HollyHound

18 hours ago, Jules Tohpipi said:

Do yours have a tripod socket? If so, might be worth investing in a cheap bog-standard monopod to take some of the weight off your arms while keeping freedom of movement. Perhaps supplemented with a cheap ball head or similar for when looking at the zenith and the monopod angle has got too shallow (without a ball head).

Some will read this and cry 'What point a monopod with IS?!" But only from the people who haven't seen the rows and rows of big white Canon L Series lenses on monopods at football matches, F1 races, fashion shows, and new PM speeches outside No10.

Why put a £10,000 Canon Pro lens with IS on a monopod? Because they're pretty darn gosh heavy to hold up all day looking through the viewfinder for that perfect shot  But they still want to jostle around quickly from spot to spot. And the IS is still needed for that perfectly steady view when using a monopod.

Thanks, they are great devices aren't they 😁

Actually I already have a monopod (bought when I got my first pair of binoculars) and I was only thinking as I was using them, that these would suit a monopod for longer sessions, as it would mean I can move around the farm a lot more and hold them for a lot longer. I do also have a ball head and a pistol grip, which should work perfectly with the monopod 👍

I'm just getting used to them right now, and valuing the freedom to just grab and head outside quickly, but I will try them on the monopod and can see that being part of the setup for those longer sessions.

Well last I managed another very brief session between the clouds, for 10mins 😬

Moon was up but very low... normally when viewing this with hand held binoculars (either 16x70 or even the 8x56), I can see stuff, but the detail is just masked by "jitter". Pushing the button on these IS 15x50, and it was quite steady indeed... enough to actually start to concentrate on lunar crater details, which would normally be quite frustrating 👍

I did find that leaning against a wall, or even leaning back against one, gave an almost perfectly steady view... I was able to spend a full 10mins viewing the moon like this before the binoculars become a little tiring to hold (they are quite heavy).

Had a quick scan around the small gap and was able to spot a lot more detail, and of course concentrating on anything was much easier.

I spotted Saturn appear in another gap, and was very surprised to get a really clear, steady view.... Normally I can just make out "lobes" for the rings, but this I could not only see the rings, but also "just" make out a very fine dark division between them and the planet itself 😮

Again, this is indeed a gamechanger and for quick "grabbed" sessions or cruising around the sky, this is going to be perfect. 😁

Been avidly following this post, then realised I hadn’t posted any here 🤔Although most of these have been posted elsewhere… here you go 😀

• FC-100DZ and Mewlon 180C
• FOA-60(Q)
• FS-60CB
• FC-76DCU (my favourite grab and go, sitting “ready to go”)

Excuse the state of the “patio”… it’s a farm and needs a bit of work out here 🤣

Does this apply in reverse if you own a Mewlon but not (yet) a TSA120 😬

3 hours ago, wookie1965 said:

A Ioptron AZ pro so its easier for me set up not carrying a hefty mount or power supply.

Good call. I moved mine off the Tri Pier onto a LiteRoc tripod last Winter, and it’s now a super light weight, quick to setup, but capable mount. Runs easily for a whole evening without needing a charge and as a bonus, connects to SkySafari 👍

Having said that, on my wish list are the motorising kit for the AZ100 and (eventually) a TSA120… although I’m worried the latter will stop me loving my FC-100DZ and/or Mewlon 😬

Canon don’t seem to think that expensive binoculars like these need objective end caps, but fortunately they accept normal 58mm camera lens caps, so I’ve added a pair of generic ones, which will work fine.

