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Basic Binoculars for learning the ropes?

t0ny

By t0ny
in Discussions - Binoculars

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t0ny

t0ny

Posted
Posted

Hi,

So I have a range of entry level Astronomy gear (see signature), but I can't seem to polar align or navigate around the sky. What I desperately need is some 1-1 tuition, but that is not something I can find!

've come to the conclusion (2 years to late) that I should get a set binoculars and sit in the garden for a while to learn where stuff goes (perhaps including some bright DSOs?).

As I would only ever want these to be for hand-held use and from reading a bit online it looks like the best value for money would be a set of Porro-prism 10x50 Binoculars. Does this sound about right?

If so could anyone recommend some models, hopefully close to the £50 mark?

Thanks for any advice!

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ronin

ronin

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Very likely the best option are the 8x42's birding/nature binoculars they have become the most popular size and that will be down to their size, weight, coverage and price.

Also get a book that you follow/like as finding objects means knowing the constellations and then where to look in the constellation.

Concerning the mount are you a member of the Norwich Club ?

Someone there should be able to help and supply a few pointers if you were.

Equally if you are on the North side of Norwich and the night is wrong it could make it difficult.

Could check their site and see if they have a problem solving night on at some time.

I have Bushnell H2O's and find them good but they are over £50 and are a bit compact.

Check the charity shops, they can turn up binoculars at times, also I recently went looking for a monitor (mine went pop) and thinking the prices asked were a little silly compared to new (new=£66, used=£49) I happened to wander past and into a Cash Converters, got a very good one for £12.

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Al.Grant

Al.Grant

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Lots of good binos out there are some can cost almost as much as a scope ....

I used to have a pair of Celestron Skymaster 15x70  (until they got damaged - a 10' fall on to concrete!) they will give good views and should meet your budget.

My damaged ones were replaced with a pair of Celestron Skymaster 25x70 and get regular use, these are only a little above your budget.

For learning the sky I'd also suggest either a Planisphere and/or a copy of Turn Left at Orion  I found both of these to be really useful.

If it was a choice of one or the other then I'd go for the book as it will still be of use even when you're more familiar with the night sky.

There is a DIY Planishere on the Jodrell bank site here http://www.jodrellbank.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Make-a-planisphere.pdf

And you can get an online look at Turn Left at Orion here:  http://www.cambridge.org/features/turnleft/default.htm   But I'd suggest a copy of the spiral bound printed version, big pages & easy to read outside at night.

Cheers

       Al

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t0ny

t0ny

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Thanks for your replies everyone.

Very likely the best option are the 8x42's birding/nature binoculars they have become the most popular size and that will be down to their size, weight, coverage and price.

Also get a book that you follow/like as finding objects means knowing the constellations and then where to look in the constellation.

Concerning the mount are you a member of the Norwich Club ?

Someone there should be able to help and supply a few pointers if you were.

Equally if you are on the North side of Norwich and the night is wrong it could make it difficult.

Could check their site and see if they have a problem solving night on at some time.

I have Bushnell H2O's and find them good but they are over £50 and are a bit compact.

Check the charity shops, they can turn up binoculars at times, also I recently went looking for a monitor (mine went pop) and thinking the prices asked were a little silly compared to new (new=£66, used=£49) I happened to wander past and into a Cash Converters, got a very good one for £12.

I'm finally excepting I need to learn the sky rather than relying on my phone app(s). I'll grab a book!

I'm South Norfolk, close to the Seething Observatory and would like to join the Norwich Club, but having never been a member of an Astronomy Club I wondered how people would feel with me effectively turning up and asking for free basic tuition!? 
 

Lots of good binos out there are some can cost almost as much as a scope ....

I used to have a pair of Celestron Skymaster 15x70  (until they got damaged - a 10' fall on to concrete!) they will give good views and should meet your budget.

My damaged ones were replaced with a pair of Celestron Skymaster 25x70 and get regular use, these are only a little above your budget.

For learning the sky I'd also suggest either a Planisphere and/or a copy of Turn Left at Orion  I found both of these to be really useful.

If it was a choice of one or the other then I'd go for the book as it will still be of use even when you're more familiar with the night sky.

There is a DIY Planishere on the Jodrell bank site here http://www.jodrellbank.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Make-a-planisphere.pdf

And you can get an online look at Turn Left at Orion here:  http://www.cambridge.org/features/turnleft/default.htm   But I'd suggest a copy of the spiral bound printed version, big pages & easy to read outside at night.

Cheers

       Al

I have a digital copy of turn Left at Orion, but have never used it because like you say a book is better. I'll have to get a copy!

Would you say 15x70 is too heavy to hold for long periods? Whilst I would like the best view possible for my small outlay I want to be able to hold them steady which is why I though 10x50 tops?


Thanks again


 

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Al.Grant

Al.Grant

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Would you say 15x70 is too heavy to hold for long periods? Whilst I would like the best view possible for my small outlay I want to be able to hold them steady which is why I though 10x50 tops?

Thanks again

I didn't have too much of a problem with 15x70's at 1361g, especially when seated in a reclining garden chair.

They do come with a bracket to mount them on a tripod ..... the bracket is pretty rubbish!  It's a lightweight plastic thing that has lots of flex and movement in it.

There are metal ones available quite cheaply, but I didn't get one as I don't really use them mounted.

