What binoculars are best to start off with

[Amyb]

14 minutes ago, starnut said:

I have just bought the Celestron Skymaster 15 x 70 and tripod, the mount that comes with the Skymasters is only plastic so bought a alloy mount up to now well pleased

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151723712734?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152006933798?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121877936655?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

 

These are actually the ones I have been watching on eBay for a while before I asked advice on here because I liked the price lol. Thanks  

[Amyb]

14 minutes ago, gnomus said:

I'd certainly not go too 'heavy' on the magnification of the binos - you'll quickly get tired of holding them.  I bought a pair of these http://www.firstlightoptics.com/pentax-binoculars/pentax-sp-50mm-wp-binoculars.html and can recommend them (and the retailer).  Easy to find objects like the Pleiades and the Beehive cluster will look superb in binoculars (possibly better than they would in a scope).  Also the advice on getting something to hold the binoculars is sound - look at this link http://binocularsky.com/binoc_mount.php  I bought the trigger grip ball-head mentioned on that link.

Turn Left At Orion (already mentioned) is a great book to get.  Another is 'Nightwatch' http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nightwatch-Practical-Guide-Viewing-Universe/dp/0713679395/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458811091&sr=1-1&keywords=nightwatch.  These will help you find your way about the sky when outside.  (If you only get one I would suggest TLAO)

I am not sure I could be happy with just binos alone though and, if I had your budget, I would be torn between binos and something like - http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html - but I would check out the size of that before deciding if you can get fit it into your home/car.  

Under no circumstances be tempted to 'stick a camera' on the end of anything - that way lies much heartache and huge expense (I know from personal experience) 

Thank You for the links on binos.  I think I'm going to visit a specialist shop to check on out telescopes especially as  my car is tiny (ford KA lol). We are also going to the space centre again this Easter holidays, I know they sell some in there gift shop. I was adding camera to the list of things I would need ?

[Amyb]

22 minutes ago, Adrian Condon said:

Hi Amy,

You are getting lots of opinions and it must be confusing....

You are correct in opting for binoculars to start, they usually give the widest view across the sky. I have two binos, one 15x70 (tripod mounted) and a pair of 8x42 fromLeica (very expensive). You can get a good set of Binos 8x42 for around £150.

Which do I use the most.... answer 8x42 because I can hand hold them, they are lighter, clearer and can be used for birdwatching as well because they give a wide field of view. Given that you live in the Peterborough area there are plenty of places to see a great assortment of birds  and meet up with small groups of birdwatchers.

Next, most of the astro clubs are very welcoming groups, so approaching one and talking to the Secretary should help them to understand your needs and fears. 

You can see lots of equipment and find out from members the pros and cons of the various pieces of gear before you buy. ( a great benefit to the wallet! )

I agree with the comments from Olly above.

The book "Turn Left at Orion" is very good as it can be used with both binos and telescopes. There is another book called

"Observing the Night Sky with Binoculars" by Stephen James O'Meara 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stephen-James-OMearas-Observing-Night-Sky-Binoculars/dp/0521721709/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458809309&sr=1-1&keywords=observing+the+night+sky+with+binoculars

Going to a local astro shop is a great idea has they can show you lots of different options to suit your wallet.

Best of Luck......... 

Adrian

 

 

 

Yes! Lots of opinions are good though so I can kind of weigh up what people are saying and make the right choice for me without making mistakes and picking up useless things lol. I'm sure the Astro club would be very welcoming.  I am just not great with groups of people I don't know. I'm going to take another persons advice and go to an outdoor  observing session when the next date comes up as I would feel more comfortable watching people first (I'm not a stalker haha). Thanks for the advice  

[Knighty2112]

7 minutes ago, Amyb said:

These are actually the ones I have been watching on eBay for a while before I asked advice on here because I liked the price lol. Thanks  

I have these Celestron 15x70 binoculars, along with one other pair I use for astronomy (7x50 Marine Strathspey). And the Celestron 15x70's are used 90% of the time, with the Marine's filling in the other 10% of the time. Can see a heap load of DSO's much easier with my 15x70 than with some of my telescopes, and so much easier and faster to locate targets with. With a good dark site I think the 15x70 Celestron binos would excell even more, and they don't cost the earth either.  

[Amyb]

5 minutes ago, Knighty2112 said:

I have these Celestron 15x70 binoculars, along with one other pair I use for astronomy (7x50 Marine Strathspey). And the Celestron 15x70's are used 90% of the time, with the Marine's filling in the other 10% of the time. Can see a heap load of DSO's much easier with my 15x70 than with some of my telescopes, and so much easier and faster to locate targets with. With a good dark site I think the 15x70 Celestron binos would excell even more, and they don't cost the earth either.  