As a bonus, they also accept 58mm filters, so I’ve popped a set of UV (clear) on them too, but will confirm if they degrade visual quality at all, and if so will not bother 🤔

@Stu and @Mark at Beaufort have both indicated that binoculars lend themselves to being used with various 2” astro filters too (UHC and O-III) so once I’m comfortable with them, I will give that a go too 👍

From the “What did you See Tonight” thread for last night…

The briefest of “first lights” for my new Canon IS 15x50… loads of cloud and the moon was very low, but it was enough to test them and confirm what I hoped, that they’re going to be a “gamechanger” 👍

Being able to get (very) steady views at 15x, without the usual “jiggles” or needing to mount them, means that I can now use these for quick views (lunar, planets) or just lovely wide views of star fields 😃

EDIT: Add Jupiter and moons to the list… spotted her in a clear spot before heading off to bed, was out in 2mins and got a lovely (steady) view… these are great 🤣

These beauties arrived a few days ago, and although I’ve posted a little about them in other threads, I thought I’d start a separate thread to post my thoughts as I get a chance to use them 😃

 

6 minutes ago, Stu said:

I think a lot of the contrast comes from the smoothness of the mirror too, cuts down on scattered light. I think my Mewlon probably showed a slightly cleaner image than my 8” f8, possibly for that reason, not sure.

The ScopeView reviews seems indicates that too, so it is very likely to be a factor 👍

“I should also point out here that Takahashi finish the mirror polishing in-house and each pair is a matching set. Bench tests suggest Mewlons have excellent optics and this one certainly does, as we will see.”

13 minutes ago, Stu said:

Strange if it is cost, as the primary mirror is actually 220mm to ensure no edge errors affect the image. Sure the marketing guys wanted to call it a Mewlon 220!

Yes, they definitely oversize the mirror to reduce visible aberrations… typical Takahashi, they don’t seem to ever “over claim” their specifications 👍

According to that review they finish the mirrors as a matched pair in house, so I wonder whether they literally don’t have the machinery to create hyperbolic and prefer to use their craftsman instead. But of course they have their lenses made by Canon, so that doesn’t make much sense either 🤔

One thing of note, is that Mewlons have a smaller central obstruction compared to SCT/Maks and (possibly?) Cassegrains, which does give them the exceptional contrast 😃

10 minutes ago, Stu said:

Well worth a try. I’ve definitely seen the NAN and Eastern Veil in my 15x50IS some years back. The Western is trickier I think because it is thinner and the wider parts are fainter. With my little 7x35s filtered I get great views of the Cygnus nebulosity from my garden. 

This is why I love this forum 😃

I would never have considered even trying this 🤞

2 hours ago, Deadlake said:

Also how do you find BV usage, focus range makes this a little harder then the C11.

I have to swap to a much shorter optical back end when I use mine with binoviewers, but then I’m not using a GPC etc (yet).

In this configuration it does work very well indeed, especially with two Hyperion Zooms 👍

41 minutes ago, SthBohemia said:

^ I am surprised that a high end manufacturer, ala Takahashi does not use the standard cassegrain practice of having the mirror fixed and utilising a good quality focuser! Cost cutting measures I guess.

There’s a little about the Dall-Kirkham design vs Cassegrain here… http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/TakMewlon180C.htm

It does seem to be cost (it’s only been cost effective to grind hyperbolic mirrors cost effectively, quite recently) but also apparently they hold collimation a bit bette too 🤔

22 minutes ago, Stu said:

Good stuff. Annoying that Canon don’t provide their own ones, but probably that the camera and binocular divisions don’t talk!

Just checked and (sure you guessed this) you need 58mm to 48mm step down rings to be able to fit 2” filters.

Does seem a bit daft, especially considering the cost 😮

I hadn’t checked yet, so thank you, and that is something I really wouldn’t have considered… using filters in binoculars 👍

3 hours ago, Stu said:

Might be worth getting a set of step down rings for the front objectives. That allows you to fit 2” filters and then you could go NAN and Veil (etc) hunting with them. I can’t recall which size is needed but with try to dig the info out. I used one UHC and one OIII, wasn’t going to stump up for another matching filter and it worked very well.

