New 10x50 vs 8x56 test

[Mandrew]

I have had a very nice pair of Orion Ultraview 10x50 Binos for some time. I have Parkinson's, and sometimes have a problem holding them steady. 10x can be a problem anyway. I got a new pair of Oberwerk 8x56lw's to try. In comparisons between these two, I am going to start recommending new people to go with the 8x56 instead. the extra 6mm of light grasp seems to more than compensate for 8x instead of 10x. Weight is not much different, FOV about the same. When I put them both on a tripod, the 8x56 has the edge in image clarity. You can just see better anyway when you can hold something steadier. This are my two cents worth. No more 10x50 for me.

[Bigzmey]

You must have pretty dark sky. For me the views in 8x56 would be too washed out to enjoy.

[pakarinen]

Interesting! As I mentioned elsewhere, DW wants a pair of binos and I was considering giving her my 10x50 Aculons and getting some kind of Obies.

I have a nerve / muscle problem in my right shoulder, so holding steady without a tripod is problematic for me also.

I am in heavy LP in the Chicago burbs though.

[mikemarotta]

I have had a very nice pair of Orion Ultraview 10x50 Binos for some time. I have Parkinson's, and sometimes have a problem holding them steady.

Sorry to hear that. (No one is getting any younger here.) Myself, not being otherwise disadvantaged, I find that holding steady is always a challenge when viewing the night sky, even the Moon. I am looking at adjustable monopods before thinking about a tripod for my binoculars. I only use them as adjuncts to the telescope. But mine are Bushnell 12x42 and give a good view. So, I want to get the most out of using them.

[Bigzmey]

I find photo tripods too restricting for binos and feel that monopod is the best way to go with apertures up to 15x70. You can deploy monopod from any position, seating, standing, reclining. This is the one I like

SLIK Lighty Pod III

[Bigzmey]

Interesting! As I mentioned elsewhere, DW wants a pair of binos and I was considering giving her my 10x50 Aculons and getting some kind of Obies.

I have a nerve / muscle problem in my right shoulder, so holding steady without a tripod is problematic for me also.

I am in heavy LP in the Chicago burbs though.

From what I hear Aculons are good binos. I never tried them but nFA here seems to like them. I don't believe Oberwerk LW would be any improvement over Aculon.

On my side I would take Nikon Action EX over Oberwerk LW any day.

[pakarinen]

I find photo tripods too restricting for binos and feel that monopod is the best way to go with apertures up to 15x70. You can deploy monopod from any position, seating, standing, reclining. This is the one I like

SLIK Lighty Pod III

I have two monopods and they certainly help stabilize things. I prefer using a pan head on them though so I can adjust tilt to some extent rather than leaning way back for high altitude objects.

I dedicated last night to using my binos first on a monopod and then on a tripod (using the pan head on both) to see which worked better for me. I found the mono easier to maneuver, but I found using two extended legs of the tripod like a bipod to be the most steady and very easy to move around and aim. There is a weight difference of course, but not enough to matter much IMO. YMMV.

[Mandrew]

I don’t have dark skys, I live in a neighborhood with the usual streetlight problems.

[Bigzmey]

I don’t have dark skys, I live in a neighborhood with the usual streetlight problems.

In this case it might be the quality of binos. At one point I have purchased 8x42 Orion Ultraview but had to return it because of QC issue with one of the prisms.

[helicon]

Good luck with the 8x56's. I myself use my new tripod on both my 15x70's and 25x100's. I was hand holding the 15x70's for a couple of years. Other than that, I hand hold my pair of 10x50's.