Spotting Scope or Binoculars?

I have spent the last month in my garden (well, when there hasn't been cloud
cover) with a pair of old 7x50 binoculars and a starchart. Mainly finding my
way around the constellations, and roughly locating the Messier objects. I'm
in a light-polluted area so can't resolve much detail (I need to arrange a
trip to a dark site one of these days!)

At this point I want to get a new pair of binoculars or a spotting scope
(the 7x50's are borrowed) I've spent some time reading reviews and forums
looking for the best options for a new pair of binoculars - And I can't
decide between getting binoculars or a spotting scope. I've narrowed it down
to the following; (It's just coincidence that they're all Nikon - honest!)

- Nikon 12x50 Se cf binoculars (I assume these are Superior E) 780 euro
- Nikon 10x42 Se cf binoculars 720 euro
- Nikon spotting scope 80A
http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/news...ope80_e_00.htm 515 euro (with
20-60 zoom)

Binocular advantages:
Using 2 eyes, not one - how much difference does this really make?
Binocular astronomers love the Nikon Superiors!
Robust
General purpose use, take them anywhere
Easier to hold than a scope (?)

Scope advantages:
80mm aperture versus 50mm in the binoculars
20-60 zoom (don't know how useable the 60 zoom would be, wouldn't this give
a *very* small exit pupil?)
Robust, rubber coated
Can take various lenses, and possibly camera adapter (almost a small
refractor telescope)
Cost less (although not really a prob if the binocs would be a better
choice)

I haven't read much about scopes in this newsgroup. Do people generally
favour binoculars for astronomy? I've looked at Zeiss, Swarovski, and Leica
as well. Leica Trinovids are another option, although this would be pushing
the price up even more, and I think I'd be happy with the Nikon Superiors.
If you had 700 euro burning a hole in your pocket, which one would you buy?

One last question, what is 'eye relief' ? What effect does it have when
you're using a scope with poor eye relief?

Thanks,
John.

If your interest is astronomy then a spotting scope is not the right tool.
You'd be better off with a telescope. You can get a short tube telescope
for $199 and get both a 90 degree and 45 degree mirror, which will give you
a decent wide angle observing tool. It will also take higher powers than a
spotting scope.

Of the binoculars you are looking at - I'd say the 12x50SE would be the best
for astronomy although the 10x42 might be OK too. However, you'd need to
use a tripod with either of them. I prefer 7x50 for astronomy because I can
use it handheld.

Eye relief matters if you wear glasses. If you don't then it's not an
issue. Although sometimes I find long eye relief to be a bit of a pain
because I have to hold the glasses further away than I want to.


"John Honan" wrote in message
...
I have spent the last month in my garden (well, when there hasn't been
cloud
cover) with a pair of old 7x50 binoculars and a starchart. Mainly finding
my
way around the constellations, and roughly locating the Messier objects.
I'm
in a light-polluted area so can't resolve much detail (I need to arrange a
trip to a dark site one of these days!)

At this point I want to get a new pair of binoculars or a spotting scope
(the 7x50's are borrowed) I've spent some time reading reviews and forums
looking for the best options for a new pair of binoculars - And I can't
decide between getting binoculars or a spotting scope. I've narrowed it
down
to the following; (It's just coincidence that they're all Nikon - honest!)

- Nikon 12x50 Se cf binoculars (I assume these are Superior E) 780 euro
- Nikon 10x42 Se cf binoculars 720 euro
- Nikon spotting scope 80A
http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/news...ope80_e_00.htm 515 euro (with
20-60 zoom)

Binocular advantages:
Using 2 eyes, not one - how much difference does this really make?
Binocular astronomers love the Nikon Superiors!
Robust
General purpose use, take them anywhere
Easier to hold than a scope (?)

Scope advantages:
80mm aperture versus 50mm in the binoculars
20-60 zoom (don't know how useable the 60 zoom would be, wouldn't this
give
a *very* small exit pupil?)
Robust, rubber coated
Can take various lenses, and possibly camera adapter (almost a small
refractor telescope)
Cost less (although not really a prob if the binocs would be a better
choice)

I haven't read much about scopes in this newsgroup. Do people generally
favour binoculars for astronomy? I've looked at Zeiss, Swarovski, and
Leica
as well. Leica Trinovids are another option, although this would be
pushing
the price up even more, and I think I'd be happy with the Nikon Superiors.
If you had 700 euro burning a hole in your pocket, which one would you
buy?

One last question, what is 'eye relief' ? What effect does it have when
you're using a scope with poor eye relief?

Thanks,
John.

If you had 700 euro burning a hole in your pocket, which one would you buy?

I would buy a decent quality Astroscope, something that is big enough to do
some real damage to the Messier list and I also buy an decent pair of
binoculars, nothing fancy, probably 100 Euro's or so.

When it comes to astronomy, aperture is king. An 8 or 10 inch scope under
urban skies will show more detail of most deep sky objects than the best 80mm
refractor will in a dark sky spot.

Before you make a purchase, try to find a local astronomy club nearby and get a
look through some scopes that the night sky.

Make a decision based on some first hand experience..

Thats what I'd do.

jon

I have a very low opinion of binoculars after owning a pair of very good
ones. They are too heavy to hand-hold steady for any length of time. Your
arms will tire more quickly than you can believe. Eventually you will come
to the conclusion that you need a tripod.

