Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 26812
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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link
Please note the video will be available later today.
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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JimP
sage
Reged: 04/22/03
Posts: 337
Loc: South Carolina
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Very interesting Tom. I had heard something about this being available only to previous Denk customers. I assumer that was a rumor and has no basis in fact.
JimP
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bcuddihee
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/04/06
Posts: 869
Loc: Cincinnati Ohio
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Seems like a great product. It also seems like a natural to have a bino type attachment available with it so it can be mounted, for stability, on a tripod or parallelogram mount with a camera lens for the ultimate wide angle bino views.
BC
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B Cuddihee
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1968 Jason Empire 60X700mm refractor (my buddy from way back)
Celestron Nexstar8SE(a remarkable 8" grab and go)
Feathertouch Microfocuser
Stellarvue 50mm "Sparrowhawk" finder
Denk bino's with Power x switch
Pair of 28 RKE's
Pair of Smart Astronomy 19 EF's
Pair of 20 TV plossls
Pair of 15 TV plossls
Pair of 15 Garrett SWA's
7mm UO HD Orthoscopic
Agena 38 SWA
Agena 26 SWA
Garrett 2" 2x ED Barlow
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2345
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Man... I guess I'd better start saving my coins... selling off guitars. Anyone wanna buy a nice Breedlove???? Any word on how long before a production model- available to the public will be?
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Wes
Atlantic Beach, FL
Some bino’s from Miyauchi 5x32 Binon's up through Garrett 20x110 Signature's,
Some telescopes from a Stellarvue 80mm NHNG up through a couple of 8” reflectors…
And a wonderful 4.25" Delmarva Shiefspiegler!
Some good friends, made here on C/N.
Oh- several cats and a wonderful wife!
Anyone want a cat???? :-O
"When your work speaks for itself- Don't Interrupt" -Gamble Rogers
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David Parmet
newbie
Reged: 06/01/08
Posts: 2
Loc: Westchester County, NY USA
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Doug's a neighbor of mine. A week or so ago we tried the BiPH out on my 6" Newtonian. The views were amazing - I can see a lot from our location but I never thought I would see the North American, Swan, Triffid and Lagoon nebula from my backyard.
Note that the full moon was coming up from behind some trees and the some of the lights in my house were still on.
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DavidWasch
member
Reged: 04/08/08
Posts: 30
Loc: CT
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I'm curious how the BIPH would work out with a hydrogen/alpha filter, as described in an article about the I3 by Lindy Williams on this site. It could be a killer combo for those of us who live under light-polluted skies (like almost all of us).
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Jeff Morgan
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/28/03
Posts: 1448
Loc: Prescott, AZ
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Just when I thought my collection of astro-gear was nearing completion.
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Jeff Morgan
Prescott, AZ
Wile E. Coyote School of Telescope Making
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Bradley B
sage
Reged: 05/14/07
Posts: 331
Loc: Sacramento, California
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It is obvious that more and more of us will be dealing with light-polluted skies, so anything that could mitigate the effects of LP would be most welcome!
I hope this is not a dumb question, but does the BiPH work in conjunction with eyepieces, instead of (i.e., it provides its own magnification), or with its own (proprietary?) magnification assistance?
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Vixen NA140SSf
Pentax 105SD
Meade 12" LightBridge
Takahashi 7X50IL "Astronomer" Binoculars
* * * * * * * * *
It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. -Thomas Paine
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highfnum
super member
Reged: 09/06/06
Posts: 100
Loc: NY
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tried it at AOS -- lots of fun
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 26812
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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Jim, AFIAK, that's not the case.
B Cuddihee, handholding was not a problem with the unit and the 105mm camera lens. It's very lightweight.
Wes, Doug said 60 days, that puts it around late September or October.
David, it works very well with the Ha filter. In fact there was talk of bundling it with one.
Brad, it does not work in conjunction with eyepieces - rather think of it as it's own eyepiece.
T
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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longfocus
sage
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 378
Loc: Sunshine Capital of Canada
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And what about planetary performance? The Moon would cause blindness for real!! I think I'll keep my Denk binoviewer as the cost of double eyepieces has ruined me financially anyway (just kidding) and the cost of this "green goblin" doesn't tickle me much at all to be perfectly honest (not kidding).
If I want pictures, I can have these from the Hubble website in uber resolution, or on APOD.
