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Binoculars For Eyeglass Wearers

Started by Chas Argent, 03/03/2003 03:02PM
Posted 03/03/2003 03:02PM Opening Post
Hi Folks-
I'm looking for a good pair of general astronomy binoculars & am an eyeglass wearer. Orion's Ultra-View 7 x 50s seem like they might do the trick, with 22mm of eye relief. But I'm also interested in the Nikon 7 x 50 Actions, which have 20mm eye relief-almost as good as the Orion. Any impressions of these-or other-binoculars? TIA,
Regards,
Chas Argent
Posted 03/03/2003 03:37PM #1
I have the 10x50 Ultraviews and they are great. I really like being able to use them in the daytime with my sunglasses on.

Charlie

Fort Lewis Observatory: (37.238, -108.052) ~2360m (7744 ft.) elevation.
Darkness - typically 6.5+
Scope - Meade 16" LX200; f6.3 focal reducer
Focus - JMI Smart focus
Camera - SBIG ST-10XE; (~.5"/pixel)
Guiding - AO-8 and/or Meade 5"/DSI/PHD
http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory
Posted 03/03/2003 03:41PM #2
Hi,

I've found that any binoculars with sliding eyecups will provide enough eye relief for glasses. A more pressing problem if your precription is not correcting to 20-20 or thereabouts, is the issue of diopter correction. Some binoculars are quite limited +/- 2 while others offer as much as 4 +/-.

I'm using Pentax 16x60's and find them to fit nicely...and they are a bargin. Others may comment that the FOV of 2.9 deg is tight, but on a cost benefit basis they are hard to beat. I would also look to Bugress Optical for their offerings. Bill Burgess is great and has quality stuff.

Good Luck, Pete
Posted 03/03/2003 04:07PM #3
Chech out bigbinoculars.com

I own a pair of Oberwerk 8x56's (2.25 lbs). The eye relief is 24mm and they come with fold down rubber eyecups. Their excellent general purpose astronomy binos and have great light transmission. Another option for you could be a pair of 11x56's with 19mm of eye relief. If you want to step up to some Big Binos the their 11x70's (3.1 lbs) with 23mm of eyerelief would be a good choice. Oberwerks binos have received excellent reviews and are very well priced. Check out Cloudynights.com for their review on the 11x70's. Clear skies and good luck Chas, Luis.
Posted 03/03/2003 07:56PM #4
Consider Fujinon 10x70s. Plenty of eye relief for glasses (I use mine both ways), wide actual field, wide apparent field, extremely rugged, diopter adjustment > +4/-4, and spectacular views. Also, stars look particularly colorful through these.

There are a few drawbacks. Individual focus makes them a poor choice for terrestrial viewing, except at infinity; they show some pincushion distortion and some coma at the edge of the field; big strong people can hand-hold them, but most people can't; and they are middling expensive.

Steve