VMC110L for binoviewing?

[st1000 (Steve)]

I am considering purchasing the VMC110L for binoviewing, does anyone have any experience with this setup? My Astro Shop sells a VMC110L binoviewing package so there should be someone else who has tried this.

Any replies regarding experience with the VMC110L itself is also welcome.

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Originally Posted by st1000

I am considering purchasing the VMC110L for binoviewing, does anyone have any experience with this setup? My Astro Shop sells a VMC110L binoviewing package so there should be someone else who has tried this.

Any replies regarding experience with the VMC110L itself is also welcome.

I had one once, but the image in it was extremely dim

[st1000 (Steve)]

Originally Posted by Larryp

I had one once, but the image in it was extremely dim

Thank you for the feedback, it is very valuable to me. I currently have a R130Sf and wasn't sure of its suitability for binoviewing. I did find one link that mentioned successful use of a Williams Optics binoviewer with the R130Sf, following a hunch it would work because the R130Sf uses an extension tube bring the eyepiece to focus for cyclops viewing.

My concern with using the R130Sf for binoviewing is the weight of the binoviewer ruining the plastic focusser over time. Anyone have any experience of advice with this?

Steve

[dannat (Daniel)]

The 130sf would be better for binoviewing, binoviewers usually need about 10cm of focus travel, even if you use an extension tube for ep now, you might need to trim 5cm off the tube
I'd change the focuser if it were me, keep an eye on the classifieds here.. If you are going to use the plastic one have it as high on the tube you can position yourself to, having it horizontal will strain it more

[casstony]

A used 6" Celestron Schmidt Cassegrain would be better for binoviewing - brighter images and generally good optics.

[Tinderboxsky (Steve)]

Can I suggest an excellent reference source for you to read. It is the excellent review by David Roser earlier this year under the Equipment Reviews section: Baadar Maxbright Binocular Viewer: a Tale of Two Occulars
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/42-717-0-0-1-0.html
Whilst David's focus was a particular set of binoviewers, he covers all of the issues arround choice of telescope etc that impact on the successful use of binoviewers. A couple of the reference links at the end of the review are particularly informative in bringing all the issues together.

From my binoviewing experience with similar sized scopes, a binoviewer, with an appropriate glass path corrector (to remove chromatic aberration inherent in all binoviewers, no matter their quality) on the VMC110 will provide excellent results for the moon, satisfactory results for the planets and poor results for everything else due to the dimming of the image as noted in earlier posts.

Adding a binoviewer to a newtonian scope is generally the most problematic due to the lack of back focus in the design. However, there are solutions if you want to persist.

As a first step into this area, the suggestion by Casstony of a second hand 6" sct is a much better solution in my opinion.

Cheers

Steve.

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Originally Posted by casstony

A used 6" Celestron Schmidt Cassegrain would be better for binoviewing - brighter images and generally good optics.

OPT have these otas on special at the moment, and can ship one to Oz.