Astronomy binoculars review: Sky Rover Banner Cloud APO 12X50

In March 2004 I had the pleasure of reviewing the brand new Banner Cloud binoculars, produced by the Chinese company Sky Rover, in the 8x42 format. As an astronomy and bird of prey enthusiast, I was very curious to test the 12x50 format as well. Thanks to the collaboration of Sky Rover, I managed to receive a sample a few weeks ago, together with a brand new smartphone adapter.

Sky Rover Banner Cloud APO 12x50 astronomy binoculars review

"Wide Field of View, High Optical Quality and Great Purchase Price"

The purchase price is currently $609, to which, I remind you, you must add shipping costs to Italy, VAT (23%), customs clearance fee (4.5%) and the cost of the customs bill. The cost of the smartphone adapter is incredible, which, in the “adapter plus iPhone 15 Pro case” version, is only $29.

The Sky Rover story

Sky Rover was founded in 2003, the company started its operations with a primary focus on manufacturing high-quality telescopes and binoculars. Over the years, it has earned a reputation for excellence in the industry, propelling its growth and development. In 2010, Sky Rover officially registered its trademark, confirming its commitment to product identity and quality. In 2017, it took a significant step by forming a dedicated company that further consolidated its position in the sports and astronomical optics market. Today, Sky Rover is recognized as a premium brand with a team of professionals specifically dedicated to research and development. With an unwavering commitment to high quality, affordability and continuous innovation, Sky Rover continues to explore and offer highly attractive optical solutions while keeping an eye on customers’ “wallets”.

Accessories supplied

The accessories supplied are identical for all models in the “Banner Cloud” series, so I can only repeat what was highlighted in the 8x42 review. The binoculars, in fact, are shipped inside a very well-finished white box; from the outside you can see graphics that represent the main features of the product. The interior is protected by black sponge padding, which safeguards the binoculars. In a smaller compartment, on the right side, there is a box where you can find the shoulder strap for the cordura bag, the one for the binoculars and an English manual with quick instructions, as well as a cloth for cleaning the lenses. Obviously, the cap for the eyepieces and lenses is provided. In addition to this, as anticipated, I also received the brand new smartphone adapter. In my case, owning a CAT S62 Pro, known for its robustness rather than for the optical quality of the camera, I requested a case for the iPhone 13 Pro, the smartphone used by my eldest daughter.

Optional accessories

I reiterate that as an optional accessory, the smartphone adapter is available, the features of which will be described in detail in a specific paragraph.

Mechanics and fire systems

The Sky Rover Banner Cloud 12x50 is also made of a lightweight magnesium alloy hull. My electronic scale estimated a weight, without caps and strap, of 1020 grams, distributed evenly over about 17x12 cm. It is filled with nitrogen and waterproofed. The company confirms that its waterproofing capacity allows it to withstand accidental immersion in water up to a meter deep for half an hour.

Compared to the 8x42 model it has a similar shape, but the large 50mm ED lenses cause an increase in size at the front.

The binoculars are protected by a rubber armor which, while not the best in terms of anti-slip properties, is certainly sturdy enough for everyday use and able to withstand minor accidental bumps or scratches.

You can see an increased thickness in the lateral area and from an ergonomic point of view it is well balanced. Holding it by squeezing the optical tubes it still seemed slightly unbalanced towards the eyepieces, a factor that facilitates, as you know, prolonged use.

There are two sturdy slots for attaching the shoulder strap, while in the lower part, near the lenses, there are two small rubberized seats with the same composition as the frame, which allow the perfect pressure insertion of the caps that cover the lenses. Also in this case, the presence of the thread is welcome, hidden under a cap with the logo of the company in the sector. The inside of the optical tube is well made with matt black paint at various diaphragms, to be picky perhaps the blackening in the prism area could be improved but I have seen higher-end binoculars assembled worse.

The focus knob also has the same features as the 8x42 format: it is large (27.5x32 mm), metallic, knurled and easy to use even with winter gloves. This model showed extremely smooth focusing, without any play or sticking, decidedly superior to the price range.

I estimated a minimum focus distance of about 290 cm. To go to infinity, it was necessary to rotate the knob counterclockwise for about 390-400 degrees. The company also claims a manageable focus range beyond infinity of about 5 diopters from 10 meters to infinity, the ride is decidedly short.

