Pentax 10x50 XCF (1 Viewer)

[lulubelle]

Saw one for sale and was curious if it was worth bothering with? Have been looking for a porro, half assed looking mostly! I look periodically to see what is out there, but have yet to make a move. I have asked porro question before and constantly check to see if I can find the Minox porro that I would like to try - no joy. Just curious and since y'all have tried just about everything ever made, I thought I would ask!

Thanks!

 

[typo]

Tried the XCF 8x40 once and thought it pretty poor compared to the likes of the Opticron HRWP, and SRGA and even the Nikon Action EX. I don't know if the 10x50 would be any different.

David

 

[Binastro]

XCFs are very basic binoculars.
O.K for basic astronomy, probably not for serious birdwatching.
Nikon Action usually a bit better.

 

[lulubelle]

Thanks for the input. It as I figured.

 

[brocknroller]

Saw one for sale and was curious if it was worth bothering with? Have been looking for a porro, half assed looking mostly! I look periodically to see what is out there, but have yet to make a move. I have asked porro question before and constantly check to see if I can find the Minox porro that I would like to try - no joy. Just curious and since y'all have tried just about everything ever made, I thought I would ask!

Thanks!

Miss Lulubelle,

Mama said, Forest, if something is worth doing, it's worth doing with your entire ass, not just half. :smoke:

Had you put both cheeks into it, you coulda shoulda woulda had "the best" 10x Porro in the known universe:

Nikon 10x42 SE

But since you didn't, you will have to settle for the Minox 10x42 BP. bh46118, who had that pair of SEs on eBay for about 60 seconds, claims that his discounted $180 10x42 Minox BP Porro is even better than the more expensive SE. As if....

However, they have been discontinued so you will have to find new old stock or a used pair. AFAIK, the Opticron 10x42 HR WP is mooreorless the same Porro as the Minox BP, but with 2mm smaller objectives, and it's still available for purchase.

Opticron 10x42 HR WP

The Opticron/Minox has 5* TFOV vs. the SE's 6*, my only objection. WIDER IS BEDDER, like the French tight rope walker yelled as he plunged to his death trying to cross between two skyscrapers on a rope made of clothesline.

But since your Pentax 10x50 is/was 5* (do you still have it? it had an accident, as I recall), you shouldn't feel too closed-in with the 50* AFOV.

Search bh46118's posts, and you'll see he thins that his Minox Porro is better than any binocular he's ever used.

Opticron bins are now sold in the US, though I don't know where.

Brock

 

[Binastro]

. To answer more fully.

I used the Pentax 10×50 XCF binocular for several months about seven years ago. Then I gave it to a friend.

This is a perfectly adequate astronomical binocular.
The field is quoted as 6.5° although I cannot remember my measure of the field size.
The one I had had perfectly adequate star images.
It is fairly rugged and my one was well collimated.

If one only has £50 for a binocular then the Pentax would be most suitable even for birdwatching.

Here on the forum, probably correctly, only the best binocular or near best seems to figure.
However, not everybody can afford these.
I would think that even amongst birdwatchers it is better to have a reasonable binocular for £50 or maybe $50 than nothing at all. And I would think that very skilled birdwatchers would see more with a 10×50 Pentax then an unskilled observer with a £1500 10×50 binocular.
In fact, a skilled birdwatcher would identify birds instantly with a Pentax 10×50 binocular, which I could not identify with a £1500 binocular.

Another similar binocular to the Pentax is the Olympus 10×50 also available for about £50.

For may be £60 or £70 I would choose the Nikon action VII.

All these three binoculars normally work adequately, certainly for astronomical use.

All you have to do is to make sure the binocular is well collimated. And with the Olympus, Pentax and Nikon they usually are well collimated.
Another similar binocular would be a Minolta 10×50, but these are no longer made although you will probably find numerous good second-hand, or even old, stock examples.
An expert would find a very good 10×50 second hand binocular for £50 of much higher quality. But beginners would not know how to test and select these.

What I would avoid, although some people claim to enjoy using them, are the following.
10×50 bought from Lidl, Aldi, cheap Bresser, cheap Meade, cheap Celestron, cheap ones from the Daily Mail and other mail-order outlets.
The problem with these is that they are often out of collimation, vary wildly in optical quality and are usually not rugged.
However, if you find 20 of these piled up in a store, then if you try them all you'll probably find three that work well. And at £10 each they are worth buying.

So to summarise, for somebody with a £50 budget the Pentax XCF binocular is one to consider so long as you check that it is well collimated, which it probably will be.

 

[lulubelle]

Binastro thanks so much! $50 is NOT the budget by far! I was just looking at the bins for sale on SWFA and they had them listed. Figured they weren't worth much. I can certainly spend more, though I do have a limit!

Brock, the SEs are out since I am an obligate lens wearer! I do still have the Pentax 10x50s and still like them. Yes I am used the narrow FOV, another bin with a narrow FOV wouldn't deter me! I have seen the posts on the Minox porros and confess it is those posts that piqued my curiosity! I will check out the Opticron. I tried the Cascades porro several years back and though I know many really liked them, I wasn't all that crazy about them. Just want to give a porro a try. The Nikon Actions are huge and while I don't mind a heavy binocular, I do mind the overall size.

 

[brocknroller]

Binastro thanks so much! $50 is NOT the budget by far! I was just looking at the bins for sale on SWFA and they had them listed. Figured they weren't worth much. I can certainly spend more, though I do have a limit!

Brock, the SEs are out since I am an obligate lens wearer! I do still have the Pentax 10x50s and still like them. Yes I am used the narrow FOV, another bin with a narrow FOV wouldn't deter me! I have seen the posts on the Minox porros and confess it is those posts that piqued my curiosity! I will check out the Opticron. I tried the Cascades porro several years back and though I know many really liked them, I wasn't all that crazy about them. Just want to give a porro a try. The Nikon Actions are huge and while I don't mind a heavy binocular, I do mind the overall size.

Miss Lulubelle,

What is your price limit? That might help you get better suggestions that are within your price range.

Brock