Customer Reviews

Orion Scenix 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought these binoculars directly from Orion about 8 months ago. Over the years, I have owned several pairs of 7X50 and 10X50 binoculars from different manufacturers such as Tasco, Jason Empire,etc. They all had one thing in common -- BK7 prisims. They produced fair images, but usually had some flaring around objects and very little resolution.

Not so with these Scenix binocs. They have BK4 prisims, as evidenced by holding the binocs at arms length and looking through the eyepieces. Rather than the diamond you see with the BK7 prisims, there is a nice round apperature with these glasses. I looked at Venus just last night and could make out the crescent shape. Jupiter's moons can also be seen and star clusters like the Double Cluster in Perseus show up sharp and crisp.

For nights when you just don't feel like setting up the scope, these make for a nice, convenient alternative. Very nice for the price.

Excellent value! An expansive 7.0 degree fov. Bought them for use in my light polluted suburban backyard. Easily picked out several globuar clusters distict from the surronding stars. They are now my most used binos, even more so than my (mid-eighties vintage) Meade 11x80s. Recommended.

I bought these for astronomical use. I was concerned that they would be heavy, but they were not bad. I was able to find M44 easily in rural skies. The image is big, bright and clear, exceeding my expectations. I saw some minor distortion around the edges, which can be distracting when scanning, but I found this to be acceptable given what I paid. I couldn't justify paying over $200 for the next model up, but I am very satisfied with the performance and price of these binoculars.

The Orion Scenix 10x50 wide-angle binoculars are very affordable for low income budgets and they really help bring nature closer. I now see more stars at night, than when viewing the sky with my eyes alone. The binoculars are easy to take care of and to clean. It is also easy to bring stars or other items into a clear focus.

These are great binoculars for astronomy. The optics are great, they're not too heavy or bulky, and they gather a lot of light. They offer just the right amount of magnification, and have large, bright views. 10x50s are better than 7x50s, unless you have a hard time holding them steady. The Orion Scenix 7x50s do weigh the same as these. The 10x50s also come with a neck strap, carrying case, and lens caps. On a night when the seeing was only fair, I saw Saturn's rings, M51, M104, M13, and M4 (when it was only 8 degrees above the horizon) with these. If you want good astronomical binoculars, and can't afford something like Orion's Resolux Waterproof Binoculars, I highly recommend these.

Here are my guidelines for astronomical binoculars (and they fulfill all of them)
1. Porro-prism binoculars.
2. Not "zoom" binoculars.
3. Have a field of view of at least 7 degrees, or 367 ft at 1,000 yards.
4. Be pointing in the same direction.
5. No scratches or dirt.
6. Lenses must be AMBER or VIOLET.
7. They must not be too heavy or bulky.
8. Light-gathering power is more important than magnification (10x50s are much
better for astronomy than 15x25s).

These binoculars are much too sensitive for the casual viewer wanting to catch a glimpse of a star or a bird in a tree. They have to be held very steady. I need a tripod.

my review for 7x50 Scenix also applies to this version. However, I found this binocular almost impossible to hold steady when handheld. Nothing wrong with optics or construction, but be aware that you would need a tripod to enjoy viewing the sky. BTW return and refund was very easy with Orion.

We now have two sets of these binoculars. We have used them extensively from our ranch in Montana to our frequent trips to Yellowstone National Park. Excellent clear viewing for the price!