The diopter adjustment system on the right eyepiece is entrusted to a large ring (43x4 mm), also knurled and metallic. It is not equipped with a locking system, but since it requires a certain amount of force for rotation, it is very unlikely that it will move accidentally. The diopter correction declared by the company is +-4, there are no numbered reference notches but the classic + symbols.

Optics

The 50mm lenses are equipped with excellent low dispersion lenses definable as ED (Extra Low Dispersion). The images are pleasantly bright, the color rendering is “almost neutral”, even if sometimes, in the observation of the whites, I perceived a slight warm dominant that I personally appreciate. Comparing my Sky Rover with the Zeiss Victory SF, I note that the latter offers a slightly warmer color rendering. Within the field of view, the images are very sharp and contrasted, and can certainly compete with high-end binoculars. The front lens is inserted into the optical tube about 7mm from the edge. Excellent lens caps, they have not used cheap containment rings but a real quick attachment and release system that avoids losing them during use in the field.

Eyepieces

The Sky Rover Banner Cloud 12x50 is equipped with wide-angle eyepieces, and the apparent field of view is excellent, 71.4° which results in a true field of view of 6.4 degrees. The images are perfectly corrected up to the edge, thanks to the aspherical lens system.

The eyepiece diameter is 48 mm, while the field lens has a diameter of 27 mm, which is identical to that of the 8x42 format. Unfortunately, I will not be able to show you the entire field of view in the video, since the 17 mm f/1.8 lens of my video camera is not able to capture the entire portion of the panorama visible through the binoculars. The interpupillary distance of these binoculars is between 56 and 76 mm. The declared eye relief is 18 mm; personally, with my sunglasses, I was able to observe almost the entire field of view.

The eyepieces are equipped with extractable light shields with a six-position rotation system with a metal cage

The eyepieces are also equipped with excellent hoods, made with a sturdy metal cage and a 6-position click-stop system. The shape of my face finds maximum comfort at the "third click". It is possible to extract them to ensure the cleaning of the optics and also to fix the adapter for the smartphone. The rubber that composes them is quite soft.

At my 66mm interpupillary distance, the eyepiece distance is 23.5mm, much more than the 16mm I found in the 8x42 model. For this reason, I find it more comfortable to use than the smaller format.

Prisms

As you can see in the article and the video, the exit pupil is perfectly circular, with a sharp field stop and a very faint green ring visible at the edge. There is no scattered light near the exit pupil, but further out you can see two small reflections caused by the surfaces of the roof prisms or by the mechanical components that accommodate them.

Under normal lighting conditions, these binoculars, in relation to their format and purchase price, offer excellent containment of stray light and ghost images.

In fact, compared to the top-of-the-range models, it is quite surprising. Looking at the sky at midday, I noticed only a very slight vignetting at the edges.

Anti-reflection treatment on lenses and prisms

I reiterate what was already confirmed in the review of the 8x42 format: Sky Rover also declares for this model to have optimized the binoculars with a multilayer anti-reflective optical coating on every optical surface, called FBMC. In addition, a water-repellent treatment has been added to the field lenses, eyepieces and objectives, which facilitates cleaning of the lenses and prevents the agglomeration of water drops. The declared average light transmission is 90%, with a maximum peak of 92%. This translates into an exciting performance even in twilight conditions.

The prisms have been optimized with the same FBMC coating, in addition to a phase and dielectric coating. Again, the coating has a pleasant shade of green and purple. The classic test I do by looking at myself in the lenses to check the details of my face has confirmed the excellence of the coating, especially considering the price range of the binoculars.

Chromatic and geometric aberrations

Chromatic aberration at the center of the field

The Sky Rover Banner Cloud 12x50, as anticipated, is equipped with low dispersion ED lenses. Considering its diameter and high magnification, the containment of chromatic aberration is commendable and very similar, in my opinion, to the best 12x50 binoculars on the market. It can be perceived, at times, in the analysis of very contrasted subjects/objects such as during the observation of the white gazebo installed in my garden. This minimal incidence of residual chromatism is perceptible above all in the worst lighting conditions, such as backlighting with a gray sky.

In normal lighting conditions, I found the binoculars to be free of chromatic aberrations at the center of the field. Furthermore, the containment of residual chromatism in common observing situations—that is, not looking for “difficult” objects, but simply observing mountains, trees, leaves or birds of prey—proved to be truly remarkable. In short, these are binoculars that offer a containment of residual chromatism typical of high-end models.

