Pop Quiz: 22x100 Obe's or 20x77 Miyauchis?

Here's a pop quiz for all you binocular nuts! Pretend you've got a "chit" for one (1) astronomy binocular thats cashable at your favourite bino store, so money is NOT an object. Problem is, they only have two models to choose from(!), the 22x100 Oberwerks and the 20x77 Miyauchi Exceeds with 30x eyepieces only!

Given that:

1) Optics are reasonably comparable (were not going to pick nits here, unless this assumption is dead wrong).

2) The 2 lb weight difference is not important because you already own a Bogen/Manfrotto 475B w/501 fluid head - just like mine! ;o)

3) The big advantage of the Oberwerks is their 3.3° FOV w/bigger aperture, but they only have straight-through eyepieces.

4) The big advantage of the Miyauchis is their 45° eyepieces, but they only have a narrow 2.2° FOV (with 30x eyepieces) and smaller aperture.

5) You only get 1 minute to make up your mind!

So, do you sacrifice FOV and aperture for 45° viewing comfort and power? Or do you insist on wider FOV and more aperture? Oh, and one of the conditions is that you can NEVER own any other binocular for as long as you live!

So, what say you all?

TIA!
Gary in Ontario

Give me the one I can change the eyepieces in.

edz

Go for the Miyauchis with the 45 degree offset. Save your neck. Also, the interchangeable EPs is another major factor.
-andy z

I would pick the Miyauchis.

Hey guys, thanks kindly for the responses! Just to explain my choice of 30x eyepieces for the Miyauchis, I REALLY dislike a narrow AFOV, and the 50° AFOV of the 20x Miyauchi's just won't cut it for me. Thats why IF I go for the Miyauchi's, the 30x eyepieces (66° AFOV) are a must and I doubt I'd every use the 20x eyepieces since they deliver almost the same FOV as the 20x eyepieces (though with a smaller exit pupil).

So this crowd is overwhelmingly in favour of the Miyauchi's! Frankly, I really thought more would have preferred the Oberwerks wider FOV and aperture advantage. Guess the 45° eyepieces are a real draw - not surprising, but it says a lot.

But I'm still not quite convinced. I recently tried a pair of 20x80 Oberwerks on my Bogen w/501 head and thought they worked quite well. Unfortunately they had to be sent back for replacment because of an optical fault. Then their replacements arrived in two pieces courtesy of USPS! So I'm reluctant to buy an unbraced pair of bigger binos, which is why I'm considering alternatives.

I still intend to give this a little more thought.

Thanks everyone!
Gary in Ontario