I have a celestron c130slt newtonian and found that the williams optics binoviewer does work with a 2X barlow connected but has very little focus-maybe 1/8 turn out from fully in. However, I bought the Founder Optics Bino-One Erect Image Divergent Bino (from Agena Astro) and it works without any barlow lenses. The image is actually surprising good. The Williams optics wants to throw the balance of the reflector to top heavy due to the length of the barlow and weight. The founder Optics doesn't seem to have this problem. Also, The williams optics bino won't focus in my refractor no matter the barlow. (not enough focus length) No issues with the Founder Optics binoviewer. The founder one is more expensive but works on both my newtonian reflector and refractor. Good video. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for a great video. I love my linear binoviewer. Truly a game changer, at least for low power panning of the night sky or star hopping. I haven't had any issues whatsoever with alignment, and quite frankly wonder what problems people are talking about. Maybe it works for some and not for others and I'm just lucky. Granted, I haven't tried a prismatic binoviewer. But, super happy with my linear bino, and no problems with back focus.
@OlleErikssonL Im glad you are happy with the linear bino. It's a great optical device and if it works for you it's all that matters. For regular dobs it's the best type of bino. Clear skies
Excellent analysis and solution, Bogdan. I'm currently testing out a William Optics binoviewer for use with my home-built Dobsonian Newtonian and have run into the same problem. Fortunately for me, my focuser is a low-profile model with a telescoping draw tube. I can achieve focus with the 2x Barlow supplied by WO, but my preference would be to use the binoviewer without it. My scope is designed with 8 Serrurier truss tubes currently of a fixed length. A solution for me could be to modify these tubes so that the can be shortened. This would require purchasing a length of aluminum tubing with an inside diameter slightly larger than the OD of my current tubes and adding a spring-loaded locking pin for each tube. I would have to do some precise cutting and drilling, but the result would be a set of adjustable-length truss tubes for those nights when I want to use a binoviewer for all my observing.
@daveincanada4794 This sounds like a great DIY project, which in my opinion is well worth the effort. The gains in FOV would be significant. Good luck and let me know how it turned out, should you go for it. Clear skies!
I never thought that adapting a bino-viewer could be such a big issue. I failed tonattach a ADC to my dobsonian and just gave up to try it again... The effort, that you make to finally succeed is really remarkable 👍 This ist, what most of the really good astronomers separate from the "basic" astronomers.
I bought the SW 250P with SynScan, in spring. BH photo had a deal for $1,000! Now I'm a passionate visual astronomer. Love it! Unfortunately, I'm blind in one eye, so no binoviewer here. I have several questions. I'm looking for a wider FOV "quality" eyepiece. Say 25 or 30mm. I have four Televue Naglar type 6 eyepieces now. I find these of great quality for me. I'm thinking under $400 give or take. Secondly, i want to do some "lucky imaging." Thus far, with DSLR, or dedicated astro camera (asi178mm) focus is very hard. I also have an AP barlow . With the higher magnification a dual speed focuser is in my sights. I want one that will just drop in w/o modifications. I've been told SW has one. Not that I can find. Thanks for putting up with this lengthy conversation.
@mikehardy8247 That's a great deal on the SW 250P with SynScan. For a wider FOV eyepiece I would recommend the 30mm 82° Explore Scientific: amzn.to/4htO0mc While it's currently over $400 (at least on amazon) I believe it's worth the money. The 24mm is a bit cheaper and also worth considering. As for the focuser, SW does have a dual speed model: www.astroshop.eu/focusers/skywatcher-2-crayford-focuser-for-explorer-newtonian-reflectors/p,22264 I plan on getting one myself for the 250 FlexTube.
Thank you for this video and Congratulations on your new telescope. You did a wonderful job explaining how it was designed to make using a bino easy. I bet it’s also a game-changer in clarity and brightness compared to the 4” refractor. The Skywatcher collapsible dob makes owning and transporting a larger scope practical… and to see you using it with the Maxbright II and Morpheus lenses… it just doesn’t get much better from a 10” scope. Clear skies and All the best to you Bogdan! 🙏
Perfect for having a good look at Planets. But as you say the reduced fov isn't great for deep space stuff. Your solution is very innovative. I am considering a bino viewer for my 127mm Maksutov. I'm in the UK where the 2" aperture model isn't sold. I saw a few videos about them. I think one of them may have from your channel. That really made me want one so badly. I was lucky to get a display model from a camera shop in Wales. But it cost almost twice the 1.25 inch version. The 2" eyepiece makes the scope look great for visual. Something i've been doing more of lately.
