November 12, 2008
Is there a device to boost a binoculars' magnification?
Can you answer Simsim's question about Binoculars?:
I have a 7×50 Orion Scenix Astronomy pair of binoculars. I'm not happy with the 7x magnification.
Is there a device that I can, say, attach to one of the monoculars' eyepieces in order to boost magnification?
Any suggestion on a specific brand for that device?
Thanks in advance.
Filed under More Binoculars Answers by Binoculars Tips and Information
Comments on Is there a device to boost a binoculars' magnification? »
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.
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 20×80mm; 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:
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.
Bins are designed for max. mag within the budget optics used ..
The only way to increase the mag. is to buy a new pair.