Using tripod mounted binoculars are a pain as well since viewing near the
zenith is a contortionist's nightmare.

After going through the hassle of mounting my binos, I came to the
conclusion that a small grab'n go scope, like my 4" refractor was more
desirable by far, since I'm going to mount it anyway.

Now I can sweep the star fields at low power or look at mars at 200X. You
can't do that with binos!




"John Honan" wrote in message
...
I have spent the last month in my garden (well, when there hasn't been
cloud
cover) with a pair of old 7x50 binoculars and a starchart. Mainly finding
my
way around the constellations, and roughly locating the Messier objects.
I'm
in a light-polluted area so can't resolve much detail (I need to arrange a
trip to a dark site one of these days!)

At this point I want to get a new pair of binoculars or a spotting scope
(the 7x50's are borrowed) I've spent some time reading reviews and forums
looking for the best options for a new pair of binoculars - And I can't
decide between getting binoculars or a spotting scope. I've narrowed it
down
to the following; (It's just coincidence that they're all Nikon - honest!)

- Nikon 12x50 Se cf binoculars (I assume these are Superior E) 780 euro
- Nikon 10x42 Se cf binoculars 720 euro
- Nikon spotting scope 80A
http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/news...ope80_e_00.htm 515 euro (with
20-60 zoom)

Binocular advantages:
Using 2 eyes, not one - how much difference does this really make?
Binocular astronomers love the Nikon Superiors!
Robust
General purpose use, take them anywhere
Easier to hold than a scope (?)

Scope advantages:
80mm aperture versus 50mm in the binoculars
20-60 zoom (don't know how useable the 60 zoom would be, wouldn't this
give
a *very* small exit pupil?)
Robust, rubber coated
Can take various lenses, and possibly camera adapter (almost a small
refractor telescope)
Cost less (although not really a prob if the binocs would be a better
choice)

I haven't read much about scopes in this newsgroup. Do people generally
favour binoculars for astronomy? I've looked at Zeiss, Swarovski, and
Leica
as well. Leica Trinovids are another option, although this would be
pushing
the price up even more, and I think I'd be happy with the Nikon Superiors.
If you had 700 euro burning a hole in your pocket, which one would you
buy?

One last question, what is 'eye relief' ? What effect does it have when
you're using a scope with poor eye relief?

Thanks,
John.

Jim wrote:
I have a very low opinion of binoculars after owning a pair of very good
ones. They are too heavy to hand-hold steady for any length of time. Your
arms will tire more quickly than you can believe. Eventually you will come
to the conclusion that you need a tripod.

Using tripod mounted binoculars are a pain as well since viewing near the
zenith is a contortionist's nightmare.


The real answer with binos is a parallelogram mount. My Unimount makes
using binos a real joy. And I can mount a spotting scope or camera on
it equally well.

Phil

On 2003-09-18 11:28 +0900, Phil Wheeler wrote:

The real answer with binos is a parallelogram mount. My Unimount makes

No, the real answer is a Starchair TM 3000!

http://www.starchair.com/

;^)

trane
--
//------------------------------------------------------------
// Trane Francks Tokyo, Japan
// Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.
// http://mp3.com/trane_francks/

Trane Francks wrote:
On 2003-09-18 11:28 +0900, Phil Wheeler wrote:

The real answer with binos is a parallelogram mount. My Unimount makes


No, the real answer is a Starchair TM 3000!

http://www.starchair.com/

At $4650, you might as well buy the big JMI 6" binos at $4000!

My Unimount was under $500, including the really nice surveyor's tripod.
And is quite portable (the Starchair looks pretty bulky and heavy).
And I can use any chair.

Phil

One more point. If you go for the binoculars, you've caught on by now
that using them on a mount, if you choose to do so, can be a problem. I
usually hand hold mine, and feel that that's one of the big advantages
of binoculars, but more detail in DSOs etc. does pop out with a steady
mount. If you go for a plain old tripod with a binocular adapter, get a
HUGE one. If you can't stand up straight and look up into your binocs,
you'll be so uncomfortable that you won't benefit from the added
steadiness. Even with a gigantic tripod, you won't be able to get up
toward the zenith. Since money was an object for my choice, I watched
ebay until an enormous but ugly old tripod, (an old Davidson "Star D")
went by for 5 bucks. I have a rather tall binocular adapter too, and
although I'm about an even 6 feet, I can crank everything all the way
up, tilt the pan head back, and look up to about two thirds of the way
up to the zenith. Fancier mounts would be better, but this ain't bad
for CHEAP.
Marty

Myself I would pick binoculars.
You can use the Binoculars anytime you want. They are hand holdable,
if you get something under around 10x. They do not need a tripod. You
can use them to scan the heavens, watch whales, birds or to see what
your neighbor is up to ;-)

You would never be sorry if you got a GOOD pair of binoculars.

Kruger

You would never be sorry if you got a GOOD pair of binoculars.

Kruger


A decent pair of binoculars is a nice thing but anyway you cut the cake,
binoculars are limited. A pair of $100 10x50's will provide some nice views
and there will be enough left to buy a scope that can dial in the planets and
DSO's.

jon isaacs