Keywords

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Contact Information for Principal Manufacturers/Suppliers

Presented here in alphabetical order is a listing of primary sources for those binoculars typically used for stargazing. (Advertisements for many of these can be found in various issues of magazines such as Sky & Telescope and Astronomy since a number of these same companies also offer telescopes, as will be seen in the next chapter.) Note that most of the suppliers included in this compilation do not actually manufacture the various glasses listed but have them made to their specifications overseas (today, mainly from China, Taiwan and other optical facilities in the Orient). Note also that many of the dealers listed here handle other brands in addition to those having their own label on them.

Under the company’s name are its mailing address, Internet web site and/or e-mail address, phone number/s where available, and a concise listing of the various binoculars offered at the time of writing. Apertures smaller than 30 mm are not included here, being intended primarily for terrestrial use. Readers should contact the companies directly for copies of their latest catalogs, specifications for specific models, current prices, shipping charges, delivery times, warranty and return policy. In most cases their catalogs are available on-line in addition to print copies by mail. Porro and roof-prism styles, zoom and waterproof models, wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle glasses, mini and giant binoculars, affordable basic units and costly premium ones (including image-stabilized glasses and even telescopic binoculars), are all to be found among the various product lines offered by the sources below!

Before individually listing some of the more prominent suppliers of binoculars, one valuable all-encompassing source is www.binoculars.com. Most of the major brands and the various models each offers will be found on this site—typically at significantly discounted prices.

Apogee, Inc.

  • P.O. Box 136, Union, IL 60180

  • Phones: 815-568-2880/877-923-1602

  • Web: www.apogeeinc.com, E-mail: apogee@sbcglobal.net

  • Models: 7x50, 10x60, 12x60, 20x70, 25x70, 20x80, 20x88, 26x88, 32x88, 40x88 and 20x100 (with the 88mm apertures having semi-apochromatic triplet objectives).

Barska

  • 855 Towne Center Dr., Pomona, CA 91767

  • Phone: 888-666-6769

  • Web site: www.shopbarska.com/binoculars.html

  • Models: 8x30, 8x42, 10x42, 12x42, 7x50, 10-30x50 (zoom), 10-30x60 (zoom),12x60, 15x70, 12-36x70 (zoom), 12-60x70mm (zoom), 20x80 and 30x80.

Bausch & Lomb/Bushnell Performance Optics

  • 9200 Cody St., Overland Park, KS 66214

  • Phones: 913-752-3400/800-423-3537

  • Web site: www.bushnell.com

  • Models: 10x32, 12x32, 16x32, 7x35, 10x35 (image stabilized) 8x40, 7x42, 8x42, 10x42, 12x42, 8x43, 10x43, 12x43, 7x50, 10x50, and 8-15x50 (zoom).

Bresser

  • 855 Towne Center Dr., Pomona, CA 91767

  • Phone: 888-666-6769

  • Web sites: http://www.bresserstore.com/bresserbinoculars-.aspx

  • Models: 8x32, 10x32, 7-15x35 (zoom) 8x40, 8x42, 10x42, 8.5x45, 10.5x45, 7x50, 10x50 and 16x50. (Marketed through Explore Scientific).

Brunton Company

  • 2255 Brunton Court, Riverton, WY 82501

  • Phones: 307-857-4700

  • Web site: www.brunton.com

  • Models: extensive line of both porro and roof prism binoculars of various apertures and magnifications. (Click on “Brunton Outdoor” icon.)

Canon, Inc.

Celestron International

  • 2835 Columbia St., Torrance, CA 90503

  • Phone: 310-328-9560

  • Web site: www.celestron.com

  • Models: 7x35, 8x40, 7x50, 10x50, 8x56, 9x63, 20x80 and 25x100 (and many others!)

Eagle Optics

  • 2120 W. Greenview Dr., Suite 4, Middleton, WI 53562

  • Phone: 800-289-1132

  • Web site: www.eagleoptics.com, E-mail: info@eagleoptics.com

  • Models: 8x42, 10x42, 10x50 and 9.5x44.

(Edmund) Scientifics Direct (formerly Edmund Scientifics)

  • 532 Main St., Tonawanda, NY 14150

  • Phone: 800-728-6999

  • Web site: www.scientificsonline.com

  • Models: 5x30, 7x50 (plus 20x80 and additional sizes by Celestron).

Fujinon, Inc./Fujifilm USA

  • 10 High Point Dr., Wayne, NJ 07470

  • Phone: 973-633-5600

  • Web site: http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/binoculars/

  • Models: 6x30, 14x40 (image-stabilized), 7x50, 10x50, 10x70, 16x70, 15x80, 25x150 and 25x150 (currently the world’s largest production model binocular!).

Jim’s Mobile, Inc. (JMI)

  • 8550 West 14th Ave., Lakewood, CO 80215

  • Phones: 303-233-5359/800-247-0304

  • Web site: www.jimsmobile.com, E-mail: info@jmitelescopes.com

  • Models: 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 14.5- and 16-in. aperture telescopic binoculars! (Designated “Reverse Binoculars” by JMI since you observe looking down into the eyepieces with your back to the sky.)

Kowa Optimed, Inc.

