This brings back memories of my childhood in the UK in the nineteen sixties. Telescopes and accessories were very expensive so the only way to get started in astronomy for many was to make their own gear. Luckily there was a lot of army surplus gear around at very reasonable prices that could be utilised for parts. I made a 2" wide field refractor out of a "Toy" telescope and the eyepiece from a broken pair of British Army 6x30 field glasses. Ok there was a lot of false colour but the image was sharp enough and I spent many happy hours looking at the night sky through it. I might even have given up astronomy all together without it. Thanks for this informative video.
Hey, new telescope user here, really love the idea of diy eyepiece! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, it can be such an expensive hobby, definitely going to make a few
Kudos for You Sir , You simply paved the way for those who enjoy finding less expensive applications regarding the building of telescopes=macro scopes ! Sharing in Your case is some kind of a virtue ! Okay ? Many thanks for Your one of a kind video !
Hey Red. I just want to thank you for the great video. My brother gave me an old pair of 8x40's that he had in his garage. I put together an eyepiece this afternoon following your instructions. I haven't tried it yet viewing the night sky but I'm sure it's gonna do nice. I need to find another pair so I can make the double plossl. Thanks again and all the best.
Just made one myself..it took less than five minutes....best advyi ever had...thx so much.... suddenly i appreciate my celestron nexstar 5, for the very first time....only used the cheap plastic,lousy ones that it comes with,sofar....again..best advice ever 👍🤗
Ok I've been tinkering with astronomy equipement for a year now, trying to make astronomy more affordable for people who can't afford it, and this is just amazing!!! I'll give it a go as soon as I can and keep you in touch!
Brilliant ! I'll be shopping for old binoculars, and building some of your designs asap. A set of 2 x of binoculars are going to yield some amazing new optical tools.
I read an article on cloudy nights and frankly it all seemed really esoteric to me, being a visual learner the video really helps, thanks for this. I live in a country where there is virtually no astronomy equipment worth speaking of, binos and micros are much more prevalent.
Love the budget ideas. I finally got one made. I was wondering if it's normal to see a dark fuzzy spot. As you pull back it's clearly the secondary. Just wondering if normal or I did it wrong? The fuzzy dark spot I can look around so to speak as I have not had a chance to test at night yet. Day test is great other wise. Happy hunting clear skys
I gave the new DIY eyepiece a go last night. I'm guessing it's very close to being 25mm. Let me tell you....I am really impressed! The stars were really sharp and jumped out....everything seemed focused right to the edge. The moon was beautiful. The stars were stunning. Jupiter and Saturn were looking good, as were some of their moons. I observed a few DSO's and switching back and fourth between the DIY and the TV 25mm, the DIY to me, was better.
I've been taking apart broken binoculars for years. I even have a decent zoom eyepiece from one. I do not take apart binoculars that are properly working, clean and aligned though, as there are many broken, misaligned, hazy, previously submerged binoculars that come through thrift stores.
The eyepieces from those binoculars should work very well. Their focal length will be fairly short, probably 10 mm or 12 mm, and probably with a nice wide field of view.
@IvanIvanov-hg4hj: Divide the focal length of your telescope by the focal length of your eyepiece.....that will give you the magnification for that combination.
Very nice! Happen to have a bad telescope laying around that doesn't have an eyepiece, not worth buying one for that scope. And i also happen to have a pair of binoculars that is out of collimation :D When the stars align haha
Thanks Red a great video. For those of us that are real newbies can you point to a video on using epoxy correctly to create eyepieces are show us how it is done?
You are the John Dobson of eyepieces Red! Thank you.
Also you can use Vacume cleaner steel tubing that fits perfectly
This brings back memories of my childhood in the UK in the nineteen sixties. Telescopes and accessories were very expensive so the only way to get started in astronomy for many was to make their own gear. Luckily there was a lot of army surplus gear around at very reasonable prices that could be utilised for parts. I made a 2" wide field refractor out of a "Toy" telescope and the eyepiece from a broken pair of British Army 6x30 field glasses. Ok there was a lot of false colour but the image was sharp enough and I spent many happy hours looking at the night sky through it. I might even have given up astronomy all together without it. Thanks for this informative video.
