So how does this bino make me feel when I look through it? Like singing! The images are bright and easy to hold. The center is useably as sharp as any FOV should be... (click for more).
When you pick up one of our exclusive Signature 85's, you'll immediately experience why these are our best-built upper-midsize binoculars. Maybe it's the massive, all-metal construction, the textured rubber armoring, or the silky-smooth oculars - whatever the reason, this binocular always leaves the user with an impression of mechanical durability unsurpassed in its size range.
The 10-pound, 16-inch long Signature 15x85 and 22x85 are our top-quality upper-midsize binoculars. They use precisely-polished lenses and BaK4 prisms that are fully broadband multi-coated to allow superb 99.5% per surface and greater than 92% total light transmission. From your deck or from your observatory, these binoculars deliver exceptionally bright and contrasty images of nature and the night sky. Other features include excellent ergonomics and durable rubber-armored all-alluminum construction that will provide each priviledged owner with a lifetime of enjoyment.
The quality feel of this binocular translates to reliable performance as well. The Signature 85mm designs possess an unusually robust mechanical chassis and very sturdy prism mounts for a giant binocular, which helps to minimize the chance of collimation shifting during normal use. These binoculars utilize a sophisticated, 5-element ocular design that allows them to acheive better edge-of-field correction than our standard Gemini series products. Each binocular is individually tested and must pass our rigorous 14-point inspection, insuring high degree of both optical and mechanical performance consistency. Collimation adjustments performed by a highly experienced technician on a U.S. Navy Mark V Collimator. Each binocular is covered by our two-year warranty policy and 30-day return policy.
The latest version of the popular 15x85 HD-WP and 22x85 HD-WP models now include recessed threads in the eyepiece assembly, to allow the use of any standard 1.25" nebula or neutral density filter. This is a great new feature that has the potential to enhance the observing experience.
The 15x85 model is our highest-quality binocular in this size range - it balances a 3.5° true field of view with a mid-range magnification of 15x and a large, 5.7mm exit pupil for outstanding brightness on extended deep space objects and in low-light terrestrial applications. It's 16mm of useable eye relief will keep eyeglass wearers comfortable. The 22x85 is a great all-around astronomy binocular that has an added magnification boost for teasing out more detail in deep space objects. The 22x85 may very well be the best compromise size available for a large aperture astronomy binocular - its 3° true field of view is ideal for deep space observation, and the 22x magnification and 85mm objectives pull in more detail than a standard 20x80. At the same time, superb coatings and oversized prisms allow these models to close the gap with 100mm binoculars. In addition to superb deep-space performance, either Signature 85 will show stunning high-contrast images of the moon. With the 22x85, most people will be able to distinguish the rings of Saturn, and both models will reveal the moons of Jupiter. The 15x85 model is best-suited for daytime terrestrial observation. Both the 85mm models come with a deluxe aluminum-trimmed carrying case. All models also include a free LensPen® optics cleaning device.
