Astronomy Binoculars

[horrekepp]

Hello,

I am thinking of buying a pair of binoculars for my wife but I'm not sure which ones to get.

Does the brand make any difference? Is a Zeiss just as good as a Nikon, a Yukon, an Oberwerk or any other make out there?

I have been doing some research but have not found any advice on the brand.

I was thinking about getting the NIKON 10x56 Monarch but is it worth all that money or is there a cheaper model that is better?

I'm thinking that since we live in a second floor flat with building all around, that they need to be quite portable but I also want them to be mountable on a tripod.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks,

Erik

[nytecam]

In Aldi yesterday [Sunday Dec 14] x10-30 x 60mm and x8-24 x 50 zoom bins both at £12.59 + 3yr warrentee. Had a peep through in store - looked a bit plasticky but otherwise ok and still plenty available in late afternoon. Zooms are a bit gimicky.

Today [Monday Dec 15] Lidl has Bresser 10x 50 bins for £12.70 + 5yr warrentee - probably of better quality than Aldi offer.

Good luck - if your not in the Leitz/ Nikon league

[nytecam]

Originally Posted by nytecam

In Aldi yesterday [Sunday Dec 14] x10-30 x 60mm and x8-24 x 50 zoom bins both at £12.59 + 3yr warrentee. Had a peep through in store - looked a bit plasticky but otherwise ok and still plenty available in late afternoon. Zooms are a bit gimicky.

Today [Monday Dec 15] Lidl has Bresser 10x 50 bins for £12.70 + 5yr warrentee - probably of better quality than Aldi offer.

Good luck - if your not in the Leitz/ Nikon league

Bought a pair of each bins for my grandsons and tested both pairs on the moon and Saturn in the dawn sky this morning. The Aldi 10-30x60 Traveller binos proved very poor and barely worth the money eg lots of false colour [chromatic aberration]; tiny angular view [almost tunnel vision!]; over-powerful zoom and insufficient movement of the adjustable eyepiece to get common focus. Got an immediate refund from Aldi.

The classic 10x50 Bresser binos are not Leitz but are streets-ahead in image quality over the Aldi with brighter pin-sharp wide-angle view and excellent accomodation for spectacle wearers too if need. Replaced the Aldi pairs with a 2nd Lidl Bresser pair for my other grandson - to avoid Xmas hassle

[squishy]

those bressers are fabulose! i got a pair from lidl today, and i'm astounded! £12! amazing

[nicolaj]

Hi,

I see this is a old tread but I'm getting my partner a membership to our local astrology society for Christmas and am wanting to get him a pair of binoculars to start him off as we are both total beginners I was wondering if anyone had any advice on which would be best? After reading this tread I am thinking of getting a pair of 10x50.

I found a site suggesting these ones Meade 10x50 binoculars with BAK4 prisms and fully coated optics, are they anygood or can someone suggest any others I should look at?

Thanks

[artdemole]

The 10x50 is just right for observation but needs support from shake.A tripod is necessary.Lidl Have a bargain on Thursday 15th December.BRESSER Spotting Scope 20-60 Magnification for outdoor viewing activities.Priced £29.99 each.Includes Table Top Tripod and carry case.Again,a full size sturdy tripod is advisable...aDm..Google Lidl and open up Lidls to see...

Did get Binos from scopesnskies

[Tringa]

I can't comment on the Meade binoculars but I think 10x magnification is about the limit for hand holding and even then when I use some 10x50s I like to rest then against something.

There is a temptation to go for very high magnification but anything above 10x is difficult to hold still and particularly for astronomy it makes no difference.

More important for astronomy is the amount of light the binoculars can gather and this is determined by the size of the object glass and bigger is better. However, a pair of binoculars with 80mm objectives will gather loads of light, but would be far too heavy to hand hold and would definitely need a tripod. This is also ignoring that they will be very expensive.

So a good compromise is something like 7x50, 8x50 or 10x50 all of which will show many more stars and objects than with the naked eye and can be used for terrestrial use too.

Dave

[nytecam]

In light gathering term [important for stargazing] don't underestimate a modest 10x50 binos - they collect x100 more light than the typical unaided eye's pupil of 5mm aperture.

To make a x100 jump from 10x50 binos would need a monster and unwieldy 500mm aperture scope that could weigh 1/4ton. Any binos are great and 10x50 a good compremise

[nicolaj]

Thanks for all your advice

I'll be having a look at the lidl site and probably purchase 1 of those for our wildlife spotting days as they seem to good to pass up.

Might still look at a pair of binoculars as we have access to several telescopes at the observatory I was thinking of getting them as a go between and possibly invest in a good quality telescope and tripod next year he gets into it

[artdemole]

Please let us know which one you purchased.Hope you make good use of the decided one.