EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12783
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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You might want to go over to the reviews side of Cloudy nights and read Bill's reviews of these instruments. Actually, his reviews have been there for years now.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2790
Loc: Just passing through.....
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The BT 100s have a very good reputation and are very good in terms of price/performance. If I were in the market for 100mm binos, they would be on the short list.
OTOH, if we are talking about visual experience, the 150s are in a class by themselves. 225% greater light gathering at 25x which is IMO binocular viewing is optimal (6mm exit pupil) and a real field of 2.6 degrees.The edge correction of the 70 degree apparent fov is quite good, sharp out to 80% of the edge.
My interest is sweeping the MW starclouds. The coatings on the Fujis are exceptional which translates into contrast...the most important variable (outside of dark skies) for richest field viewing of large diffuse nebulae and dark nebulae.
At star parties, I have to pry people off them...
What it comes down to after all the rhetoric is ponying up the money for the ride....as I have said in one of my reviews, its" like strapping a Schmidt camera to each eyeball."
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
Edited by Mr. Bill (10/05/06 08:18 PM)
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14992
Loc: Kuiper Belt
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Mr. Bill -
In my next lifetime, I want to be YOU.
Everytime I see a photo of those Fuji cannons setup in the shadow of the Sierras, I go absolutely green with envy.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Specializing in exotic and rare meteorite falls.
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2790
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
Mr. Bill -
In my next lifetime, I want to be YOU.
Everytime I see a photo of those Fuji cannons setup in the shadow of the Sierras, I go absolutely green with envy.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
Live the dream....I am.
Don't wait for the next lifetime; it's not a sure thing!
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
Edited by Mr. Bill (10/05/06 08:37 PM)
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msc
sage
Reged: 08/10/06
Posts: 263
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is it hard to reach near the zenith without getting a neck ache?
I can't beleive they charge so much extra for 45 deg occulars.
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2790
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
is it hard to reach near the zenith without getting a neck ache?
I can't beleive they charge so much extra for 45 deg occulars.
I can't believe it either. OTOH, more glass, less light!
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14992
Loc: Kuiper Belt
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Bill -
You ever think of putting a camera adapter on one of the eyepieces and taking a few photos through that big Fuji?
I'd be curious to see what kind images you could get.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Specializing in exotic and rare meteorite falls.
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2790
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
Bill -
You ever think of putting a camera adapter on one of the eyepieces and taking a few photos through that big Fuji?
I'd be curious to see what kind images you could get.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
What's a camera??
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14992
Loc: Kuiper Belt
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Talk about one heck of a "zoom lens"....!
Seriously though, I showed my wife the pics in this thread and I warned her ahead of time : this is what our future holds, so make room in the 401k for them. Her reply - if that's all I want for retirement, then I am welcome to them.
I think she's relieved I don't want a Corvette.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Specializing in exotic and rare meteorite falls.
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2790
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
Talk about one heck of a "zoom lens"....!
Seriously though, I showed my wife the pics in this thread and I warned her ahead of time : this is what our future holds, so make room in the 401k for them. Her reply - if that's all I want for retirement, then I am welcome to them.
I think she's relieved I don't want a Corvette.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
What's a Corvette?
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14992
Loc: Kuiper Belt
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Quote:
What's a camera??
Quote:
What's a Corvette?
I think Bill may be suffering from Fuji-Glass-Withdrawal.
Step outside, remove the lens caps, and gaze at the Milky Way until relieved. Repeat as needed.
How's those AP binos, BTW, I know that is off-topic, but do you have any further impressions of them to share?
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Specializing in exotic and rare meteorite falls.
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msc
sage
Reged: 08/10/06
Posts: 263
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Mr. Bill, how much $ for that rig just like we see it...?
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msc
sage
Reged: 08/10/06
Posts: 263
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That pix looking at the zenith is INSANE!
What if those big HONKERS fall on you? !
