Bin sizes

Just curious as to what is the next size of bins up from 7X50?

I'm guessing 10X50?

I ask because i recently bought a pair of bins in Lanzarote and while they appear in dimentions to be exactly the same size as my 7X50's they are half the weight and gather far greater amounts of light.

The sky is a minefield of stars when looking through them (i never saw so many in my life using the 7X50). They cost me €90 which is expensive for Lanzarote (when purchasing such items). The only numbers on the bins say 1200X100 (but that is a sticker on the box and not on the bins themselves.

Safe to assume they are 10X50?

M42 looks to be about twice the size through them as in the 7X50..........if thats any clue to working out their size.

I'd just like to know but it doesnt realy matter as i am very happy with them.

Now if i could find a nice cheap mount for them i'd be over the moon.

I have a fairly decent pair of Carl Zeiss 10x50's, they're a good few decades old now and I haven't found a pair as well built.
The next step up from 7x50 is a 8x50. The 7x and 8x are just the magnification. 10x50 would be the most common step up with the most noticable differences.
I don't see how two 50mm bins would capture different amounts of light, as the aperture is still 50mm for both of them. One pair might just have better optics.

15x70 celestron skymasters are very good i have a pair excellent in the night or day

my friend has a pair of zhummell 25x100 need i say more 3.5kgs i think, unreal do!!

im buying the celestron 25x100

One pair might just have better optics.

Good point and to be honest i have noticed that during the day the view through the new bins is much better then the old ones.

The box says the lens are made of crystal.................which i SERIOUSLY doubt.

But the viewing IS crystal clear. Overall a very good purchase.

My old ones are a pair of Airport 7X50 and i swear you could kill a person with them with one swift blow to the head................they are that heavy. Very well constructed. Only reason i finally stopped using them was dirt on the lens/mirrors or something. Not too much but enough to annoy me.

If i could find how to clean them properly i'd still use them. But my history with optical instruments and cleaning is not good.

I'd hate to part with them also but if they bring the enjoyment i have had from them to a kid just starting out in astronomy...............i'd give them away for free.

Clean water and a eyeglass lens cleaner (like from an opticians) is the way to go PJ. Or, some sort of isipropyl alcohol for really stubborn or greasy fingerprints.

Seanie.

The lens are fine themselves, it's just thin rings of 20+yrs of stubborn grease ,strands of cotton etc right around the edges. I dont think water would shift it.

I have a bottle of LCD cleaning liquid. It says its good to use on cameras and eye glasses. It leaves no smudges or smearing. Its tough on grease (sounds like a tv advert).

Should i try that?