HollyHound

Sorry @Stu… I had a stock watch on this one too, and just happened to see the email and respond almost instantly 😬 Pretty sure they only get one or (perhaps) two in stock at any time… highly sought after 😮

Thanks 😃 That’s my plan too… using just the T2 will work for now, but ultimately want to swap between this binoviewer and T2 prism and a Baader 2” BBHS mirror diagonal 👍

Awesome, that's exactly what I'm hoping for... thanks 🤞

Finally, after ages waiting for it to come back into stock… one popped up yesterday 😮 Baader Maxbright ii Binoviewers 😃 Already mounted my Baader T2 Prism onto it, ready to fit to my Mewlon… can’t wait to try these out 🤞

Mine is absolutely identical to this... sounds like it's faulty at first, until you realise that it works and this is "normal" 😬

I bought a used Vixen GP with the same EQStar Pro motors (orange?) last year... I've only used it a few times, because I'm primarily Alt/Az and don't image... they are very loud indeed, such that I found it wasn't suitable for visual, mainly because it took away some of the pleasure of observing in (relative) silence. I would be ok with loud whilst slewing fast, but this occurs at idle too 😮 Maybe, there is a fix/adjustment for them, but nothing I could find 🤔 I'm keeping the mount, primarily because it is possible I may look at using it for imaging one day, but also I might convert it back to manual again 😬

Thanks, this is very useful indeed 👍 Reminds me I need to check the collimation of my M180... I did check it when I first got it, and seemed fine, but worth another good look 🤔

Absolutely, the XW30 and XW40 (particularly) are superb eyepieces 👍 That set progression would be awesome 🤞😃

Actually looking at the Astronomy Tools FoV calculator… the XW23 and XW30 are very close together on FoV, with the XW23 giving more magnification and better separation from the XW40 🤔 So perhaps the set becomes XW40, 23, 16 😀

Heavy yes, but almost the same weight as the XW30 and XW40, and also all 2”… this could be the start of a fantastic matched set 🤔

That would be awesome… I have Dioptrx on my XW30 and XW40, and they attach and can be hidden within the rubber eyecup… very neat 😀

This would be awesome… I have the full set of current XWs and they’re my primary set 😀 The XW 14 and 20 do have some field curvature in my f/7.5 and f/8 refractors, none in thr FOA-60Q (f/15) or Mewlon though! The focal lengths are also pretty close to my existing two Masuyamas (16 and 26mm)… also 85 degrees and also some field curvature... Superb on axis though 👍 Certainly going to give these a try 🤔

Just realised there’s another (longer) thread about these.. Will make any more comments on that 👍

Love this bit on the specification page… *The XW series features a weather-resistant structure of JIS class 4 *. It cannot be used underwater. 🤣🤣

I’d be surprised if they weren’t at this price… the Masuyamas are too 👍

Oh I’ll be getting these for sure… I adore my XWs, so really can’t resist 🤣 They could even knock the Masuyamas… I have 16mm and 26mm of those, also 85 degrees… they also exhibit some field curvature, but they show super contrasty, clear images on axis 👍

Link to the news release and specification on Ricoh website https://news.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/rim_info2/2022/20221110_037685.html Great to see Pentax releasing brand new astronomy eyepieces 👍😀

Oh… these look very interesting indeed 😮 Love my XWs, but if these have no field curvature, they could nicely replace my XW14 and XW20 🤔 Expensive, but I suspect these will be great… thanks for letting us know and may indeed grab one or both when they arrive 👍

Agreed 👍 On my grab and go FC-76DCU, I have a T2 extension ring in place for my other eyepieces (ES 24 and Nagler Zoom 3-6), which I can remove for the APM (in 1.25”) and thus achieve focus. However, then I can’t swap to those either eyepieces without having to insert an extension ring again 😬 My solution is to use the APM Zoom in 2” mode, keep the extension ring in place, and pop the Baader 2” to 1.25” Clicklock adaptor into the 2” Clicklock when using those eyepieces… plenty of focus range then to use all eyepieces. These three eyepieces now cover all I need for grab and go 😀 Also with the addition of that M43 extension on top of the zoom, I’ve been able to fit the adjustable eyepiece top from the Hyperion Zoom and allows me to adjust for eye relief… when screwed fully down it would allow glasses use without danger of scratching 🤔 Unfortunately, these are only available with the Hyperion Zoom and not separately… fortunately I prefer the supplied fixed narrower eyepiece top when using my two Hyperion Zooms in the binoviewer.

I have also found it isn’t parfocal, but it only requires a very small tweak from one end to the other, and when changing a few clicks either way it’s perfectly fine 👍 It’s proving to be a great zoom and now lives permanently in my grab and go FC-76DCU 😀

Not tonight, but last night… My newly modified grab and go setup, the FC-76DCU (without Extender), tube cradle directly connected to ScopeTech mount, and now sporting my new APM Superzoom 😀

It can just fit all the primary stars in the field, but it doesn’t look as impressive as that same view through a wider field refractor (where of course it’s beautifully framed)… however, there is a lot of nebulosity shown around the stars with the Mewlon 😀 Which reminds me, the other reason why I have decided to sell the FS-60CB, is that I now use the Canon IS 15x50 for wide field views 👍

The 10” dob does show more (of course), and isn’t too much of an issue for me to carry outside (it sits beside the back door onto the patio). Half the focal length, so gives wider fields, although I can get quite wide on the Mewlon using the XW40 😀 Big advantage (now) for me, is that I can use the Mewlon on the AZ100 (with push to), so much easier to locate those hard to find DSOs 👍 The dob allowed me to see Trapezium E and F, with ease… I haven’t tried that yet with the Mewlon, but will do soon. Not certain, but I think the dob seems to cool quicker that the Mewlon slightly too. I’m happy to have both though. Ah well I also have the FOA60Q too, which I was going to sell of course, but then I remembered why I got it and as I really don’t need two 60mm scopes… one had to go 😬Although part of me is still thinking “would I miss that little one too” 🤣

Great to know they seem to be quite robust, considering they're a consumer electronic device... but then I suppose most DSLR last quite a while too 🤔

There are two models: Canon IS 15x50 - Review (http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/Canon15x50IS.htm) Canon IS 18x50 - Review (http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/Canon18x50IS.htm) I've got the 15x50 and they work very well... the reviews mentioned above seem to indicate that the 18x50s have a few (minor) issues with stabilisation artefacts, but of course gains a bit more magnification 🤔