118 replies to this topic

[Sarkikos]

PS. If anyone actually wants one of these, this one's free.

The price is still too high.

 

Mike

[Marcus Roman]

That’s curious how Vixen can design and produce such magnificent eyepieces as HR and at the same time the worst I ever tried (and keep only as a collector’s oddity….)

[Sarkikos]

That’s curious how Vixen can design and produce such magnificent eyepieces as HR and at the same time the worst I ever tried (and keep only as a collector’s oddity….)

Well, maybe some eccentricities here and there can be expected from Japanese companies.  I hear they still prefer straight-through finders. 

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 22 August 2022 - 01:36 PM.

[faackanders2]

That’s curious how Vixen can design and produce such magnificent eyepieces as HR and at the same time the worst I ever tried (and keep only as a collector’s oddity….)

What were they thinking?  An eyepiece for a super long refractor (or SCT)?

[Starman1]

What were they thinking?  An eyepiece for a super long refractor (or SCT)?

To serve as a finder when there isn't one on the scope.

[Sarkikos]

To serve as a finder when there isn't one on the scope.

Let's see...  Should I buy a $45 finder eyepiece with an 11-degree AFOV or a $45 finder I can attach to the scope? 

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 23 August 2022 - 12:28 PM.

[Jon Isaacs]

To serve as a finder when there isn't one on the scope.

 

How is it better as a finder than a shorter focal length eyepiece that provides an equally wife TFoV but more magnification?

 

Jon

[Starman1]

How is it better as a finder than a shorter focal length eyepiece that provides an equally wife TFoV but more magnification?

 

Jon

I have no idea, but that is how Vixen advertised it.

[kroum]

How is it better as a finder than a shorter focal length eyepiece that provides an equally wife TFoV but more magnification?

 

Jon

Bigger is always better.

 

Show me a bigger focal length eyepiece on the market

 

And it fits in my 1.25in focuser?  

 

Gotta have it!

Edited by kroum, 25 August 2022 - 01:56 PM.

[Jon Isaacs]

I have no idea, but that is how Vixen advertised it.

 

Bigger is always better.

 

Show me a bigger focal length eyepiece on the market 

 

And it fits in my 1.25in focuser?  

 

Gotta have it!

 

Don and Kroum:

 

I like your logic and I needed a laugh.. 

 

Thanks..

 

Jon

[MrsM75]

I am seriously think of buy one of this, I don't use finder, this would help me.

 

But I'm sorry with my Maks, how much magnification does it yield? I probably get like 2 degrees FOV? lol

[Starman1]

I am seriously think of buy one of this, I don't use finder, this would help me.

 

But I'm sorry with my Maks, how much magnification does it yield? I probably get like 2 degrees FOV? lol

This will not help you find things.

Yes, the focal length is 100mm.

But the apparent field is 11°, so it is an EXTREMELY narrow field of view.

It works as a finder scope in very short focal length refractors with, for example, 360-480mm focal lengths.

It will not work in a Maksutov.

Sure, it may come to focus, but it won't help you find anything.

Avoid wasting money on this.

 

If you would like a finder scope for your Maksutovs, I recommend the Rigel QuikFinder.

It takes up almost no space on the scope, and is easily removed when you need to store the scope.

It is a naked eye finder with 2 concentric rings to help you aim the scope where you want it to go.

and some pix of one mounted on a 105mm Maksutov (go down the page a bit):

http://www.weasner.c...ings/index.html

It's so small and light the scope won't even notice it's there.  It attached with 2-sided tape, but if you prefer not to use tape,

this video shows how to attach one to a small Mak:

https://www.youtube....h?v=50D9rsCupd8

Edited by Starman1, 19 May 2025 - 09:14 AM.

[eblanken]

Hello MrsM75 & Don,

 

I am seriously think of buy one of this, I don't use finder, this would help me.

 

But I'm sorry with my Maks, how much magnification does it yield? I probably get like 2 degrees FOV? lol

 

No, it would not work . . . this is a 2 inch eyepiece, I believe, and you can't use 2 inch, but only 1.25 inch format . . . 

 

Additionally, you will never get 2 Degrees True Field of View (TFoV) from your slow MAKs. . . The TFoV is set by the OTA . . . 

 

 

This will not help you find things.

Yes, the focal length is 100mm.

But the apparent field is 11°, so it is an EXTREMELY narrow field of view.

It works as a finder scope in very short focal length refractors with, for example, 360-480mm focal lengths.

It will not work in a Maksutov.

Sure, it may come to focus, but it won't help you find anything.

Avoid wasting money on this.

 

If you would like a finder scope for your Maksutovs, I recommend the Rigel QuikFinder.

It takes up almost no space on the scope, and is easily removed when you need to store the scope.

It is a naked eye finder with 2 concentric rings to help you aim the scope where you want it to go.

and some pix of one mounted on a 105mm Maksutov (go down the page a bit):

http://www.weasner.c...ings/index.html

It's so small and light the scope won't even notice it's there.  It attached with 2-sided tape, but if you prefer not to use tape,

this video shows how to attach one to a small Mak:

https://www.youtube....h?v=50D9rsCupd8

 

+1 on what Don said . . . 

 

Best,

 

Ed

Edited by eblanken, 19 May 2025 - 10:10 PM.

[Starman1]

Believe it or not, the Vixen 100mm "Finder" eyepiece is a 1.25"!

[eblanken]

WOW how inappropriate . . . I just assumed 2 inch format . . . explains 11 Deg. AFoV . . . 

 

Ed

 

P.S. With apologies to Dr. Richard Feynman . . . I will ask: "Surely you're joking, Mr. . . . " Don (aka Starman1) Pensack . . . 

Edited by eblanken, 20 May 2025 - 12:24 AM.

[eblanken]

Let's see...  Should I buy a $45 finder eyepiece with an 11-degree AFOV or a $45 finder I can attach to the scope? 

 

Mike

 What Mike asked . . . 

 

Ed

[Sarkikos]

 What Mike asked . . . 

 

Ed

The only reason I see to buy the Vixen 100mm is if you have a collection of bizarre, unusual eyepieces, a sort of Ripley's Believe It or Not of eyepieces! 

 

Why not?  Some people even collect oil cans. 

 

Mike

[Sarkikos]

But would this Vixen 100mm actually be of any use in the real world? 

 

Last night, I was observing with my 6" f/12 Mak.  I used a Masuyama 60mm to align on Polaris (as well as to observe everything that night, but that's another matter.)  The Masu 60 gave me 30x, 1.5 degree TFOV and 5mm exit pupil.  The Vixen 100 would have given 18x, 0.7 degree TFOV and 8.3mm exit pupil.  

 

So, which would have been the better finder eyepiece?

 

Mike

[John O'Hara]

Walter Scott  Houston mentioned using an ATM eyepiece of 100mm focal length with his 4 inch Clark for views of the Beehive. At f/15 the exit pupil of 6.7mm was ok, but I didn't know there are contemporary eyepieces like that. I suppose they may play well with nebular filters on some objects.