Finally got my Lunt 100 ED APO Binoculars

[jeelan (Jeelan)]

well - after waiting for around 5-6 weeks, I finally got my Lunt 100 ED APO binoculars.

Placed the ordered early September for these originally and got the parcel in a couple of weeks - they were the wrong item in the parcel - APM accidentally sent me the semi APO's.

So had to sent them back and wait for the right ones to arrive and early this week the package finally arrived.

To be fair, APM picked up all the costs of sending the wrong bins back so I dare say this has been an expensive transaction for them but can't fault the customer service from Markus on this.

Had a couple of clear nights since receiving the binoculars so spent around 5hrs viewing through them and i'm blown away at the "two eye viewing" experience...

its so much more relaxing - I'm not shifting from eye to eye, I'm not concerned with eye fatigue. I can get completely lost in what I've viewing and before I know it, 40mins, an hr, an hr and a half are gone!!!

I'm using these predominantly with 10mm Pentax XW's. I was a bit concerned about the size of the barrels on the XW's but I can view through the eyepieces without too many issues.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ps6yukyzdr.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...psddqv13xo.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...ps246dq4ne.jpg

i'm using these on a Sirui VH-10 mount which may be at the edge of its limits in terms of weight and counterbalance so looking at upgrading in the next couple of weeks. alternatively, I was thinking of a gimbal arrangement but struggling to find one that allows for the width (from centre of the binocular where the mount plate is, to the edge of the barrel)

I have a pair of 14mm Denks on the way so if they are good as the reviews suggest they are, I can see them being permanently housed in the Lunt's...

Will post some more feedback on these once I've spent more time with them but so far, no regrets and really enjoying them as a grab n go setup...

cheers
Jeelan

[Atmos (Colin)]

They look magnificent!

[JimsShed (Jim)]

Wow 100mm ED binoculars. Congratulations.

[Renato1 (Renato)]

I am envious. They look magnificent.
Regards,
Renato

[jeelan (Jeelan)]

Thanks everyone!!

Really enjoying the experience with these. Very very different to cyclops viewing and so much more relaxing...

I received my Denk 14mm's yesterday so wanted to check them out. i drove out to a relatively dark site on the outskirts of Perth yesterday around 9pm and didnt get home till about 1.30am as i just lost track of time...

spent most of my time looking at and around M 43 and that was high in the north, north east sky and andromeda/pinwheel towards north, northwest...

There were a few moment when I wished i had the CPC 1100 next to me as well as I just couldn't see the detail I was looking for so I dont think these will replace my big scope - but certainly an awesome complement to it and great for outreach program....

Trying to toss up whether I should get a pair of eyepieces in a shorter focal length i.e. 11mm Delites or 9mm Delites..

any thoughts?

cheers
Jeelan

[silv (Annette)]

no thoughts here. Only awe.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

WOW ....

[Satchmo]

Dont forget to get some wide field low power eyepieces too > I tried my pair of 24 Panoptics in this binocular at SPSP and it was truly stunning. A 4mm pupil is much better for star fields than a 2mm .

[jeelan (Jeelan)]

I've heard the 24mm Pano's are great as well..

I'm just concerned that being shaped similar to the XW's, the ole noggin isn't going to fit in between the eyepieces well enough to be comfortable...

I'm thinking of the Denk 21's...

cheers
Jeelan

[Allan]

The 24 Pans are amongst the most comfortable Bino pairs to use, and as Mark says they will be great in your binoc's. I started with a pair of 21 Denks years ago, they were good. But curiousity got to me and I bought a pair of 24 Pans. One look and it was all over, the Denks got sold off straight away.

I would skip the Denks and just go straight to the Pans. They are ergonomically better than the Denks in a Bino, much better corrected at the edge, and far more engaging than the extra 3 degrees AFOV would suggest.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Had my APM 100 binoculars out last evening at a viewing night for a crowd of about 30 people. There were quite a few clouds so the targets were limited to the moon and the Pleiades...and we got clouded out by 9:00 PM.

I was using the 21 mm Denks for the Pleiades...every single person who had a look uttered a "wow" or "OMG" or audibly gasped...the view was spectacular and immersive.

I do have a single 24 Panoptic (it is a lovely eyepiece) and I have no doubt that a pair would be fabulous in this piece of gear but it is hard for me to imagine it could be much nicer than what we enjoyed. Maybe some day (if I hit the lotto) I will be tempted to grab another Pan but at least for now the comfort and enjoyment of the 21 Denks is enough for me....

[jeelan (Jeelan)]

Thanks for the feedback everyone...

I've ordered the Denk 21's - now the wait begins :-)

cheers
Jeelan