Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
- AntennaGuy
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Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
I've been intrigued lately by reading advertisements for very low-power (~2x) but "wide field" (Galilean) binoculars, which include those made by Vixen, Kasai Trading, and a new one by Astro Hutech that I just saw advertised today. The optics in these are not just trivial 2-lens opera-glasses (see, for example, the essay at: https://agenaastro.com/vixen-kasai-review.html) but the prices are not so trivial either.
Examples:
https://agenaastro.com/vixen-2-1x42-sup ... cular.html
https://agenaastro.com/kasai-trading-wi ... -view.html
https://agenaastro.com/astro-hutech-hin ... cular.html
Does anyone on this forum have thoughts to offer on how useful these really are to have handy for general-purpose/recreational astronomy? I have a pair of conventional 10x50 binoculars already. But these little guys are supposed to give the user a sort-of super-eyesight effect, by being low power/wide-field and gathering a lot more light than the naked eye, so the sky appears more full of stars, but steady to look at. Anyone have one of these? And if so, was it worth it/would you buy it all over again?
Thanks.
* Celestron C6 SCT on a Twilight 1 Alt-Az mount
Prof. Barnhardt to Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still: "There are several thousand questions I'd like to ask you.”
- Lady Fraktor
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Re: Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
If you are ever over at AF.net they have posted reviews in the binocular forums
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- Ozman
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Re: Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
Oberwerk BT-82XL-ED, 25x100s, 15x70s, 8x56s, Kasai 2.3x40s, Celestron AVX, CG4, SLT, LCM
- DeanD
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Re: Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
I guess they do have a limited use: but if you like low power wide, sharp fields (without the shakes!) for Milky Way exploring like Ozman they are terrific.
I note that Kasai have upgraded theirs since I bought mine, so I suspect they will be even better.
All the best,
Dean
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
- Max Nomad
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Re: Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
I just order the Kasai Wide Field Binos from Agena. I consider this somewhere between an early birthday present and a rewarding myself for successfully pulling a client through a network disaster/recovery effort. Can't wait to use 'em...
- helicon
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Re: Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
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
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
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Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
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- OzEclipse
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Re: Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site : http://joe-cali.com/
Scopes: ATM 18" Dob, Vixen VC200L, ATM 6"f7, Stellarvue 102ED, Saxon ED80, WO M70 ED, Orion 102 Maksutov, ST80.
Mounts: Takahashi EM-200, iOptron iEQ45, Push dobsonian with Nexus DSC, three homemade EQ's.
Eyepieces: TV Naglers 31, 17, 12, 7; Denkmeier D21 & D14; Pentax XW10, XW5, Unitron 40mm Kellner, Meade Or 25,12
Cameras : Pentax K1, K5, K01, K10D / VIDEO CAMS : TacosBD, Lihmsec.
Cam/guider/controllers: Lacerta MGEN 3, SW Synguider, Simulation Curriculum SkyFi 3+Sky safari
Memberships Astronomical Association of Queensland; RASNZ Occultations Section; Single Exposure Milky Way Facebook Group (Moderator) (12k members), The Sky Searchers (moderator)
- Unitron48
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Re: Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
Dave
Stellarvue SVX127D
http://www.unitronhistory.com
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Albert Einstein
- ab1963
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Re: Are ~2x wide-field binoculars worth having?
DM4, Berlebach uni 28
Baader BBHS mirror 2''
Powermate 2x
Nagler 31, Ethos 21, Delos 17.3, Nikon Nav HW 17/14, Docter 12.5,SV Optimus 4.7
Swarovski 8x25CL Binos
Lumicon oiii, uhc 1.25''-Dgm/Omega H-b 2''
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