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Equipment Discussions >> Binoviewers

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Brooklyn
scholastic sledgehammer


Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 870
Loc: Central New Jersey
University optics new MK-20 binoviewer!!! new
      #2598176 - 08/23/08 09:31 AM

http://www.universityoptics.com/new.html

So seems this company wants to get in the game that william optics stellarvue and a few others are playing. The cheap end binoviewer business.

This right here looks like a decent deal. For 260 you get:

"For those of you wanting to get started with binocular viewing at a very reasonable price, we offer the MK-20. Binocular Viewer Aluminum Case It features fully multi-coated BAK-4 prisms and individual eyepiece diopter adjustments. Nice 20mm clear aperture. Straight-through viewing angle. In addition: we will include a certificate of collimation from our Takashashi based parallel light colliminator. We are also including a free foam lined aluminum storage case."

Is this binoviewer the same one that celestron and stellarvue has? For some reason it looks strikingly similar to the others.

I love the fact that they include (2) Abbe Orthoscopic eyepieces, but these have a very small FOV.

UO claims that other binoviewers come bundled with "throw away" eyepieces...but i have never heard anyone complaining about the 66 degree FOV eyepieces that come with the william optics bino.

I guess it depends what you want in your entry level bino bundle. With these orthos youll get the smallest FOV, but probably the highest detail and brightness.

Anyone have this yet? comments?

--------------------
Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)

Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”


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deSitter
scholastic sledgehammer


Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 782
Re: University optics new MK-20 binoviewer!!! new [Re: Brooklyn]
      #2598256 - 08/23/08 10:24 AM

Well Jan Seyfried and company do not exaggerate - if they say it's good you can take it to the bank. Their Orthoscopics are some of the best eyepieces you can get at any price. I am thinking about a binoviewer and this makes me think harder, although I am still leaning toward the Denkmeier because of its larger clear aperture. But this one would be in second place I think. Personally, this is sort of a trivial point I know, but I don't really like the white finish of the WO.

-drl


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Brooklyn
scholastic sledgehammer


Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 870
Loc: Central New Jersey
Re: University optics new MK-20 binoviewer!!! new [Re: deSitter]
      #2598286 - 08/23/08 10:39 AM

Quote:

Well Jan Seyfried and company do not exaggerate - if they say it's good you can take it to the bank. Their Orthoscopics are some of the best eyepieces you can get at any price. I am thinking about a binoviewer and this makes me think harder, although I am still leaning toward the Denkmeier because of its larger clear aperture. But this one would be in second place I think. Personally, this is sort of a trivial point I know, but I don't really like the white finish of the WO.

-drl




I was once told that ALL the 200-300 dollar binviewers are actually copies of one another made in the same factory, and simply SOLD by different companies because they bundle the bino with different things.

If this is the case, then optically there is no difference between any of these 200 dollar binos. The only difference i can see MAYBE is the alignment of the two eyepieces.

--------------------
Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)

Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”


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jdownie
professor emeritus


Reged: 02/24/06
Posts: 738
Re: University optics new MK-20 binoviewer!!! new [Re: Brooklyn]
      #2598401 - 08/23/08 11:30 AM

Quote:

I was once told that ALL the 200-300 dollar binviewers are actually copies of one another made in the same factory, and simply SOLD by different companies because they bundle the bino with different things.

If this is the case, then optically there is no difference between any of these 200 dollar binos. The only difference i can see MAYBE is the alignment of the two eyepieces.




If the binoviewers are not collimated properly, the you will DEFINITELY see a difference from a well-collimated set. This is a labor-intensive step and can account for significant price differentials, but results in a useful versus a useless (uncollimated) product.

John

--------------------
ATM project - a terrible waste of good Pyrex.


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Brooklyn
scholastic sledgehammer


Reged: 07/24/08
Posts: 870
Loc: Central New Jersey
Re: University optics new MK-20 binoviewer!!! new [Re: jdownie]
      #2599112 - 08/23/08 06:19 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I was once told that ALL the 200-300 dollar binviewers are actually copies of one another made in the same factory, and simply SOLD by different companies because they bundle the bino with different things.

If this is the case, then optically there is no difference between any of these 200 dollar binos. The only difference i can see MAYBE is the alignment of the two eyepieces.




If the binoviewers are not collimated properly, the you will DEFINITELY see a difference from a well-collimated set. This is a labor-intensive step and can account for significant price differentials, but results in a useful versus a useless (uncollimated) product.

John




Good thing you mentioned it...look at the website for this university optics mk-20, it says it comes with:

" In addition: we will include a certificate of collimation from our Takashashi based parallel light colliminator. We are also including a free foam lined aluminum storage case."

I dont know if the other binoviewers come with certification of collimation, but this one sure does.

What about the william optics 200 dollar and stellarvue 200 dollar binos...

has anyone ever received them off collimation? If so what do you do? send it back just like a regular defective products?

--------------------
Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)

Albert Einstein =>
“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”


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EdZModerator
Professor EdZ
*****

Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12599
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
Re: University optics new MK-20 binoviewer!!! new [Re: Brooklyn]
      #2600071 - 08/24/08 10:03 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Well Jan Seyfried and company do not exaggerate - if they say it's good you can take it to the bank. Their Orthoscopics are some of the best eyepieces you can get at any price. I am thinking about a binoviewer and this makes me think harder, although I am still leaning toward the Denkmeier because of its larger clear aperture. But this one would be in second place I think. Personally, this is sort of a trivial point I know, but I don't really like the white finish of the WO.

-drl




I was once told that ALL the 200-300 dollar binviewers are actually copies of one another made in the same factory, and simply SOLD by different companies because they bundle the bino with different things.

If this is the case, then optically there is no difference between any of these 200 dollar binos. The only difference i can see MAYBE is the alignment of the two eyepieces.




That would be correct. In fact there are no less than a half dozen different companies that are all selling the same binoviewer, just under a different name, and several with different options on how to hold the eyepieces. this is another one of the same manufacture. You can find all the information on the different brands and where they are made in our resources links pinned at the top of the forum.

Worth noting, the UO binoviewer does not come supplied with an OCA/OCS. You will need to purchase one separately for use in a standard refractor. You don't need one for use in a SCT.

edz

--------------------
Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21


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jgraham
Postmaster
*****

Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 5385
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
Re: University optics new MK-20 binoviewer!!! new [Re: EdZ]
      #2603398 - 08/25/08 07:57 PM

I noticed the lack of an OCA as well. The one thing you're getting with these is a certificate of collimation, and the certified QA/QC check might be worth it to some.

--------------------
-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I & II), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors


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Doug L
super member


Reged: 08/17/08
Posts: 122
Loc: Ottawa, Canada
Re: University optics new MK-20 binoviewer!!! [Re: jgraham]
      #2603955 - 08/26/08 01:06 AM

With the talk of "conditional alignment" (collimation best when the eyepieces are set at a particular interpupillary distance), I wonder if the certificate of collimation takes readings over the entire range of motion for the eyepieces?

--------------------
Bino reality... 1 + 1 > 2


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