Thanks for your video. I just purchased the 12 inch flex tube and used it twice so far. I’m hoping this one I’ll keep for a while as my two previous 12 inch Dobsons one was a solid tube and the other was the light bridge. I had issues with. I’ve also tried bino viewers, two different models in fact, and I have a hard time merging the image and so I just gave up on that. I do have a subscriber and member on my channel who has an expensive one, and I am going to try to use his and see if that helps Anyway, anyway, good video
@JoeJaguar Thanks and sorry to heard about the problems you encountered with the bino. If you have the chance to try out another option, do it. i believe its definitely worth it. Let me know how it turned out.
@ I have a friend and a subscriber on my UA-cam channel is also a members video who has an expensive one so I’m planning on borrowing it and trying it again but as far as buying another one, I’m not sure
I had similar problems with my EScultra light 12” Dob but managed to solve this getting a low profile baader focusser. I used the televue 2x power mate to reach focus as I found the GPC caused a few internal reflections. You a lucky you got that 1.7x from baader as I think that is now out of production. Love my baader giant BV. Can’t go back to single eye viewing now 😂
@leew3650 Glad you could solve the problem that way. The regular GPCs aren't really made to be used in combination with dobs so they aren't a good fit. The 2" is indeed great for reflectors. True, observing with only one eye isn't that fun anymore 😁
Fantastic hands on account on how to reach focus with a DOB and binos. A great follow up would be look into the widest FOV at low magnification available on many of these binos, particularly linear BW that do not need a corrector or barlow, but the most popular one maxes out at about 17mm@68°. Any one knows if wide FOV is possible with bino viewers?
cool i got the 8" flextube. so what set up overall do you recommend - binoviewer and eyepieces? also it has the first lock stop position, is that the one you use or do you adjust at a different length and just tighten it down?
@justinbaker2883 I love observing with a pair of 32mm classic Plössls from Baader. The wide views are awesome for DSOs. If I need to get closer, I'll use a pair of sv230 super zoom eyepieces from Svbony. As for the lock position on the telescope, I use the second one where the tube isn't fully extended.
Bogdan what is that rocket on the shelf behind you? I can,t tell if it,s a model you assembled or a assembled model. Looks as if it belongs there. There as interesting as the stars.
@VickiAnkney If you are referring to the Saturn V model lying on its side, then that is a LEGO model I assembled myself. It's the rocket that transported Apollo 11 into orbit. You can find a link in the video description.
Hello Bogdan, great clip asa always. I noticed you said you used with success the 1.7 gpc and the sv 503. I ask because in the original bino video you had only the 2.6 gpc available for testing
@PauI__ Hi Paul, you are correct. After a lot of attempts to reduce the length of the focuser I managed to obtain focus using the 1.7x gpc. The solution was to remove the whole back end of the focuser's drawtube containing the 2" and 1.25" adapters and screwing the diagonal directly onto the drawtube.
Thank you for the information, next time when you use the sv 503 it can you please make a of the setup, and especially the ring needed, and make the photo public or private as you consider, so I know what to purchase alongsite the binoviewer. Looking forward to your dob comparison, good luck
two questions: is that true that you have not tested the actual unit against the prismatic ane (may be 4th videop coming)? and how about benefits of bino for dobsonian - for DSO we are loosing light so for moon and planets?
Not what I expected, I had high hopes for a solution, simply selling up and buying another scope was a huge disappointment, Most Newtonian observers already knew this would resolve it.
I have a celestron c130slt newtonian and found that the williams optics binoviewer does work with a 2X barlow connected but has very little focus-maybe 1/8 turn out from fully in. However, I bought the Founder Optics Bino-One Erect Image Divergent Bino (from Agena Astro) and it works without any barlow lenses. The image is actually surprising good. The Williams optics wants to throw the balance of the reflector to top heavy due to the length of the barlow and weight. The founder Optics doesn't seem to have this problem. Also, The williams optics bino won't focus in my refractor no matter the barlow. (not enough focus length) No issues with the Founder Optics binoviewer. The founder one is more expensive but works on both my newtonian reflector and refractor.
Good video. Keep up the good work.
@EdwardVivier Thanks for your input. I'm glad to see that your experience with linear binos is so positive.