Lateral chromatic aberration

Lateral chromatism begins to be noticeable on very contrasted subjects when you move towards 70% from the center of the field of view. At this point it manifests itself as a slight yellow-green-blue halo around the silhouettes of the most defined objects. However, it is much more difficult to notice it, for example, when observing a landscape in the distance, even in this case, I must admit that I found a commendable performance.

Field curvature

In daytime use, the binoculars show a flat field of view up to the edges of the field, with perfectly sharp images and with the same representation of details visible on the axis. The only difference is given by the lateral chromatism, which tends to slightly decorate the edges of the objects framed at the edge of the field with green, blue and yellow. It is certainly a binocular that can be defined as "flat field".

Angular distortion

Pincushion distortion becomes noticeable starting from about 75% from the center of the field of view but is not very high in percentage. Since I am not very sensitive to the “rolling ball” effect, I cannot confirm with certainty that, in panning, this percentage of distortion applied is optimal to avoid a bit of this classic effect.

Other aberrations

I observed, as always, a GEOPTIK artificial star by mounting the binoculars on a photographic tripod, and then performing the same type of observation under the starry sky. These binoculars have what is called Habsam Ring, however, it is useful to make a clarification.

Observing with one eye and analyzing the field of view inside a single optical tube, starting from about 80% from the center of the field, you notice a deformation of the stellar pointformity that then returns to being similar to a "pinhead" approaching the peripheral edge. This characteristic, however, is not noticeable in the classic observation with both eyes, since the brain—at least in my case—performs a good correction of the images.

For example, while observing the starry sky freehand lying on the sunbed, I had the feeling of benefiting from a fully corrected field of view. Sometimes, perhaps the most attentive people could notice this slight stellar degradation, especially if they observe stars of magnitude I or II.

Several tests carried out in the area of ​​the Perseus double cluster, for example, even with the binoculars fixed on the tripod, did not make me perceive this effect, which I repeat, at least in my case, can only be perceived by observing carefully inside a single optical tube.

Test with USAF chart at 35 meters

The USAF Chart test at 35 meters showed the binoculars to be very sharp at 12x. When mounted on a tripod, I was able to clearly see and resolve the vertical and horizontal lines visible on line 4. If you have the time and inclination to go and look at the same test performed with other 12x, you will notice that I obtained a result slightly inferior to the Oberwerk 12x50 and similar to the expensive Vortex Razor UHD 12x50.

The containment of chromatic aberrations is commendable; only a hint of lateral green chromatism on the right side and blue on the left side is noticeable when observing the edges of the USAF CHART. At the center of the field, only a slight purple halo is visible, yellow/green on the more contrasted edges of the black ovals of the high-resolution map.

I had some trouble using the Zeiss 3x12 T* tripler because the eyepiece hood was very large.

Even trying to use neoprene strips, I never managed to get a good connection to do this kind of test. The fact is, however, that I went well beyond line number 6, I could also perceive details on the right side of the table. I only noticed a drop in sharpness and brightness.

Freehand, I was unable to surpass the results obtained with classic 10x binoculars, I did better only by resting my elbows on a support. Generally, I noticed that I remained slightly more stable with binoculars with Porro prisms, as I was able to spread my arms more and use my shoulders better. It is a binocular, in my opinion, that to fully exploit its resolving power must often be used with a photographic tripod, when used with a monopod you get a compromise between the two results (freehand and with tripod).

Practical impressions on the field

Birdwatching

About fourteen years ago, I had to think for a couple of months about choosing a new pair of binoculars to include in my observation kit. At the time, I was very passionate about birds of prey and was looking for a compact and lightweight instrument to carry with me, which would allow me to better perceive the details of birds of prey at high altitudes or when they landed near their nests. The idea was to travel light without a spotting scope and tripod.

At the time, I was using 8.5x42 binoculars profitably and later I added 15x50 stabilized binoculars to them. However, the 15x50 binoculars did not satisfy me particularly, since, although they had a satisfactory stabilization capacity for observing birds of prey at a distance, they showed a lot of residual chromatism when observing the flight feathers of birds of prey against the light. For this reason, I purchased a very expensive top of the range 12x50 format, the Swarovision EL.

Nowadays, comparing the money invested, I have to confirm that I am even more satisfied with the performance of the Sky Rover binoculars, which are definitely comparable to the performance of the top of the range binoculars of the same format that I had at the time and in certain situations (going from memory, however) they seemed to provide better containment of scattered light.

