Anyone use Binoviewer in dob with 2 diff eyepiece magnification?

[mbaddah]

Was wondering if anybody here has used a binoviewer with 2 different eyepieces at different magnification to minimise swapping eyepieces at the telescope? Was thinking of purchasing a binoviewer (Andrews has one for $99) for my dob save me hassle of constantly switching between 2 eyepieces. Thanks :)

[Satchmo]

As long as you don't mind losing more than 1/2 your telescopes available light to do so then it should work fine .

I think what you actually need is a turret style rotary eyepiece holder. I don't know where you can get them :)

[dannat]

he's right - i have bought one of the andrews binoviewers & it works great on hte moon . jupiter, but it does cut out a lot of light..

I don't think you eye would be able to switch between very well - why don't you look around for a good zoom eyepiece, wiliam optics, long perng (avail at andrews coms) , baader & vixen all make reasonable units i believe. also on ebay you can get cheap seben zooms - about $60 - ot sure of the quality but i think erick may have one - or at lest tested it

[mbaddah]

Really I'd lose half it's light? Definitely not an option then....

How does this look http://www.sciencecenter.net/hutech/borg/turret/index.htm ?

[dannat]

looks fine, although very few use them. i didn't see the price,looks pricey

[Satchmo]

That one won't work with a Newtonian : it has a 90 degree bend and due to the long internal lightpath probably wouldn't focus in a Newt anyway.

I did a bit of a search and couldn't find anything that works straight through for Newtonians. I'm intrigued now as to why such an accessory isn't available?

[gbeal]

While I haven't searched (I mean if Satchmo has, why should I), but the concept of a turret like a refractor uses, plus the likes of the Denkmeier OCS system "should" work surely.
My Denk bino and the OCS got the focal plane to where it needed to be, so surely another OCS and a turret would work. I used to have a turret that was angled on a 45º angle, and this could be ideal for the newt.

[rmcpb]

Is changing eyepieces really such a hassle? That money could be spent on other "more useful" accessories IMO.

[Satchmo]

For that matter a sliding `power-switch' system like the Denk has would be great. Only one eyepiece and 3 magnifications at the flick of a lever . I guess eyepiece manufacturers wouldn't be thrilled about that one, they would lose eyepiece sales.

[erick]

Televue make an 8-24mm zoom eyepiece with click-stop positions. As I understand it, the click-stop at set focal lengths is precisely to make them easy to use in binoviewers. Many make 8-24mm zooms. I have a Seben (public viewing) and a Williams Optics. Nether is click-stop, but I believe some others are, apart from the TV. Note Field of View is small - some are wider than others - some are more parfocal than others across the full zoom.

http://www.televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=274 (Seems to be $299 on Bintel's website - not including Dioptrix correction lens, if interested in that)

I tried a binoviewer once on my previous 8" newt. Bit hard to pull focus with some eyepieces - I think I had to add a 2x 2" barlow into the train. Clearly less light through each eyepiece. I handed it back pretty quickly. When I go two eyes, it will be a big binonewt!

[skies2clear]

If I understand the question correctly, why don't you use something like a Seibert Mag wheel, if you don't have the Denk setup?

Clear skies

[dannat]

erick, which do you prefer of the two zooms