Identifying Fujinon Binos
Eric Faust
up. I'm interesed in identifying the model. They are black, rubber armoured
with yellow trim. The left rear is printed FUJINON, the right rear 7X50 and
7(deg) 30'. It has rubber roll down eye cups and, at the objectives,
removable rubber rain guards. The eyeguards are removable to add filters. Each
eyepiece has a rubber grip ring and focuses individually, +/- 5 diopter. All
optical surfaces have a deep green coating. Basically, they look like the
FMT-sx series. Possible model number imprinted is 54A4? Any help on
identifying these? Other things to look at? These seem like like very nice
binoculars, but they are heavy for 7X50! Thanks in advance.
Eric
Ruud Schmeitz
Hi Eric,
Check out this Fujinon web-page:
http://www.fujinon.co.jp/products/optical/bn01.htm
There's a picture of a "high-grade" FMT-SX type bino (the 8x30FMTR-SX)
and
one of a "standard" MT-SX type (the 7x50MT-SX).
The only 'visual' difference between the FMT-SX and the MT-SX series, I
think,
is this yellow trim (eye cups and tripod adapter). I don't know why
Fujinon
doesn't print the series identification on the bino.
I have the 10x70FMT-SX myself, and identifying it as a FMT-SX type
(there's
also a 10x70MT-SX) was possible by measuring the height (FMT: 285; MT:
272)
and of course the eye relief (FMT: 23; MT: 12).
Ruud Schmeitz
Universiteit Maastricht
Eric Faust
this is the FMTR-XS model. Very nice, especially for $69(US)! They ought to be
worth a couple cloudy nights!
Regards,
Eric
In article <366F37...@MEMIC.UNIMAAS.NL>, R.Sch...@MEMIC.UNIMAAS.NL
says...
Ruud Schmeitz
> >
> >Check out this Fujinon web-page:
> > http://www.fujinon.co.jp/products/optical/bn01.htm
> >
> >There's a picture of a "high-grade" FMT-SX type bino (the 8x30FMTR-SX) and
> >one of a "standard" MT-SX type (the 7x50MT-SX).
> >The only 'visual' difference between the FMT-SX and the MT-SX series, I think
> >doesn't print the series identification on the bino.
> >
> >I have the 10x70FMT-SX myself, and identifying it as a FMT-SX type (there's
> >also a 10x70MT-SX) was possible by measuring the height (FMT: 285; MT: 272)
> >and of course the eye relief (FMT: 23; MT: 12).
> >
> >
> >Ruud Schmeitz
> >Universiteit Maastricht
>
>
> this is the FMTR-XS model. Very nice, especially for $69(US)! They ought to be
> worth a couple cloudy nights!
>
> Regards,
> Eric
>
Hi SAA-NG readers,
Fujinon offers these binoculars:
8x30 : FMTR-SX
7x50 : MT-SX, MTR-SX, MTRC-SX, FMT-SX, FMTR-SX, FMTRC-SX
10x70 : MT-SX, FMT-SX
16x70 : MT-SX, FMT-SX
Does anyone know what the meaning is of those letters (I know the C
stands
for Compass) ?
And why don't they print them on the bino itself ?
Ruud Schmeitz
Universiteit Maastricht
Eric Faust
The R seems to stand for Rubber armored.
Eric
In article <367041...@MEMIC.UNIMAAS.NL>, R.Sch...@MEMIC.UNIMAAS.NL
says...
Joseph O'Neil
<R.Sch...@MEMIC.UNIMAAS.NL> wrote:
>Fujinon offers these binoculars:
> 8x30 : FMTR-SX
> 7x50 : MT-SX, MTR-SX, MTRC-SX, FMT-SX, FMTR-SX, FMTRC-SX
> 10x70 : MT-SX, FMT-SX
> 16x70 : MT-SX, FMT-SX
>
>Does anyone know what the meaning is of those letters (I know the C
>stands
>for Compass) ?
>And why don't they print them on the bino itself ?
Hi Ruud
Okay, here goes:
Anything with an "R" is Rubber armoured.
Anything with a "C" has a compass attached on top.
Then there are the FMT and the MT, and here is the difference:
FMT - "Polaris"
MT - "Posiden"
The body, lens, EBC coatings, waterproofing, sabsolutely
everything between these two types is exactly the same EXCEPT for the
eyepieces.
