Why Binoculars? Touring the Universe Through Binoculars Binocular Astronomy - includes Wil Tirion's 10-map The Bright Star Atlas 2000.0 . This atlas plots practically every star visible with the naked eye plus hundreds of deep-sky objects. Tirion has also created 24 detailed finder charts plus a set of seasonal finder charts. Also included are 24 photographs (most are wide field) and 37 Tables. Sky Window (Binocular Mount)   Review - "This is simply the best way to use binoculars for astronomical observations. Why this didn't simply obsolete all other binoculars' mounts instantly upon appearing in the market, I don't know. It's so easy to use it takes all of 10 seconds to figure it out. By a simple glance at the reflected sky under the mounted binoculars, and a minor adjustment to the tilt of the mirror, it is easy to come close enough to centering a star that that star will be within the field of view. Some users add a Telrad or red-dot finder to their binoculars to make it easy to center the object they search. Other users attach a SkyPointer laser to point the way. Whereas these finders can help, I did not find a finder necessary at all". Binocular Reviews - Sadly, the lack of information on big binoculars and the uses for big binoculars (defined as any binocular 50mm or larger) is appalling. If you are thinking about buying a pair or wondering what you will or will not see, there are very few resources for you to draw upon to make your decision. We'll this page is dedicated to changing that. Binoculars: Reviews and ratings by consumers for consumers of Astronomy Some Exceptional Binoculars - adapted from OUTDOOR OPTICS by Leif J Robinson (Editor in Chief of Sky & Telescope) Lyon & Bruford, Publishers, New York 1989 QC373.B55R63 1990 681'.412--dc20 89-13770 CIP ISBN 1-55821-065-2 $13.95 © 1989 by Leif J. Robinson Mfg. Model EP TF ER CLF FOV WT LIST Notes (mm) (mm) (ft) (dg) (oz) ___________________________________________________________________________ Astronomy ___________________________________________________________________________ Fujinon FMTR-SX 7x50 7.0 18.7 23 7.5 49 829 PP,IF,A Nikon Prostar 7x50 7.0 18.7 15 7.3 52 1,058 PP,IF Astrolux 10x70 7.0 26.5 15 5.1 88 1,015 PP,IF Steiner 15x80 5.3 34.6 11 3.7 56 1,129 PP,IF,A Fujinon 25x150 6.0 61.2 17 2.7 970 11,000 PP,IF ___________________________________________________________________________ Bird-Watching ___________________________________________________________________________ B&L Elite 8x42+ 5.2 18.3 20 12 7.0 27 1,479 RP,CF Mirador 8x42ZCF 5.2 18.3 18 15 6.6 22 262 PP,CF B&L Discoverer 9x35 3.9 17.7 14 9 7.3 23 590 PP,CF Zeiss 10x40B+ 4.0 20.0 18 16 6.3 25 1,085 RP,CF ___________________________________________________________________________ Compact Binoculars ___________________________________________________________________________ B&L Custom 7x26 3.7 13.5 17 12 7.3 11 388 PP,CF Nikon Venturer II 8x23 2.9 13.6 10 16 6.3 9 132 PP,CF Travelite III 8x23 2.9 13.6 10 16 6.3 9 132 PP,CF Minolta 9x24 2.7 14.7 -- -- 5.7 11 166 PP,CF ___________________________________________________________________________ General Nature Study ___________________________________________________________________________ Zeiss 7x42B/GA 6.0 17.1 18 12 8.5 28 1,030 RP,CF,A Swift Audubon 8.5x44 5.2 19.3 15 15 8.2 29 375 PP,CF Leitz Trinovid 10x40B+ 4.0 20.0 13 22* 6.3 21 1,335 RP,CF ___________________________________________________________________________ Marine ___________________________________________________________________________ Swarovski SLC 7x30B 4.3 14.5 18 7.4 19 530 RP,CF Fujinon MTR-SX 7x50 7.0 18.7 17 7.5 49 600 PP,IF,A Fujinon FMTR-SX 7x50 7.0 18.7 17 7.5 49 829 PP,IF,A Steiner 8x30G 3.8 15.5 11 6.8 17 265 PP,IF,A EP Exit pupil diameter TF Twilight factor ER Eye relief CLF Close focus distance FOV Field if view diameter WT Weight LIST Manufacturers' suggested list price, 1989 PP Porro-prism design RP Roof-prism design IF Individual-focus eyepieces CF Center-focus eyepieces A Rubber armoring *After close-focus retrofit + Armored model also available     © Copyright 2007 - Samuel J. Wormley   by swormley1@gmail.com