CESDewar
GorillAstronomer
Reged: 01/16/05
Posts: 1811
Loc: Morganton, GA, USA
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... are apparently going to be shown at NEAF (just a note about this in the vendor forum). There had been a discussion a while back about them building some binoculars from twin 66mm APO tubes - this looks like the final incarnation of that idea. WO produces very nice stuff - this should be interesting!
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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1501
Loc: Connecticut
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We saw the prototype 66mm version at NEAF two years ago. This version seems to be based on a newer 70mm doublet. That's about a 12% increase in light gathering per tube. I think that would be a noticable increase for most users.
I wonder if two years is a normal development cycle for a product like this?
There's at least a few of us going to NEAF this year including myself. We will certainly drop by the WO booth and take a look at these new binoculars. Plus any other binocular news we may find at the show.
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2457
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Man, This is one I've been waiting for! I will be first in line (so long as I don't cut in front of someone else!) for a pair of these!!!!
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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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Mr Onions
Not Amused
Reged: 04/14/07
Posts: 3600
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I remember the photograph of the prototype they were very long.
Great news.
Looking forward to the NEAF comments.
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Barchester Onions.
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4421
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so, is this the successor to the Tak 22x60?
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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Mr Onions
Not Amused
Reged: 04/14/07
Posts: 3600
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I doubt it will be that good,Ed.
Will be a lot cheaper though 
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Barchester Onions.
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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1501
Loc: Connecticut
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It sounds pretty good. I hope WO designed this 22x70 with generously sized prisms and eyepieces that have roughly 60 degress of afov and enough eye relief for use with or without eyeglasses. I'm also hoping that a production version would be accurately collimated and once collimated, stay collimated.
I don't recall if the 66 prototype was CF or IF, but if it's CF, than let's hope it's a good quality focuser.
I think that if the quality is similar to the series 8 binoculars that we've seen they'll do well.
IIRC, at the time that those binoculars came out RC mentioned that if he had specified an ED objective for the 15x70 version it would have cost more than $1000.
I agree with the Onion-Master that these will be on the long side since the 66 ED scopes were f/6 and I doubt that a 70 ED design will have a faster objective. I"m expecting them to be at least an inch longer than the 66 prototype. Longer if the 70mm lens is slower than f/6.
In any case, I'm looking forward to seeing them.
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1501
Loc: Connecticut
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On the WO website the 66mm is f/5.9 and the 70mm is f/6.2 . That gives the 70mm scope a focal length 44.6 mm longer the the 66mm version. 1 3/4" longer, all else being equal.
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14682
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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I'll be keeping my eye on these as well.
Eye relief will be the major deciding factor in my book now.
18+ mm of useable ER and count me sold.
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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, & 35 different falls and types!
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14682
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Any ideas about what these should be expected to weigh?
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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, & 35 different falls and types!
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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1501
Loc: Connecticut
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Hi Mike,
Good point about the weight. Your guess is as good as mine. My guess is between the series 8 70mm model and the 85mm model. Shall I bring a scale? 
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1501
Loc: Connecticut
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You know Mike, If these really are based on doublet apo objectives, I'd be tempted to think of them as binoscopes. The only thing that argues against that is that the eyepieces are fixed like most binoculars. I'm sure that the 70mm apo scope is capable of much higher power, but I doubt I'd want that much mag in a binocular like this. Even at 22x it'll be a bear to use handheld. At least it won't require as beefy a mount as the big 100mm/120mm binos do.
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14682
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Hi Peter,
You are absolutely right about this being a binoscope, for all intents and purposes. To call such a thing a 'handheld' binocular is a stretch. I figure if it weighs 8# or thereabouts, I can mount it with my current gear without the hassle of buying another mount. The eye relief question is the potential deal-breaker for me. As you know, I once had the Series-8 22x85 and eventually became disenchanted because the eye relief was too tight for my tastes.
Another potential issue is price point. I hope the new WO offering comes in under $1000, preferably around $750. That is probably optimistic on my part. In my mind, once a 22x binocular crosses the $1000-threshhold, it comes into direct competition with the Tak 22x60 and maybe even the Canon 18x50 IS. I've learned one thing about binoculars, if nothing else, and that is to spare no expense when it comes to price point. But if I am going to spend a $1000 or more, it's going to be Japanese or German - or so darn good that I can't tell the difference.
Regards and have fun at NEAF!
MikeG
PS - by all means bring a scale and dial-calipers! 
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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, & 35 different falls and types!
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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1501
Loc: Connecticut
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Mike, here's a thought. If you still had the 22x85's all you would have to do is stop them down to 70mm and you'd have a good approximation of what these 22x70's would be like to own. Just a hunch.
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10143
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Peter ,
It's such a pleasure to see you back contributing a little more to this forum of late .
Your posts never fail to either educate or stimulate me in some small way .
Mike , it's also good to see you checking in here more often again ( which is not to say that YOU don't stimulate me , too , of course ) :-)
Kind regards
Kenny
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT
Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50
Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E
Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50
Helios 15 x 70 Observation
Strathspey 20 x 90
Televue 76 APO
Zeiss 85 Diascope
Helios 102 f5 refractor
Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc.
Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera
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Rick
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 2574
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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Bet these end up selling for the same price as the WO's 20x66mm did! 
clear skies,
Rick
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www.japanastro.com
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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1501
Loc: Connecticut
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A distinct possibility. Never did find out how much someone paid for the 66mm prototypes.
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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Daniel Jay
journeyman
Reged: 02/13/08
Posts: 6
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How/Why do you have so many animals. 22 cats? 2 gorillas? Can you elaborate on that?
daniel
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uno gato pocito
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2457
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Fella's- word I got is to expect to pay around $599.95 for them when they come out in a month or so.... so not sure how good they'll be for that. Would be nice to think they'd give the Taks a run for their money, but at that price, I would think it'd be doubtful. That was the word from the show.
Wes
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CESDewar
GorillAstronomer
Reged: 01/16/05
Posts: 1811
Loc: Morganton, GA, USA
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Quote:
How/Why do you have so many animals. 22 cats? 2 gorillas? Can you elaborate on that?
Yes, well, having gorillas is definitely a bit unusual - take a look at www.gorilla-haven.org - describes our project in detail and also has a biography on how I got into it all.
Oh, and it's 23 cats as of yesterday - have to udpate my sig. I guess
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