The FMT (Polaris) have huge eyepieces on then, an extra
element inside (for field flattening) and have very long eye releif.
Almost all models of the FMT series have 23 or 20mm eye releif, except
for the 16x80, which have I *think* 12 or 14mm eye releif, cannot
quite remember off the top of my head. The 10x70 FMT have 19 or 20mm
eye releif, something to keep in mind if you need to wear eye glasses.
The MT (Posiden) have smaller eyepeices, one less element than
the Polaris, BUT, they are still amazingly sharp,a nd the eyepeices
are still huge compared to some other brands.
Also, on all models of Posidens, the eye releif is 12 or 13mm,
including the 10x70s.
If you compare FMT and MT binoculars side by side, on a good
night, yes you will see a difference, but by themselves the MT's are
very good.
There is a size smaller - the "AR" series, called the
"Nautilis". These binocs are physically smaller than ther FMT or the
MT binocs, but they are still full mil spec, EBC coatings, waterproof,
nitrogen, etc, etc.
One last thing - Fuji makes these binocs geared right at the
marine market, it jsut so happens they work well for astronomy. In
the world of binoculars, mariners and birders combined are more than
10 times the size amatuer astronmers, maybe even more. Hoe I didn't
burst anyone's bubble by saying that.
:)
joe
http://www.multiboard.com/~joneil
Large Format Images From Southern Ontario
Ruud Schmeitz
Hi Joe,
So if you have to identify a Fujinon as FMT or MT (as Eric Faust
asked), the only obvious visible differences is the yellow trim
(eyecups and tripod adapter)?
The difference in eyepiece size is probably only clear if you
compare them side by side.
Do you have any idea why Fujinon doesn't print the 'letter-code'
on the binoculars ?
The eye relief (23 mm for the 10x70FMT-SX !) can be found in the
specification table at the bottom of page:
http://www.fujinon.co.jp/products/optical/bn01.htm
The focus range of my 10x70 FMT-SX is +/- 5 diopter. Is there
a way to enhance this? I think I need just a little bit more
(perhaps -6) to use them without glasses.
BTW, I looked at your astro-photos and I like them! They're
actually very good for "the World's Worst astro-photos" :-)
Only the 10 min exposure of the Scutum Star Cloud ("This is my
favourite area of the sky to take picutres") puzzles me ...
Ruud Schmeitz
Universiteit Maastricht
ssi...@erols.com
Excellent review! I've always been fond of the Fujinon binocs - they
give an excellent image, are completely water and fog proof, and are
VERY robust. Just make sure you have a very strong shoulder to carry
them!
How come folks don't speak of Fujinon glass in the same breath of the
great German binocs like Leica?
While I love the Fujinons, I am leaning towards that Canon 10x30
stabilized binocs right now. The Fujinons will be much brighter, but
that stabilization is great!
- Scott Ives
Joseph O'Neil
<R.Sch...@MEMIC.UNIMAAS.NL> wrote:
Hi Ruud;
>So if you have to identify a Fujinon as FMT or MT (as Eric Faust
>asked), the only obvious visible differences is the yellow trim
>(eyecups and tripod adapter)?
>The difference in eyepiece size is probably only clear if you
>compare them side by side.
that's about it, or if liek me you've seen them enough to
reconize the difference. But for sake fo argument, at 20 meters
distance, depending ont he angle, problaly 99% of the world woudl have
a hard tiem tellign the two apart, untill you got up close or even
looked through them.
>Do you have any idea why Fujinon doesn't print the 'letter-code'
>on the binoculars ?
Not a one. I've given up trying to figure out why different
companies do different things. For example, a totally differnt
company - Brunton - used to make a nice 10x50 binocular that sold
well for me. They replaced it this year with 20x50 binoculars.
Totals sales of the new size: zero. To add insult in injury, the
Cnadain distributor fo Brunton binocualrs has really jumpe dup the
price. Without a word of exaggeration, I can buy Brunton binoculars
form places like Eagle Optics, at full retail price, and still be on
average $20 US less per pair than the Canadian wholesale price.
So, comapred to expereinces with other companies, the little
idiosynchrcies (spelling?) of Fujinon are nothing to deal with.
