Fujinon's BIG binoculars

Has anyone had a chance to look through Fujinon's 150mm binoculars? I'm curious how the image quality is, especially in the 45-degree ED versions. Apparent pros are Fujinon's reputation, the aperture (150mm), and likely the optical quality. Cons are size, weight, cost. 8O

These truly big binoculars seem to be as rare as hens' teeth. I've yet to see them at a local star party.

Ron
Equipment Forum co-moderator

Ron Hranac said:

Has anyone had a chance to look through Fujinon's 150mm binoculars? I'm curious how the image quality is, especially in the 45-degree ED versions. Apparent pros are Fujinon's reputation, the aperture (150mm), and likely the optical quality. Cons are size, weight, cost. 8O

These truly big binoculars seem to be as rare as hens' teeth. I've yet to see them at a local star party.

Ron
Equipment Forum co-moderator

Ron,

These are probably even rarer, but a friend of ours brought a pair of the 25x150 Fujinon right angle binoculars to Stellafane one year. I think it was 1985, because one of our targets was Comet Giacobini-Zinner. We also looked at M-31 with them, and I thought they were quite impressive. I swore I'd buy a pair if I ever won the lottery! Unfortunately, they no longer make the right angle version - otherwise we might have a pair even though I never did win the lottery.

Clear skies, Alan

I looked through a pair at a star party (either Laurel Highlands or Cherry Springs or Black Forest - can't remember) about 4 or 5 years ago. I looked at the star fields in Sagittarius and was HUGELY impressed. I, too, went home and wanted a pair real bad, but ran into the price tag. They really are incredible. Actually, I think I recall that they were the ones that Hyakutake used to discover his comet...

Pat

I just returned from a weekend trip, and am catching up with forum posts. Thanks to all who replied to my original question. It sounds as if the views through Fujinon's big binocs are indeed impressive, but there is no question that their cost is higher than most alternatives out there. It would be fun to look through a pair of Astro-Physics refractors configured as binocs, though (thanks for the info on that, Roland). 8O

Herb pointed out a much less costly alternative in the Nikon 120mm binocs. Out of curiosity, does Nikon make a version with 45 or 90 degree eyepieces?

Ron
Equipment Forum co-moderator