Re: The magnificent binocular and telescope thread

by Zarniwoop Sun Feb 05, 2023 9:31 pm

Nightjar wrote:What do you think would be the best binocs for an eight-year-old, Zarners?

A very strong-minded girl who craves independence and wants to be taken seriously.

Like, not style-over-content but something a bit more serious for the young 'uns that they'll be able to use for a long time.

I bought her some for Christmas, but they were way too big and clunky for her.

Seems like the yellow ones Wendi bought are probably a bit too big as well.

I would reckon a pair of 8x50's would be best or 8x42's, good for bird watching and scanning the sky, great for things such as Orion and the Pleiades and not too heavy to hold, they let plenty of light in and don't magnify too much which makes objects easy to find, nice wide field of view as well, it's what I use mostly.
I do have a pair of 20x70's but they are very heavy....OK with a tripod and for the Moon.

by Zarniwoop Sun Feb 05, 2023 9:33 pm

Zarniwoop wrote:If you imagine an equalateral triangle with the line from Polaris to the lower of the "pointer" stars in Ursa Major as the base, the comet is where the apex of the imaginary triangle would be if pointing to the right....it is very faint though and only just visible in binoculars.
I will go outside and have a look now....any excuse for a crafty ciggie.

It's cloudy....ciggie was nice though!

by Nightjar Sun Feb 05, 2023 9:50 pm

Zarniwoop wrote:I would reckon a pair of 8x50's would be best or 8x42's, good for bird watching and scanning the sky, great for things such as Orion and the Pleiades and not too heavy to hold, they let plenty of light in and don't magnify too much which makes objects easy to find, nice wide field of view as well, it's what I use mostly.
I do have a pair of 20x70's but they are very heavy....OK with a tripod and for the Moon.

by **The Call of the Wendigo** Sun Feb 05, 2023 9:53 pm

What's your budget, Nightie?

by **The Call of the Wendigo** Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:54 pm

by Nightjar Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:18 pm

My budgie is approx' £50.

More if the exact right binoculars were more.

by **The Call of the Wendigo** Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:57 pm

What size were the previous binoculars you bought for her?

by **The Call of the Wendigo** Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:34 pm

I've been rummaging around on the Internet and these are the ones I'd consider getting for her in that kind of price range.

If she's going to use them mostly in daylight, I'd get the Viking Otter 8x32:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204238489605?epid=27013442058&hash=item2f8d900805%3Ag%3AWhcAAOSwD8pdd6-a&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsDpLuXcFsGnDyEF7mVmPJHQmcywiqJqgr%2FrL5OrWWGhw3xwpdQM1H0J0%2FrPWCd3OnJm0r1FWoF%2FznUV%2BVEwUjUoQrl2wXxznpk1q5UmQ24oCS%2BeW21Ch5lb8sC55juSVuVRtunFPIG7hZLYR0AdS8E2fM6uRWJlZ7ysCU9xuffftU%2Bo9i5KPWMIqNxMBFhXoa0t7e9fjO3dIiDekqmVmnA2m7ZfZHjhXYfjUV%2FfiVfNs%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9aj0_HIYQ&LH_BIN=1

If she's going to use them at night, I'd buy the Visionary 7x35:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352432485962?hash=item520e9cf64a%3Ag%3A%7E6YAAOSwclBbdE3A&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4MoBVIWH9k5cEKNg5ZH8a8H20d%2BUxCtPs6JmzivN44WHR7pKBDMAPFlkZNw1UGEzHC2tWzjyWV6mC7P5dLVvHL4CyTHbUQpBpa1LFWj0FLF5XbaDZjW5qmNFbFlAhMlhayhHzoOF9HkKaAtEYOOEydhc9vS1rao8yC7KYvGotbQpm7hUQ6emqOOmfI72rDEk381hBunAvv4z3G3c9cL427fbgawweeN9sCh9p2i0PWluq4hnp%2FlpJh0OHWvqGuErrlZ6YinJI89s0qx8x7SPUNGqgXeHA0IjosntmLozxYui%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9TK6_PIYQ&LH_BIN=1&LH_ItemCondition=1000