Thanks for a great video. I love my linear binoviewer. Truly a game changer, at least for low power panning of the night sky or star hopping. I haven't had any issues whatsoever with alignment, and quite frankly wonder what problems people are talking about. Maybe it works for some and not for others and I'm just lucky. Granted, I haven't tried a prismatic binoviewer. But, super happy with my linear bino, and no problems with back focus.
@OlleErikssonL Im glad you are happy with the linear bino. It's a great optical device and if it works for you it's all that matters. For regular dobs it's the best type of bino. Clear skies
Excellent analysis and solution, Bogdan. I'm currently testing out a William Optics binoviewer for use with my home-built Dobsonian Newtonian and have run into the same problem. Fortunately for me, my focuser is a low-profile model with a telescoping draw tube. I can achieve focus with the 2x Barlow supplied by WO, but my preference would be to use the binoviewer without it. My scope is designed with 8 Serrurier truss tubes currently of a fixed length. A solution for me could be to modify these tubes so that the can be shortened. This would require purchasing a length of aluminum tubing with an inside diameter slightly larger than the OD of my current tubes and adding a spring-loaded locking pin for each tube. I would have to do some precise cutting and drilling, but the result would be a set of adjustable-length truss tubes for those nights when I want to use a binoviewer for all my observing.
@daveincanada4794 This sounds like a great DIY project, which in my opinion is well worth the effort. The gains in FOV would be significant. Good luck and let me know how it turned out, should you go for it. Clear skies!
I never thought that adapting a bino-viewer could be such a big issue. I failed tonattach a ADC to my dobsonian and just gave up to try it again...
The effort, that you make to finally succeed is really remarkable 👍
This ist, what most of the really good astronomers separate from the "basic" astronomers.
Great video! I almost got a 12 in flex tube for 300 bucks. Sadly, it slipped away 😢
@mikemoran5439 Sorry to hear that. At that price it was a real bargain.
You messed up BIG TIME😮
I bought the SW 250P with SynScan, in spring. BH photo had a deal for $1,000! Now I'm a passionate visual astronomer. Love it! Unfortunately, I'm blind in one eye, so no binoviewer here.
I have several questions. I'm looking for a wider FOV
"quality" eyepiece. Say 25 or 30mm. I have four Televue Naglar type 6 eyepieces now.
I find these of great quality for me. I'm thinking under $400 give or take.
Secondly, i want to do some "lucky imaging." Thus far, with DSLR, or dedicated astro camera (asi178mm) focus is very hard. I also have an AP barlow .
With the higher magnification a dual speed focuser is in my sights. I want one that will just drop in w/o modifications. I've been told SW has one. Not that I can find. Thanks for putting up with this lengthy conversation.
@mikehardy8247 That's a great deal on the SW 250P with SynScan. For a wider FOV eyepiece I would recommend the 30mm 82° Explore Scientific: amzn.to/4htO0mc
While it's currently over $400 (at least on amazon) I believe it's worth the money. The 24mm is a bit cheaper and also worth considering.
As for the focuser, SW does have a dual speed model: www.astroshop.eu/focusers/skywatcher-2-crayford-focuser-for-explorer-newtonian-reflectors/p,22264
I plan on getting one myself for the 250 FlexTube.
Thank you for this video and Congratulations on your new telescope. You did a wonderful job explaining how it was designed to make using a bino easy. I bet it’s also a game-changer in clarity and brightness compared to the 4” refractor. The Skywatcher collapsible dob makes owning and transporting a larger scope practical… and to see you using it with the Maxbright II and Morpheus lenses… it just doesn’t get much better from a 10” scope. Clear skies and All the best to you Bogdan! 🙏
Perfect for having a good look at Planets. But as you say the reduced fov isn't great for deep space stuff. Your solution is very innovative. I am considering a bino viewer for my 127mm Maksutov.
I'm in the UK where the 2" aperture model isn't sold. I saw a few videos about them. I think one of them may have from your channel. That really made me want one so badly. I was lucky to get a display model from a camera shop in Wales. But it cost almost twice the 1.25 inch version. The 2" eyepiece makes the scope look great for visual. Something i've been doing more of lately.
I made a plywood sandwich which I inserted under the mirror, above the mirror cell - just maanged to reach focus, with nothing to spare.
Thanks for your video. I just purchased the 12 inch flex tube and used it twice so far.
