20×65 ED Deluxe
$569.95
20×65 ED Deluxe
$569.95
In stock.
The 20×65 ED Deluxe is our take on the legendary Takahashi 22×60 Fluorite, which was discontinued about 15 years ago. Back then, it sold for $1100, and today used 22×60’s sell for $2000+! It was known for excellent sharpness across almost the the entire field, with pinpoint stars and virtually no chromatic aberration. The only downside, besides the extremely high price, was a very narrow 45° AFOV (Apparent Field of View). The new Oberwerk 20×65 ED also has excellent sharpness across the field of view, with virtually no chromatic aberration. Unlike the Takahashi, the 20×65 ED has a wide 65° AFOV, and is much more affordable! Of course these are fully broadband multi-coated, waterproof, and nitrogen charged. Has precise individual focus. An adjustable-balance mount allows attachment directly to a tripod head. Includes our exclusive heavy-duty aluminum-frame case.
Read the review of the 20×65 ED in the Sept. 2021 issue of Astronomy Magazine.
Recommended mounts-
Oberwerk 2000 monopod
Oberwerk 4000 tripod/head
Oberwerk 5000 tripod/head
Additional information
| Weight | 20 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 26 × 15 × 12 in |
| FOV | 3.2° |
| Eye Relief | 12.0mm (usable) |
| Exit Pupil | 3.25mm |
| IPD Range | 56-74mm |
| Minimum Focus | 35m |
| Product Weight | 6.4 lbs. |
| Product Dimensions | L=15, W=8.5, H=3.5 in. |
Jeff Stark –
This is an exceptional binocular! The image across the field of view is extremely sharp and has excellent contrast. The binocular is very well built and the semi-rigid nylon, padded case is a nice addition. I mounted the binocular on Oberwerk’s model 5000 tripod for a solid support. My first view was of the Double Cluster, NGC 869 and 884. The detail revealed by the FK-61 glass was exemplary. I was able to easily see colors across the stars within the clusters. As I said earlier, the field of view is sharp from edge-to-edge. My second observation was of M57 in Lyra. I was able to make out a small smudge very easily. From M57, I scanned across the Milky Way and thoroughly enjoyed the view. I was at an altitude around 3500 feet in western NC and the temperature was in the 20’s. Seeing conditions were perfect.
Thanks Kevin, for your assistance and for the technical information. You’ve got a definite winner here!
Jawaid Abbasi (verified owner) –
Just a short introduction of the Oberwerk 20x65ED. I will do some comparison little bit in detail after observing the Messier objects along with APM 100 90 degree non ED and my trusty Vixen BT-81SA and will share the improvements that the instrument should have it.
Here we go:
I got it today and was left on my door step. Mail person never bother to ring the bell and just left it which is one thing I do not like it!
The instrument was packed in double boxes and both boxes have cushion to secure the instrument and It gave me the confident that the instrument is safe and the collimatiom will be spot on.
After I taken out, It really impressed me the built quality that I can say that the money spent worth well.
The Balance system rod hold the instrument very securely and do not feel loose as others binocular center bar feel always loose.
Front cover is ABS plastic and has spring latches to securely in and out without any trouble and I really like it!
The focusing Mechanism nor stiff neither loose and it was just right as I wanted.
Looking at trees and birds on electric lines far …. about a three quarter mile and I did not see no false colour at all !! even I tried hard,
The colour fidelity was rich and seems natural and I saw stripes on birds clearly and no haze at all just like that I am standing one feet away from birds. I am not a bird watcher But the picture is so sharp and clear that really make me observing the birds on the electric line for a long time !
Field curvature was not seen perhaps someone correct me who already owned it.
Over all, it was impressive and without observing at night; I can say that it will perform exactly as day time that I observe and tested.
Rain started in evening so night observing was not possible but I still look around some dim lights far far away.
Well, that is my initial impression and I will do a comparison as I said it in my opening statement. Although, the purpose to buy is not doing Review instead, having another instrument in 50 mm to 60 mm range just because years ago; I have had a Pentex 20×60 WPII and it was quite marvelous instrument.
Roy Clingan –
For over 30 years, I have looked through many binoculars, telescopes, eyepieces, and imaging equipment. I have built two observatories, discovered 60 minor planets (asteroids – MPC code 460), and turned in thousands of data observations on asteroids, comets, NEO’s, NEA’s and variable stars. I am no stranger to what the atmosphere can do to viewing.
Half of the equation of what is seen, imaged or measured is the optics. Take the Hubble Space telescope where atmosphere is not a factor. At this point, other than tracking, optics is the limiting factor. Now, take Keck in Hawaii . It is on an island in the middle of the ocean at 13,796ft. At that height, it is above all other objects that could roil the atmosphere. The ocean minimizes scintillation and the site is known for the best seeing in the world. However, they still use laser guided adaptive optics to help further enhance seeing.
