Comments on: Is there a device to boost a binoculars’ magnification? http://www.binocularsguide.net/is-there-a-device-to-boost-a-binoculars-magnification/ Giving you the insight you need Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:45:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Abril Dodd http://www.binocularsguide.net/is-there-a-device-to-boost-a-binoculars-magnification/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Abril Dodd Thu, 17 May 2007 01:39:37 +0000 http://192.168.1.2/?p=99#comment-103 No, not that I've ever seen, and I too have been in astronomy for over 50 years. Binoculars are designed for a specific purpose, wide field views of the sky, and really aren't suited for anything else. I usually recommend 10x50 binoculars for astronomy rather than 7x50 because I find the slightly higher magnification darkens the sky background, and that, plus the higher magnification, makes much fainter stars and nebulae visible. You don't really want much more than 10x magnification with 50mm objectives, as the images will become too dim. Sorry, but a telescope with more aperture is what you need for more magnification. No, not that I’ve ever seen, and I too have been in astronomy for over 50 years. Binoculars are designed for a specific purpose, wide field views of the sky, and really aren’t suited for anything else. I usually recommend 10×50 binoculars for astronomy rather than 7×50 because I find the slightly higher magnification darkens the sky background, and that, plus the higher magnification, makes much fainter stars and nebulae visible. You don’t really want much more than 10x magnification with 50mm objectives, as the images will become too dim. Sorry, but a telescope with more aperture is what you need for more magnification.

]]> By: Taniya Britton http://www.binocularsguide.net/is-there-a-device-to-boost-a-binoculars-magnification/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Taniya Britton Sun, 13 May 2007 21:17:56 +0000 http://192.168.1.2/?p=99#comment-102 Binoculars are usually set up with a single magnification level and they cannot be modified economically. You would be better off buying another pair; although 7x50 is a very good setup for astronomy, and it is certainly worth keeping. There are many binoculars available with variable magnification. But, these tend to have a narrow field of view at low power. Example: At the very high end there are some giant models with switchable maginification. These have two or more eyepieces built into each side that can be rotated into place. Example: The next step up would be the binocular telescope; which does offer the ability to interchange eyepieces like a telescope. Example: Vixen BT-80 But, usually you would be better off to keep the 7x50, and then add a tripod mounted pair of 20x80mm; and, if you want to go beyond that either go with a telescope, or a telescope with a binoviewer. example binoviewer: EDITED TO ADD: Wouldn't you know it. Just when I thought I had seen everything; Bushnell just came up with a device to increase the magnification of your binoculars by 2.5. Link: Binoculars are usually set up with a single magnification level and they cannot be modified economically. You would be better off buying another pair; although 7×50 is a very good setup for astronomy, and it is certainly worth keeping.

There are many binoculars available with variable magnification. But, these tend to have a narrow field of view at low power.

Example:

At the very high end there are some giant models with switchable maginification. These have two or more eyepieces built into each side that can be rotated into place.

Example:

The next step up would be the binocular telescope; which does offer the ability to interchange eyepieces like a telescope.

Example: Vixen BT-80

But, usually you would be better off to keep the 7×50, and then add a tripod mounted pair of 20x80mm; and, if you want to go beyond that either go with a telescope, or a telescope with a binoviewer.

example binoviewer:

EDITED TO ADD:

Wouldn’t you know it. Just when I thought I had seen everything; Bushnell just came up with a device to increase the magnification of your binoculars by 2.5.

Link:

]]> By: Alissa Barlow http://www.binocularsguide.net/is-there-a-device-to-boost-a-binoculars-magnification/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Alissa Barlow Sat, 12 May 2007 04:17:08 +0000 http://192.168.1.2/?p=99#comment-101 Not that i've ever seen, and i've been involved with amateur astronomy for 50 years. Generaly, binocs are designed as a system...power and diameter are so closely intwined that you probably wouldn't be able to change the eyepiece without changing the quality of the image...this is probably less true with the very high end models, and i think i recall a pair of Russian giant binocs many years ago that had eyepieces like a telescope...but they weren't binocs, exactly, they were really two small telescopes mounted side by side. Not that i’ve ever seen, and i’ve been involved with amateur astronomy for 50 years. Generaly, binocs are designed as a system…power and diameter are so closely intwined that you probably wouldn’t be able to change the eyepiece without changing the quality of the image…this is probably less true with the very high end models, and i think i recall a pair of Russian giant binocs many years ago that had eyepieces like a telescope…but they weren’t binocs, exactly, they were really two small telescopes mounted side by side.

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