
Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
- scfahy
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Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars was created by scfahy
Ive been looking at a Couple of Binoculars on Telescope Express in Germany.
I have 5 double Sets of Eye Pieces from 9, 12, 15, 22, 30mm that I had with from a Bino Viewer, and I want to use these in a new Large Binoculars.
Are there any experienced people here with Large Binoculars that would have any advice when choosing one. Ive also been looking at a mount for the Binoculars and the one that came up was an Orion Parallelogram as being the most Stable for large Binoculars. Also would you go for a 45 or 90 Deg view Ive read that 45deg is more suitable for Landscape views and the 90deg for Zenith Astronomy Views. Here are two ive been looking at. Any advice appreciated. Most of my viewing is in my Back Garden
TS Optics 70mm App Binoculars with No Mount.
www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_inf...es-and-90--View.html
Vixen Binoculars BT81S with Fork Mount and Tripod Package
www.astroshop.eu/instruments/vixen-binoc...979#tab_bar_2_select
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- emo72
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Replied by emo72 on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
Into your thread. I've the exact same question looking for some advice on large binos. The 45 vs 90 degree question is one that vexes me.
Cheers
Emlyn.
How about the likes of this?
apm-telescopes-englisch.shopgate.com/item/333632373431
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- scfahy
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Replied by scfahy on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
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- emo72
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Replied by emo72 on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
Sorry I see the ones you are looking at in your post.
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- scfahy
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- Keith g
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Replied by Keith g on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
I also bought a berlebach wooden tripod and the APM fork mount to complete my set up.
Set up of this is a sinch, it takes me roughly 6-7 minutes, I bring out the tripod, attach the wooden plate sitting under the fork mount to hold the eyepieces and place the APM120's on top with two heavy duty screws. I then attach my LED finder on top and away I go.
The pros:
1. Easy set up time
2. Will take any eyepiece's to suit your views.1.25 inch barrels, spring loaded and locked
3. Superb optics, stars are pinsharp
4. Two eyes are better than one - period !
5. 90 degree or 45 degree - the choice is yours, I prefer 90, i find it gives greater access to the over all sky
6. Full alt-az control manually, smooth operation in both axes
7. These operate at f5.5, so are quite widefield, but also available in 70 to 100mm
The cons:
1. Are expensive, and need quality eyepieces to get the most from them
2. You need two eyepieces of same focal length
3. Binoculars are 10kg - if you want to call that heavy
I just wish I could bring them to a starparty to show you - once you look through these, you are Sold

www.apm-telescopes.de/en/binoculars/gian...m-aperture-more.html
I hope that this helps !
Keith..
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- Keith g
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- Super Giant
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Replied by Keith g on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars

Keith..
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- scfahy
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Replied by scfahy on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
Astroshop.eu are quoting €973 for these Binoculars so theyre a lot more expensive than the
Celestron SkyMaster Pro Series. Add in the Pargon + Parallelogam for €300 from Orion.
The Monster Orion Parallelogram is about €500+
I think this would be an excellent setup and If i really take to Binocular Observing I could
consider adding a Larger Binocular with facility to use my Double EyePiece sets in future.
Is there anyone in IFAS using these binoculars. Reviews on Cloudy Nghts have been pretty good.
www.skyatnightmagazine.com/reviews/binoc...on-16x70-binoculars/
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- scfahy
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Replied by scfahy on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
Thanks for the excellent review of your APM / 120 Binoculars. Id love to have a view through these special binoculars, hopefully not too distant future. I can only imaging the views through them as I think the views through my Nikon 8x42s handheld binoculars are pretty impressive for scanning the night sky. What are you primary observational Targets with these Binoculars, and whats your favorite Eye Piece size to use with these. If your ever thinking about selling them let us know, though i doubt youd part with these unless your looking for a larger setup where the sky seems to be the limit.
They look particularly well on the berlebach Tripod and APM Fork Mount. The 90Deg Viewing Eye Piece seem to be the most popular from reviews on Cloudy Nights as doesnt put so much strain on your neck looking down.
regards
Stephen
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- scfahy
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Replied by scfahy on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
Thank You.
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- Keith g
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Replied by Keith g on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars

I use the following eyepieces:
24mm - x28, 2.3 degree field of view
18mm (these are included with the purchase of these binos, I believe you will get these also with the 100mm and maybe the 82mm/70mm) x37 1.7 degree field of view
12.5mm - x53 1.2 degree field of view
9mm - x73 0.9 degree field of view
3-6mm zooms also
I would also certainly advocate getting the parrallogram mount, I have the Orion one since 2006 and reguarly use this with my 15x70mm's. These give me a 4 degree field of view. Their simplicity is their strength, set up time is about 5 minutes and very portable. If you are with someone else you don't even have to change the orientation of the mount as it can be brough up and down to suit anyone's height and still have the target in the field of view. Perfect for the likes of this week where the weather hasn't been great, and you have an hour or two of clear sky. Also they are much cheaper than the APM set up obviously, but hey check these out.
Keith..
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- scfahy
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Replied by scfahy on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
I. also purchased a copy of Phillips Stargazing with Binoculars and I also have an old copy of binocular Astronomy by Patrick Moore.
I know you could use Moon filters with your eyepieces but I read on Cloudy Nights that you can use a pair of Polaroid Sun glasses to do the same job reducing the moon's glare.
I'm going to do up an observation list from the books and keep a log of my observations.
I'd love.to have a view sometime through your APM binoculars, but that wont be for a while. Just need a clear night now to get out and do some observing and thanks agsin for your help
regards
Stephen
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- scfahy
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Replied by scfahy on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
Stephen.
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- Keith g
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Replied by Keith g on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
I have a link here for the gas giants on iphone if it helps:
apps.apple.com/us/app/gas-giants/id397831483
Keith.
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- scfahy
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Replied by scfahy on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
regards
Stephen
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- Keith g
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Replied by Keith g on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
One thing is to make sure the height of the binos are equivalent to your eyes. You won't go far wrong. Even after a while, you won't need star charts that much

Keith.
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- scfahy
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Replied by scfahy on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
Thank You
Stephen
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- RandomPillars
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Replied by RandomPillars on topic Advice on purchasing Large Binoculars
Enjoy!!
Sean
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