These binoculars are less resolving than a 15x56, but to understand the morphology of a bird of prey, in my opinion they can also be used freehand, or with the precautions mentioned in the paragraph on landscape observation, perhaps with a nice monopod. In this case, you could travel very light to reach the tops of mountains or points from which you can benefit from a good view of the nests or the passage of birds of prey.

I think that these binoculars can be very appreciated by birdwatcher friends who go every year to admire the migratory birds of prey in Arenzano. They have a large field of view, excellent sharpness and excellent contrast, with excellent containment of chromatic aberrations, all at an incredible price.

Furthermore, considering that through the new photo adapter, which I will describe shortly, it is possible to obtain interesting shots using your smartphone.

Landscape observation

Until a few months ago, to obtain such engaging images at 12x magnification, it was necessary to invest four or five times the price of these binoculars. With a very large apparent field of over 70 degrees, a flat field and a decent resolving power, it provides landscape images of the highest quality.

Personally, I preferred to use it with a small carbon tripod, easily transportable to the mountain tops near my home. This approach proved effective in making the most of the optical quality of the binoculars. Although it is possible to use it freehand, thanks to its compactness and lightness, you cannot fully exploit the 12x magnification.

An intermediate solution is to use a monopod, look for natural supports, or rest the optical tube against the trunk of a tree, pressing with your hand on the external tube. Alternatively, you can sit on the ground and use your knees as support for your elbows. Finding the right way and using your skills, it will be possible to carry it with you, especially if you want a bright binocular also for astronomical observations and you do not have the desire or the possibility to buy several binoculars for different observation sectors.

The difference between an 8x42 and this 12x50, when equipped with a stable support, is evident: you can perceive invisible details, such as reading license plates with certainty, while in the 8x42 you only notice blurry numbers. This binocular represents an excellent compromise between a 15x56 and the classic 8x42.

I highly recommend these binoculars to the most demanding landscape observation enthusiasts who need ultra-wide-angle binoculars with a decent magnification and who do not want or cannot purchase a spotting scope or bulky 20x80 or 25x100 binoculars.

Excellent performance at dusk

Twilight observation

The performance at twilight is also excellent. During the period in which I tested the Sky Rover Banner Cloud 12x50 binoculars, I had the opportunity to take them with me frequently at late twilight, since I had to take pictures of deer and roe deer with some thermal scopes. In this situation, the difference compared to an 8x42 is notable: the twilight factor of the 12x50 actually proves effective compared to a classic 8x42. While in my high-end 8x42 the images of deer and roe deer began to become washed out and lacking in details, the 12x50 still maintained an excellent level of color and definition.

Although I have not been able to make a direct comparison with a top of the range telescope of the same format, I have owned a Swarovski EL 12x50 for years, often used during censuses, and I have noted many observations in my paper observation diaries.

Rereading what I have written in the past years, I was surprised: during this kind of observation, the Sky Rover Banner Cloud seems to provide better containment of the scattered light at dusk, especially when the sun sets behind the mountains, in addition to showing less residual chromatism around the silhouettes of roe deer and deer. This further test also struck me positively but take it as a mere comparison from memory, since it is always necessary to make a practical comparison in the field at the same time.

Astronomical observation

Astronomy enthusiasts have been successfully using 10x50 binoculars for years, a format that can still be handled freehand and that has overtaken 7x50 binoculars towards the end of the 1980s due to the increase in light pollution. In fact, when observing under moderately polluted skies, as is now the case in almost all of Italy, it is preferable to use an exit pupil that does not exceed the maximum pupil dilation, which rarely exceeds 4-5 mm in suburban areas.

There are two ways to use the Sky Rover Banner Cloud 12x50. During daytime observation, I clearly preferred using the tripod, but I can confirm that, using a deck chair, it is possible to enjoy the 12x magnification with relatively easy handling. The eyepiece hoods, being quite large, wrap around a good part of the eyebrow arch, acting in part as a small support.

However, if you want to carefully analyze the stars or study the colors of visible separable double stars at 12x, I strongly recommend using a tripod. For large and rapid observations of the winter sky or to observe extended objects, I particularly enjoyed lying on one of the sun loungers in my garden, admiring, for example, the constellation Cygnus or the very interesting areas between Perseus, Cassiopeia and Auriga.

