Jawaid I. Abbasi
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/19/07
Loc: LEVITTOWN, PA
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: beachchairbill]
#4082289 - 09/30/10 02:58 AM
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Wow,
you did it. Please, write your first "full" report. We are all now please to hear from you.
GOOD JOB!!   
|
Jawaid I. Abbasi
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/19/07
Loc: LEVITTOWN, PA
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: Jawaid I. Abbasi]
#4082293 - 09/30/10 03:02 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Now, I am waiting my binocular from APM. I hope it receives collimated. I just do not want to go under the hood again.
|
Rich V.
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/02/05
Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: Jawaid I. Abbasi]
#4084001 - 09/30/10 07:07 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Been gone a couple days and a lot has gone on; glad to hear you seem to be at the finish line, Bill!
If the laser is that well centered on both axes, I'd say just put those set screws into the retaining rings and go out and enjoy those binoculars.
Rich V
|
beachchairbill
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/06/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: Rich V.]
#4084508 - 09/30/10 10:16 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Rich V.
Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge and support. I could not have done this with out it. It's time to enjoy these binoculars with the knowledge that they are right on line.
BB
|
beachchairbill
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/06/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: beachchairbill]
#4109247 - 10/12/10 01:18 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Well not so fast
Late last week I decided to purchase several quality eps. My choice was the Tele Vue 8mm Radians.
They fit nice and snug in the GBT 100/45 and do come to focus, however, with a double image. Just when I though I was finished with tinkering with alignment here we go again.
This time I decided I would take my time and write down all of my turns with the push - pull screws or pull - push screws so that I have a detailed chart on what each screw did or did not do. Several hours later and one Planet and two very bright stars, one in Orion and another that came up just as Orion was moving out, I was able to bring the double image to alignment and the Redians were well worth the money.
Now that I was back tinkering with the GBT, I decided to use my Siebert 4.9 eps to see if they were in alignment as well. Not a chance double image again, however not that bad and with all of my new found knowledge I think I can bring them to alignment with in a few minutes. Will have to wait unitl the skies over New York City clear again.
Rich you will find this interesting - I found another broken pull screw in the left side focuser which had been hot glued so it would not move. From what I can tell I will not need it for my final adjustments with the Sieberts 4.9 eps.
This also changed where the lasers are marked on my target sheets. I will post another picture when I'm finished alignment.
Beachchairbill 
|
EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: beachchairbill]
#4109448 - 10/12/10 06:30 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
once a binocular has been conditionally aligned, it should NOT need to be alinged for another pair of eyepieces.
I suspect your eyepieces or the insert tube has some slop that is causing the eyepieces to be out of line.
edz
|
GlenM
Vendor - Lyra Optic
Reged: 05/20/07
Loc: Lancashire England
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: beachchairbill]
#4109518 - 10/12/10 07:56 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Hi Beachchair,
How do you find the Instadjust on those Radians?
|
beachchairbill
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/06/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: GlenM]
#4110220 - 10/12/10 01:28 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
ED,
I'm tired of slop, where and what do I look for with this new slop?
Glen,
Will let you know when I have more time with them. Could not us the GBT last night due to severe lighting storms and the forcast is ify.
BB
|
rdandrea
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/13/10
Loc: Colorado, USA DM59ra
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: EdZ]
#4110233 - 10/12/10 01:33 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
What EdZ says, or could it be the weight of the radians (more than half a pound a piece) that's causing some flexure somewhere?
|
EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: rdandrea]
#4110281 - 10/12/10 01:51 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I've been using radians as my favorite mid/hi power eyepieces in my BT100 for about 5 years now. I switch from very light 26mm or 20mm plossls to 14mm radian to 10mm radians to very heavy 24mm SWAs. There is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in the alignment. All eyepieces fit tightly.
The point is, there should be no difference at all.
