What Are The Neighbors Having for Dinner??
Jul 27 '00
Note: I am putting this product review in "Choosing Binoculars" because there is currently no category for it, and the "Suggest A New Product" link isn't taking any suggestions. As soon as they open for business, I'll move this.
A Review of the Orion Mini Giant 9x63 Binoculars
-----------------
About four years ago, I had a passing interest in Astronomy. Instead of investing the cash in a telescope, I decided on a set of giant binoculars. After a bit of research (Sky & Telescope, the internet, and a few astronomy geek friends), I decided to pick up a set of Orions.
A BIT SPENDY
After finding no Orion suppliers in the area, I decided to mail order them. Plastic in hand, I called Orion Telescope and Binoculars and placed an order. After talking with a very friendly person on the phone, and dropping $224.74, they were on their way.
THE NUTS AND BOLTS
The set I ordered was the larger of the two available models of the Mini Giant, the 9x63. It is also available in the slightly smaller (and cheaper) 8x56 model. The 63 mm multicoated objective lenses are real light magnets, and excel in low light conditions. During the predawn hours, and at dusk, these glasses are truly amazing. The moderate magnification, 9x, with a five degree field of vision, works out nicely, giving about 260 feet of visibility at 1,000 yards. Very useful when scouting for game.
The prisms are Bak-4 Porro prisms. Now, I won't tell you that I know what Bak-4 Porro prisms are, but Orion is very proud of them; they have it tattooed all over the box they came in. These prisms are also multi-coated for better light transmission.
These binoculars have 18 mm eye relief pieces, which means you don't have to jam them into your eye sockets to get a full field of vision. They are also rubber armored so they don't ding and dent, and are easy to hold even in heavy rain and snowstorms. There are also rubber eye shields that fold back against the eyepiece for ease of use for eyeglass wearers.
The focus wheel is large and easy to use, and is easily adjusted even when wearing heavy winter gloves. Like most binos out there they have a right eye Doppler adjustment. This feature individually tunes the glasses to a specific persons vision. In front of the focus wheel is a removable cap that covers a hole which can be used to mount a camera tripod using an 'L' shaped adapter. This adapter can be easily purchased from Orion, or easily fabricated in your garage for those of you (like me) who are too cheap to shell out yet another $8 to Orion. The tripod mount takes the shake out of the glasses when stargazing, and also converts them into a very good spotting scope at the firing range.
TOTE THAT LOAD!
Just about the only drawbacks to these glasses are the size and the weight. These things are big and heavy. Almost 8.5 inches long, 7.5 inches wide folded all of the way in. The weight (36 ounces) is offset slightly by the fact that they come with an 1.25 inch camera-style strap, instead of the thin quasi leatherette-like strap that comes with most binoculars. It helps some, but it doesn't change the fact that these things are massive.
FIVE YEARS LIMITED WARRANTY
This is a feature that comes with all Orion binoculars. While I have never had to use it, it is a handy thing to have. I won't say that they're bulletproof, but they get the job done. I've banged them off of rock walls, fallen into streams wearing them, and even left them on the roof of the Jeepster and drove away. Watching them bang off the hood and pass me, I was sure they were toast, but they were just fine. I even jumped from a 60 degree truck to outside, where it was well below minus 20 F, and they never fogged. I've had rifle scopes costing three times as much fog under similar conditions.
The original lens covers that come with them are not tight enough for use on the trail, but a piece of 15 inch inner tube cut into a strip and stretched across all four lenses works fine.
If you want a set of field glasses, I highly recommend the Orion Mini Giant. Whether you're watching an osprey backpedal in the air over an unsuspecting trout, or want to watch the Space Shuttle fly way overhead, or you just have to know just what kind of coffeemaker the neighbors have in their kitchen, this is the set for you. I've got hunting friends who own high-end Steiners who always seem to be asking me, "Let me see your glasses".
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Wolfhound
|
|
Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 125 members
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.