My review. I live in Colorado at an elevation of 7200 feet on a side of a mountain. Looking south through my Oberwerk 20×65 ED, I can read a sign approx 3×4 feet at a distance of 1.6 miles –measured by Google map – on a good day (First line, “Orvis”. Second line, “Hot Springs”). On most days, it is not readable. All days, to the unaided eye, appear as clear days. Why are they different? It is due to surface radiation and particles of dust/junk in the soup. Junk in, junk out.
I own equipment such as: Ziess binos, William Optics (TMB 110mm APO), 3.5” Questar, older version Celestron C-14, Meade LX600 14” ACF, and others. I have not talked to Oberwerk about the 30-day trial. I assume the reason they give you 30 days is so you can have time to compare good with bad days. Don’t form an opinion based on a couple days. As far as where I live, these binos have only been sky limited. They are sharp with good contrast. The CA I have seen I have attributed to eye position or caused by atmospheric refraction, not to the optics.
The only issue I have found has been the eye relief. I do not wear glasses but find myself touching the folded down eyepieces cups with my eyebrows to get a full circular view. I am pretty critical of my equipment. I can say I have added these to my collection. To me, they are a good dollar value.
Mike Marshall (verified owner) –
The Oberwerk 20×65 ED Deluxe has been outstanding for both terrestrial and night sky use. In the 2 months since purchase my wife and I have used it for eagle watching many times and the sharpness is great. At night it provides good detail of the moon and nice views of things like Hyades, Pleiades, and the Beehive Cluster. I’ve spent many mornings looking at Jupiter and it’s moons, Saturn, and Mars. At 20x you can tell that Saturn is not just round and that there are rings around it. The Oberwerk 4000 tripod is sturdy and operates smoothly. We are pleased with the binoculars and the advice that we received from Kevin. The service and shipping was prompt and we expect to do more business with Oberwerk in the future.
John ossowski (verified owner) –
I believe I found the perfect pair of binoculars and I have an extensive array which I’ve collected through the years. The view through the 20×65 displays a velvetty black background. Perfect stat images and colors are noticeable too. See , I’m almost 70, my eyesight is not quite what it used to be and I live in a small city nestled in the Mohawk Valley of central NY with you guessed it a sufficient amount of sky light pollution! Tonight I scanned the summer constellations using a heavy tripod and saw my favorite object Jupiter and Saturn at 20 power were nice and clear. But woa I was impressed with the Andromeda galaxy through this beautiful set of binoculars. In summary. I’m very impressed!!!!
Adien Toledo –
Tried the 20×80 delux 3’s but wasn’t completely satisfied so I purchased the 20×65, compared side by side; a tiny bit less light gathering was noticeable but the image sharpness, pinpoint stars, color correction and lighter feel make these worth getting. I’ve also used these during daytime and they work great! I also love the individual eye focusers which really lock in the focus, allowing continuous scanning of the night sky worry free from having to refocus.
Clay Holberg (verified owner) –
This is a solid optic and when we need something more serious, I’m coming back to Oberwerk. They took the time to recommend the right pair for our purposes, and my wife was elated with these as a gift. We missed Saturn/Jupiter on the solstice due to cloud cover, but tonight’s clear skies revealed the two in great detail. Jupiter’s moons were bright and you could make out Saturns unique shape. The clarity and color on the 20×65 ED is superb. These are right at the size where you could still pack them in a backpack and hike to a really magnificent vantage point. Fit and finish are great and the adjustments are smooth.
Wes Wilson (verified owner) –
Received my Deluxe ED series this past Saturday, a day late (Fedex, due to weather/snow/ice). Boxes were not damaged, came well packaged as described on their web site. Got it in time to view Jupiter, using a tripod, on the horizon (just above the mountains here in western NC), but could not catch Saturn nor Mercury due to the mountains. Even through the atmosphere at that angle Jupiter’s image was clear and circular, no apparent CA other than atmospheric colorization. I could only detect one moon due to the latent light from the Sun, as Jupiter was setting following the sun. The next day Sunday I took the binocs to Lake James where I viewed Shortoff Mountain from five miles away. Spetacular view. Flat field, crisp across the field of view. Next I’ll tackle Orion, Andromeda, Venus, Mars. Great instrument! Would purchase again and again!
Keith O’Neill –
This is my first pair of binoculars as I am just beginning to get into the hobby of stargazing. I decided on these based on the numerous positive product and Company reviews. The binoculars were shipped quickly and in quality packaging. You can tell that Kevin takes great care to insure your product arrives damage free. A tripod is a must for comfortable viewing at extended intervals. The independent eye focus is great as I am near sighted and have found it much easier to view without my glasses on. The 20x magnification is creates awesome views of moon with amazing detail while the field of view is still good for scanning the night skies. While I am just a beginner and don’t know much about all of the technical terms I can say that there is no coloration with these ED lenses. I can’t wait to use these for birdwatching as well with the super clear and crisp views. All of the reviews are spot on and Kevin and Linda do an amazing job communicating to insure satisfaction. I have already purchased the 10×42 Sport ED’s for my wife and am ready to step up to the BT100XL’s. I am hooked on this hobby now and intend on enjoying many years using the quality Oberwerk products. Thanks Kevin and Linda!
