Optics people - would these binoculars be good for plane-spotting?

[arcadian]

http://www.binoculars.com/binoculars/bird-watching-binoculars/leica12x50ultravidhdblackarmoredbinoculars.cfm

I want to be able to read the FAA registration numbers on an airliner flying at 35,000ft.

Nah, just kidding...


no really, I want to be able to do that.

[pitohui]

1. they are very well regarded

in my circle it seems like the europeans use the leicas more and the americans use the swarovskis more but i'm sure these will do just fine

[arcadian]

3. Are you a plane-spotter?

:hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. I don't know - field of view at 35,000 feet is 10,500 feet.

Seems way too wide to me to read numbers that are only a few feet tall.

[Orsino]

4. I think what you want is a telescope.

I don't know of any binoculars which would be capable of the resolution you'd need.

[XemaSab]

5. The ultravids are excellent binoculars

If you buy them, get bored with plane-spotting, and decide to resell them, I'll buy them off you for $100. :D

[pokerfan]

6. 12x is still only 12x

And 12x is pretty hard to hold steady. I have a pair of Nikon 10x42s in that same style that I just love and they cost under $100.

But if you want the highest magnification possible, you can't really go wrong with a pair of Fujinon 150mm:



It's what Hyakutake used to discover that comet about ten years ago: