I'm a beginner think I start off really badly

kennyzeng21 · Post by **kennyzeng21** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:56 pm

Hello All. I just joined this forum. I'm a beginner. bought a 16 x 50 bino. i thought higher magnification would mean closer view...now then i realised that it will affect the stability. think i started off really bad. sad

Zephyrus · Post by **Zephyrus** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:44 am

Hi there Kenny! Welcome to Singastro. Don't worry about it, you can get a tripod for your bino then. A cheap photographic tripod that cost less than $100 will suffice. Either that, or find something to support your arms as you observe to reduce the shaking. And lastly, I hope your bino is multicoated (green-blue) and not red, because if that's the case, you started off really really badly, hahaha.

kennyzeng21 · Post by **kennyzeng21** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:52 am

haha.....I realised that....it's ruby....not even multi-coated.....!! haiz....gotto save up and buy a better one...but for the time being i will make do with it.

Zephyrus · Post by **Zephyrus** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:56 am

Well, it's not going to work out because that pair of binoculars isn't going to work. It will give you weird colors like green for the moon, and the stars will appear distorted and all. You'll need to get a multicoated one, and they are relatively cheap between $100 to $250. Try to get one that is 10x50 and below (if your hands are not that strong). Mine's a 8x42 and it's really good as it's only 0.8kg.

kennyzeng21 · Post by **kennyzeng21** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:59 am

omg...i spent $200+ on that stupid bino of mine.

Big Sigh!!
thanks for your info....i got much to learn from u guys -_-

Zephyrus · Post by **Zephyrus** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:03 am

Hey Kenny, I'm so sorry to hear about that. I believe you bought it from places like Sim Lim Square? Or other funny shops that are not specialised in binoculars and optics? Because I've heard stories that people quote funny prices on binoculars in SLS and you may be one of those victims. The best place to buy a pair of binoculars is from either a camera shop (trusted brands like Nikon), or from Singapore astronomy retailers like StarOptics or McGill. I got my Vixen Ascot 8x42 from McGill last August at only around $175 or so if I remembered correctly.

yybmage · Post by **yybmage** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:51 am

Go to astro-scientific at the science centre. If you are lukcy the good man Albert will be there and give you some tips.

yybmage · Post by **yybmage** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:03 am

You can also join others for an ob session. They will gladly let you see through their shiny telescopes. Drop them a message first or just go for any ob session that is on.
[smilie=embarrassed2.gif]

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:53 pm

Kenny, all is not lost.

Your binos CAN still be used to learn the night sky. Just put it on any tripod you might have lying around at home or borrow from friends first if you don't want to spend money on a tripod at this stage.
I used to just lay a groundsheet on the floor and lie down to enjoy the night sky when I didnt have a tripod for my binos.

It doesnt mean you need to have the perfect equipment to enjoy the night sky.

The specs might be wrong, the lenses might not be coated correctly etc etc. but at the end of the day, dont wait till you have the right equipment - your 16x50s will do wonders on the moon and show you slightly more on Jupiter and Saturn than smaller binos.

The unwanted colours shown throuhg the binos have perhaps less to do with the coatings than with the actual design and glass used with the binos. Most binos do show some unwanted colours anyway.

BTW, the fact that your bino lenses show RED, they ARE coated.

The coatings are meant to be anti-reflective, to let the most amount of light pass through your glass, not so much to do with chromatic aberrations (unwanted colours).

At the end of the day, it is easy to run after equipment and optics with the "correct" or "ideal" specs - but one thing I learnt early when I started astronomy is that you can use ANY pair of binoculars lying around the house and enjoy it as much as the next guy using that $10k pair of binos.

Do I enjoy GOOD equipment? Of course I do, but to enjoy the night sky, those are not the MOST important things.

zamri · Post by **zamri** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:13 pm

Just use with whatever you have first for time being. Doesn't mean you have the wrong equip, you can't do your viewing.