HollyHound

7 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

A new wider Geoptic transport case has been purchased for my bino gear. It was on offer when i brought it late last year, but it seems the price has shot up since ? (internal measurements 80 x 37cm approx)

I love my Geoptik case and (like you) was lucky to get it on offer last year... very impressive setup there 👍

6 hours ago, Saganite said:

Very interesting Rob and very nice.  I had the 15 Pans but sold them to Gary as I was not using them very much. They were good though.  How do you like the 15 mm APM flat fields.  They look similar in size to 24mm Pans, perfect size for a bino ...

Yes indeed, the Panoptic 15mm pair I bought from you are really very good indeed... however I will possibly be selling them soon too, only because I have settled (rightly or wrongly) on a binoviewing setup using a pair of Hyperion Zooms... it just works for me on my Mak 127. I'm going to try comparison again when using on my 10" dob, but I just like to ergonomics of this zoom setup right now 😀

20 minutes ago, John said:

The only issue that I've seen people run into when replacing the focuser on the ST80's is making sure that the replacement unit is of a suitable optical length so that eyepieces will come to focus when a 2 inch diagonal is used. A 2 inch diagonal has a longer optical length than a 1.25 inch.

The great thing about the ST80 is that even with the stock 1.25" focuser you can get a 4 degree true field with a 24mm super wide eyepiece such as the ES 24 / 68 or Panoptic 24 or a 32mm plossl

Good point... I can confirm that I use a 2" diagonal on this ST80 and it focusses with no issue 👍

I have used the Panoptic 24 in this and works well, as you describe. I've currently left a Skywatcher 2" 28mm LET eyepiece in permanently, which works well when it's used as a "finder" scope.

1 hour ago, Merlin66 said:

Looks the the same as the GSO 10:1 focuser I use on my ST80.

works very well for me.

 

Yours must be one of these then (as it has the same mounting flange diameter as my single speed, link above)...

https://agenaastro.com/catalog/product/view/id/1378/s/gso-linear-bearing-refractor-crayford-focuser-86mm/category/67/

Some would argue, why bother putting a focuser that costs more the scope, but I think it makes it just that much more usable and the scope is such a lovely lightweight form factor. As mine came with it, that was never an issue for me 👍

2 hours ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

Hi ... what focuser did you buy for the st80 .. I enquired  about one from FLO for refractors and they said that it wasn’t suitable . I would really like to replace the existing focuser to a dual speed . 
Stu 

Hi. I got the scope with the focuser already mounted, but it's one of these...

https://agenaastro.com/gso-crayford-focuser-refractor-telescope-single-speed-86mm.html

It's not dual speed, but very smooth in operation. It's possible they do a dual speed version too 🤔

On 31/01/2021 at 11:49, Stu said:

As has been said, the ST80 is excellent for low power, widefield views of open clusters and the Milky Way. It will also be fine for mid powers, but is likely to struggle at higher powers due to CA and SA (spherical abberation) which can rob the view of fine detail. They are affordable and very portable so you are also more likely to take them around with you and have the benefit of always having a scope there ready to go.

I find the ST80 and C5 make excellent companions for a lightweight grab and go dual scope setup... one for low power widefield, as you point out, and the other for higher power views. I also use the ST80 on the second saddle for the IOptron AZ Mount Pro.

Lovely little scope the ST80, especially fitted with a 2” focuser and guidescope rings to make alignment easier between the two scopes 👍

2 minutes ago, Ricochet said:

It is in travel that you will need rather than an extension. I am hoping that the newton gpc should allow focusing on hexafoc newtonians. Hoping, rather than knowing, due to the excellent covid supply chain issues. 

Just double checked and in fact I am already using the extension for normal use, so without that extension and (possibly) using the GPC I should be ok 🤞If not, it's not the end of the world for now, as I am more than happy with the Mak for lunar, but nice extra if I can use it 👍

Thanks

Gary

Just now, Saganite said:

As you know my bino's are the Denk II with power switch and they work perfectly on my f15 & f7.7 refractors and f5.3 Dob.  Bino's attached to my 12" dob give simply jaw dropping views so I would recommend trying yours asap. I had the WO bino several years ago and it worked perfectly on my 12" dob at that time but I had to put 60mm of tube extension between the nosepiece and the 1.6x lens to reach focus..... Beware,

low flying over the surface of the Moon is very addictive ..

Good to hear they work very well on dobs, I certainly will be trying with mine as soon as I can. I do have the extension which came with the dob, so can use that if needed... thanks for the heads up 👍

1 hour ago, Saganite said:

It is true that binoviewers are not for everyone, but for me, on Moon and planets mostly, there is no other way.

I'm with you on that. Suddenly lunar viewing has just become about perfect now with this setup. Haven't tried the binoviewer on the dob yet, but this grab and go lunar rig works for me 😀

2 minutes ago, Dantooine said:

In the Uk we wouldn’t dream of putting any sight on a shotgun 🤣 there’s a brass bead on the end of the barrel. To be honest (and no disrespect to American shooters) it would be laughed at in Britain. 

I never was any good with accuracy on either rifles or handgun, give me the guided stuff anyway.... target, fire, track and forget 👍

43 minutes ago, jock1958 said:

Agree with everything you say Mike, love mine and it’s the mainstay of my finder equipment but it sure is ugly, I think the designer chose functionality over aesthetics!
What about getting a rattle can of matching Tak / Skywatcher white and give it a quick spray job?? just a thought 🤣 

I would imagine it should be feasible to create a finder as accurate as the Telrad but in a smaller and more aesthetically pleasing package 👍

4 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

I found the Baader SkySurfer III disappointing optically and mechanically. But at least it’s not as ugly as a Telrad 😊

The SkySurfer III I use on my ST80, but only as a quick “get me into the area”, for which it’s ok. 
 

