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80mm Binoculars- Advice?


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Hi all, just after a bit of bino buying advice.

I've decided I want to get myself a pair of 80mm (or similar) binoculars, but I can't quite decide which ones (my budget is around £100).

I've been looking at the Celestron Skymaster 20x80s which, judging by the reviews, seems like one of the best pairs for the money.

However, I've recently spotted a 2nd hand pair of Opticron 30x80s (the ones without the balance bar, now discontinued) on sale. I've had a look at them, and they need a bit of collimation work, but they originally cost around the £300 mark, more than twice the current asking price.

So, do you think the latter pair would be that much better than the new celestrons, since they cost considerably more when they were new?

If anyone has any experience with the Opticrons, i would love to know your thoughts.

kind regards,

Harry 

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Hi all, just after a bit of bino buying advice.

I've decided I want to get myself a pair of 80mm (or similar) binoculars, but I can't quite decide which ones (my budget is around £100).

I've been looking at the Celestron Skymaster 20x80s which, judging by the reviews, seems like one of the best pairs for the money.

However, I've recently spotted a 2nd hand pair of Opticron 30x80s (the ones without the balance bar, now discontinued) on sale. I've had a look at them, and they need a bit of collimation work, but they originally cost around the £300 mark, more than twice the current asking price.

So, do you think the latter pair would be that much better than the new celestrons, since they cost considerably more when they were new?

If anyone has any experience with the Opticrons, i would love to know your thoughts.

kind regards,

Harry 

I've got a pair of 'Astro' 15x70's bought on reason that they were  'best buy', But I assure you, they are not best quality.  My only advice is, you'll get what you pay for, in regards for quality optics, but at the end of the day, its what satifies you that matters. I would suggest to try any brand of binocular  in the size you care to own, to see how they handle first. Once your satisfied, either buy them, or buy a 'quality' pair of repute.  My 15x70's get more use during the daylight now,  maybe I should un-install them from my signature for astronomy  use (MHO) .

I've had Helios Stellar 20x80's. I remember them being better (its been a long time) but Helios Apollo's are what I would look at maybe today, but possibly outside your price limit.

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I've got a pair of 'Astro' 15x70's bought on reason that they were  'best buy', But I assure you, they are not best quality.  My only advice is, you'll get what you pay for, in regards for quality optics, but at the end of the day, its what satifies you that matters. I would suggest to try any brand of binocular  in the size you care to own, to see how they handle first. Once your satisfied, either buy them, or buy a 'quality' pair of repute.  My 15x70's get more use during the daylight now,  maybe I should un-install them from my signature for astronomy  use (MHO) .

I've had Helios Stellar 20x80's. I remember them being better (its been a long time) but Helios Apollo's are what I would look at maybe today, but possibly outside your price limit.

Agreed the Rev Astros aren't great for planets, but for the money I've had a lot of fun with mine this past year (don't know about their QC but maybe I just got a nice pair). However, absolutely agree with you re getting what you pay for - mine will now be sold following a lucky buy (ie great price!) of Quantum 4s, which are much more contrasty and detailed (Apollo's my wallet can only dream about) but even so, the Astro's have been a good buy in terms of how much they have allowed me to see in a shoestring 12 months :)

Steve.

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I've got the 20x80 Celestrons, and I love them. Not great on planets (jupiter is a bright white light, with tiny specs for moons, Saturn is a slightly squashed bright white light). However, on the moon they're amazing. Andromeda looks fab too, as does the double cluster in Perseus. I've seen the whirlpool and pinwheel galaxies, M82 & M82, globular clusters (okay, bit as amazing as through the scope, but will good), dumbbell nebula, double stars (Alberio looks fab through em). I mainly use them to help locate objects before trying to find them with the scope.

Highly recommended ... but ... they are heavy, and you WILL need a tripod (and a fairly sturdy one at that!).

Kev

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I agree a pair of binoculars with collimation problems is not one to go for. I did once get a pair with such problems, but I got it for free from a camera store, so that was a deal I could not refuse. I fixed them fairly easily, and these old 7x50s are now much loved by my youngest son in particular.

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  • 2 weeks later...

thanks everyone for the advice! :)

i've now decided to steer clear of that 2nd hand pair (the collimation was dreadful, totally unusable as they were).

I'll probably go with the Celestrons.

