon »


Should be able to get a good pair for $100 or so. Not a top of the line model but plenty serviceable for astronomy.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
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Re: Buying bino

#13

Post by DeanD »


Sorry I didn't see this earlier.

If you are after astro binos and you are on a budget, there are heaps of cheaper alternatives on the same site as the Vortex you asked about.

I think one of the better ones in terms of value would be the Orion Resolux 10x50 at less than 1/2 the price. These are IF though, so not so good for day-time viewing.

Then of course there are the Nikon AE or Aculons as already suggested, and then a range of Orions, like the Scenix 10x50's for under $100.
Any of these would give nice to excellent astro views (but the cheaper you go, the less likely you are to have a wide "sweet spot" of sharp stars, and generally you will get a bit more CA as well).

The Vortex would also give excellent views, but I think the Resolux would be hard to beat. (These are a very good clone of the Fujinon FMT-SX's, probably the best 10x50 available until you get to the true "alpha's" like the Swaro EL's)

All the best,

Dean
Telescopes: 12" f5 dob, Celestron CPC800, 150mmf5 Celestron achro, Tak TSA102, TV76, ETX125...
Binos: Steiner Wildlife XP 10x26, Swarovski 8x30 Habicht, Zeiss SFL 8x40, Vanguard Endeavour 10.5x45, Fuji FMTR-SX 10x50, Tak 22x60, Orion Resolux 15x70
Eyepieces: way too many (is that possible?), but I do like my TV 32mm plossl, 13mm Nagler T6, 27mm Panoptic and 3-6mm Nagler zoom, plus Fujiyama 18mm and 25mm orthos and Tak 7.5mm LE
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Re: Buying bino

#14

Post by pakarinen »


I also have Orion 15x70 Giant Views. They're IF, but I like that better than CF. I've been quite happy with the GVs, but they are on the heavy side, so a tripod is a must except for short periods. YMMV.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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