That’s a really good idea, didn’t think of that, thanks 😃

3 hours ago, Stu said:

You can also buy Canon camera lens caps which clip nicely onto the front

Ah ha, great minds etc… already had picked up a pair of (generic) 58mm lens caps, which work well and protect it. Thanks to @JeremyS too for heads up that they don’t arrive with any objective covers 😮

I’ve also fitted some UV (clear) filters too, to protect the front objectives in use, but jury is out as to whether these will degrade the image quality and are even necessary 🤔

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

Excellent!

It’s amazing when you first press that IS button isn’t it?

Very much so… takes about a second, but then it’s just like magic 😃

6 minutes ago, Pixies said:

I was lucky enough to be able to use a pair under dark skies earlier this year. They're great, aren't they!

They’re amazing 👍

We’ve rented a cottage in West Wales for a short break later in November (with our dog), so I’m looking forward to bringing these along, for cliff top walks and some light astronomy 🤞😃

The briefest of “first lights” for my new Canon IS 15x50… loads of cloud and the moon was very low, but it was enough to test them and confirm what I hoped, that they’re going to be a “gamechanger” 👍

Being able to get (very) steady views at 15x, without the usual “jiggles” or needing to mount them, means that I can now use these for quick views (lunar, planets) or just lovely wide views of star fields 😄

EDIT: Add Jupiter and moons to the list… spotted her in a clear spot before heading off to bed, was out in 2mins and got a lovely (steady) view… these are great 🤣

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

What is going to get some used to is the focuser position which is practically behind the eyepiece. Still ok to access, but not as intuitive as on a refractor. But is anything?

Without wishing to state the obvious @JeremyS… I always mount my Mewlon on the right side of my mount, which conveniently puts the focuser right under the diagonal, where you can reach it with ease 🤔😄

I am aware that some say the AZ100 should only have single scopes mounted on the left, but I can’t believe that’s an issue with a lightweight scope like these 😬🤔

22 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Funny you should say that. It’s a bit bog on me, though.

I had a chum who regularly wore his Mewlon 180 cover as a hat, Tommy Cooper like, when observing.

I might have also done that, but now way I will admit to it on public forum 😁

Oh and the end cap, makes a very fine hat... something vaguely "nautical" about it.... or is that just me 🤣

55 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

This rarely happens: clear skies on first night of having a new scope.

Melanie has been sitting outside on the AZ100. Dusk now. First light on Altair. Collimation is very close as is alignment of the finder. Looking good, but it’s going to some getting used to those diffraction spikes.

started out with the Panoptic 35. Then tried the Apollo 11. 
 

Now just need a bit darker for Saturn.

 

Very lucky indeed... loads of cloud here, although I managed a very quick test of the IS 15x50 on the moon a few stars (through the clouds)... let's just say "gamechanger", without wanting to hijack this thread from the beautiful Melanie 😁

Can't recall if the M210 is three or four vane spider (EDIT: just checked photo, it's four)... the M180 is three and so you end up with six spikes, but each is a lot fainter than the four you get normally 🤔

Good luck with Saturn 🤞

Just now, JeremyS said:

Well, there is only one listed now! Are you sure you haven’t….?

I can confirm categorically that I have not sir… I think that was just pent up demand 😬🤔🤣

43 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Well, as luck would have it, FLO has one in stock now 😱

It was only a few weeks ago that they were giving a likely year end delivery 

They've had two delivered in the recent batch., not just your one, nice 😀

I noticed they had a bunch of Taks suddenly appear on the website... at least three TSA120s (yes I am still considering one, but not until after the wedding now 🤣)... perhaps supply is slowly being restored, or just they've finally caught up with FLOs back orders 🤞

Mewlon 180 is still showing as 90-120 days though.... wow 😬

Oh and I'm sure you noticed that with Mewlons, Takahashi are so generous... not only do you actually get a finder, but they also provide a 35mm dovetail mount fitting too 😮

Most unlike them to give anything away free with the scope 🤣