AirNav Systems Forum
AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com => AirNav RadarBox and RadarBox24.com Discussion => Topic started by: timelord on April 20, 2010, 09:58:27 AM
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HELLO
I just have a quick question if i may.I do alot of plane spotting and
have a pair of binoculars they are 10x50 wide angle 7 , 367ft at
1000yds. just would like to know what are the binoculas for planes spotting
I also have airnav 3d
THANKS
eamonn
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I've use a pair of Nikon 16x50 & found them to be excellent, Not to heavy & you can hold them without the use of a tripod ( although i sometimes use a monopod ) its easy to spot planes at 30,000ft. I used to have a cheap pair of 12x50 but the 16x50 brings them much closer. It also pays to get quality glass aswell but that depends on what you can afford.
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well thanks for that alan when you say spot them at 30,000ft can you see then clear and the markings on them & colours
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Some recommendation on the previous discussion at http://www.airnavsystems.com/forum/index.php?topic=2587.msg22402#msg22402
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well thanks for that alan when you say spot them at 30,000ft can you see then clear and the markings on them & colours
Yes you can see them clearly but not enough to read the regestration. Would advise not to go over 16x50 as they may prove difficult to hold without the use of a tripod.
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My pair of Swarovski 10x50 EL's give me excellent performance. They have a great field of view and are crystal clear, mind you, they should be for the price. I can easily pick out colour schemes of the high flying overflights.
To be quite honest, anything over this is overkill. Even with a pair of 16x50's, unless they are a good quality make, what's the point. You are not going to read the reg at 35000ft, even if it's under the wings!
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I have a pair of tripod mounted Oberwerk 100mm binoculars on my mezzanine, permanently pointing west - I can see most of the high level traffic passing, but obviously not registrations.
DC
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My pair of Swarovski 10x50 EL's give me excellent performance. They have a great field of view and are crystal clear, mind you, they should be for the price. I can easily pick out colour schemes of the high flying overflights.
To be quite honest, anything over this is overkill. Even with a pair of 16x50's, unless they are a good quality make, what's the point. You are not going to read the reg at 35000ft, even if it's under the wings!
Sorry, that should be 10 X 42......having a mare of a day, roll on 5.15
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I have the Canon 12x36 Image Stabilizer binoculars and love them. So easy on the eyes and I can read the registration on most airliners and sometimes the number on the fin at over a mile (1.5 Km). A bit pricey but to me worth it.
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I have 30x60 :D i buy them on www.armeriaalvarez.com
https://www.a-alvarez.com/tienda/modelo.php?mod=10364
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holy airbrakes. thanks everybody for your views,it helped alot.
THANKS
timelord
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I have the Canon 12x36 Image Stabilizer binoculars and love them. So easy on the eyes and I can read the registration on most airliners and sometimes the number on the fin at over a mile (1.5 Km). A bit pricey but to me worth it.
Good grief, Speedwagon. Just checked these out on the website. I don't think I could justify that price to the missus !
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Some of the binoculars listed have a poor brightness or light gathering factor so may only be used in very good light. To find the light gathering factor divide the diameter of the object glass (in millimetres) by the magnification, so that for a pair of 16 x 50 binoculars the value is 50/16 which is 3.125. For a 12 x 36 it is just 3.0. 10 x 50 gives a factor of 5.0 and is the best all round instrument for spotting.
Tom
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I have a pair of Opticron 15 x70's - brilliant kit
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Mine are overkill............. ;-) Sunagor 20 - 100x70 & Sunagor 20 - 100x50 ........but they do the job............ :-)
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I use a pair of Leica 8x42's. They are not the best for magnification but like Southwest's Swarovski's 10x42, the quality of the glass is absolutely exceptional. This means the brightness levels are very high. The greater the magnification doesn't automatically make them better. If the lenses are made from cheap glass all you are doing is magnifying distortion. it's a double edge sword, the larger the size, the heavier they are to hold and more chance of shake, and the view will be darker. It's like trying to use a very large zoom lens on a camera without a tripod. I go to Manchester Airport viewing park quite a lot, and have no trouble reading registrations either on the far runway or on the tarmac. People have asked me the reg of aircraft that they can't see even if their binos are more powerful in magnification. This usually happens if the weather is gloomy. I would think that you would need the Hubble Telescope to read registrations at 30,000ft.
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I use a pair of standard size Pentax 16x50 bought for £100 ten years ago. They offer a good angle of view and good clarity for the price. I agree anything more than 16 magnification would cause problems with camera shake. Aviod zoom type bins in my experience they're a waste of money.
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I use Celestron Ultima 10 X 50. Works fine for me. Get much larger than that and you will need a tripod for steady viewing.
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Alan and Kev have made some good points. Personally, I wouldn't use anything over 12x and I would certainly avoid these zoom bins like the plague. Trust me on this, I 'deal' with optical equipment as part of my current job.
I bought a pair of EL's because they do exactly what I was wanted them to. I didn't pay full price, I managed to get a very healthy discount which made the cost more bearable. Don't be fooled into thinking that because you paid the earth the bins are the bees knees. Research is the key here, have a good look round and try as many pairs as you can before you part with your hard earned cash.
I would also say NEVER buy a second hand pair of bins off EBay. If anything went wrong, or you weren't happy with them, the hassle would be enormous.
Think before you buy!
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I was very fortunate with my Leica's, they had just been traded in for a pair of Leica zoom binos. The ones I bought were 2 years old and in perfect condition, and bought from a good reputable dealer. I traded my old Opticron 10x50's in. Apart from the slightly higher magnification of the Opticrons, the first thing I noticed when I tried them both side by side was the clarity and brightness of the Leica's. This was the only way I could afford to buy them. I wouldn't, and couldn't afford nearly £1000 for a pair of binos. a case of being in the right place at the right time.
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After much deliberation I finally invested in a pair of Pentax 12 x 50 XCF binoculars. Cost was £93 including delivery.
Frankly I am stunned at the clarity and definition from these. Doubtless there are better optics around, but for the price these really are good.
Just though I'd let you know !
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Hi Eggplant
Sounds like you've got a bargain. I use a Pentax K10 DSLR, the optics are superb.
Alan
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I have a collection of Opticron optics. They are expensive but high quality. Two scopes (HD and Mighty Midget Scopes, the eyepices are interchangeable) and a pair of 10x 26 mini bins. I would saw save up and get quality optics. In my experience worth every penny.
Graham