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Has anybody used these for stargazing and able to comment if they're suitable for it?

by messe 4y ago

germinalphrase 4y ago
Cloudynights.com would be the place to ask.
ghaff 4y ago
For what it's worth, I've seen Jupiter's moons through a pair of these. As I recall, it still helps to stabilize yourself against something.
spdustin 4y ago
I have, and they are! I bought their 18x50 image-stabilized binoculars back in 2004, and still use them to this day. The first number refers to the magnification (18x) and the second is the size (50mm) of each objective lens, or the lens pointed at the object you’re looking at. The larger the objective, the more light they can gather. At night, your pupil is probably 6-7mm in diameter. The 50mm objective can gather much more light than your unassisted pupils! Those binoculars also weigh over a kilogram, so they’re best for short handheld sessions if you’re standing. If you’re sitting or lying down, you won’t tire as quickly. They’re wonderful for looking at globular clusters and nebulae, as well as for viewing Saturn or Jupiter; the Galilean moons are easy to spot! For lunar viewing, the stereoscopic view actually feels almost 3D. Keep in mind, though: most binoculars aren’t specifically designed for astronomical observation. You won’t be able to attach ND filters, polarizers, or emission filters. So your best bet is to use them from dark skies with good “seeing” where you can just lay back and enjoy the view as you scan around trying to do a Messier Marathon. :) Edit: it does have a standard tripod screw on the bottom, so a monopod with an added trigger-ball grip can make extended observation sessions more comfortable. Many binoculars require a bracket to mount to a monopod/tripod, but image-stabilized binos aren’t hinged; their relatively flat bottom means that larger image-stabilized binos often have a tripod screw. 2nd edit: I tracked ISS across the sky (with the stabilization on) last year, and I could clearly make out its shape.
nullc 4y ago
I have a pair of the 10x42 stabilized canon binoculars. I think they're very good though over-priced (esp compared to the price of an IS supertelephoto canon lens). I didn't get them for astronomy but they get used for that some. I also have zhumell 25x100 binoculars (which also get oemed under a number of other brand names). These are huge and must be used on a tripod. The canon are easy and convenient to use. As a result they get used more often. That said, for astronomy the big binoculars are obviously better. E.g. A couple weeks ago I looked out the window with the 25x100 and the blue glow of the Orion nebula h-beta emission was quite obvious to me, but I couldn't really see it with the canon. Juipter's moons are always nicely visible on the big binocs but harder to see with the canon. On the astro binocs jupiter almost always gets a "wait! are those moons?!?". But it's just not compatible in the sense that the canon gets used when the big ones often don't. You can just lay back in a lounge chair with the canon and gaze at the vastness of stars (which are much more visible through the 10x42 than the naked eyes). You're not going to do something like that with 25x100 binos except with some kind of cantilevered balanced mount that looks like a dentist tortured device. :) (laying back is advised: the canon is still kinda heavy even if nothing compared t the astro-monster) I don't particularly enjoy eyepiece astronomy-- my interest w/ astronomy is in imaging via telescopes. I have the astro binocs for the benefit of guests and I've found in general that guests don't have the intuition or patience to correctly focus them (and it's hard for me to do it for them because I'm -3 diaopter so if I focus for myself it'll be wrong, and even through my glasses I'm still at the wrong distance). This is a place where the canon beat out the astro binocs too, because the stabilization prevents shaking/blurring the frame when you adjust focus so it's much easier for an untrained person to get it right. Similarly, I find guests will actually manage to make the IPD adjustment on the canons while they tend to give up on the zhumell, as it takes a lot of force on those. So I would say that if you're considering the canon stabilized binos for other reasons and wonder if they'd work for astro too: Absolutely. If you're looking for astro binocs though there are better results at a lower price possible if you're willing to put up with the tripod. Without a tripod I don't think you can beat the stabilized binocs.
irrational 4y ago
There is another comment on here that says > Perfect for observing birds, planes, double stars, nebulae, satellites, and planets. I can't resolve Saturn's ring, but Jupiter and its moons and the Hercules cluster are not to be missed.
davidcuddeback 4y ago
I haven't personally, but they were getting a lot of praise on the forums at cloudynights.com last time I researched binoculars (several years ago). I think the consensus was that the optics are good, and the image stabilization makes it feasible to hand hold at a higher magnification than without.

