606 replies to this topic

[denis0007dl]

While there is almost no binoviewer I did not try and test, I must share some of my experiences with you I had!

I will show you and will try to explain stuffs which I think to be important, optically and mechanically, so this can guide you in next purchase to choose which one you want.

[denis0007dl]

William Optics, Celestron, Telescope Service, Orion, Omegon, Astro-Professional, and simillar

 

All these binoviewers comes from same factory in China, from Kunming United Optics Corporation.

Here is link

http://www.united-op...and Barlow.html

 

You can also order your own binos with little different outside colours and design which they offer, with your own logo, but you must have company, and you must order minimum amount they require (not small amounts).

 

There is absolutely no difference optically (except difference sometimes in coating colour, all becasue difference in position of coated surface in time when optics are coated in relation vs source which coat).

All prisms and correcting glass, are 25mm in diameter, with same glass material, and same polished surface factor.

 

Clear aperture on each eyepeice side is 20-21mm, and on telescope side 23mm.

These binoviewers beleive or not, produce one of most brightest images of all binos in market.

Downsides are, not excellent mechanical construction as Zeiss, Baadere and simillar offer, and smaler prisms than bigger one units.

William Optics and units with same or simillar eyepeice holders, have shortest light path, while units like Omegon, TS and simillar, have longest light path, but with better eyepiece holders, which are self centring system.

 

Very good value for money!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[denis0007dl]

Baader Maxbright

 

I am not 100% sure, but I think it comes from same factory in China like above mentioned binos, but with obvious difference: T2 connection on back/telescope side, which is very usefull if you use refractors to save some light path.

 

Prisms and correcting glass are also 25mm in diameter, with 21mm clear aperture on each eyepeice side, and 23mm on telescope side.

There is one big interesting thing about this bino: this in one of very few binos which do not have or almost do not have polarisation effect.

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Edited by denis0007dl, 13 September 2015 - 02:17 PM.

[REC]

William Optics, Celestron, Telescope Service, Orion, Omegon, Astro-Professional, and simillar

 

All these binoviewers comes from same factory in China, from Kunming United Optics Corporation.

Here is link

http://www.united-op...and Barlow.html

 

You can also order your own binos with little different outside colours and design which they offer, with your own logo, but you must have company, and you must order minimum amount they require (not small amounts).

 

There is absolutely no difference optically (except difference sometimes in coating colour, all becasue difference in position of coated surface in time when optics are coated in relation vs source which coat).

All prisms and correcting glass, are 25mm in diameter, with same glass material, and same polished surface factor.

 

Clear aperture on each eyepeice side is 20-21mm, and on telescope side 23mm.

These binoviewers beleive or not, produce one of most brightest images of all binos in market.

Downsides are, not excellent mechanical construction as Zeiss, Baadere and simillar offer, and smaler prisms than bigger one units.

William Optics and units with same or simillar eyepeice holders, have shortest light path, while units like Omegon, TS and simillar, have longest light path, but with better eyepiece holders, which are self centring system.

 

Very good value for money!

Yes they are very good for the money. I have the WO version that comes with two EP's and a 1.6x barlow. My basic viewing of the moon seems pretty much the same as my much more expensive Denkmeier BV. I keep both as the WO are much lighter and work well in my small refractors. I use the Denk. with a Power Switch in my Dob.

[denis0007dl]

Baader Mark V (and previous versions) and Carl Zeiss like binoviewers

 

Fabrically, they have on one eyepiece side 26mm Clear Aperture, 28mm on second eyepiece side, and 28mm on telescope side.

Correcting glass is 28mm in diameter, while beamsplitter and upper prism are 30mm in diameter.

Baader Mark V is actually copy of Zeiss successful binohead from microscope.

Original Zeiss binos are real Zeiss made, but coatings are not so good as in Baader units, except one unit, which is hard to recognize, except if you are not expert in this regard.

 

Baader mechanics are Made in Germany, while optics are Made in Checz Republic.

All are great performers for sure.

Here you can see some of my modifications, and original units....

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Edited by denis0007dl, 13 September 2015 - 02:32 PM.

[denis0007dl]

...and more...

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[denis0007dl]

Here is how looks like inside of Mark V, and prism size...

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[denis0007dl]

...Mark V glasses...

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[denis0007dl]

...and Mark V vs BinoVue inside...

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[denis0007dl]

...another side...

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[denis0007dl]

TeleVue BinoVue

 

Bino with great self centring eyepiece holders, but I was never satisfied with them. I had 3 units of them, and always find that every of them have some issued inside corrners of beamsplitter.

 

Prisms and correcting glass are 28mm in diametrer, with smaller clear aperture on one eyepeice side where is correcting glass, but 28mm CA on telescope and second eyepeice side.