  • 20001 South Vermont Ave., Torrance, CA 90502

  • Phone: 310-327-1913

  • Web site: www.kowa-sporting-optics.com

  • Models: 8x32, 10x32, 8x42, 10x42, 8.5x44, 10.5x44 and 32x82.

Leica

Leupold & Stevens

Meade Instruments Corp.

  • 6001 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA

  • Phones: 949-451-1450/800626-3233

  • Web Site: www.meade.com

  • Models: 8x42, 9x63 and 20x80.

Miyauchi

  • 177 Kanasaki, Miano-machi, Saitama 369-1621, Japan

  • Phone: 81-494-62-3371

  • Models: 8x42, 10x50, 15x63, 20x77, 20x100, and 25x141 (with apochromatic objectives). Offered by various US distributors, one specializing in their large astronomical binoculars being BigBinoculars at: http://www.bigbinoculars.com/miyauchi_binoculars.html

Nikon

Oberwerk Corp.

  • 1861 Wayne Avenue, Dayton, OH 45410

  • Phone: 866-244-7937

  • Web site: www.bigbinoculars.com

  • Models: 8/9/12/15/20x60 (choice of magnification), 11x56, 15x70, and 25/40x100 (dual magnification). An extensive line of models, styles and magnifications beginning with 8x42 and including all of the above).

Olivon Manufacturing Group

Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

  • 10555 S. De Anza Blvd., Cupertino, CA 95014

  • Phones: 800-676-1343/800-447-1001

  • Web site: www.OrionTelescopes.com

  • Models: 8x40, 8x42, 7x50, 10x50, 12x50, 8x56, 10x60, 9x63, 12x63, 15x63, 11x70, 15x70, 20x70, 11x80, 15x80, 16x80, 20x80, 30x80 and 25x100.

Parks Optical

  • 750 Easy St., Simi Valley, CA 93065

  • Phone: 805-522-6722/800-420-0255

  • Web site: www.parksoptical.com, E-Mail: parksoptical@parksoptical.com

  • Models: 8x42, 10x42, 7x50, 10x50, 12x50, 10x52, 10x70, 11x80, 15x80, 20x80, 20x80 and 25x100.

Pentax Corp.

Pro-Optic/Adorama Camera

  • 42 West 18th St., New York, NY 10011

  • Phones: 212-741-0052/800-223-2500

  • Web site: www.adorama.com E-mail: info@adorama.com

  • Models: 8x42, 7x50, 10x50, 11x70, 16x70, 11x80, 20x80, 14x100 and 25x100.

Steiner

Swarovski

  • 2 Slater Dr., Cranston, RI 02920

  • Phone: 401-734-1800

  • Web site: www.swarovskioptik.com

  • Models: 10x40 and 7x42.

Swift Sport Optics

  • 12980W. Cedar Dr., Lakewood, CO 80228

  • Phone: 877-697-9438

  • Web site: http://www.swift-sportoptics.com/binoculars.html

  • E-mail: info@swift-sportoptics.com

  • Models: 7x35, 8x40, 7x42, 8x42, 10x42, 8.5x44, 9x63, 10x42, 7x50, 10x50, 15x60, 11x80 and 20x80.

Takahashi America

  • 1925A Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77098

  • Phone: 713-529-3551

  • Web site: www.TakahashiAmerica.com

  • Model: 22x60 (with apochromatic objectives). Marketed in US by Land, Sea and Sky at https://www.landseaskyco.com (same address and phone number as above) along with more than a dozen other brands.

Tasco/Bushnell Performance Optics

  • 9200 Cody, Overland Park, KS 66214

  • Phones: 800-423-3538

  • Web site: www.tasco.com

  • Models: 4x30, 8x32, 16x32, 7x35, 8x40, 8x42, 10x42, 10x50 and 10-30x50 (zoom).

Vanguard

Vixen North America/Tele Vue Optics

  • 32 Elkay Dr., Chester, NY 10918

  • Phone: 845-469-8660

  • Web site: www.VixenAmerica.com

  • Models: 8x32, 10x32, 8x42, 10x42, 12x80 and 20x80.

Vortex Optics

  • 2120 West Greenview Drive, Middleton, WI 53562

  • Phone: 800-426-0048

  • Web site: www.vortexoptics.com, E-mail: info@vortexoptics.com

  • Models: 6x32, 6.5x32, 8x32, 8.5x32, 10x32, 8x42, 10x42, 7x50, 10x50, 12x50, 8x56, 10x56 and 15x56.

Zeiss (Carl) International/Carl Zeiss Sports Optics

  • 711 Moorefield Park, Dr., Bldg. E, North Chesterfield, VA 23236

  • Phone: 800-441-3005

  • Web site: www.zeiss.com (click on “sports Optics” and then “Nature Observation”)

  • Models: 8x30, 10x30, 8x32, 10x32, 8x40, 10x40, 7x42, 8x42, 10x42, 12x45, 15x45, 7x50, 8x50, 8x56, 10x56, 12x56, and 20x60 (image stabilized).

Zhumell

  • 9394 West Dodge Road, Suite 300, Omaha, NE 68114

  • Phone: 800-303-5873

  • Web site: www.zhumell.com

  • Models: 7x30, 8x42, 10x42, 7x50, 10-30x50 (zoom), 20x80 and 25x100.