Well, not a bad way to go, I guess?
kidding aside, one of the features that bothers me about the Fujis is,..... for a contraption that big and heavy, that pricee, I wanted the option to change magnfications. What's your opinion ? I realize they are wide sweepers, but its nice if they were more versatile, allow 150x for planets, etc. It seems they are long enough to handle a lot more than 25x. The Miyauchi Galaxys' can at least go up to 60x...
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2790
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
That pix looking at the zenith is INSANE!
What if those big HONKERS fall on you? !
Well, not a bad way to go, I guess?
kidding aside, one of the features that bothers me about the Fujis is,..... for a contraption that big and heavy, that pricee, I wanted the option to change magnfications. What's your opinion ? I realize they are wide sweepers, but its nice if they were more versatile, allow 150x for planets, etc. It seems they are long enough to handle a lot more than 25x. The Miyauchi Galaxys' can at least go up to 60x...
The Fuji's are specialized for fixed power rich field....if you want variable power, you must make another choice. Notice my signature; I have other optics for that. The Fujis are a "one trick pony" but do it superbly.
Think of optics like golf clubs; different clubs for different strokes.
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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Mr. Bill
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/09/05
Posts: 2790
Loc: Just passing through.....
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Quote:
Mr. Bill, how much $ for that rig just like we see it...?
$6K binos+ $2k pedestal mount +$1.2K parallelogram mount.
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10x50 Fujinon FMT-SX binos
15x70 AP binos + Paragon p-mount
Oberwerk 100BT 45 degree + Hercules fork mount
120mm f/5 Orion achromat + Moonlite focuser
140mm f/5.7 Vixen NeoAchro Petzvel refractor
150mm f/6.5 Antares achromat
150mm f/8 homemade achromat....EE Barnard MW Sweeper
8 inch newt with f/5 Swayze mirror
10 inch f/4.7 Orion newt + Paracorr
15 inch f/5 Discovery split tube
35mm Pan, 26mm Nagler, 17mm Nagler, 13mm Ethos, 8mm Ethos
Member IDA
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msc
sage
Reged: 08/10/06
Posts: 263
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Still cheaper than the Galaxy's at $12.5k. And the Fuji set up with the mount and parallelogram....
Did you have to post those pictures? Argggggg.......
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refractory
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/05/05
Posts: 1051
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OK, lets suppose I finish my CR6 binoscope (2 6 inch Celestron F/8 achromats), and have the requisite bits and pieces (dielectric or enhanced diagonals, maybe focal reducers, low power ep's etc.)- how would my views compare with one of these babies? Not so much concerned with color than with light gathering, contrast, pinpoint images, etc. on star fields (just not that interested in planets...)?
Jess Tauber
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12783
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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light gathering,
well you'd have the aperture, but you'd probably not be able to equal the quality of Fujinon coatings on all the surfaces, unless maybe you are using Nikon coatings.
contrast,
study up real good on your optical engineering and you might just be able to design a baffled system that would properly cut off all stray light, prevent internal stray light bouncing off other surfaces and prevent any light leaks. Then you might begin to approach the contrast levels achieved by a premium binocular such as this one.
pinpoint images,
this is not only in the premium widefield eyepieces you must choose but in the optical figure of the objective. If any spherical aberration, coma, or astigmatism resides in your objective, it will certainly present itself at the low powers and wide angles you hope to duplicate. (let alone CA, about which you are not concerned, but which also will work against pin point images).
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 12022
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Mr. Bill's reports (here and in past posts) have always stimulated me to gaze at the Milky Way star clouds and dust lanes, especially in the Sagittarius region, with my 25X100 Obies. With my 6+ NELM skies, I've been dazzled by the views. I sure would like to have a look at the same sights with a set of 150mm Fujis, though, or Miyauchi 141s.
But maybe not, because then I might want to get a set!
I know this: the 25X view for star clouds and dust lanes is vastly superior to the 40X view I had in the 40X100 Obies I traded for the 25X100s. I'm also benefitting from the FMC coatings.
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