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The Burgess 20x80: A Reassessment

Started by Kimballcorson, 05/11/2003 08:15PM
Posted 05/11/2003 08:15PM Opening Post
I had both the Burgess 20x80 and the Burgess
25x100 binoculars out several nights ago,
but took the Burgess 20x80 out first and spent
some significant time with it first under a
clear night sky before I brought out the
25x100. I brought the Burgess 25x100 out for
a renewed comparison. I used a T Mount Light
on the 20x80s and a Bogen 501 head for the
25x100, with Bogen 3046 tripods on both.
(I usually use the T Mount Light with the
25x100.) My relative assessments remain the
same. The 25x100 is noticeably sharper, does
have slightly better contrast, and clearly
affords a materially enhanced experience, by
offering a real porthole into space. However,
and the reason I write this, if I did not
have the 25x100 for a side by side comparison,
I could really like the 20x80 and think they
were more than satisfactory, just as if I had
the Fuji 50/150 out there too, I would
undoubtedly think my 25x100s were a bit
lacking. It is apples and oranges to a degree.

The 20x80 is really a terrific binoc for
what it is. Its focusing is very smooth.
It is light weight. It is quite sharp enough
and it has decent contrast. It is a great
bang per buck and is a very enjoyable
binocular in use. I can also hand hold it,
but just barely --in any even, enough to
want to do it from time to time.Also, it
works terrifically on the Universal Astronomics
T Mount Light mount, if the base screws are
tightened down, but then so does the 25x100s
work great on that mount, too. It is an
excellent mount and easily strong enough,
and it is good for either binocular. I like
its compactness and ease of carry assembled.
I think it is probably the most compact
parallogram and the best mount for both of these binoculars, but that is why I bought it. The
Burgess 20x80 and the T Mount Light and the
Burgess 25x100 and the T Mount Light are both
great combinations and I highly recommend them,
but I am just strongly biased toward the
enhanced experience afforded by the 25x100s.
However, I do not wish to slight the 20x80s
because they too are very enjoyable,
especially if you do not have the Burgess
25x100s to compare them to.

Kimball Corson