Jan 12 2007
What manufacturer would you recommend if I would like to buy binoculars?
singkit asked:
I want to have binoculars to view the stars. Or would it be better to have a telescope instead? I’m just a beginner and would there be a telescope or binoculars less than $100 or 200?
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I want to have binoculars to view the stars. Or would it be better to have a telescope instead? I’m just a beginner and would there be a telescope or binoculars less than $100 or 200?
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9 responses so far
Check E-bay, somebody must be selling their old telescope that has been collecting dust in the attic.
Binoculars are for looking at earthbound things, telescopes for the heavens.
Zeiss is a universally good maker of optical equipment, but they tend to be pretty darn expensive.
Bausch & Lomb are US makers of optics, and a little cheaper.
In general, though you get what you pay for.
Incidentally, binoculars are NOT a good way to look at stars–although they have good magnification, what you really want is the ability to _intensify_ light, not make it look big. After all, if you magnify a star, it still looks like a point of light. Magnify it too much and it will get dimmer.
On the other hand, even the cheapest telescope will magnify light enough that you can see stars you normally couldn’t. The only thing that is really convenient is to get one with a tracking motor so the object stays in your field of view.
It doesn’t really matter what manufacturer you use (as long as you don’t buy ones that are made in China or something). Whichever binoculars you take, make sure YOU find them comfortable. Try to make them as complex as possible, but not too heavy, otherwise you won’t get a focused view. If you do decide to get the heavy ones, make sure you have a tripod for support
Zeiss, a German maker of fine optics.
I will disagree with some of the answers so far. Binoculars are a great tool for astronomy, especially for a beginner. Binoculars have a wide field of view, which makes it easier to learn your way around the sky. In terms of cost, you can collect a lot of light with binoculars less than $100. Celestron makes good astronomy binoculars. For $80, you can get a pair of 15x70s — 15X magnification, and a 70mm aperture (bigger aperture = more light collection). For comparison, beginner telescopes are often 50-60mm aperture. With your binocs, you can observe stars, planets, and even see fuzzy deep sky objects like nebulae and galaxies.
In the beginner tier, you get more bang for your buck with binocs. If you find yourself getting very serious about astronomy, you can invest in a better telescope down the line.
Watch this site:
They ship worldwide and they sell good products (telescope or binocular)
If you want to watch stars and celestial object, then choose a wide range telescope (900 mm or more). If you want to look only the planets, then choose a telescope with a powerful magnification. (200x or more)
The Best Telescope are from “Meade”.
EDIT:
NEVER BUY OLD STUFF!! YOU ASK FOR PROBLEM IF YOU DO IT!
In that price range, no good manufactures to recommend. I DO recommend a telescope, as you might want to look at the moon and near planets as well, and a tripod makes it much easier, as your hands won’t shake. Try Wal-Mart. I saw a not too bad one there the other day for about $225.00, and a reflector one, not a long tube with lenses. It looked like a bargain. You won’t find too many used ones out there, but you might get lucky.
Zeiss is by far the best. They also make very accurate scopes and medical measuring equipment. They are expensive but worth every penny if quality is what your looking for.
Bushnell used to make a very good pair.
A telescope would be better. Edmunds had this nice close out equitorial refractor for $115 that was decent. Most astronomy snobs might say otherwise, but it was decent for the price.