70mm "Shootout", Part 2: Under the Stars

[Damo636]

Thanks for the great review Steve, the Lunt sounds excellent!

[trynda1701]

Keep us posted if you get better weather, Steve. It was clear for me about 2am into Friday morning, but I only managed 10 mins or so with the 10x50's thru the south facing bedroom window as I had a banging headache!

Mark

[BinocularSky]

Thanks for those links. I would really like to test the Lunt 16x70 and Opticron 16x80 side by side before making my decision.

It seems that I may soon have the opportunity to do just that. Be assured that I'll write it up!

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

It seems that I may soon have the opportunity to do just that. Be assured that I'll write it up!

Looking forward to that!

[pete_gamby]

They should be with you tomorrow Steve :-)

[BinocularSky]

They arrived a couple of hours ago, Pete!

First brief impression: classy!

[Psychobilly]

They arrived a couple of hours ago, Pete!

First brief impression: classy!

Was that looking at them , through them or both

Peter,,, (another one)

[BinocularSky]

Was that looking at them , through them or both

Mostly at, mainly because I was meant to be doing other things, but a little bit of "through", but only hand-held, which is really not a very good idea with this one!

[Charon]

A very interesting review, thank you.

[The Flinty Fox]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Helios-Apollo-15x70-High-Resolution-Binoculars-with-case-VGC-/391373746157?nav=SEARCH

There is this if anybody is interested.

[Patbloke]

14 hours ago, The Flinty Fox said:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Helios-Apollo-15x70-High-Resolution-Binoculars-with-case-VGC-/391373746157?nav=SEARCH

There is this if anybody is interested.

Oh yeeeees :-) 

[BinocularSky]

On 06/01/2016 at 14:25, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

Thanks for those links. I would really like to test the Lunt 16x70 and Opticron 16x80 side by side before making my decision. The Fuji is now definitely out of the picture

Sorry this has taken so long; I've have managed to get a lergy (possibly the legendary 'dreaded' one ) during the latest batch of decent weather. Had a brief play this morning, mostly in astro-twilight. First impressions: similar optical quality; could hold Io and Europa split (27 arcsec when I started observing) maybe a tad further out in the Lunt, but it was marginal. The larger aperture of the Opticron is noticeably brighter, maybe only 1/5 to 1/4  of a magnitude, but immediately obvious. The Opticron is only about 250g heavier so they are pretty much equivalent in weight. The Opticron also has nice touched like slightly extensible dew-shields on the objectives & twist-up eye-cups. It also mounts directly onto the tripod-head QR plate., so no adaptor needed. Seen below on Manfrotto 501 head.

 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Thanks! It looks like the Opticron has it.

[BinocularSky]

Hmm; thought I'd posted an image; trying again...

 

Opticron 16x80 on a Manfrotto 501 head.

 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Looks absolutely great. It might well appear on my wish list. It is actually 100 g lighter than the Helios Apollo 15x70 HD

[Damo636]

Thanks  Steve,  yet more temptation! 

 

[BinocularSky]

Played around a bit last night, comparing the Lunt with the Opticron. Nothing to choose between them where CA and stray light control (using the lunar limb for both). The Lunt is slightly better near the edge of the FoV, but there's not a lot in it and, given that the Opticron has a slightly larger FoV (4.3* vs 4.1*), there's even less in it!

Saw nothing to cause me to revise my previous opinion: if you're spending £500-ish on a binocular, if it's going to be your biggest one, get the Opticron; if not, consider the Lunt.

I'll try to get the full review write-up on the Opticron done next week.

[Psychobilly]

Thanks for taking the time to review these and post your findings... Although a bit of aperture fever has crept in with the Opticrons  so the thread title  needs tweaking

I was leaning towards the Lunts but the Opticrons might have just taken the lead...

Peter...

 

 

 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Very interesting. Thanks for the update!

[BinocularSky]

Full review of the 16x80 is now up. See

 

[Psychobilly]

Thanks for posting the link to the review Steve...  Hmmmm...

Peter...