>The eye relief (23 mm for the 10x70FMT-SX !) can be found in the
>specification table at the bottom of page:
> http://www.fujinon.co.jp/products/optical/bn01.htm
Yes I had it written down, i was just quoting form memory.
That is problaly the biggest difference between the 10x70 and the
16x70 Fujinons. Many peple feel as they grow older they should have a
smaller exit pupil - and thus lean towards the 16x70, but in that size
the eye releif is only 12 or 13mm, and if you need to wear glasses to
use binoculars, that may not be a good choice.
>The focus range of my 10x70 FMT-SX is +/- 5 diopter. Is there
>a way to enhance this? I think I need just a little bit more
>(perhaps -6) to use them without glasses.
Not that I know of, short of contact lenses. Fuji has one of
the best dioper ranges I have seen on any binocualrs, even better than
my old Stieners. Look at it this way, if you had the +/- 6 range, by
murphy's law, you would probally need a -7.
>BTW, I looked at your astro-photos and I like them! They're
>actually very good for "the World's Worst astro-photos" :-)
>Only the 10 min exposure of the Scutum Star Cloud ("This is my
>favourite area of the sky to take picutres") puzzles me ...
"North" or "above" Saggitarius 9from my point of view) is the
constellaiton Scutum. I have heard some people refer to that area of
the milky way as the Scutum Star Cloud, adn ti is full of all sorts of
nice contrasy areas when you are takign piggy back and and wide angle
pictures.
Also for me, Saggitarius is low to the horizon, and i live in
the southern most part of Canada. Scutum is higher,a nd you do not
have as much poor seeing there due to the extra athosphere that
saggitarius sits in from my point of view. That extra few degrees of
elevation really makes a big differenc in seeing quaility.
Eric Faust
says...
>
>>BTW, I looked at your astro-photos and I like them! They're
>>actually very good for "the World's Worst astro-photos" :-)
>>Only the 10 min exposure of the Scutum Star Cloud ("This is my
>>favourite area of the sky to take picutres") puzzles me ...
>
> "North" or "above" Saggitarius 9from my point of view) is the
>constellaiton Scutum. I have heard some people refer to that area of
>the milky way as the Scutum Star Cloud, adn ti is full of all sorts of
>nice contrasy areas when you are takign piggy back and and wide angle
>pictures.
> Also for me, Saggitarius is low to the horizon, and i live in
>the southern most part of Canada. Scutum is higher,a nd you do not
>have as much poor seeing there due to the extra athosphere that
>saggitarius sits in from my point of view. That extra few degrees of
>elevation really makes a big differenc in seeing quaility.
>joe
>
Joe, you might want to browse to that page again :o) Doesn't look like a star
cloud to me....
Eric
Joseph O'Neil
wrote:
>Joe, you might want to browse to that page again :o) Doesn't look like a star
>cloud to me....
>Eric
Hi Eric;
Excuse me just a second here...
ARRGHHHHH!
Guess I'll have to fix that link. I suppose if I call my cat
"Scutum", think that will work?
:(
Ruud Schmeitz
Or call it the "Felis Domestica and the Sleeping Beauty" star cloud.
:-) :-) :-)
"Live Long and Prosper",
Ruud Schmeitz
Universiteit Maastricht
John Ongtooguk
: Excellent review! I've always been fond of the Fujinon binocs - they
: give an excellent image, are completely water and fog proof, and are
: VERY robust. Just make sure you have a very strong shoulder to carry
: them!
:
: How come folks don't speak of Fujinon glass in the same breath of the
: great German binocs like Leica?
Some folks do. 'Astronomy' had an article on binoculars a few years
back and the Fujinons as I recall were their favorites, even after
looking at the Swarovski, Zeiss and others. Since roof prism models
need to be made with much tighter tolerances in an attempt to equal
good porro prism models there isn't much of a need to diddle with
roof prism binoculars for astronomy, something that an article in
S&T noted not too long ago. The author's top picks were the Nikon
ProStars and the Fujinon FMT-SX but he was also a bit more
conservative than most buyers are, worrying about things like build
quality, worthiness of repair and such. I like the Fujinons as they
seem to offer the best images at that price point and a bit above.
John Ongtooguk (jo...@vcd.hp.com)