Giant Oberwerks

[Bill A]

Anybody know anything about the huge Oberwerk 25/40x100mm binocs offered by Big Binoculars, among others? I've always been interested in big binocs for a variety of reasons. These are less than 1500 bucks, including a heavy-duty tripod.

Thanks,
Bill

[grbrown]

Bill,

I have recently discovered them on the net too. They seem to be sold in the UK under the brand 'Strathspey'. They get favourable reviews on astronomy websites, such as:

http://www.cloudynights.com/breviews/binorev.htm

They seem to be Chinese made and have a few quality issues, but have a very high specification and give good performance. I am very attracted to them and seriously considering a pair. They are so much cheaper than brands such as Miyauchi and Kowa (who make the Highlander 82mm binoculars) that they cannot be dismissed!

Unfortunately not many bird watchers seem to be attracted to big binoculars like these so useful feedback is scarce. They seem to be more attractive to astronomers.

Graham.

[grbrown]

Bill,

The longer I look the more I see! I can now point you to the Chinese source of Oberwerk binoculars, as well as the US website (although you may already know that!). Oberwerk are the sole US distributors for Kunming Optical Instruments Co., Ltd.

http://www.oberwerk.com/products/default.htm

Kunming: http://www.binocularschina.com/

For UK readers, the importers are:

http://www.strathspey.co.uk/

Graham.

[OpticsToad]

I recently aquired Oberwerk 15x70 binos for $150. I also have a pair of Leica 7x42 and Pentax SP 8x32 and while the Oberwerks are not of the same quality, for the price they work well for both terrestrial and night viewing. On a tripod they are surprisingly sharp and well-balanced optically. I feel they are well worth the dollars and much easier to look through than a spotting scope.

[possum]

I have a pair of these 25x100 binoculars, they are excellent optical quality.
I bought them from Telescope Service in Germany, www.telescope-service.com . Ordered Monday, delivered on Thursday. T-S are a good company to buy from, and I'm not related to them in any way.

I bought the TS Gigant AZ, which have pan and tilt fork, which allows quick and easy target acquisition. They can be fitted with any standard astro eyepiece, giving choice of magnification from around x15 to as high as you want. I go up to x45, at which point atmospheric conditions can dominate image quality.

The standard tripod mount has a fine pitch/tilt control, but a coarse pitch motion which is a bit awkward. The fork mount on these is much easier to use. I think that Oberwerk sell the same product. I've tried both and prefer the fork mount.

The TS Gigant AZ have a minimum IPD of 56mm, which is good if you want it, as most binoculars start around 58 or 60 mm.

These binoculars are very heavy, about 14 kg (30lbs) and the tripod is around 10 kg, making them ideal if you have a fixed observation position, but impossible to slip into your pocket.

I am delighted with mine, I've been in the industrial laser and optics business all my life, and I've spent many hours looking at optical images. These are a genuinely good deal. I love them.

So far I've used them to watch whales, dolphins and basking sharks, as well as choughs, hen harriers and diving gannets. If you buy them, you won't stop using them, absolutely addictive.

[grbrown]

As a frequent visitor to the Isle of Man and a keen bird watcher I have never seen a possum there!!!

We have ordered a set of these big bins and are waiting for them with mounting excitement...

Graham :h?:

[grbrown]

We have ours now and are bowled over by them! It is one thing to say they weigh 13kgs/26pounds, but another to have them around and experience it whenever moving them.

We have not had much opportunity to use them yet, but are looking forward to doing so. We intend getting a sturdy haversack to carry them around in!

I now know they are available from at least 3 suppliers in the UK, Monk Optics, Kay Optical and Cyber Services. Note that their prices vary significantly!

Graham.