Bruce's Binocular Astromomy home page: An appropriate pair of binoculars can be one of the most fun, and most affordable ways to enjoy astronomy! A pair of binoculars like the 10x50's above can be your best introduction to astronomy, and need never be left at home due to lack of space, or lack to energy to pack around a telescope and tripod. The super-wide but sharp field of view on these Swift Kestrels (about 70 degrees apparent field) lead to a wonderful Nagler-like spacewalk type of viewing pleasure! In my experience, 10x50s are definitely the best all-around choice for a hand-holdable astronomy binocular.... My current 10x50 is a somewhat rare (and now discontinued) model by Pentax. If you can find one, get it! It is the Pentax PIF 10x50. It has a 65 degree apparent field, rubber armored, full multi-coatings, waterproof, very stoutly built--- but mostly it has an incredibly flat field with pinpoint images that you just gotta love for astronomy (it has aspherical lens elements in the eyepieces).
Astro Gear for Sale, including binoculars, click here: Sales
In search of a good local binocular or telescope repairman? If you are in the upper Willamette Valley, or the Vancouver area, you can take your gear in person to Jim Rose at Jim's Optical Service in Vancouver, Washington.... Jim got his first telescope when he was 13, and after nearly 40 years in the field of optical repair, he can do most anything, including helping you refurbish an old scope by machining needed parts in his own shop. Tell him Bruce sent you: Jim's Optical Service, phone 360-882-1853. Email him at JKRVANC@AOL.com
Binoculars on a tripod or monopod: When seaching for astro binoculars, be sure to buy a pair that includes a standard photo tripod adapter, and you'll be able to mount your binoculars on a solid support when you desire to really maximize on the considerable performance that a good pair of 10x50s can offer. (the tripod adapter screws into the gold dot on the center post of the above bincoulars. The amber filters mounted on the objective lenses of these are an aftermarket item, and serve to keep the optics clean, and really cut thru the haze and smoke during daylight conditions. At night, such filters will keep the dew from forming on your main optics. They are sold by Butler Creek scope caps in a number of different sizes, and a good place to purchase them is through Cabela's outfitters.
The Importance of Trying Before You Buy! There is no one "right" optical design, no one "right" ergonomic design; no one "right" prescription of any kind for a binocular that will be best for YOU, the individual user.
This was brought home to me recently when I visited Cabelas new store in Lacey, WA. Cabelas has a long-time history of being a major supplier of all sorts of binoculars and spotting scopes, including the ultra-premium brands that cost upwards of $1,000 each. My goal at Cabelas was to feast my eyes on the new and much-touted Zeiss Fluorite roof prism binoculars. ZEISS! Arguably the world's best brand, and in business longer than any other maker (since about 1856). For $1,600, how could I be anything but totally Wowed? The salespeople at Cabelas are very cooperative and freely let me try several of the top brands, including Zeiss, Swarovski, Nikon. The store has a superb indoor arena for viewing, where one can look out at their wildlife Mountain, which is around 100 yards away and well-lit, covered with beautifully-done specimens of big-game from all over North America. But I was soon crushed, I could not believe it. The Zeiss fluorites were a big disappointment; I really disliked their focusing mechanism, largely because it is so stiff; secondly, in side by side comparison with an old pair of Carl Zeiss Jena porro prism binoculars that I had brought in, I definitely liked the old porros' color rendition better than that of the new Zeiss! Among the binoculars on hand at Cabelas, my favorite for a compact all-arounder was the Swarovski 8x30 (not, no the newer, much-touted 8x32 EL). TRY BEFORE YOU BUY, and this holds especially true if your search is for an expensive, high-end binocular to last your lifetime. Here is a final example to drive home this point a little more--- the Leica ultra-premium roof prisms have for years been my favorites on many counts, and I would love to own a pair of the Leica 10x50s in particular--- but I continue to be stymied, because each time through the years that I have tested a pair of Leica roof prisms, they all have what to me is a major design flaw--- there is not enough focus travel for the binocular to reach infinity focus if I try to view without my glasses! (and this is how I prefer to view for astronomy). On the other hand, all the Swarovskis I have tested over the years easily reach focus with plenty to spare--- but the ONLY way to know this is to have actually held and tested the binocular! TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.