Binoviewer Experiences Anyone???

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

I am considering picking up a Binoviewer for our 8 inch Dob reflector...At some point I will aslo pick up a "smallish" refractor on an Alt Az mount for my boys to use...so ability to use it both ways is desirable.

I've been considering the Denkmier "Big Easy" package as an introduction to 2 eye viewing...

The "Big Easy" package is attractive because of cost, and ability to work with reflector...from what little I've read they seem to perform okay as well.

Without encouraging the "evangelical zeal" of binoviewer disciples I'll ask...Has anyone had any experiences with the Denks (or other binoviewers)???

Any and all advice welcome as I am just begining the fact finding stage...

Thanks!

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Someone around here is getting a denk standard... so you might hear about taht unit soon.

Burgess binoviewers with the 1.9x corrector work (i.e., reach focus) in an 8" GSO (Bintel) Dob (but not in the 10 and 12"). They are not bad for what they are but not perfect. I think the oversized clear aperture which results in prism clipping is a bad idea. Causes some unwanted reflections on bright objects. The WO unit is similar, but does not have oversized CA. From what I hear you need to buy the spacer to extend the path length btw nosepiece and the 1.6x corrector that comes with it (turning it into a 2x) to reach focus.

I sold my Burgess unit, but I really miss it. Particularly when viewing planets. It never seemed to do justice to DSOs (mainly because of too little light + too much power). Although with Jupiter just about gone, not much to see in planetary dept, so I don't need to rush out and buy another unit yet.

[Dave47tuc (David)]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Someone around here is getting a denk standard... so you might hear about taht unit soon.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh with power x switch also

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Thanks for the comments so far...

I look forward to hearing how the Denk "Standards" perform...it can be our little secret!

[gbeal]

I have the Denk standards, had them for a while, since they hit the market. Love them. Not for DSO's as has been suggested, but they CAN be used.
Really the Denks are awesome for lunar and solar use. The views with the 10" newt of the lunar surface is amazing. Ditto the sun with my 63mm refractor and solar filter.
I had illusions of getting a set of top notch eyepieces, but instead tried another of the oldest and ugliest I had. It is (well now THEY are) a pair of Celestron 20mm Erfles, and I haven't really missed anything else.
The Denk needs the OCS unit to ensure that it will come to focus in the newt type scopes, and I also use this with the refractor. It allows either about 1.3x or 3x magnification depending on what combination it is used in. If I need more I simply slip the whole caboodle into the 5x Powermate.
The query related to eyepieces, so let me suggest trying a set of "average" eyepieces first. I have also heard/read that the bino viewer is kinder to average eyepieces, rather than demanding top notch jobs.
As our American cuzzies have a phrase, YMMV. Good luck.

[casstony]

I have the common chinese variety and they do add an extra dimension to viewing the moon. Denkemeier is currently offering US$200 refund for chinese bino's on their more expensive units - you could buy chinese units from Andrews for AU$200 then trade them in if you were not happy(would be a good excuse to go the whole hog)

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Interesting idea casstony...looks like I need to do some math...