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New APM 100mm ED - first impressions

Started by Mike Harvey , Aug 16 2010 02:17 PM

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105 replies to this topic

#76 hallelujah

Cosmos

Posts: 8,588
Joined: 14 Jul 2006

Posted 26 August 2010 - 09:48 PM

Is he talking about looking through a window opening or through window glass? :question:

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#77 beachchairbill

Apollo

Posts: 1,434
Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posted 26 August 2010 - 10:28 PM

Window double glass. Not your best viewing, however, I just looked at Jupiter with it's four moons out tonight and the full moon just above it. Very nice site. Could only see one band on Jupiter and that is where I maxed out at 8mm and a very short focus point. Better views at 12mm and 18mm. Had a very nice view of Orion Sword at 4:30am. They all pass my kitchen window.

Anyone know where I could send my GBT for a collimation checkup in my area.

Thanks

BB

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#78 hallelujah

Cosmos

Posts: 8,588
Joined: 14 Jul 2006

Posted 26 August 2010 - 11:15 PM

Window double glass. Not your best viewing
BB

I'm amazed that you can see as well as you do.

Perhaps its time to invest in a window that can be opened.

Stan

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#79 Rich V.

Voyager 1

Posts: 10,749
Joined: 02 Jan 2005

Posted 26 August 2010 - 11:42 PM

Anyone know where I could send my GBT for a collimation checkup in my area.

Bill, distortions looking through a window could easily give you the impression collimation is off when it's not. Don't worry about collimation until you can get outdoors and really see what your binoculars can do.

I'm impressed you get views as good as you describe looking through a double pane window. Some of my windows don't even allow an undistorted view through them at 10x!

Relax and enjoy your GBTs as best you can until you can examine them more carefully outdoors. Chances are they won't need any adjustment.

If adjustment is necessary and you are mechanically inclined, you may be able to adjust the collimation yourself. You will have to be comfortable removing the right eyepiece turret and adjusting three push-pull screw pairs located on top of the main prism housing, re-assembling and checking for merging; repeating as necessary. It's time and patience consuming but not really all that difficult to do.

I didn't like the prospects of shipping my very similar Miyauchis across the country and back again for collimation so I did it myself. Your GBTs are pretty faithful copys of the Miyauchis; I can give you some tips if/when you may want to give it a try.

Rich V

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#80 Mr. Bill

Cosmos

Posts: 9,823
Joined: 09 Feb 2005

Posted 27 August 2010 - 11:55 AM

Glen,

I know that when I returned the GBT for repaires they did remove the Objective Lens on both tubes, however, i'm not so sure that the recollimation was done properly. I will give your suggestions a try.

BB

My "quick and dirty" check for binocular collimation....defocus one barrel so that a bright star appears as a disk, leave other barrel at best focus. The star should fall somewhere (hopefully centered but not critical) on the disk.

:cool:

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#81 beachchairbill

Apollo

Posts: 1,434
Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posted 28 August 2010 - 01:28 AM

Well my wife and I did it tonight, we shut off all the lights lowered the upper kitchen window at 12AM when all the bugs were sleeping and had a look see at Jupiter and the moon. What a difference with the window down, much sharper view of the moon through the GBT. Some green was noted around the outer edge of the moon but nothing that was bothersome. The moon was sharp and bright and the detail was crisp. Jupiter was nice and sharp with one band standing out far better than with the window up. Even the four moons took on a sharper image. Looks like this is the way to go for future viwes from my kitchen window.

Thanks for the great suggestion.

I would still like to check my collimation, so any hints would be appreciated.

Now I wonder if 7mm Nikes or Uwans would help me see 3 or 4 bands on Jupiter or am I pushing these Binoculars beyond their capability. I had my Meade Zooms set at 8mm. Would more expensive ep's make that big a difference.

My wife and I decided to head into the wilds of Pennsylvania early next week for a short vacation and I will bring the big guns along this time.

Windows down is the way to go.

Question from my wife are you going to take the window down in the dead of winter - you bet I am with a heater next to me on the kitchen counter.

Thanks

BB

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#82 Gordon Rayner

Gemini

Posts: 3,325
Joined: 24 Mar 2007

Posted 29 August 2010 - 12:31 PM

Correction:
In #3999631, earlier in this thread, I said that Bruce Walker's regular writing was in Applied Optics . That was Frank Cooke.