 

One more interesting thing is that each unit I had have different light transmittion, noticable. Really interesting.

Both whit sides are made from plastic, which leaves plastic feel about this bino, but this option is actually good on winter time instead metal.

 

BinoVue also takes much longer light path than Mark V, which can make problems when reaching focus.

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[denis0007dl]

...more...

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[denis0007dl]

....one more measurement, and one interesting look on BinoVue beamsplitter: this is not opticall issue, but this is visible just under special light conditions and position of beamsplitter, caused by not so good blackened edges.

non of binos I ever had have such effect.

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[denis0007dl]

Denkmeier 

 

Oldest model Denk I, then Denk II, and newest Binotron 27.

Good binos, but nothing special for my taste. Only thing I like is option on Binotron collimation possible doing by shifting eyepiece holders. IMO, too high price to competition like BinoVue and Mark V, where both BinoVue and Mark V have bigger prisms, and Mark V takes shortest light path.

 

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[denis0007dl]

...Binotron 27 back side vs MkV..

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[denis0007dl]

Siebert 

 

I had only BN 45 Elite, which is really huge bino, but it takes too much light path, what is already big problem.

Inside bino are mirrors which are actually very hard to collimate when collimation is needed.

SCT telescopes are most firendly to this bino.

[denis0007dl]

Carl Zeiss

 

Binoviewers from Calr Zeiss microscopes.

Not all binoheads are good for astronomy becasue small prisms or mirrors, and bad coatings, but there are only few units which have incredible mechanicall AND opticall quality, unbeatable by any other binos in Astro market.

Best units have CA prisms 29mm on scope side, 30mm on one eyepeice side, and 31,5mm on second eyepeice side, with great coatings.

One more advantage here is that there are 2 air-to-glass surfaces less than in any other binos I tried.

They are also expensive ones....

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[denis0007dl]

...more...

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[denis0007dl]

All in all, all mentioned binoviewers are very good, and there are no bad ones. Main differences are in prisms sizes and clear apertures, coatings, and mechanicall quailiy. You cant go wrong with any of them 

[junomike]

Nice review Denis.  One thing about the TV's you left out was the T2 attachment which comes in handy.

 

Mike

[chrisg]

Carl Zeiss

 

Binoviewers from Calr Zeiss microscopes.

Not all binoheads are good for astronomy becasue small prisms or mirrors, and bad coatings, but there are only few units which have incredible mechanicall AND opticall quality, unbeatable by any other binos in Astro market.

Best units have CA prisms 29mm on scope side, 30mm on one eyepeice side, and 31,5mm on second eyepeice side, with great coatings.

One more advantage here is that there are 2 air-to-glass surfaces less than in any other binos I tried.

They are also expensive ones....

 

Awesome review Denis!! Also great long needed write ups about Zeiss microscope eyepieces! Superb!

I was wondering about these versions of microscope binoviewers - Can they be converted to accept the Baader quick change dovetails?

[denis0007dl]

Nice review Denis.  One thing about the TV's you left out was the T2 attachment which comes in handy.

 

Mike

Thank you!

 

Yes, I do this with purpose to be fair/equall with Mark V back connection!

[denis0007dl]

 

Carl Zeiss

 

Binoviewers from Calr Zeiss microscopes.

Not all binoheads are good for astronomy becasue small prisms or mirrors, and bad coatings, but there are only few units which have incredible mechanicall AND opticall quality, unbeatable by any other binos in Astro market.

Best units have CA prisms 29mm on scope side, 30mm on one eyepeice side, and 31,5mm on second eyepeice side, with great coatings.

One more advantage here is that there are 2 air-to-glass surfaces less than in any other binos I tried.

They are also expensive ones....

 

Awesome review Denis!! Also great long needed write ups about Zeiss microscope eyepieces! Superb!

I was wondering about these versions of microscope binoviewers - Can they be converted to accept the Baader quick change dovetails?

 

Thanxs Chris.

 

Yes, any binoviewer can be converted to Baader QC dovetail. There is always individual approach to evry unit, and lots of job about that!

[denis0007dl]

In the begining, there was no binoviewers fo astronomy. First binoviewers were binos fro microscopes. After some time, astronomers was thinking why not to try binoheads from microscopes in telescopes, and they saw it was pleasure to use them on scopes, so many different companies start produce binos for astronomy purposes.

 

One obvious example is Baader Mark V unit, which is copy of Zeiss microscope binohead, as well, Denkmeier Denk I and Denk II which cames from China microscopes, with changed eyepeice holders and scope connection!

[denis0007dl]

Here you can see one of my Zeiss micro binoheads adapted to T2 system...

I had many of them, and still have some, no without reason.

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Edited by denis0007dl, 14 September 2015 - 01:37 AM.