Thank you  

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

The Celestron Skymaster 15x70 is one of many variants of the United Optics BA-1. This was my first pair of bigger bins which I sent back immediately, because they arrived out of collimation and with some black gunk in the optical path. I got a new pair (different brand, sane optics), and these served me very well for many years. I took them to Australia and South Africa, and they were a great tool to scan the southern skies. Internal baffles mean they are effectively 15x63 or so. After I got myself a (much) better pair of 15x70s (Helios Apollo HD, a.k.a. United Optics BA-8) the old pair broke before I could give it to the kids. Having said that, they are still good value for money. I did get another pair for the kids, and my eldest likes them a lot. The youngest prefers the 7x50s.

I would certainly recommend these bins, but perhaps not as the first pair to get.

[rockystar]

2 hours ago, Amyb said:

Thanks I will add it to my list to buy  

Careful, it's a slippery slope ;-)

When I first started, my "to buy" list was very long, and it kept getting longer and longer, but I soon realised that I actually didn't need most of the stuff on my list and it gradually got removed. So make sure you make a start first, and then decide what you think you might need or could be useful because you have some experience, and not just what others have stated. As you have seen, there are lots of thoughts and opinions, so you need to find what is right for you.

My list has started growing again. +1 for Turn Left At Orion, I still find it really a useful guide.

[Psychobilly]

I have bins from 6.5x32 to 25x100's and a couple of pairs of silly zooms picked up at a liquidation auction for next to nothing...

My fav bins for a casual astro observing are my Birding 8x42's...

I am in the market for some premium 70 or 80mm bins next...

Bins that suit one person don't necessarily suit another even at the premium end...

Peter...

 

 

 

[symesie04]

Tricky subject this one and is a lot to do with preference. Obviously quality of optics is always essential. A good set of low powered otpics would always be better than a low end set of powerfull optics. So obviously always try and get the best optics you can afford. But when it comes to what power then thats tricky and is really a personal taste thing. Many observers will have a scope and therefore like lower powered bins to get a nice wide view of things. And i must say viewing the myriad of star colours sparkling away in wide field of low powered bins is a joy. And of course the Moon always looks amazing in mid powered bins. But obviously if the bins are going to be your only viewing device then higher power maybe the option. But keep in mind even the likes of Jupiter will never be much more than a small bright disk in most but the most powerful bins although you should be able to see several of its moons in the field of view. But as me mentioned it really would be worthwhile trying to get to a club or star party and trying some first hand to see what your preferences are. Also imho you would be better off not buying bins from bird sanctuary or observatories etc as you really could buy them elsewhere cheaper.

[glowjet]

Amy, the subject you raised has drawn a lot of attention and a wealth of advice. Quite a few, following the recommendation of purchasing binoculars before a scope, have become accustomed too and entirely satisfied with, the ease of just using bins, without wanting to extend the power range of their observation and invest in a telescope. The wide field views obtainable through binoculars are a delight, you can even extend your observing to such diverse objects as chasing Comets, as their brightness increases to allow them to become visible to low powered optics.  Make a note of Chris Peat`s web site " Heavens Above " for such details in the future.

From a very dark site ( have binoculars will travel ) some of the brighter DSO will even become visible, quality of optics is also an advantage when going down this route. Whatever equipment you eventually choose, enjoy your Astronomy and the forum  

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

One more thought: After getting my 15x70 bins my 10x50 were used much less for astronomy, but still were much better for birding. I used them enough to warrant upgrading them (after 23 years of use) with a pair of 10x56 of better quality. Again, great birding bins, but I also use them for wider views in astronomy. The old 10x50s are now used by my eldest for birding. So even if you do decide to go for 15x70s later, the money spent on 8x42, 7x50, or 10x50 bins will not be wasted.

[Amyb]

Thanks all for your advice and tips. I think I'm going to go for 10x50 for now and see how they go.  Had my nephew staying over for a couple of days think I also made a star gazer out of him too . Will let you all know how I get on once the binoculars have been bought and used!! 

[ronin]

Not sure if this is of interest and equally someone may have already posted - just not going to read the previous 3 pages of replies. List of UK Astronomy Clubs:

http://www.astronomyclubs.co.uk/

There is a club in Peterborough:

http://www.peterborough-as.co.uk/

Seems they have a meeting April 7th, might be worth looking at them. Also clubs tend to taper off their meetings in the next couple of months, the clocks changing and the longer amount of daylight ofthen means that for 2 or 3 months of the year they do little.

For targets try things like Open and Globular Clusters, also easy double stars - Mizar and Alcor are the obvious in the Plough Handle.

[Amyb]

11 hours ago, ronin said:

Not sure if this is of interest and equally someone may have already posted - just not going to read the previous 3 pages of replies. List of UK Astronomy Clubs:

http://www.astronomyclubs.co.uk/

There is a club in Peterborough:

http://www.peterborough-as.co.uk/

Seems they have a meeting April 7th, might be worth looking at them. Also clubs tend to taper off their meetings in the next couple of months, the clocks changing and the longer amount of daylight ofthen means that for 2 or 3 months of the year they do little.

For targets try things like Open and Globular Clusters, also easy double stars - Mizar and Alcor are the obvious in the Plough Handle.

Hi. I'm going to try and make the next open observing session as I'm not good with new people and groups. Thanks for advice