TheSkySearchers

Thanks for that pakarinen.

I'll wait until I've got as much information as possible first, then I can seriously start looking at particular models of binoculars to go for.

I have posted this elsewhere and I do not want to stray too far off the main topic, but I use the "observatory" below with binoculars. Got it on sale for $10.

Well, I've still not yet made a final decision as to which size binoculars to go for :sigh:

I keep changing my mind with every new comment that gets posted here

Many bino users have more than one pair. Some binoholics have a dozen or more. If you buy a good quality pair, you can always sell them later if you want.

pakarinen wrote: ↑Thu Sep 10, 2020 12:28 pm Many bino users have more than one pair. Some binoholics have a dozen or more. If you buy a good quality pair, you can always sell them later if you want.

That's one solution I suppose Olen

[mention]Butterfly Maiden[/mention]
Since you already own a very good 8X32 Leica for daytime use, the most important goal for the second one is astronomy. The 10X50's are very well suited for common astronomical use.
I'd say a good pair of 10X50 lasts a lifetime. ( like my good old Jena). It sure comes outdoor more frequently at night then my bigger ones. No tripod necessary if you don't want it.

A 15X70 is a surplus, a little extra, not a necessity. Sure, a good one shows a bit more deepsky. But If I read well that is not you primary goal. Moreover a 15X70 has more issues, like the necessity of a tripod and a smaller field of view, which makes searching for targets more difficult. You already experienced a economical 15X70 for a short while, and you didn't like it. So, I would'nt start with it.

A good 10X50 is almost a lifetime investment. In future a second pair of astro- binoculars is always possible.

John Baars wrote: ↑Thu Sep 10, 2020 1:56 pm @Butterfly Maiden
Since you already own a very good 8X32 Leica for daytime use, the most important goal for the second one is astronomy. The 10X50's are very well suited for common astronomical use.
I'd say a good pair of 10X50 lasts a lifetime. ( like my good old Jena). It sure comes outdoor more frequently at night then my bigger ones. No tripod necessary if you don't want it.

A 15X70 is a surplus, a little extra, not a necessity. Sure, a good one shows a bit more deepsky. But If I read well that is not you primary goal. Moreover a 15X70 has more issues, like the necessity of a tripod and a smaller field of view, which makes searching for targets more difficult. You already experienced a economical 15X70 for a short while, and you didn't like it. So, I would'nt start with it.

A good 10X50 is almost a lifetime investment. In future a second pair of binoculars is always possible.

Thank you John.

I think I am now going to stick with my first inclination which was towards the 10x50s, as your explanation has pretty much tipped the balance towards them

Now that I've decided on the size, I can start doing some research on model and price. That will probably be a lot tougher though, but I think the guideline for me will be to get the best I can afford.

I'll probably post a few from my short-list when I get one, just to get some opinions before committing to a purchase.

Of course, in the meantime I would appreciate any suggestions to get me going

Butterfly maiden:

My 7x50 binoculars are good for a while hand held, but great on a tripod.

I Just got my Oberwerk 10x50 deluxe. Outstanding!

After a bit of research, I ended up at our trusted Amazon.co.uk website and reviewed a pair of Olympus binoculars, 10x50 DPS-1.

This is the item - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-Binocu ... id=1083928

I wasn't looking to pay an awful lot for them, and these seemed like a good price. All of the reviews were good too.

I ordered them yesterday and they arrived this afternoon.

I've done a basic setup of them from our garden and I'm very impressed with the clarity of the optics.

They're not really heavy either, so should be good for holding by hand to view the sky.

Once I've had chance to do some stargazing with them I'll come back to this thread with a short report.

[mention]Butterfly Maiden[/mention] Well done!
We look forward to your report of first light!

I finally got chance to go outside and test my binoculars at the night sky.

The wind had died down quite a bit, but it was still quite tricky to hold them still.

The report won’t be very technical I’m afraid, but I’ll try my best.

I’d set out a plan of where I wanted to start, and to then go from there.

I started at 9.15pm from my back garden, with a perfectly clear dark sky, scanning North, Northeast and Northwest. The easiest starting point was Ursa Minor, and using my Planisphere I tried to identify the stars and constellations around it.

I did struggle a bit trying to form the patterns of the constellations, but that wasn’t due to the performance of the binoculars, but more from my lack of experience in identification.

The square of Pegasus was another recognisable point of reference to extend from. Between Ursa Minor and Pegasus, I think I also worked out Cassiopeia and Andromeda.

There were many others visible but they will take longer to identify.

I didn’t go planet searching on this occasion.

Overall, I am very impressed with the binoculars. Not too heavy to handhold for quite a while, and I can’t fault the quality of the optics. I would definitely recommend them.

In conclusion, not a very thorough report but my main purpose was to test the optics. Learning more about the sky will come in time.

Great!
That was a nice and useful first light!
Good you like your binoculars.
You don't have to apologize..we all started like this, even the most experienced ones. We all know how that was.. so welcome to the observers' club!
Thanks for your report!!

John Baars wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 10:34 pm Great!
That was a nice and useful first light!
Good you like your binoculars.
You don't have to apologize..we all started like this, even the most experienced ones. We all know how that was.. so welcome to the observers' club!
Thanks for your report!!

Thank you John

I know that most of you here are light-years ahead of me in experience (pun intended), but a lot of the fun is in the learning

I may not get the identifications right every time, but I have my starting point now and branch out from there to ID other objects on my viewing sessions.

Butterfly Maiden wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 9:07 pm I finally got chance to go outside and test my binoculars at the night sky.

Excellent first time out report!

I wouldn't worry too much about not knowing the constellations so far. Your mind map of them will grow. You already have Ursa Minor to Cassiopeia to the square of Pegasus!

Regards

Graeme

IIRC, the winter constellations were easier for me to learn than spring and fall. You're doing well.

A little trick is to look for patterns and shapes to help find your way around. For example, if you follow the "arc" of the Big Dipper's (Plough) handle, you'll come to ARCturus in Bootes. Follow it farther and you'll come to Spica in Virgo. (Assuming everything's above the horizon of course.) Enjoy!

What a fun evening Vanessa. Being able to figure out some of the constellations is always very enjoyable. As time passes, your familiarity only continues to grow, and your observing experiences will only get better. Keep up the good work.

helicon wrote: ↑Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:54 pm What a fun evening Vanessa. Being able to figure out some of the constellations is always very enjoyable. As time passes, your familiarity only continues to grow, and your observing experiences will only get better. Keep up the good work.

Thank you Michael.

It's a hobby you can do at your own pace, with no rush to achieve results.

My method is to go out when I feel like it and just look around. I haven't set any goals to view a certain number of objects and tick them off as I find them.

A casual observer is what you could call me

I need to obtain a second pair so I can contemplate this question. :Think: I have a BT-100 but I’m thinking I may want a compact portable pair like the Oberwerk 8x40 Mariner or the 8x42 Sport HD..........that would be for those 20 degree winter nights when I just want to run out in the yard for 5 minutes. (or less )

I recently replaced my old Orion 10x50 binos with a pair of Nikon Action EX 10x50. These have fantastic, clear, high contrast optics. Excellent stellar images with great clarity until you get near the edges, as expected.

I use these for hunting, as well as astronomy, and I highly recommend them.