Hey, new telescope user here, really love the idea of diy eyepiece! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, it can be such an expensive hobby, definitely going to make a few
I am the lucky recipient of two such eyepieces which I use regularly. Thanks, Red!
Kudos for You Sir , You simply paved the way for those who enjoy finding less expensive applications regarding the building of telescopes=macro scopes ! Sharing in Your case is some kind of a virtue ! Okay ? Many thanks for Your one of a kind video !
Well done Red Henry
Hey Red. I just want to thank you for the great video. My brother gave me an old pair of 8x40's that he had in his garage. I put together an eyepiece this afternoon following your instructions. I haven't tried it yet viewing the night sky but I'm sure it's gonna do nice. I need to find another pair so I can make the double plossl. Thanks again and all the best.
Just made one myself..it took less than five minutes....best advyi ever had...thx so much.... suddenly i appreciate my celestron nexstar 5, for the very first time....only used the cheap plastic,lousy ones that it comes with,sofar....again..best advice ever 👍🤗
Thank you Red! Had moisture between my eye lenses and couldn’t get them apart. Take care sir
Ok I've been tinkering with astronomy equipement for a year now, trying to make astronomy more affordable for people who can't afford it, and this is just amazing!!!
I'll give it a go as soon as I can and keep you in touch!
You are amazing, i do have few binoculars collecting dust, and i will try this genius idea thanks to you, clear smokeless skies.
Brilliant ! I'll be shopping for old binoculars, and building some of your designs asap. A set of 2 x of binoculars are going to yield some amazing new optical tools.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge I'm getting ready to make me a few for myself
Thank you! Great video.
What is your suggested method for cutting the barrels down to size?
You can see his tube cutter at 11:50 of the video.
To cut the TV into the proper light, I use an ordinary cheap tubing cutter from the hardware store.
I read an article on cloudy nights and frankly it all seemed really esoteric to me, being a visual learner the video really helps, thanks for this. I live in a country where there is virtually no astronomy equipment worth speaking of, binos and micros are much more prevalent.
Love the budget ideas. I finally got one made. I was wondering if it's normal to see a dark fuzzy spot. As you pull back it's clearly the secondary. Just wondering if normal or I did it wrong? The fuzzy dark spot I can look around so to speak as I have not had a chance to test at night yet. Day test is great other wise. Happy hunting clear skys
You might be pushing your scope beyond it's lowest useful magnification.
Grandpa! Really valuable video you have made,i learned something new, thanks a lot.
I gave the new DIY eyepiece a go last night. I'm guessing it's very close to being 25mm. Let me tell you....I am really impressed! The stars were really sharp and jumped out....everything seemed focused right to the edge. The moon was beautiful. The stars were stunning. Jupiter and Saturn were looking good, as were some of their moons. I observed a few DSO's and switching back and fourth between the DIY and the TV 25mm, the DIY to me, was better.
I've been taking apart broken binoculars for years. I even have a decent zoom eyepiece from one. I do not take apart binoculars that are properly working, clean and aligned though, as there are many broken, misaligned, hazy, previously submerged binoculars that come through thrift stores.
Hello Sir, what if I use eyepieces from binocular 20x60, is the magnification is go be more? Work only with 7 magnification eyepieces?
The eyepieces from those binoculars should work very well. Their focal length will be fairly short, probably 10 mm or 12 mm, and probably with a nice wide field of view.
You mean the eyepieces from 20x60?
@IvanIvanov-hg4hj: Divide the focal length of your telescope by the focal length of your eyepiece.....that will give you the magnification for that combination.
@@paganphil100 , thank you very much.
Bravo! Thank you sir.
Very nice!
Happen to have a bad telescope laying around that doesn't have an eyepiece, not worth buying one for that scope. And i also happen to have a pair of binoculars that is out of collimation :D When the stars align haha
Thanks Red a great video. For those of us that are real newbies can you point to a video on using epoxy correctly to create eyepieces are show us how it is done?
I want wall hide lens
This is exactly what I would want, but I do not want to make anything, A ready made eye binoculars
I am so sad that I saw this video AFTER I threw out my broken binoculars.
you are destroying old binos
*repurposing. It's not like he's just breaking them for no reason.