604 replies to this topic

[nicknacknock]

Denis,

 

Thank you for taking the time to post this thread. Lots of interesting information here!

[denis0007dl]

Denis,

 

Thank you for taking the time to post this thread. Lots of interesting information here!

Thank you! 

[Raginar]

That's really neat. Thank you!

[Alvin See]

Binoviewer deity!

 

Btw, Denis, I have a small Zeiss binoviewer that I modified for astro use. When I used it for white light solar observation, I noticed that one side has more glare. The reason, as I found out, is that the sides of the cylindrical lens is not blackened. On the other side, the sides of the prism are blackened. Hence the difference. Do you make it a point to blacken the sides of all lenses when modifying the binos? 

[Jeff B]

Baader Maxbright

 

 

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.

 

Very interesting and thanks as I notice what I believe to be a polarization effect when using my older Baader solar wedge.  Rotating the viewer (Denk II in my case) in the wedge will change the brightness between sides.  The light from a solar wedge has some polarization.

 

So it all makes sense now.  Thanks.

 

Jeff

 

BTW, I very much like my Denk II's with their shorter light path.  Is the light path of the Denk II's shorter than that of the Mark V?  The Denk II's have a shorter path than the Bino-Trons due to the collimation feature on the Trons.

 

Jeff

[DaveJ]

 

Baader Maxbright

 

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.

 

BTW, I very much like my Denk II's with their shorter light path.  Is the light path of the Denk II's shorter than that of the Mark V?  The Denk II's have a shorter path than the Bino-Trons due to the collimation feature on the Trons.

No, he specifically stated that the MkV has a shorter light path than the Denk IIs and showed it in the photos, also.

[nicknacknock]

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....

 

How expensive relative to other binoviewers, taking into account the cost of modifications?

[denis0007dl]

Binoviewer deity!

 

Btw, Denis, I have a small Zeiss binoviewer that I modified for astro use. When I used it for white light solar observation, I noticed that one side has more glare. The reason, as I found out, is that the sides of the cylindrical lens is not blackened. On the other side, the sides of the prism are blackened. Hence the difference. Do you make it a point to blacken the sides of all lenses when modifying the binos? 

Could be because some prisms/ glass edges are not blackened, but not necessarily. You shoul try to blackened edges and see reults.

[denis0007dl]

 

Baader Maxbright

 

 

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.

 

Very interesting and thanks as I notice what I believe to be a polarization effect when using my older Baader solar wedge.  Rotating the viewer (Denk II in my case) in the wedge will change the brightness between sides.  The light from a solar wedge has some polarization.

 

So it all makes sense now.  Thanks.

 

Jeff

 

BTW, I very much like my Denk II's with their shorter light path.  Is the light path of the Denk II's shorter than that of the Mark V?  The Denk II's have a shorter path than the Bino-Trons due to the collimation feature on the Trons.

 

Jeff

 

I did not make some head by head comparations Denks II vs MkV when we talk about light path, but both are noticable shorther when comparing them vs Binotron and BinoVue.

[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....

 

How expensive relative to other binoviewers, taking into account the cost of modifications?

 

It depends of model you take, 1-3 kg euros.

[denis0007dl]

Here, I want show you imperfections of Baader Maxbright bino prisms inside bino. There are often few or many VERY tiny scratches of glass, which is only visible on certain angle.

Also, this is often present on expensive Baader Mark V units.

BUT, there is one more thing: both of them sometimes have some chipped/ cracked corrners of prisms inside bino, where sometimes they are visible when looking through bino, and sometimes are invisible untill you open bino sides.

Also, both sometimes have some stains between cemented prisms in beamsplitters, sometimes barely visible, sometimes very visible, and here, Baader accept to replace this unit, while it never accept return/raplace if there are chipped prisms inside bino, sawed when bino sudes are opened, becasue they told me that guarantee is lost when bino is opened.

Thats bad for Baader job!

 

Once, I asked if they (Baader) can finally produce and offer to me as expert Mark V bino which would be without mentioned issues, and they denied my offer, despite I offer them bigger money to pay!!!

Attached Thumbnails

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[denis0007dl]

...here is some measurement of Baader Maxbright bino just for info in future. TRhis bino is discounted now, and we wait, I HOPE, finally better model.

Attached Thumbnails

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[Jeff B]

 

 

Baader Maxbright

 

 

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.