I’m hoping this one I’ll keep for a while as my two previous 12 inch Dobsons one was a solid tube and the other was the light bridge. I had issues with.
I’ve also tried bino viewers, two different models in fact, and I have a hard time merging the image and so I just gave up on that. I do have a subscriber and member on my channel who has an expensive one, and I am going to try to use his and see if that helps
Anyway, anyway, good video
@JoeJaguar Thanks and sorry to heard about the problems you encountered with the bino. If you have the chance to try out another option, do it. i believe its definitely worth it. Let me know how it turned out.
@ I have a friend and a subscriber on my UA-cam channel is also a members video who has an expensive one so I’m planning on borrowing it and trying it again but as far as buying another one, I’m not sure
Another great video Bogdan. We should go for a drink down the pub sometime, let me know when you’re free.
I had similar problems with my EScultra light 12” Dob but managed to solve this getting a low profile baader focusser. I used the televue 2x power mate to reach focus as I found the GPC caused a few internal reflections. You a lucky you got that 1.7x from baader as I think that is now out of production.
Love my baader giant BV. Can’t go back to single eye viewing now 😂
@leew3650 Glad you could solve the problem that way. The regular GPCs aren't really made to be used in combination with dobs so they aren't a good fit. The 2" is indeed great for reflectors. True, observing with only one eye isn't that fun anymore 😁
The moment you said "Flextube", I thought "Brilliant!". They really are well-named
I just bought a binoviewer and I managed to get it working with a 2x and 3.2x barlow
Fantastic hands on account on how to reach focus with a DOB and binos. A great follow up would be look into the widest FOV at low magnification available on many of these binos, particularly linear BW that do not need a corrector or barlow, but the most popular one maxes out at about 17mm@68°. Any one knows if wide FOV is possible with bino viewers?
cool i got the 8" flextube. so what set up overall do you recommend - binoviewer and eyepieces? also it has the first lock stop position, is that the one you use or do you adjust at a different length and just tighten it down?
@justinbaker2883 I love observing with a pair of 32mm classic Plössls from Baader. The wide views are awesome for DSOs. If I need to get closer, I'll use a pair of sv230 super zoom eyepieces from Svbony.
As for the lock position on the telescope, I use the second one where the tube isn't fully extended.
Bogdan what is that rocket on the shelf behind you? I can,t tell if it,s a model you assembled or a assembled model. Looks as if it belongs there. There as interesting as the stars.
@VickiAnkney If you are referring to the Saturn V model lying on its side, then that is a LEGO model I assembled myself. It's the rocket that transported Apollo 11 into orbit. You can find a link in the video description.
@@BogdanDamian Thanks for the feed back of the rocket I'll look it up
Hello Bogdan, great clip asa always. I noticed you said you used with success the 1.7 gpc and the sv 503. I ask because in the original bino video you had only the 2.6 gpc available for testing
@PauI__ Hi Paul, you are correct. After a lot of attempts to reduce the length of the focuser I managed to obtain focus using the 1.7x gpc. The solution was to remove the whole back end of the focuser's drawtube containing the 2" and 1.25" adapters and screwing the diagonal directly onto the drawtube.
@@BogdanDamian so just by screwing the baader prism fitted with a 2inch adapter directly to the 2 inch focuser was not enaugh?
@PauI__ No, just the diagonal without the 2" adapter. I only needed a thin M54 conversion ring to connect the diagonal straight to the tube.
Thank you for the information, next time when you use the sv 503 it can you please make a of the setup, and especially the ring needed, and make the photo public or private as you consider, so I know what to purchase alongsite the binoviewer.
Looking forward to your dob comparison, good luck
@BogdanDamian the conversion ring you used is m54 male to T2 male? Could you post a link to the part you use please, thanks
two questions: is that true that you have not tested the actual unit against the prismatic ane (may be 4th videop coming)?
and how about benefits of bino for dobsonian - for DSO we are loosing light so for moon and planets?
First one ))
Thx for the video. Have you ever talked to Russ at Denkmeier? I think he's solved this problem with most Dobs with only a 1.3X corrector.
@nwrob1 No I haven't, but I might get in touch with him as I'm very interested in his solution to this problem. Thanks for the suggestion.
Not what I expected, I had high hopes for a solution, simply selling up and buying another scope was a huge disappointment, Most Newtonian observers already knew this would resolve it.