HollyHound

2 hours ago, Stu said:

So it was you was it! 🤣🤣

I saw the mail about three hours after it arrived and they were out of stock again by then. Another few months to wait again by the looks of it. Enjoy!

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 😮

3 hours ago, bosun21 said:

Great binoviewer, I fitted the heavy duty quick changer on mine as it’s a pain to have to unscrew each time you want to change the GPC or the position of the binoviewer. Fantastic addition.

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 👍

3 minutes ago, MalcolmM said:

Snap! FLO managed to get me these well ahead of the quoted lead time. I've only used them a couple of times but they are so much easier to use then the WO ones. Views are stunning. So far I am very very impressed and they would seem to justify all the positive reviews and comments I have read about them. I was blown away with the view of the moon the other morning in the Mewlon before work (Tak 28mm Erfles in), got a real 3D effect for the first time. Our house is so cold at the moment, the Mewlon was pretty well cooled before I took it out. It is also so easy to carry out and attach to the tripod/mount that grab and go took on a new meaning for me 🙂

Malcolm

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 🤞

23 hours ago, UKRoman said:

Not sure this’ll be useful, but here is a video with sound, for reference. Even if the volume isn’t reproduced it might give an idea of the type of noise. Worth saying again, this isn’t a fault, it’s just the nature of stepper motors. 

 

IMG_8430.MOV 57.09 MB · 5 downloads

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

2 hours ago, UKRoman said:

If anyone can comment on how noisy their EQStar Pro stepper motors are, I'd love to hear your experiences.

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 😬

5 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

A comment about collimation (mainly so I can find it back myself when I need it again).

The Mewlon arrived a tiny smidgen out of collimation. The Mewlon has a reputation for being difficult to collimate. It isn’t. I searched for instructions and found the most useful in a 2010 CN posting by Larloch, post 11 here: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/283204-mewlon-210-finally-arrived/

The diagram is simple to follow (blue means loosen screw on secondary, red tighten). I use Polaris to collimate and an 8mm EP (x300) which shows the diffraction rings to perfection):

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 🤔

1 hour ago, Don Pensack said:

Plus, it's difficult to see what they could bring to the table in terms of performance that the 30mm and 40mm XWs don't already offer.

If they end up being excellent eyepieces, a set of 23mm, 16.5mm, 12mm, 8.5mm, 6mm and 4.5mm would be a great progression.

Absolutely, the XW30 and XW40 (particularly) are superb eyepieces 👍

That set progression would be awesome 🤞😃

22 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

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 🤔

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 😀

On 10/11/2022 at 10:45, markse68 said:

They’re huge though- heaviest in the lineup but i guess that was to be expected.

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 🤔

On 10/11/2022 at 18:38, markse68 said:

They look like they will have the same removeable top section as the other XWs so probably have the 43mm thread that a TV Dioptrix could be mounted to?

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 😀

On 10/11/2022 at 18:05, Don Pensack said:

The XW85 will be a new series.  If successful, and I think they will be, it is likely these will only be the first focal lengths in the series.

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. 🤣🤣

10 minutes ago, Alan White said:

Are these made in Japan like the rest of the XW series are?

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

2 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Go on, Gary. You know it makes sense 

😊

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 👍

On 07/11/2022 at 06:02, Don Pensack said:

A lot of people have been unable to use the eyepiece in 1.25" mode.

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.

On 07/11/2022 at 10:43, Second Time Around said:

One of the things I wanted to highlight was that the APM zoom certainly isn't parfocal to me, and in fact is no more so than the Baader Mk IV in the low focal length range (up to 12mm).

On 07/11/2022 at 11:01, badhex said:

I also do not find it to be parfocal. It's not miles off especially if I focus at 7.7mm then back out, but it requires at least some tweaking across the range for me. 

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 😀

14 minutes ago, MalcolmM said:

Can you fit the whole of the Pleiades in the FOV with the Mewlon and XW40? I was a tad disappointed that I couldn't with the Mewlon and Stella Lyra 45 Kitakaru. The field of view calculator implied I should. It also implies the XW should have the same FOV as the Kitkaru. Maybe just the difference between theory and practice!

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 👍

14 hours ago, MalcolmM said:

How does a Mewlon compare with a big dob? Love the sound of all that light gathering but my house/garden are simply not compatible with that size of system! Oh, and how can you bear to part with the little 60CB?

Malcolm 

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” 🤣

9 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

I have the 12x36s. I've used them for over 10 years for birdwatching. They are excellent.
The only negative is the rubber has gone a bit tacky and has marked one of my t-shirts  They have seen a lot of action though.

 

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 🤔

1 hour ago, Tomatobro said:

Is that 18 x 50's IR?

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 🤔