 

Very interesting and thanks as I notice what I believe to be a polarization effect when using my older Baader solar wedge.  Rotating the viewer (Denk II in my case) in the wedge will change the brightness between sides.  The light from a solar wedge has some polarization.

 

So it all makes sense now.  Thanks.

 

Jeff

 

BTW, I very much like my Denk II's with their shorter light path.  Is the light path of the Denk II's shorter than that of the Mark V?  The Denk II's have a shorter path than the Bino-Trons due to the collimation feature on the Trons.

 

Jeff

 

I did not make some head by head comparations Denks II vs MkV when we talk about light path, but both are noticable shorther when comparing them vs Binotron and BinoVue.

 

 

My Denk II is ~14.5MM shorter than my Bino-Trons measured to the tops of their diopters.  This compares almost exactly to the difference in focus between the two of them when using the same eyepieces in my "bino-friendly" refractors.  So by comparison with your pictures above, the Denk II's appear to have a slightly shorter light path than the Mark V's.

 

The differences do not matter for the refractors I modify to be bino-friendly as I leave at least 25mm of extra back focus after the modification to handle my older 2" Baader solar wedge (which has a light path ~25 mm longer than my AP diagonals) and other eyepieces.  

 

But it does matter for use in my TEC refractors, which are un-modified.   I need a Baader or Denk style diagonal that accepts the Baader style dovetail and I've found with this configuration I can reach focus with the Denk II's but not the Trons.

 

What I appreciated about the Trons, like you, is the ability for user collimation, but also their light weight (which applies a lot less torque to the tube assemblies and also the focuser/diagonal interface), as well as the rubber coating.

 

Russ is also a very responsive vendor.  With my "butter fingers", I've managed to drop a couple of my Denk II's a couple of times and he's fixed them up for me (re-collimation and cleaning) in a very quick time.

 

What got you interested in these devices? 

 

Jeff

[Scott in NC]

Nice report, Denis--thanks for taking the time to write that up and share it with us!

[Pinbout]

 

I had some WO but got rid of them...now looking around to see whats out there.

 

too bad you don't have a flat you could test how flat the prisms are...

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=w5DQp-h1nP4

[denis0007dl]

Nice report, Denis--thanks for taking the time to write that up and share it with us!

Thank you Scott!

[mikey cee]

I knew my WO binoviewer was AOK for what I needed!  I don't like giving money away.   Mike

[denis0007dl]

I knew my WO binoviewer was AOK for what I needed!  I don't like giving money away.   Mike

Yes, they are really good, and nice looking, ant it performance and mechanicall quality ia absolutely same, and comes from same factory in China, with only difference in colour, diopters, and 1,25" scope connection which remind me like Explore Scientific design eyepeices have 

[sopticals]

 

I knew my WO binoviewer was AOK for what I needed!  I don't like giving money away.   Mike

Yes, they are really good, and nice looking, ant it performance and mechanicall quality ia absolutely same, and comes from same factory in China, with only difference in colour, diopters, and 1,25" scope connection which remind me like Explore Scientific design eyepeices have 

 

 

+1 for WO's. I actually purchased two units. Found one pair to be harder to merge images (at higher powers), than the other. Only use mine on Luna, planets, and brighter DSO's. Wouldn't spend big money to buy more expensive, as the return would be minimal.

 

Stephen.(45deg.S.)

[denis0007dl]

For my taste, WO binos have most beautifull design of all other China binos on market, and even far more.

[rseven]

Thank you for the very informative post, Denis0007dl. (I am curious about the privileges of the triple 0, I know double 0's have the right to kill, but I can't imagine what comes with the third 0) I've looked at Nino viewers a long time with a certain amount of equipment lust and envy, but knowing little about them I've never made the plunge. Looks like they'll will make it into my Santa letter this Xmas. Too bad I'm on the naughty list!

 

Again, a very nice post!

 

Rich

[denis0007dl]

Thanxs Rich!

[Jeff B]

For my taste, WO binos have most beautifull design of all other China binos on market, and even far more.

 

They are lighter in weight and have one of the shorter optical paths at 4" too.  They seem like a good deal, even when purchased new.

 

I also find the older Denk standards to be of good value used at around $250-350 USD depending on accessories and diopter configuration.

 

Jeff

[denis0007dl]

Yes, you cant go wrong with any of them.

[range88]

The wo unit and the celestron unit are not from the same factory as far as I know, they look different and the wo is sold at a higher price.