Matthew Wheeler (verified owner) –
Great compliment to my BT100XL for lazy star gazing. I am using it with 5000 series tripod and Farpoint parallelogram mount. I can scan the heavens for hours with these sitting in a lounge chair!!!
Roger Partin (verified owner) –
Just purchased the 20×65 ED Deluxe binocular and the Oberwerk 5000 Series Tripod/Head in March/2021. Having owned a Meade LX200 10 inch scope since 1994, as the years have gone by it has become a job transporting that monster around. I wanted more of a “grab & go’ type of instrument and that’s when I found the 20×65 ED Deluxe. A very nice crafted binocular, weighting in at 6.49 lbs and 15 inches long, it can be handheld for awhile, then I put it on my Oberwerk 5000 Series Tripod, very sturdy. Knowing me, it will just be a matter of time before I step up to the BT-100XL-ED binocular. As far as the 20×65 ED Deluxe, I’ll be keeping this beauty. Oberwerk indeed has some very nice products – Thank you Linda & Kevin..
Susan Sodoma (verified owner) –
First learned about Oberwerk through the Cloudy Nights forum, where the company got all around very positive reviews. Decided to check them out and settled on this bino for a quality casual-astronomy-grab-and-go. When I felt unsure if this was the right choice, an email to the company resulted in a very quick response with some details that assured me this would fill my needs. Two months after my purchase, having had a chance to use them, I have to say I’m not disappointed. Very nice binocular with crisp, sharp views, no color problems whatsoever. They are great for day viewing as well as night. Fit and finish is excellent. The binocular also comes in a very nice hard case with cutout foam for storage. Be aware that this is a big, heavy bino… you will most likely need some sort of support for it. I purchased it with the Oberwerk monopod and absolutely love this combination — it means you can have a powerful bino that’s well supported but still easy to carry around from place to place without being awkward. Very happy with my purchase.
Mike Daniel (verified owner) –
As many others have said before these binoculars are top notch. From fit and finish to performance.
John Dirck (verified owner) –
The August issue of Astronomy magazine contained a very favorable review of the Oberwerk ED Deluxe binoculars, which prompted me to purchase it, along with a tripod. Both the tripod and binoculars have exceeded my expectations. The area I live in has less than ideal viewing conditions, but the views are spectacular! As for Oberwerk Corporation itself, I was continually kept abreast of the status of my order (the binoculars had a 3-week backorder), and they arrived exactly on time! Great work, guys!
Karen Mayhew (verified owner) –
My review is not as professional as many of the others as my purchase was for my husbands birthday. That being said, it appeared there was no chance the gift would get here in time because of cargo being held up on ships outside of LA. customer service however is top notch and somehow a pair was found SOMEWHERE and delivered in time for the birthday!
Adam Nowak (verified owner) –
The Oberwerk crew was helpful, as always! I took the binoculars out to look on the first clear night. The Pleiades were spectacular. I have only been into stargazing for a year, but this was something special to see. For context, I usually walk down to a ball field near my home with a decent amount of light pollution. So, if this your situation and you are someone looking to take the next step, the 20×65 will not disappoint.
Clarence Pierre (verified owner) –
First order went the same as the third, perfect. Extremely customer focused. The only thing better than their customer service/interaction is their product. Their service is excellent. Fair, informative and courteous and that still doesn’t encompass it all. Great company with great products. I have the 20×65 ED Deluxe, incredible binoculars and worth every cent paid.
Jim McDonald (verified owner) –
I bought the 20×65 because its beautiful looks. So there was some anxiety until I used them on the night sky. Worst case I return them. That ain’t happening.
The binoculars perfectly compliment my 8 in Smit and a pair of 9×63s I’ve used for 25 years.
Well done Oberwerk.
Mark Yanofsky (verified owner) –
I bought the 20x65ED binoculars after reading so many wonderful things about it,as well as the company Oberwerk…..The weather has been poor in my parts,but through the window they seem quite fine.
My only disappointment was the binoculars came to me a bit marked up…..Not enough to make an issue out of it,but they should have been pristine,as they are not inexpensive.
I figured that with the back order,management did not take enough time and care on my pair……However they seem quite nice……I’d certainly buy from Oberwerk in the future,but ask for a little more consideration in the appearance of “new” binos.
William Sladek –
Cloudy skies have interfered with nighttime viewing, so I’ve only viewed daytime terrestrial objects. Stunning views. No CA. No ghosting. Just incredibly sharp images. The only issue I have — and it’s of an individual nature — is setting my eyes to the eye relief. Since I’m new to fine binoculars, practice will improve what I see in the eyepiece. In short, the 20X65 ED Deluxe is a phenomenal buy and a perfect compliment to my Oberwerk 12X50 SE binoculars and my TeleVue TV76 Refractor. I’m a happy camper.