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 26812
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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I tend to agree with you on the price - I think they'd sell a million of these if they could get the costs down to $1500 or so, unfortunately, the price of the components are - well, let just say - NOT inexpensive.
The tool itself is interesting tho. There were definitely times I prefer the naturally aspirated views, but that added capability the image intensifier gave was absolutely amazing. The ability to cut through light pollution will be more than worth the ticket for some folks.
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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DavidWasch
member
Reged: 04/08/08
Posts: 30
Loc: CT
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I see the price as reasonable, though it is out of my bracket, at present. For me, it compares favorably to the other option for real deep views: ccd photography. Here is a tool that provides much of joy of ccd, but without having to nearly as much time.
One thing I am curious about-- I know the BIPH will work great on nebulae and clusters, less so with galaxies. I have not heard how it works with comets. Would this be a good tool for comet hunters?
Thanks--
David
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 26812
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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Don't really know. I'm guessing yes, but 
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2771
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Sounds OK... but it's probably not for everyone. Personally, I don't care for the green view that these devices provide. A while back Gary and I spent a good bit of time using his I3 in my 25. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to use one, and determined that it's not for me.
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Peter
14.5" Starmaster
We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do.
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 1942
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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I would have to try one before I bought one.
Fred
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River Cam - Cambridge England
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StarStuff1
sage
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 398
Loc: East Tennessee
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I predict that most people who try it will be hooked. Maybe not buy but will still lust.
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Two dozen eyepieces, a dozen binoculars, a half dozen refractors, two reflectors and a homemade Image Intensifier Eyepiece (IIE). All products subject to change by the owner at any time.
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 26812
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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Quote:
Sounds OK... but it's probably not for everyone. Personally, I don't care for the green view that these devices provide. A while back Gary and I spent a good bit of time using his I3 in my 25. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to use one, and determined that it's not for me.
I too tend to prefer the "naturally aspirated" views, but there's no denying that these: 1) allow you to see more than you would otherwise, 2) present a completely different version, and 3) cut through light pollution.
These is more appealing to me than something like the Mallincam because of the ability to use it in real time. Not only is it a live view, you don't need a tracking mount.
If at all possible, I would suggest a try before you buy approach with this - although honestly - that's not probably going to be all that possible. They ARE trying to get units around to the major star parties tho, so if you do that circuit, you just may get a chance.
T
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14359
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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It's a neat idea, but it's a shame that such a thing is necessary for some observers. Until we can get light pollution laws with teeth here in the US, desperate observers will have to rely on light amplification gadgets. 
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & Celestial Irons
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Michael Miles
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/11/05
Posts: 579
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OK, is this thing better than a 3 minute, ASA 800-1600 exposure via a DSLR? Is it possible to photograph through the thing? Does it provide any advantage over a DSLR used with a color video monitor?
Michael
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LXD-75 w/
Stellarvue 102ED
Hardin 10" Newt
Antares 8" Newt
Meade AR-5
Meade N-6
Celestron 102mm refractor
Canon 300D, Meade DSI guiding
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JimP
sage
Reged: 04/22/03
Posts: 337
Loc: South Carolina
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Since you are looking at the image projected on a screen what is the difference between this and a Collins I3 eyepiece with an adapter to let you use two eyes to look at the same screen?
JimP
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 26812
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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Two eyes. A bunch of accessories in the works. The bandpasses are different. The Collins is basically out of production.
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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Larry F
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/24/04
Posts: 1330
Loc: Westchester, NY
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Quote:
It's a neat idea, but it's a shame that such a thing is necessary for some observers. Until we can get light pollution laws with teeth here in the US, desperate observers will have to rely on light amplification gadgets.
There would have to be no lights anywhere to darken the skies enough to compare with the BIPH. We'd be back to the pitch-darkness of the 17th century, dark enough so that in downtown Seville Count Almaviva can mistake his wife for the serving-maid Susanna (Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro", Act IV). But if it were that dark, I'd never able to find the bloody focus knob on my scope much less anther eyepiece.
Like everything in our hobby, the BIPH can't do it all. It's better for some objects than others. It's monochromatic, which may or may not bother you. There's scintillation to a greater or lesser degree, which may or may not bother you. There are a few black spots on every tube, which may or may not bother you. It's expensive, which may or may not bother you. On the other hand, it triples your aperture and allows you to see things you've never seen before. The last time I saw the North American Nebula was with 7x50 binos from 9,000 feet in the pitch-black Colorado Rockies; Doug showed it to me from his driveway in suburban Westchester (maybe 150 feet above sea level and 35 miles north of Times Square) on a very hazy, very humid night, with a H-alpha filter in front of the cheapie 105 mm C-mount lens on the BIPH. It's hard not to be a believer. And the thought of it on a 30" scope!