"The Sky Rover Banner Cloud 12x50 proves to be one of the best binoculars I have ever used, as it provides engaging images with a high apparent field of view and excellent correction at the edge of the field."

When observing celestial objects, such as galaxies and nebulae, the difference compared to the 10x42 is notable. For example, when observing galaxies in Ursa Major (M81 and M82), their shape is more easily perceptible even under a sky polluted by the spotlights of nearby houses. While my 10x50 USM showed a clearer sky background, the 12x50 proved interesting also for observing star clusters that, although not resolved, still show, to a careful eye, their shape, such as M13 in Hercules or M36, M37 and M38 in the constellation of Auriga.

Regarding asterisms and open clusters, I must confirm that the Perseus double cluster, seen with these binoculars, is an exciting experience, as is observing the Pleiades rising behind a mountain.

These binoculars offer an excellent field of view, good pinpoint accuracy and brightness.

It also passes the reflection test with flying colors: when observing it near a street lamp, it does not show any obvious failures, the same happens when viewing the full moon, although it can sometimes present some small ghost reflections. I expected to perceive more “spikes” when observing first and second magnitude stars, but this was not the case, this “roof prism” defect is only visible when observing very bright objects, such as LED spotlights and street lamps.

Photograph

Sky Rover provided me with a preview of a new adapter specifically designed for the Banner Cloud series. This adapter connects perfectly to the eyepiece barrel by unscrewing the lens hood. This is not a classic snap-on system, but a connection that involves the removal of the standard accessory.

This solution has both advantages and disadvantages. Among the disadvantages, there is the need to remove the lens hood every time you want to photograph an animal, even for simple recognition. On the other hand, the advantages include the total safety of your smartphone, which will be firmly connected via the internal thread of the eyepiece barrel and a perfect alignment with the optical axes. In addition, thanks to the counter adjustment ring, it will be possible to obtain a precise alignment, minimizing vignetting based on the field of view framed by the lens of your smartphone, proportionally to the pupil extraction of the binoculars.

I think it is the most performing and safe adapter I have ever tried at a truly incredible price. However, it is important to note that, although the smartphone support system is particularly effective, you will always have to remove the lens hood during practical use in the field and obviously it will only be usable with Banner Cloud binoculars unless by some fortuitous event your internal barrel of the eyepiece has the same thread.

The quality of the images will be directly proportional to that of the smartphone you will use, Sky Rover strongly recommends the use of the applications “ProCamera” for iOS and “mcpro24fps” for Android to manually manage the settings of your device.

The adapter is also excellent, precise but inexpensive

Merits

• Amazing price-performance ratio: It offers excellent performance at an affordable cost.
• High-quality ED lenses: ensure sharp, high-contrast images.
• Direct sale from the manufacturer's website without further steps
• Excellent containment of residual chromatic aberrations: reduces chromatic aberrations, offering faithful images
• Flat field: Allows for uniform vision across the entire field of view.
• High transmission in its price range
• Excellent containment of diffused light 
• Lightweight and hand-held (sitting on a deck chair) in astronomical observation
   

Defects

• Less manageable freehand than the other 3 formats in the Banner Cloud series
• The 4.1 mm exit pupil is less “comfortable” than the 5 mm offered by the 10x50 format. However, these are very subjective preferences, given that, being an amateur astronomer, I am used to observing even in much smaller exit pupils.
   

In summary

"The Sky Rover Banner Cloud 12x50 is a very high quality binocular, exceptional in its price range. In terms of optical performance, it is easily comparable to high-end binoculars. Sure, it does not offer the same mechanical refinement or attention to detail typical of the more expensive models, but what sets it apart is its spartan and no-frills approach that nevertheless boasts an “enviable” optical design. These binoculars are designed to meet the needs of the most demanding enthusiasts, both for amateur and professional use. They will certainly be appreciated by birdwatchers who are passionate about birds of prey and by amateur astronomers who are looking for an excellent compromise between size, magnification, brightness and performance."

Price and availability

The Sky Rover Banner Cloud APO 8x42, costs in October 2024, 609 dollars and can be ordered through the official website.

Thanks

I thank Sky Rover Optics for providing the specimen that is the subject of this text, leaving me free to cite my practical impressions in the field.

An unbeatable price given the direct passage from the company to the end customer

The video review is in Italian

Sky Rover Banner Cloud APO 12X50 review

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