Or the Celestron 7x35:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134346153394?epid=2254705067&hash=item1f47a79db2%3Ag%3AcvIAAOSwRJJjhgzK&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoKnGe5oVdmtrxztiXGQuqaS4Eq9eLnj5cCgL0qL8va7Bqnx7g0d59ZTuqBnfHUtaCKKUx0VGfsaux6HCczlnsN66mChl2sQIAHKFouT1U089adoDae8TGWySBeEjCEKdcfqAXOhJ%2FP2I1s6jEenQXIFvVzT6CamJaOuoXxhR4MQYvKPf1Ni2wyRnDjVCyFkdzU7EP3n29JkbQGuGtox8wU8%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9bK6_PIYQ&LH_BIN=1&LH_ItemCondition=1000

The Viking Otter looks to be easily the best quality of the three but might produce a slightly darker image at night. The Visionary and the Celestron should work better at night but are slightly heavier and bulkier.

by **The Call of the Wendigo** Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:47 pm

Ooh. The Celestron's are currently available on Amazon for just £30:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-71250-UpClose-Porro-Binocular/dp/B006ZN4UTS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

The Visionary's are available for £42 on there:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bird-Watching-Visionary-B4-Binoculars/dp/B004FUI8Y6/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2M64NAYZGJPC0&keywords=7x35+BINOCULARS+VISIONARY+B4+BAK4&qid=1676234723&s=electronics&sprefix=7x35+binoculars+visionary+b4+bak4%2Celectronics%2C156&sr=1-2

by Nightjar Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:47 pm

Oarsum re-search. gasp

by **The Call of the Wendigo** Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:48 pm

Anyrodeup, I'd go for the Viking as my first choice, with the Visionary second and the Celestron third.

by Nightjar Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:49 pm

No to the Celestrons BTW.

That was the make I sent back in the first place.

I know they get very consistent ratings for quality and range, but I just h8 the cheapness and massive MADE IN CHINA indents.

Racist perhaps, but...

by Nightjar Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:59 pm

Also, I've already looked at all of those binoculars before.

I should add that, although it's almost pointless, I've considered spending close to £100.

She's an eight-year-old girl who, when we last went to the countryside together, loved my Grandpa's really smart, 1930s Carl Zeiss mininoculars and was proud to have them hung around her neck all afternoon so she could look at things that were not that far away.

I've since overblown the whole matter to the point that nobody wants to think about it. sad yes

Also, I started seeing these really 'funky' kid's binoculars that were a mix of camo' and multicoloured and then started to think that...

I give up.

by **The Call of the Wendigo** Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:18 pm

3x25 opera glasses?

Https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=3x25+opera+glasses&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=15&LH_ItemCondition=3&LH_BIN=1&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1

by SiberianPrincess’sMidriff Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:32 pm

by Nightjar Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:33 pm

I have found that video by the Saffer highly helpful.

by Nightjar Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:36 pm

The Call of the Wendigo wrote:3x25 opera glasses?

Https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=3x25+opera+glasses&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=15&LH_ItemCondition=3&LH_BIN=1&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1

It's not like you to be so sarcastic. Gorilla No

by Nightjar Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:37 pm

I have appreciated all of your helps regarding this matter.

by Fangirl Three Mon Feb 13, 2023 4:47 am

Opera glasses have low magnification but a very wide field of view. They are good fun for short sessions of casual astro observing.

by **The Call of the Wendigo** Mon Feb 13, 2023 7:12 am

Nightjar wrote:
The Call of the Wendigo wrote:3x25 opera glasses?

Https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=3x25+opera+glasses&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=15&LH_ItemCondition=3&LH_BIN=1&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1

It's not like you to be so sarcastic.

I wasn't being sarcastic. Opera glasses are a thing of wonder and beauty when you're eight. yes

Fangirl Three wrote:Opera glasses have low magnification but a very wide field of view. They are good fun for short sessions of casual astro observing.

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