I don't know what is causing your problems, but you shouldn't bee adjusting from one set of eyepieces to another. If you can even wiggle the eyepieces, that could be the problem.
edz
|
beachchairbill
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/06/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: EdZ]
#4110495 - 10/12/10 03:27 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Ed,
After the last several adjustments on the GBT I have no double image with the Radians or going up to 12mm or 20mm etc. It is only when I put the 4.9mm Sieberts in that this happens so I have two options, either make the final adjustment or leave well enought alone and not use them. I thought that when going lower in mag and seeing double image that you were refining to a better alignment. I understand that the 4.9s are relay not ment for the GBT and I'm only using them for the best alignment I can obtain.
BB
|
EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: beachchairbill]
#4110664 - 10/12/10 04:38 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Ed,
After the last several adjustments on the GBT I have no double image with the Radians or going up to 12mm or 20mm etc. It is only when I put the 4.9mm Sieberts in that this happens so I have two options, either make the final adjustment or leave well enought alone and not use them.
BB
from your post a few lines up
Quote:
Late last week I decided to purchase several quality eps. My choice was the Tele Vue 8mm Radians.
They fit nice and snug in the GBT 100/45 and do come to focus, however, with a double image.
is there some confusion here?
edz
|
beachchairbill
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/06/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: EdZ]
#4110953 - 10/12/10 06:46 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Sorry Ed it must be me.
Here we go again:
When I finished this thread I though I was in focus with no double at 8mm with my Meade 8x24, case closed.
I then purchased the Redians and tried them out on Jupiter and bingo a double image. I then realigned the Redians and they are right on the money. The Meade 8x24s are also right on the money as well as my other eps.
I then decided to look at Jupiter with my 4.9mm Sieberts
and again I had double vision, however, it was not as bad as the with the Redians. Hope this clears things up.
BB
|
Rich V.
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/02/05
Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: beachchairbill]
#4111071 - 10/12/10 07:40 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Bill, remember if you have one set of eyepieces that show double images while your other sets don't, get focused then rotate either one or both eyepieces in the focuser until the images merge. You can then put a mark on the eyepieces so you can insert them in the correct orientation from the start next time you use them.
Since the Sieberts are your highest mag. eyepieces they are more prone to show double images anyway.
Rich V
|
beachchairbill
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/06/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: Rich V.]
#4111565 - 10/12/10 10:45 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Rich V.
I'll give that a try and get back to you.
Thanks
BB
|
beachchairbill
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/06/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: beachchairbill]
#4111813 - 10/13/10 01:12 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Rich V.
I did as you instructed and bingo the 4.9mm lost their double image. I turned the eps half ture and the double image cleared up. I marked the eps for future reference and retested them twice. Both times they were right on the money with no double image. Porblem solved, however, this begs for an explenation as to why this should happen? I will say again that the Sieberts fit is better than any ep that I have.
In answer to a previous question asked by Glen M about the Redians I have tried them all the way in and all the way out and I love them all the way in. Their is one thing that I have not tried so far and that is the Pupile Guide which is supplied with each ep. It is a plastic disc with a center hole that gets attached under the rubber eyeguards. Will give them a try in daylight and give you an openion when I'm finished.
ED,
I hope this clears things up but wonder if their is anything further that I can do to refine the alignment any further. Might as well go all the way while the going is good.
Thanks
BB
Now if I can get my second hand SCT 8" mirror aligned I'd be set for the winter.
|
Goodchild
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/31/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: beachchairbill]
#4158309 - 11/02/10 11:28 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I just finished reading this whole thread for the second time because I recently received a pair of APM 100 45's which are a clone of the GBT. I gave a first light report (literally since I observed in daytime--see "APM 100...First Impressions" thread) and things looked impressive. A couple of nights later when I had clear skies I took the binos out and my first target was Jupiter. I won't go into much detail of my experience except to say that I am experiencing EXACTLY what BB has been writing about in this thread (specifically image quality since I haven't taken apart the focuser housings). I used the supplied 20mm eyepieces and saw the worst CA I have ever seen in any of my optics, huge amount of purple and green (maybe yellow since I am somewhat color blind), so much so that I couldn't get them to acceptable focus and couldn't even make out any bands on Jupiter. This condition was somewhat worse in the right ocular than the left, as BB describes. Next tried the supplied 8mm eyepieces and CA was considerably better but had double image of Jupiter, one image on top of the other with some separation between the two images--again, worse in right ocular. Tried my pair of WO 15mm SWANS and CA and double image was still there. I tried rotating the eyepieces, observing with the compression ring tight, then loose, all with varying degrees of shift in the double image where it would almost merge. This all sounds crazy to me.
