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A 160 mm (6.3“) f/6.5 binocular telescope

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#1 ThomasM

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Posted 07 July 2016 - 06:54 AM

Here I describe a 160mm apochromatic binocular telescope complemented by a mount and tripod aiming at a well-balanced compromise between optical performance, size and weight. I started the project already several years ago, the first version is described here at Cloudy Nights. Meanwhile a new, lighter and stiffer mount and tripod are finished and I think it is the right moment for describing the whole instrument.

Click here to view the article
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#2 RickV

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Posted 07 July 2016 - 10:40 AM

Great article and super build.

The light gathering power of two 160mm aperture telescopes is similar to a 9" diameter reflector.  Can you comment on the difference in view between a true binocular like yours and simply using a binoviewer in place of an eyepiece on a 9" reflector?



#3 ThomasM

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Posted 07 July 2016 - 12:53 PM

Great article and super build.

The light gathering power of two 160mm aperture telescopes is similar to a 9" diameter reflector.  Can you comment on the difference in view between a true binocular like yours and simply using a binoviewer in place of an eyepiece on a 9" reflector?

The key difference is the field of view, typically the maximum field of view with a binoviewer is much smaller than that of a true binocular. It depends on the designe, often you need a glass path corrector which increases the focal length. Then, even if you can get 6 mm exit pupil the image is darker because the light is distributed to two eyes.  With a true binocular telescope you can also use 2" eyepieces, with the 160 mm instrument you get 2,5 degree ( 80 degree aparent) field of view with 35x magnification, with 5.5 mm exit pupil.  17 mm Ethos give 65x magnification, these are my favorite eyepieces for binoviewing. One the other hand, I should add, I have never looked through a 10" reflector with binoviewer.

 

Thomas


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#4 Chopin

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Posted 08 July 2016 - 11:20 AM

Incredible, an absolute dream instrument!



#5 range88

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Posted 10 July 2016 - 05:47 AM

A well balanced compromise!

Congratulations!



#6 garret

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Posted 10 July 2016 - 06:21 AM

Your binocular makes my APM 100 ED APO a toy... a superb binocular Thomas!

In my bino M13 is still a nebula...

 

As always: you get what you paid for.

 

Garret vd Veen



#7 roadi

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Posted 10 July 2016 - 06:58 AM

Spectacular Instrument! Beautifully made. :)



#8 ThomasM

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Posted 10 July 2016 - 03:36 PM

Thanks a lot for all the praise, it took a while to complete the instrument!

 

Thomas



#9 Augustus

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Posted 11 July 2016 - 10:59 AM

Great binoculars. I wish I could have a setup like that.


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#10 Perseus_m45

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Posted 12 July 2016 - 02:44 PM

Awesome build . That setup would be great for comet finding !! 



#11 mattyfatz

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Posted 12 July 2016 - 11:18 PM

Magnificent! Great article. Thank you for all the generous photo's as well. I can't even imagine the view through these,


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#12 faackanders2

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Posted 13 July 2016 - 08:07 PM

awsome light weight 160mm binos.  Knowing what you know now, if you had to do it all again what would be the estimate cost of the binos and tripod/mount?



#13 ThomasM

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Posted 14 July 2016 - 03:34 PM

awsome light weight 160mm binos.  Knowing what you know now, if you had to do it all again what would be the estimate cost of the binos and tripod/mount?

I can give only a very rough estimate. Actually, I think I would have difficulties to do it again because I don't know whether I could get the 160 mm apo lenses again.

Just as a rough estimate, the prize of the binocular telescope alone is similar to the Binoptic II 130 mm LZOS, the mount 2-3  times the binoptic fork mount, the tripod a little bit less than the Berlebach Sky. If I could have done everything myself ( workshop with CNC machines etc. is needed)  then I could have saved 30%-40%  or so. Just another comparison, AOK in Switzerland offers a Takahashi 120 mm binocular telescop with forkmount. If you add tax you will end up with a similar price. 


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#14 bremms

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Posted 18 July 2016 - 08:11 PM

Very nice!! Turns out I have two 152mm F6.5 achromats. Been thinking about making a bino.



#15 ThomasM

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Posted 24 July 2016 - 03:19 AM

Very nice!! Turns out I have two 152mm F6.5 achromats. Been thinking about making a bino.

This will be a very nice bino, especially for the Milky way.



#16 CESDewar

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Posted 28 July 2016 - 02:13 PM

Well, the price may be similar to the Binoptic II, but your objectives are 30mm larger, and your binos are almost 10lbs lighter! I would never have imagined that it would be possible to put together a fine optical binocular of this size at that weight. But it's also obvious that you have skills way beyond what most of us could muster. The final result has to be surely worth the effort (which appears considerable). We are all appropriately envious.... :)  :)  :)



#17 piero pignatta

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Posted 12 August 2016 - 03:30 PM

admired and delighted! the warmest congratulations!

a "miyauchian" record

bravo!



#18 Tyson M

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Posted 18 August 2016 - 10:47 PM

Phenomenon build project. Well done. 



#19 CounterWeight

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Posted 27 August 2016 - 11:30 PM

What an amazing visual instrument you have created.  Congratulations.  The build and thought going into this, and the results, I agree are admirable.  Another well done!



#20 denis0007dl

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Posted 09 September 2016 - 04:49 AM

Here I describe a 160mm apochromatic binocular telescope complemented by a mount and tripod aiming at a well-balanced compromise between optical performance, size and weight. I started the project already several years ago, the first version is described here at Cloudy Nights. Meanwhile a new, lighter and stiffer mount and tripod are finished and I think it is the right moment for describing the whole instrument.

Click here to view the article

Excellent review!

Thans for sharing that!



#21 rogeriomagellan

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Posted 31 December 2016 - 04:37 PM

Very nice!! Turns out I have two 152mm F6.5 achromats. Been thinking about making a bino.

Hi. Are your f/6.5 refractors from ES?



#22 rogeriomagellan

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Posted 31 December 2016 - 04:38 PM

The view through this binocular telescope must be awesome. 



#23 Eddgie

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Posted 24 January 2017 - 10:39 AM

Fantastic report.  

 

I am in the slow and long process of building an 80mm f/6 triplet based binocular (and even this is pushing my pocketbook to scream levels) but this kind of article makes me want to accelerate my pace.  

 

A beautiful piece of gear!   Thanks for sharing! 



#24 HonoluluWalt

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Posted 18 February 2018 - 05:31 PM

I think that I should sell one of my my cars, or mortgage my home, and buy one of these.  After all, which would I rather have in a backyard:  one of these, or some tiny swimming pool of less than 20 yards in length (within which it is impossible to get a decent workout anyway)?




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