Telescope Reviews: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline!

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Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars

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SergioEn
newbie

Reged: 09/01/12

Loc: Italy To Roceja

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Rich V.]
#5633471 - 01/20/13 04:00 PM Attachment (30 downloads)

Quote:

Hi, Sergio, welcome to CN!

...... Here's the work of a gentleman in France who has had good success modifying his Miyauchis to accept other eyepieces. You may find it interesting.......
Rich

Hi, Rich, and everybody, it's not my first time on CN, since 2006 I come in, unlukely I'm unable to reach my old username Sergio E, so i've made a new one.

Europe is a so smoll land, so nearly evrithing about big binoculars, is quite easy to knew.
I lived for many years in France, and Miyauchis were for long time my fixsed idea.
Lukely the Saturn III solved the problem.
Good sky
Sergio

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Tamiji Homma
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/24/07

Loc: California, USA

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Andresin150]
#5633576 - 01/20/13 05:09 PM

Hi Andres,

No, I don't think you can use Docter UWA 12.5 on Kowa Highlander.
Docter UWA 12.5 needs 8.2mm inward focus distance than Kowa 14mm eyepiece. You would need to modify Kowa's visual back (more likely replace with something different).

As I mentioned before, TMB 92SS f/5.5 + Baader Amici Diagonal + Baader MarkV binoviewer + Docter UWA 12.5 gives you 40x, 2.2 degree TFOV, 2.27mm exit pupil.

Yes, it has lesser light gathering capability than Kowa but it gives you wonderful wide view by the Docter UWA 12.5 and it comes with better color correction and going higher power with Barlow lens in case you want to view the Moon, planets...

Tammy

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Andresin150
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/14/07

Loc: Bogotá - La Calera / Colombia

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Tamiji Homma]
#5634481 - 01/21/13 08:26 AM

Thanks Tammy

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Binomania.it
super member

Reged: 05/20/10

Loc: North Italy

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Andresin150]
#5656116 - 02/01/13 10:55 AM

Dear Friends, yesterday i've received an update to Mr Reisner, the German Manager of Kowa Europe. Unfortunately he confirmed that is not possible to modify this eye-piece for usage on the Highlander. I am so sorry. Have a nice week end.Piergiovanni

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Binomania.it]
#5656330 - 02/01/13 01:04 PM

Thanks for the update, Piergiovanni.

I am still hoping that Kowa will bring at least one additional eyepiece model (somewhere between 70-100x) for the Highlander.

Stephan

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Tamiji Homma
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/24/07

Loc: California, USA

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Stellarfire]
#5659889 - 02/03/13 12:25 PM

Hi Stephan,

It looks like Harry @ Siebert Optics started making eyepieces for Kowa Highlander.

You can pick 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7, 8.5, 9, 10, 14, 18, 19, 20, 26mm.

http://www.siebertoptics.com/Kowa%20eyepieces.html

Tammy

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Tamiji Homma]
#5660064 - 02/03/13 02:12 PM

Hi Tammy,

Very interesting news, thank you for bringing this to the attention of us Highlander users!
Looking at the enlarged picture of the Highlander-compatible eyepiece on the webpage of Siebert Optics, it seems that the eyepiece barrel will not be locked by Kowa's proprietary spring-loaded locking mechanism. I will have to check with Harry Siebert about that point and how both eyepieces will be safely retained in the Highlander, when pointed to the zenith.

Stephan

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CosmicEclipse
member

Reged: 06/10/11

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Stellarfire]
#5667107 - 02/07/13 01:36 PM

I just talked to him and I was told the locking mechanism consists of an O-Ring on the eye piece cylinder which kinda adds grip/friction when inserted in the binocular.

Also he can manufacture the eye piece body from either Aluminum or Delrin AKA (Polyoxymethylene).
The glass is made by a 3rd party company.

I'm very tempted to buy the 4.5mm pair....

Maybe Kowa will wake up to this competition and hurry to make their own?

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Rich V.
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/02/05

Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: CosmicEclipse]
#5667145 - 02/07/13 01:58 PM

I have 10mm and 15mm Siebert pairs for my Miyauchis. The 10mm has a clever spring loaded delrin ball that holds it in place while the 15mm uses the more conventional O ring. The O ring makes a very tight fit and it's a bit hard to remove the eypiece from the focuser. A little lube would likely help but I don't like the idea of anything oily near the optics.

While the Sieberts don't have a fancy locking mechanism or slick finish like the Kowas or Miyauchis, they do seem to do a good job at a reasonable price. With the Kowas in particular, due to the very high price of their factory eyepieces, the Sieberts will save you a bunch of money; enough for multiple pairs if you like.

Rich

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Rich V.]
#5667177 - 02/07/13 02:16 PM

Quote:

A little lube would likely help but I don't like the idea of anything oily near the optics.

I know one thing for sure: My Highlander will never be feeded with e.p's with oily or greasy o-rings and rubber particles from the o-rings itself. Will wait for the real thing from Kowa Japan.

Stephan

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Rich V.
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/02/05

Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Stellarfire]
#5667253 - 02/07/13 02:59 PM

Quote:

Quote:

A little lube would likely help but I don't like the idea of anything oily near the optics.

I know one thing for sure: My Highlander will never be feeded with e.p's with oily or greasy o-rings and rubber particles from the o-rings itself. Will wait for the real thing from Kowa Japan.

Stephan

Well, I hope you don't have to wait too long. Good luck!

You don't have to grease the O rings and I don't think rubber particles are an issue. I use a bulb blower to keep the face of the rhomb under the focuser free of dust or other junk. They're just binoculars, you know! Having eyepiece options just makes them more useful...

Getting out and using them is the point!

Rich

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kcolter
sage

Reged: 06/04/03

Loc: Missouri, USA

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Rich V.]
#5667401 - 02/07/13 04:16 PM

Are the prices for the Siebert eyepieces the price for a single eyepiece, or the price for a pair? Thanks

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Rich V.
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/02/05

Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: kcolter]
#5667544 - 02/07/13 05:37 PM

They are sold individually.

Rich

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Tamiji Homma
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/24/07

Loc: California, USA

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Stellarfire]
#5797712 - 04/14/13 12:07 AM

Hi Stephan,

I decided to try the shortest focal length eyepiece, 4.5mm Harry offers for Kowa.
I'll let you know how it goes.

Tammy

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Stellarfire
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/10/11

Loc: Switzerland

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Tamiji Homma]
#5797804 - 04/14/13 02:26 AM

Hi Tammy,

Nice to hear from you. I will be very interested in your findings on the 4.5mm Sieberts.

Stephan

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Rich Brady
journeyman

Reged: 04/11/13

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Stellarfire]
#5797957 - 04/14/13 08:37 AM

Piergiovanni.

Zeis Colliminator? How does that work? Cant find much information about it online.

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Ryuno
member

Reged: 05/09/13

Loc: Tokyo

Re: Kowa Highlander: New Eyepieces in the Pipeline! new

[Re: Rich Brady]
#5869009 - 05/18/13 09:16 AM

Are there any news with respect to the announced Highlander-adapter for astronomical eyepieces?
I am expecting a Highlander Prominar at the end of May and have three pairs of Takahashi eyepieces, which I would love to try with my new binoculars.

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