I emailed Markus about this and he gave me instructions on how to collimate the binos and promised me that by doing so I would not void the warranty. However, after re-reading BB's thread I am not sure trying to collimate would help, and so I haven't so far. I am seriously considering returning these binos--what do you think? In my opinion, you should be able to insert a different set of eyepieces, refocus and have a pleasing image, and not have to mark the best position for each set or each eyepiece, especially when viewing in the dark. When you purchase a new piece of equipment you should be able to buy it in confidence. And I don't buy the theory that during shipment a bino should come out of collimation from bumping around--a threaded screw should not move that much, or any, by jostling alone.
BB, any suggestions, since you have the most timely and relevant first hand experience? Thanks.
|
Goodchild
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/31/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: Goodchild]
#4158322 - 11/02/10 11:31 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
BTW, I meant to include in my above post that Markus has been very courteous and patient handling my questions to him. I was hesitant to even post my thoughts about this because I don't want to put him or his products in a bad light (no pun intended). However, I am hopeful that by revealing these issues that more good will come out of all this when all is said and done.
|
Rich V.
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/02/05
Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: Goodchild]
#4158443 - 11/02/10 12:23 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Hi, Royce, I'm sure you know that the CA you see won't be fixed by collimating but a double image pretty much destroys any enjoyment you will get viewing through the binoculars.
Rotating the eyepieces only works if the eyepieces themselves have an eccentricity. Most eyepieces are perfectly centered so collimating via main prism tilt will likely be your only alternative.
I don't know about the instructions included by Markus but it isn't too hard to remove only the right turret and make small incremental adjustments to the collimating screws. The biggest hassle is the need to remove/replace the turret to check your progress.
Just make sure you make note which way the image moves when one of the screw sets is adjusted and how much you turned the screw and which direction so you can go back to the original position if necessary. Make sure you loosen the larger "pull" screws a little before turning any of the "push" screws. If you've read this whole thread you probably understand what I'm getting at.
If CN members must purchase these binoculars from Germany, it is clear that learning to collimate is a skill that will be necessary for some of you to understand. PM me if you have any questions.
Good luck,
Rich V
|
beachchairbill
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/06/08
|
Re: Tinkering Beachchairbill
[Re: Rich V.]
#4158695 - 11/02/10 02:16 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Royce,
I just read your latest comments today as I hve been very busy with my new grand son and the first thing I said was WHAT THIS CAN'T BE - WOW.
First things first HOW CAN I HELP YOU.
Here are a few suggestions and take any suggestions from Rich V., EDZ to heart as they are the best.
I would think that if you were using the APMs during the day that you would have noted the double image during the day as well. Did or have you seen double images while using them during the day.
Since Jupiter is up early in the east lets start with viewing it and describe what you see. Can you get a clear image with both eps? Using the draw threads on the bottom of the focusers push the focusere all the way in to your nose and tell me what you see - is the double image still there? If not draw the two levers away from your nose until you see the image at double. If it is their at all times then you have a alignment problem.
If this is the case, put the focusers back to where they are confortable for your everyday viewing and do this, describe what you see. Is the double image right on top of each other or is one image sightly off to one side. Which image is on top and which image the bottom? How do you find this out, easy, while looking through each ep defocus the left focuser and you should be able to tell which image is on top and which image is on bottom. Stop at this point and describe what you have seen and report it here. DO NOT REMOVE THE FOCUSER SCREW AT THIS POINT.
Beachchairbill
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