I figure the conversation will probably go like this:
LARRY: I ordered a BIPH.
ELYSE: You're spending 4 grand on ANOTHER telescope thing?
LARRY: No, I'm saving $50,000 by not buying a 20" Meade.
ELYSE: Come on, that's not really saving. You're still spending $4 grand.
LARRY: But when you bought your mink coat you explained that you actually hadn't spent money, you saved thousands because of the discount.
ELYSE: [Glaring]
LARRY: [Reminder to self: buy some jewelry for her, too.]
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C5 Orange Tube SCT
Orion 127 Mak
SV Nighthawk (1st generation)
CPC 800 XLT SCT
Coronado Maxscope 40
Denk II Binos
Giro 2/Tech2000 Giro Driver/Tech2000 QuickDraw Pier
A zillion eyepieces and some more mounts
Mason & Hamlin BB 214 cm (piano)
My Gallery
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 26812
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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In my case, I've found it's distinctly better to spend the money for her first, and instead of all in one lump sum, spread it out over a couple months.
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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Mogster
sage
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 294
Loc: Manchester, England
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Hmmm, quite tempted. This has to be the future of backyard astronomy.
If it worked on galaxies I'd be more interested though, it doesn't sound like its the complete package, yet.
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CPC 9.25, Orion 127 Mak, WO Zenithstar 2 80APO, Coronado PST, Pentax 12X50 WP
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StarStuff1
sage
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 398
Loc: East Tennessee
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Galaxies ARE enhanced some with 3rd gen night vision but nowhere near the increase shown with stars and nebulas. I believe Doug is working on something for galaxies. I hope it is successful and in a filter form so I can use with my IIE.
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Two dozen eyepieces, a dozen binoculars, a half dozen refractors, two reflectors and a homemade Image Intensifier Eyepiece (IIE). All products subject to change by the owner at any time.
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 26812
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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I'm not sure enhanced is the right term. Not harmed to badly, might be more appropriate. OTOH, if the galaxy is edge on, that does usually do better.
Doug is working on improving the response.
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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Larry F
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/24/04
Posts: 1330
Loc: Westchester, NY
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Quote:
In my case, I've found it's distinctly better to spend the money for her first, and instead of all in one lump sum, spread it out over a couple months.
An accurate description of our 24 years of marriage.
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C5 Orange Tube SCT
Orion 127 Mak
SV Nighthawk (1st generation)
CPC 800 XLT SCT
Coronado Maxscope 40
Denk II Binos
Giro 2/Tech2000 Giro Driver/Tech2000 QuickDraw Pier
A zillion eyepieces and some more mounts
Mason & Hamlin BB 214 cm (piano)
My Gallery
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AstroWheels
super member
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 108
Loc: Mid-Michigan
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OK Tom. I know it's been a while, but you peaked my interest with this "doo-hicky"!
I was going to get a second Collins I-3 and duct tape them together, but if this comes already taped up.......
What is the referrence to the pricing "new tube vs old-tube"?
Thanks,
Don
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13" T-scope "Bertha"
6" UTI-6c traveler "Polly"
5" Televue NP-127 "Betty"
4.5" Starblast "O'l Blue"
3.5" Megrez 90 APO "Scooter"
Collins I-3 "The Eye"
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ScottAz
Fleet Navigator
Reged: 02/06/05
Posts: 1140
Loc: Millington, TN
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Thanks, Tom! I can't wait to hear more ... particularly about potential enhancements. Sounds great for sharing the sky with a group of students! 
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Scott Azmus
SV80BV, NexStar 11, & 18" Obsession 
Many Views Yield Truth
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Tom Trusock
Reged: 02/26/02
Posts: 26812
Loc: Alternate Reality (TM)
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DON!
Great to see you.
The old tube is military surplus. The new tube is straight from the manufacturer. The old tube carries a year warrenty, whereas the new tube two years.
T
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There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.
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rodb
member
Reged: 05/19/08
Posts: 62
Loc: MD, USA, Chevy Chase (just nor...
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