Bruce Walker's contributions are in Optical Spectra, now called Photonics Spectra.

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#83 SBrian

Vostok 1

Posts: 144
Joined: 04 Sep 2010

Posted 05 October 2010 - 08:10 PM

Good evening all, I just ordered a pair of APM 100mm after reading the many threads on CN. I'm looking forward to testing the APM and letting you all know the out come.

Thanks for all help and fine reporting. :bow:

Cheers

Steve

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#84 beachchairbill

Apollo

Posts: 1,434
Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posted 05 October 2010 - 09:41 PM

Steve,

Congrats, I think you did the right thing.

Can't wait for your report and hope it goes well.

BB

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#85 SBrian

Vostok 1

Posts: 144
Joined: 04 Sep 2010

Posted 08 October 2010 - 10:59 AM

Today’s the day my New APMs arrive... Just waiting for the Big Brown truck to roll up! I'm 50 years old and I fill like a kid waiting for Christmas. :jump:

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#86 beachchairbill

Apollo

Posts: 1,434
Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posted 08 October 2010 - 01:06 PM

Oh you didn't know that is your Christmas gift.

Big thing now how do you keep your finger prints off that shine new black covering. At least you can tell who was using it while you were away.

Enjoy them and hope you have a great report to tell us. Looks like the weekend should be great for outdoor viewing in your neck of the woods.

BB

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#87 SBrian

Vostok 1

Posts: 144
Joined: 04 Sep 2010

Posted 08 October 2010 - 01:17 PM

No, but I think some nice Nikon or TeleVue eye pieces might be inline for Christmas… and that would be fingerprints and droll my fellow Binoneer!

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#88 beachchairbill

Apollo

Posts: 1,434
Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posted 08 October 2010 - 03:46 PM

Don't forget you need two of everything OOOCH. Wait till my wife finds out what I spent last weekend on two new TeleVue's.

There goes my Birthday gift and Christmas gift.

BB

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#89 SBrian

Vostok 1

Posts: 144
Joined: 04 Sep 2010

Posted 08 October 2010 - 04:53 PM

Which TeleVues did you order? :shocked:

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#90 beachchairbill

Apollo

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Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posted 08 October 2010 - 11:34 PM

Two 8mm TeleVue Radians

BB

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#91 SBrian

Vostok 1

Posts: 144
Joined: 04 Sep 2010

Posted 09 October 2010 - 12:19 AM

Nice Bill! You'll be sleeping on the couch, but nice...

The New APM’s are cloud magnets! Clear all day till I rolled the 100s out and poof, clouds. :foreheadslap:

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#92 beachchairbill

Apollo

Posts: 1,434
Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posted 09 October 2010 - 01:27 PM

While your waiting for the clouds to clear and it looks like you received the APM's. Please give us your thoughs on the packageing and if you have not done so already give it the flashlight test through the objectives. Are the tubes nice and clean, any finger prints noted on the inside glass, focuser glass, etc. This would be a good start for your first light report.

BB

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#93 SBrian

Vostok 1

Posts: 144
Joined: 04 Sep 2010

Posted 09 October 2010 - 02:28 PM

Hey Bill, yep I received them and started to build a report based on the fit and finish, mechanical, optics, usability and image quality. I most likely will not publish anything till next weekend.

But if you would like an early opinion, then I would say that I am pleased so far. :jump:

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#94 beachchairbill

Apollo

Posts: 1,434
Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posted 09 October 2010 - 03:26 PM

Pleased is always a good thing and I'm glad you got them. Exciting times.

Looking forward to your extensive first light report. As you can tell from all of the other reports that have been posted on CN, it appears that APM has taken the lead right now in the BT 100/45 quality area and your report will lend further proof that this is the case. There are many CN members that have been holding off on the purchase of this type of binoculars and your report could be the turning point for positive improvements.

BB

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#95 SBrian

Vostok 1

Posts: 144
Joined: 04 Sep 2010

Posted 09 October 2010 - 04:26 PM

Awww, nothing like putting the pressure on! :tonofbricks:

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#96 beachchairbill

Apollo

Posts: 1,434
Joined: 06 Nov 2008

Posted 09 October 2010 - 08:57 PM

Just the number of CN members who have viewed this thread should give you an idea on the interest for these binoculars. Now that's preasure - Just the facts.

BB