Lunt Mini Sunoculars 6x30 - Any Thoughts?

[Fozzie]

Morning All,

I saw these the other week and they just spiked my interest a bit.. small light weight, perfect for travel....

https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/lunt-mini-white-light-sunoculars.html#SID=1662

Has any one seen or used them.. any one got any thoughts.. for £47 they could be a nice gift at Christmas for someone..

Ta

Fozzie

[Chris]

I saw them advertised a couple of weeks ago, my initial thought was; would you be able to see much at 6x?

[Peter Drew]

My thoughts, having used 10x50 binoculars with safety film filters is that 6x is not going to be effective to show other than the largest sunspots in any detail and with the Sun currently around its low activity point in white light their use could be limited. The plus side is that they are safe!   

[Fozzie]

5 minutes ago, Chris Lock said:

I saw them advertised a couple of weeks ago, my initial thought was; would you be able to see much at 6x?

Yeah I thought that myself, but I then I thought I'm sure someone on here.. trying to think who....... has the larger 8x32mm pair and I'm not sure if he said they weren't too bad..?

8 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

My thoughts, having used 10x50 binoculars with safety film filters is that 6x is not going to be effective to show other than the largest sunspots in any detail and with the Sun currently around its low activity point in white light their use could be limited. The plus side is that they are safe!   

Thanks Peter, I guess this is going to be similar scale to a decent 50mm finder view isn't it... so probably not that practical.. 

Worth a thought though..

Thanks Gents

Fozzie

[Chris]

Reading the description implies that they are aimed at eclipse watchers. I think they would be really great for that but as you know they don't crop up often. You could get a semi decent higher  mag astronomical binocular for not much more, this could be multi purpose if you make up some decent solar film covers and attach them very well.

[Mark at Beaufort]

Fozzie I have the Lunt 8x32mm solar binos and I really like them. Great quality and safe although I appreciate they are much more expensive. I initially bought them hoping that I might go to the Eclipse in 2017 in the United States. If you give me a few minutes I will go outside and tell you what I can see especially if I can see sunspots 2614 and 2615 - I know 2612 is very easy.

[Fozzie]

Thanks Gents, valued imput as ever.. I was thinking more for airplane travel, for those fleeting moments on holiday when you've not got a child pulling at your leg or another half nattering away in your ear drums....

Probably wont have use for a pair in hindsight.

ta

Fozzie

[Fozzie]

17 minutes ago, Mark at Beaufort said:

Fozzie I have the Lunt 8x32mm solar binos and I really like them. Great quality and safe although I appreciate they are much more expensive. I initially bought them hoping that I might go to the Eclipse in 2017 in the United States. If you give me a few minutes I will go outside and tell you what I can see especially if I can see sunspots 2614 and 2615 - I know 2612 is very easy.

Thanks, Mark.. that would be good to know.. I think it's the price that made them sound attractive in that sense.. you can't get more grab n go as a pair of bins.. but like Mr Lock has said some DIY filters on a pair of 10x50's would cost about the same.. if not a bit less..

Still someone at Lunt thought there was a market for these..

ta

Fozzie

[Mark at Beaufort]

OK Fozzie I have been outside and viewed the Sun . Sunspot 2612 is very easy to define and I could split 2614 into two separate parts but I could not make out 2615. I suppose if I was not going to the Eclipse next year I may not have bought them. I accept what Peter and Chris have stated above and I did consider making Baader filters for my Apollo 15x70 binos which would have been cheaper.

But these Lunt binos are very nice quality and it does give instant grab and go to kept a eye on activity on the Sun.

[bobxuk]

Astronomy equipment is analogous to fishing tackle, which catches a lot more fishermen than fish :-).