I know I would get even better quality if i spent more money, but i'll only be using them for a bit of observing when my 200p is busy with imaging, so i can live with that.

thanks again for the help, been very useful (as always) :)

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I've not tried the Apollo's.  The Helios Stellars, as I recall were ok, but heavy. For me they were dual purpose, Aviation and Astronomy. They sold some time back. My Revelations are no better, and get more Aeronautical use  now than any astronomy use. I believe the Apollos are of a better quality, and price, as you'll see

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@charic

Oh, I know the Apollos are good. I managed to get to use the second pair on one night before I had to send them back (the central hinge kept slowly slipping when in use! :sad: ).

After getting my Heritage Flexitube 130P, I'm slowly saving up and awaiting FLO getting new stock in!. But seeing the 15x70 Stellar pair in the Astro Boot Bargain Zone got me thinking!

Mark

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How do these compare to the Apollo series?

Not nearly as good.. Assuming they are the same as when I owned one just over 10 yrs ago, they are similar sort of optical quality to the Q4, but in a more robust package. Also, if you are short-sighted, they may be completely unsuitable as eye-relief is poor, and there is very little "beyond infinity" focus-travel if you observe without specs.

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  • 3 months later...

hi again

i know this thread is a bit old now, but i was hoping some of you may be able to provide me with a little more advice. 

so, ive just got the Celestron Skymaster 20x80s (for Christmas). ive only had the chance to test them out during the daytime so far, and im generally quite pleased, but there's one thing that's really bugging me. 

Basically, i'm not able to use them at all with the eye cups up! For my eyes to be close enough to the eyepiece lenses to see the whole field of view, i need to push the bridge of my nose right into the eyecups, which is not only uncomfortable but aslo causes a lot of unnecessary shake when theyre on a tripod.

Its really annoying, and i was wondering whether anyone else has experienced this, or whether anyone could give me any advice?

I thought something like these ( http://www.aceoptics.co.uk/avian-eyeshield-winged-eyecups.html )  might work, but didnt know whether the celestron eye cups were removable or not (i dont want to end up riving them off and voiding the warrenty).

any help would be much appreciated :)

many thanks, Harry  

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harrythemartian.........i think you would still have a problem.  I don't see how, by   just changing the eyecups, your problem will be fixed?  If you can't get the full field of view with the cups extended, fold them down, if you can't get the full field of view with them folded down, then something else is wrong? Either the binoculars just  don't fit your face and/or  the eye relief is insufficient? The eyecups are just a shield for extraneous light sources and  the wind. I would try another pair of binoculars!

I bought some Nikon Extremes in 2014 and they didn't fit!   I sold them on and have been happier since with my 8x40s ( the new owner loves the Nikons ?) I've also come to my own conclusion that high powered binoculars are of no real use for MY astronomical  needs,  much  preferring low powered versions instead. My  150x -200 telescope  only just makes out the great red spot on Jupiter, from my light polluted observatory,  so what chance will my 15x70s have? They don't show ANY surface details, just a bright white disk ? The 15x70s  more often than not, just  get mounted  for daylight terrestrial  maritime and aeronautical use, thats why I don't list them in my signature anymore.

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hi charic, thanks for the reply :)

can get the full field of view when i fold them down, they work great when i do that. I just can't get close enough when they're up. Obviously it doesn't affect how the binoculars function, but it would be nice to be able to block out any stray light when I'm out stargazing with them (i live in a fairly urban area), plus they can help steady yours eyes a little.

I think i'll just try and fashion some sort of deflectors or light shields out of cardboard or something if i really need to.

thanks for the advice anyway, and merry Christmas :)

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........I see (excuse the pun!) The eyecups are oversized possibly, compared to other eyecups, 50mm as detailed here ( http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Celestron25x70SkyMaster-121.htm ) and the reviewer has the same issue as you, regarding having to bury  your face into the eyecups to get the full use of the eyecups.

In this situation,  it may be worth trying/experimenting with a shorter eyecup. I would hope that the place you bought your binoculars from, could  possibly try a spare / smaller sized eyecup on your behalf, and sell (or give ) you a replacement.

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Okay yeah, glad to know it's not just me.

I'll consider getting some different eyecups. Do you happen to know if the celestron ones are supposed to come off? I have tried pulling them and they sort of half come off, but they might be glued at one point.

Or does it not matter? Do seperately purchased cups fit over the existing ones?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Konusvue 20X80's are SUPERB for the money. They are nearly as good as my Vintage Celestron/Vixen MIJ 20x80's

I took them in on a trade and was shocked at the quality! Fully Rubber armored, good coatings and dead on collimation..

They are a tad heavy but you need a tripod anyway. Oh yes Water resistant. as well I give them a BIG thumbs up.

Better than the new Celestrons you mentioned.. and cost about the same.

your American Friend

Larry Duane,

English by Genetics, American by birth

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