The Telrad is indeed big and ugly, but it’s great on the 10” dob 😊

2 minutes ago, Dantooine said:

I don’t find the Rigel difficult in use. It does go pretty dim and is variable. The single red dot finders like the vixen or William optics seem to only go down by pre-set clicks from 7-1. Even down to the minimum setting it can be bright enough to hide your target. These are the type I would like to try replacing the output resistor to the LED. I would imagine they are the tiny square type of resistor which can be a fiddle. I tried the baader sky surfer v and just didn’t like it at all. As for the televue, it’s a ton of cash and I’m  not convinced of its reliability to hold zero. Maybe some who has one can chip in the information on stability. 

Ah yes, I do like the “pulsating” mode of the Rigel, that works fine for me. I haven’t tried the Baader SkySurfer V, but do have a couple of SkySurfer III and they are actually ok, but again, never quite get dim enough.

17 minutes ago, GazOC said:

Reviews seem to be good "for the price", Rob. I got the pair for just under £90, hopefully they'll be reasonable quality for lunar use 

I think for Mak and SCT scopes like we’re using, with higher f ratios (f/10 and higher), almost any eyepiece is more then good enough, as it’s for smaller f ratios that the expensive eyepieces become more critical 👍

I got the second Hyperion as I already one (in fact it was my first major eyepiece purchase). The SvBony are well reviewed. 

I too am loving the little 6x30 finders I have now on the Mak and C5... I forget how wide a field they produce and only the other night I didn't realise I was looking at the whole belt of Orion plus a good area around... really useful and almost don't need the RDF now on those scopes, although it's still useful.

32 minutes ago, Dantooine said:

The lowest setting can be sometimes too bright. I think when I get some time I may dismantle one and see what can be done. I’m pretty sure that if a resistor with a higher value is used to replace the original one this could be the answer to getting more usable brightness settings. 

I find the Telrad is easier to set to a lower brightness setting than the Rigel, so would be interested to see if you do manage to get it less bright🤞 

2 minutes ago, Kimboman said:

Hi great to hear other members are hooked on Bino viewers I use mine  all the time with my Meade ETX90 its really good.

I also have a Celestron 6se but the bino viewers make the telescope judder due to the  weight.

They are really very useful 👍

I did try with my C5 and it was more difficult to balance, but with the Mak 127 it works well, possibly due to the heavier corrector plate at the front 🤔

13 minutes ago, Dantooine said:

I’m pretty sure I’ve got it to 6 now. They cover all my needs. 

I aspire to about the same number, plus the two Hyperion Zooms and the focal extender of course. However, I think with a Ethos, it might be easier to have fewer due to the extra coverage in FoV 🤔

Just now, Dantooine said:

How many would you like to end up with as your “set”?

More than a Quartet but less than a full Orchestra 🤣

16 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

I have a power switch which allows me to up the mag comes in handy for those times 

Yes, I did investigate these (Denkmeier I believe), and may still look at this option down the road, most likely as a complete setup 🤔

1 hour ago, Ricochet said:

The thing that has always stopped me trying the Hyperion zooms is the wide looking eye cup. Have you tried any of the smaller eye cups when binoviewing? 

Funny you should ask that... I neglected to mention that I had already swapped out the wide (adjustable) eyecup for the narrower (fixed) eyecups that also come with the Hyperions... I have no problem at all getting these as close as I need for my eyes with plenty of space to spare. I could still use the adjustable ones too, but these give a bit more space and just more comfortable 👍

41 minutes ago, Stu said:

It’s great when you find a setup which you know gives you what you want with excellent views; you can just forget the kit now and concentrate on observing which is what it’s all about 👍👍

Exactly, this is what I've been trying to achieve for months now for lunar observing (admittedly bad weather has slowed things down too)... I can now just grab this whole rig which remains setup in the corner of my office and be outside viewing the moon... or rather "observing" the moon now, actually spending time looking at objects in greater detail... very liberating 😀

Admittedly haven't tried your method of varying magnification, glad that works for you too 👍

2 hours ago, RobertI said:

Another important point is that binoviewers reduce the impact of floaters significantly for most people. I have certainly found this to be the case with my BVs. 

I'm finding exactly the same now that I routinely use two Hyperion Zoom eyepieces on my Mak 127 lunar/planetary setup... much more detail and the floaters all but disappear at high magnifications 👍

29 minutes ago, Dean Hale said:

Will be really happy when the country opens up and and be able to try before i buy.

Indeed. Just too much temptation. Also must stop browsing the Berlebach tripods. 

Be very careful... it's starts with just the one then you find another plus an observing chair living in your office... fortunately, they look so nice that (as we've mentioned before) they're quite partner/wife friendly 👍🤣

6 minutes ago, Paz said:

Great report, I'm impressed that those zooms actually work on a binoviewer, I find binoviewing to be so sensitive to everything being just right that I assumed zooms would not be up to it.

They do indeed work wonderfully for me. I find that I can now view continuously for a good time without any strain at all. In addition, because I'm using both eyes, I find that when the moon is brighter it is easier to keep viewing without a filter. With one eye, it gets bombarded with light and then it feels really weird as the other hasn't... almost like being blinded in that eye.

1 hour ago, Dantooine said:

APM also do a 13, 9, 5, 3.5 oh and now also a 7mm on your journey to ethos 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

You are a very bad man 🤣

Well I've now had four sessions with the moon in various phases... happy to report I have now achieved lunar viewing nirvana with this setup 😀

It's also proving to be a very effective setup for double stars too, as having both eyes in operation seems to make them easier to spot for me 👍

Now I need to try the whole binoviewer/diagonal/zoom setup on the StellaMira 80mm f/10 too...