I also have a cheap pair of Bresser 10x50's  that stay in the car (Lidl were selling them at £14.99 a while ago - couldn't resist a pair!), to be honest I don't seem to hold those any steadier than the bigger celestrons, but that could just be me.

Al

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ghostdance

ghostdance

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The Revelation 15×70 are fairly light (comparing to my Quantums) but will benefit from a simple mount for 'long periods'. You can assist to a large degree by lying back, bracing etc. I think it was member binocularsky (Steve) who said that holding one objective with both hands also helps steady the view - and it does!

There's a cheap and effective neck support on Amazon (£10-£15 ish), to which you have to add the cost of a tripod mount (£10ish for a good metal one). I'll post a link in a bit.

But strictly in terms of *learning* your way around upstairs, I would not go beyond 10×50, and I think a wider 7 or 8×42/50 would be a better option. In terms of stability/weight it depends on the model tho - my Strathspey Marine 7×50s are heavier than my Helios 10×50!

Astroboot have the 11" Philips Planisphere at around £5 inc p&p - I'd get one AND Turn Left... There's something satisfyingly old skool about planispheres, no batteries and perfect for seeing how the constellations move and fit together!

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BinocularSky

BinocularSky

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I wondered how people would feel with me effectively turning up and asking for free basic tuition!? 

If it's anything like the clubs I belong to, they'll be delighted to help.

   Would you say 15x70 is too heavy to hold for long periods?

Yes

Whilst I would like the best view possible for my small outlay I want to be able to hold them steady which is why I though 10x50 tops?

10x50 if you can hold them steadily, otherwise go for 8x42 or 8x40.

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F15Rules

F15Rules

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+1 for 10x50 porros.

Anything Russian is likely to be good optically. You need SHARP optics, there's nothing worse than bloated stellar images! You want nice tight round points of light.

Look for Tento, Zomz, Sotem brands at around £30-£50 in good used condition. As good as Zeiss Jenoptems at one third of the price (they are clones of the latter, optically). Field not the widest but ok at 5-6 degrees.

Good luck!

Dave

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toilandtrouble123

toilandtrouble123

Posted
Posted

Got a nice pair of Prinzlux 10x50 Spacemasters off fleabay for £25.  Just a quick clean up with Baader Wonder Fluid and a lens cloth (probably hadn't been used since the 70's) and they were showing me the Pleides beautifully before the clouds rolled in and my back protesting (nothing to do with the weight or awkwardness of the bins, my body's just broken). A tip I got when looking around - charity shops and second hand markets (for anyone in Sussex viewing this thread, I found 3 pairs by accident in the North Laines in Brighton, AFTER I paid for the pair off eBay).  Good luck :)

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ghostdance

ghostdance

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Posted

The support thingy I mentioned:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003HIE116/ref=mp_s_a_1_92?qid=1429197012&sr=1-92π=AC_SX110_SY165&keywords=konig&dpPl=1&dpID=31V33zH-qKL&ref=plSrch

Good with 10× as well :)

Plus something like this (get an all metal one: sturdier):http://www.amazon.com/Barska-AF10546-BARSKA-Binocular-Adaptor/dp/B000BYH8EQ

HTH :)

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ghostdance

ghostdance

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Posted

Not sure "advocates" is the right word :grin: : surprisingly effective, but not nearly as nice as a monopod & trigger-grip :-)

Absolutely agree Steve! Monopod is better. But a nice alternative for travelling or shorter sessions. And I must thank Avtaram, who told me about these...

Note to self: must get around to getting a trigger grip! :)

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Chris

Chris

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Not sure "advocates" is the right word :grin: : surprisingly effective, but not nearly as nice as a monopod & trigger-grip :-)

Yes sorry, I probably made it sound like you were representing the product which you are of course not :D 

'Doesn't mind' probably would have been better :) 

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Stargazer33

Stargazer33

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Does anyone know anywhere that still has the Revelation 15x70 bins for sale? I've got a birthday coming up and I was hoping for a pair; but everywhere I look they are sold out and don't know when they will get more stock in. Must be the special offer price!

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t0ny

t0ny

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I think (for my meager outlay) I have found the following new models.
Some seem very cheap so are perhaps a waste of time, would be great to know if anyone has experience of them?

Helios Solana 10x50 (£29.99)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helios-10x50-Solana-Binoculars/dp/B00844VJ0O/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1429287822&sr=1-10&keywords=10x50+binoculars

Clestron Upclose G2 Porro 10x50 (£33.89)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-118760-Binocular-10x50-DPS-1/dp/B0000AKGX3/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1429287822&sr=1-1&keywords=10x50+binoculars

Opticon Asheric WAZWCF GA 8x42 (£55)

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/porroprism/opticron-aspheric-wa-zwcf-ga-8x40.html

Olympus DPS1 10x50 (£58.99)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-118760-Binocular-10x50-DPS-1/dp/B0000AKGX3/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1429287822&sr=1-1&keywords=10x50+binoculars

Helios Naturesport-Plus 10x50 (£79) 

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/helios/helios-naturesport-plus.html

Thanks,

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paulf

paulf

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I'm South Norfolk, close to the Seething Observatory and would like to join the Norwich Club, but having never been a member of an Astronomy Club I wondered how people would feel with me effectively turning up and asking for free basic tuition!? 

Don't worry Tony, we're a friendly bunch at NAS :) Come along one club night (Fridays) and have a chat. Membership is well worthwhile, plenty of people to help you out on clear Fridays. Membership info here by the way: http://www.norwichastro.org.uk/membership

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