Has anybody used these for stargazing and able to comment if they're suitable for it?

by messe 4y ago

Has anybody used these for stargazing and able to comment if they're suitable for it?

germinalphrase 4y ago

Cloudynights.com would be the place to ask.

ghaff 4y ago

For what it's worth, I've seen Jupiter's moons through a pair of these. As I recall, it still helps to stabilize yourself against something.

spdustin 4y ago

I have, and they are! I bought their 18x50 image-stabilized binoculars back in 2004, and still use them to this day. The first number refers to the magnification (18x) and the second is the size (50mm) of each objective lens, or the lens pointed at the object you’re looking at. The larger the objective, the more light they can gather. At night, your pupil is probably 6-7mm in diameter. The 50mm objective can gather much more light than your unassisted pupils! Those binoculars also weigh over a kilogram, so they’re best for short handheld sessions if you’re standing. If you’re sitting or lying down, you won’t tire as quickly. They’re wonderful for looking at globular clusters and nebulae, as well as for viewing Saturn or Jupiter; the Galilean moons are easy to spot! For lunar viewing, the stereoscopic view actually feels almost 3D. Keep in mind, though: most binoculars aren’t specifically designed for astronomical observation. You won’t be able to attach ND filters, polarizers, or emission filters. So your best bet is to use them from dark skies with good “seeing” where you can just lay back and enjoy the view as you scan around trying to do a Messier Marathon. :) Edit: it does have a standard tripod screw on the bottom, so a monopod with an added trigger-ball grip can make extended observation sessions more comfortable. Many binoculars require a bracket to mount to a monopod/tripod, but image-stabilized binos aren’t hinged; their relatively flat bottom means that larger image-stabilized binos often have a tripod screw. 2nd edit: I tracked ISS across the sky (with the stabilization on) last year, and I could clearly make out its shape.

nullc 4y ago

I have a pair of the 10x42 stabilized canon binoculars. I think they're very good though over-priced (esp compared to the price of an IS supertelephoto canon lens). I didn't get them for astronomy but they get used for that some. I also have zhumell 25x100 binoculars (which also get oemed under a number of other brand names). These are huge and must be used on a tripod. The canon are easy and convenient to use. As a result they get used more often. That said, for astronomy the big binoculars are obviously better. E.g. A couple weeks ago I looked out the window with the 25x100 and the blue glow of the Orion nebula h-beta emission was quite obvious to me, but I couldn't really see it with the canon. Juipter's moons are always nicely visible on the big binocs but harder to see with the canon. On the astro binocs jupiter almost always gets a "wait! are those moons?!?". But it's just not compatible in the sense that the canon gets used when the big ones often don't. You can just lay back in a lounge chair with the canon and gaze at the vastness of stars (which are much more visible through the 10x42 than the naked eyes). You're not going to do something like that with 25x100 binos except with some kind of cantilevered balanced mount that looks like a dentist tortured device. :) (laying back is advised: the canon is still kinda heavy even if nothing compared t the astro-monster) I don't particularly enjoy eyepiece astronomy-- my interest w/ astronomy is in imaging via telescopes. I have the astro binocs for the benefit of guests and I've found in general that guests don't have the intuition or patience to correctly focus them (and it's hard for me to do it for them because I'm -3 diaopter so if I focus for myself it'll be wrong, and even through my glasses I'm still at the wrong distance). This is a place where the canon beat out the astro binocs too, because the stabilization prevents shaking/blurring the frame when you adjust focus so it's much easier for an untrained person to get it right. Similarly, I find guests will actually manage to make the IPD adjustment on the canons while they tend to give up on the zhumell, as it takes a lot of force on those. So I would say that if you're considering the canon stabilized binos for other reasons and wonder if they'd work for astro too: Absolutely. If you're looking for astro binocs though there are better results at a lower price possible if you're willing to put up with the tripod. Without a tripod I don't think you can beat the stabilized binocs.

irrational 4y ago

There is another comment on here that says > Perfect for observing birds, planes, double stars, nebulae, satellites, and planets. I can't resolve Saturn's ring, but Jupiter and its moons and the Hercules cluster are not to be missed.

davidcuddeback 4y ago

I haven't personally, but they were getting a lot of praise on the forums at cloudynights.com last time I researched binoculars (several years ago). I think the consensus was that the optics are good, and the image stabilization makes it feasible to hand hold at a higher magnification than without.