Someone read my last forum post and asked why someone should pay $600 plus for the
Fujinon Polaris F-SX 10x50, when he could probably see as much by spending $150 on a
Nikon Action Extreme 10x50. Okay, fair question, but really not a complete question, though. Depends on how you define "see as much". In a very general way, you will probably see nearly as many of the faint nebuale with the cheaper
Nikon binocular, but the better light transmission of the
Fujinon binocular will add more faint objects right at the limit of visibility. Score one for the Fujinon in terms of number of objects. That same improved light transmission will make faint nebulae and galaxies appear to grow in size, since better light transmission will show more of the faint outer boundaries of these objects. Score another one for the Fujinon binocular. That same improved light transmission also enhances faint color of stars in general, and close double stars, in particular. Score another one for the Fujinon binocular. In terms of detail, the Fujinon will definitely show more fine detail, especially when it comes to resolving stars at the edge of globular clusters, splitting close double stars and showing fine detail on the moon. Definitely score another one for the Fujinon binocular. Lastly, the edge sharpness, flat field and color correction in the Fujinon just adds a wow factor and snap to your images that you never get with a cheaper binocular. Hey, we are doing astronomy for fun and excitement, right? Score a very big one for the Fujinon Polaris binocular.
Don't get me wrong; absolutely nothing wrong with a cheaper 10x50 binocular. In fact, the Nikon 10x50 Action Extreme is my most recommended
astronomy binocular in a handheld binocular in its price range. It's a truly great value and it gets my vote in our new
Brillaince Awards program for a $150 binocular. Then, too, you should not wait until you can afford an expensive binocular to do binocular astronomy. Get out there, now, and observe with whatever you can afford. Besides, you probably won't be in a position to appreciate all that Fujinon Polaris binocular can do if you are just getting started in binocular astronomy. On the nother hand, if you are an experienced observer, why not have the best? In a world of $2000 plus roof prism binoculars, that Fujinon 10x50 Polaris F-SX is a best buy. The Fujinon 10x50 Polaris F-SX gets my vote in our
Brilliance Award program for a premium astronomy binocular.