BinocularSky

I have an old 10x50 Frank Nipole; collimation is done with eccentric rings on the objectives. Ideally requires peg spanners. Non-trivial!

Sort of expected if less light is being lost into the spectrum, especially off-axis. Have you yet been able to assess how much brighter it is on-axis?

@abhoriel The PWMs arrived very quickly (ordered 30 Dec, arrived 7th Jan), it was the illuminated switches that took so long. @Daz69 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007Q82F98/

Envious! Nicest 10x50 I've looked through. Ever.

Dew strap controller (PWM) done at last (waited ages for some kit from China). 4 x 10W channels, individually fused, switched & controlled, channel switch LED brightness indicates power output. 12V 5A DC input switched & fused. Compared to the cost of a 'bought' one, I'd need to value my time at less than youth minimum wage, but you can't put a price on smug self-satisfaction :-) Circuit idea shamelessly nicked from http://www.blackwaterskies.co.uk/2013/05/a-cheap-multi-channel-dew-heater.html

Those are not binoculars, but BSOs (*). As such, they might be useful as a "talking point" paperweight, but not much else. * Binocular-Shaped Objects

...and even less charitably: most of the time they can actually see what another is using; most of the time, we can't. But also, for most astronomers, binoculars are not the primary instrument and the main lucre goes into a scope, mount and decent camera and .....

Yesterday I showed you why you shouldn't use Eyepiece-fitting Solar Filters. This video shows you two simple and inexpensive ways to safely observe the Sun (including binoculars). https://youtu.be/eDZ_nDR1BYk

Yes, it will, but be careful if there are any plastic "internals"; the heat can melt them. (Guess how I know.)

This is why you should never use plain glass Eyepiece-fitting Solar Filters http://youtu.be/G5xb3b-vRd4

I happen to have one of these to review. So far, impressed!

See http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/255161-vixens-ultra-low-power-bins-tried-at-last/page-2#entry2784896and surrounding thread When you get it, you will find that the 'manual' is next to useless; I have written a more comprehensive one (in the "Choosing & Using" section of the web site.)

If you're interested, I have a page on mounting binoculars for astronomy that you may find useful

Apart from making your own: Without tripod: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orion-Paragon-Plus-Binocular-without-Tripod/dp/B0000XMYQA With tripod: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orion-Paragon-Plus-Binocular-Mount-Tripod/dp/B003YJPDN8 HTH

I know you didn't ask me , but I use a Rigel Quikfinder on mine. It helps enormously that the outer circle is as near as dammit the same size of the FoV of my x37 eyepieces.

1. Miyauchi Bj-100 20/37x100 2. Helios Apollo 15x70 3. Oberwerk Ultra 10x50 4. Opticron BGA 10x42 5. Vortex Raptor 6.5x32 6. VixenSG 2.1x42 7. Strathspey 15x70 (actually 15x62.5) 8. Strathspey Marine 10x50 (actually 10x41) 9. Frank Nipole 10x50 (yes that is a hinge-mount tripod adaptor fixed to it) 10. Zenith 10x50 (belonged to my late father-in-law -sentimental value only) 11. No-name (well, would you admit to it?) 12-60x70 (actually ?-??x49) zoom - with "the latest ruby coatings" possibly the worst binocular I've ever had the misfortune to look through. Kept for when I give talks, as an example of everything to avoid. No, I didn't buy it; it was donated.

Mark, you have a PM on the way...

Hi Mark, It could be quite easily adapted to do, but (assuming the business end is similar to the Virgo version that I have), you would need to find a bit of 1/4" Whitworth studding (or decapitate a 1/4 Whit bolt) as both parts (mount block and hinge clamp) would have 1/4 Whit female threads. You would also probably also need to shim it with washers to get it to fit square on so that it's looking straight back over the mount. A better solution would be to make an adaptor like the one we were discussing in this thread (or use a 1/4 Whit male-to-male adaptor - some have a locking ring so that you can determine the angle at which the mounted appliance sits). Depending on the weight of the 10x50, you might be able to get away with mounting the hinge clamp on the paragon's L-bracket, but I imagine the vibration would be quite pronounced and difficult to damp.

Sorry, Mark, I was obviously unclear. When I asked about balancing, what I meant is this: Even with the weight fully extended, if the tension knobs are slackened the 15x70 drops and I have to tighten the knobs to prevent this. This means that I don't get the "floating in the air" experience that I have got used to with the UA mount. Re dew: the hideous green dew shields that I describe in the September S@N mag recently kept my 15x70 objectives clear for over 4 hrs.

Matt, I see from your avatar that you have them on what looks like the Paragon mount. May I ask how you balance them, please. I have recently acquired the Virgo Astronomics "original" of the Paragon and find that the counterweight is slightly too light, so I have to tension it up a bit with the Apollo 15x70. (Which is not surprising, given that the mount is rated for 5lb (2.3kg) binocs and the Apollo weighs 2.5kg (5lb 8oz).)

I ordered an adaptor plate for an AZ3.. Delivery was cited as "1-3 days" which, I assumed, implied that it was in stock at the importers, but that FLO did not hold stock themselves. I was kept informed all the way as to when FLO expected to receive it and when it was dispatched to me. This doesn't make a blind bit of difference to the delivery time, but it does make one feel that even this tiny order was being "looked after". Makes all the difference: thanks!

Ordered a small binocular on Sunday afternoon. I accompanied the order with a request that it was sent by next day delivery as I wanted it by today; I offered to pay any extra P&P to ensure that this happened. An email on Monday confirmed that it would be sent out by next day delivery; no additional charge was made for this. When it arrived today (just after lunch) it was in a box big enough to get a 15x70 in. Initial thought was "wasted packaging" - then I saw the socking great dent in the packaging. With some trepidation, I unwrapped it; the outer cardboard box was ruptured with polystyrene packing beads making a bid for freedom. The inner box was completely unaffected and the binocular inside was in pristine condition. Firstly, good service! Secondly, packaging that defeats the best efforts of careless carriers has to be a good thing.

OTOH, it would be somewhat alarming if you were selling kit about which you felt you could not wax lyrical!