281 replies to this topic

[range88]

This is what I mentioned before.
Basically it's a factory made version of the popular 2x54 DIY, with focusing ability and standard threads which can easily accept 2' filter threads through connectors.
And of course the massive 36° field of view.
I've seen through it once, and I can assure you this mic product blows away every single constellation binoculars on the market.
https://www.youtube....h?v=Vt3OxGD_5I0

Edited by range88, 13 February 2020 - 10:23 PM.

[Cali]

Interesting but pricey. Is this a new offering by Orion?

 

- Cal

Edited by Cali, 13 February 2020 - 10:59 PM.

[Tyson M]

I have always been drawn to these but I am not sure if they are the right product for us glasses wearers.  

[wrnchhead]

154 doesn't seem too pricey? 

 

The Vixens are twice as much

 

https://agenaastro.c...-binocular.html

 

(Queue Tom Dey's requisite selfie of himself wearing them! ) 

[Cali]

I have always been drawn to these but I am not sure if they are the right product for us glasses wearers. 

"In a Keplerian telescope, the exit pupil is the aperture of the objective divided by the magnification. So for a 2.1x42 optic, you might think the exit pupil is an enormous 20mm, some three times the maximum exit pupil of a dark-adapted human eye. But in a Galilean telescope, the exit pupil is virtual and located inside the optical train. There is no fixed position to place your eye to get the maximum field of view. The closer you get your eye, the wider the field of view you can see. Those who must wear glasses while observing will not be able to get their eye close enough to get the maximum possible field of view."

 

From Agena product review.

 

- Cal

[Tyson M]

Yea that's what I figured.  The cool thing is the individual focus on these models.  So my myopia can be corrected and I could enjoy a glasses free view.  But I would have to put on my glasses to check the star charts/SS6.

 

Not a deal breaker but slightly annoying.  I have done it in the past so who knows. I might just stick with low power binos giving up some of the expansiveness. 

[Traveler]

Can it be used with DSO filters?

[range88]

Yea that's what I figured.  The cool thing is the individual focus on these models.  So my myopia can be corrected and I could enjoy a glasses free view.  But I would have to put on my glasses to check the star charts/SS6.

 

Not a deal breaker but slightly annoying.  I have done it in the past so who knows. I might just stick with low power binos giving up some of the expansiveness. 

The important thing is even if you wear glasses, the reduced afov still beats its competitors.

Sorry it's a bit exaggerated, after all it will also depends on your eyeglasses and face features, so the above won't be neccessarily true for all.

[range88]

Can it be used with DSO filters?

Anything with a thread will do.

You know these threads adpaters? Converts anything and cheap as hell.

[range88]

154 doesn't seem too pricey? 

 

The Vixens are twice as much

 

https://agenaastro.c...-binocular.html

 

(Queue Tom Dey's requisite selfie of himself wearing them! ) 

I think it is actually quite inexpensive considering performance price ratio.

[wrnchhead]

I think it is actually quite inexpensive considering performance price ratio.

Completely agree. I was going to get the Vixen's ultimately, but the increased aperture of the Orion's, as ever, is compelling. 

[Cali]

Is this a new offering by Orion?

 

- Cal

I'm answering my own question. "Pre-Order Now! Expected Ship Date: 03/19/2020"

 

- Cal

Edited by Cali, 13 February 2020 - 11:50 PM.

[range88]

Completely agree. I was going to get the Vixen's ultimately, but the increased aperture of the Orion's, as ever, is compelling.

And it's not considerably heavier albeit the big aperture and fov increase.

[deepwoods1]

Having owned a couple of the other styles, these certainly intrigue me. I especially like the idea of individual focus. This would resolve issues I had with the other two. The price is reasonable IMO. I would hope that Orion would just source the appropriate thread adapter. Certainly another way to sell additional 2” filters!  

[ihf]

If true it is an exciting offering at a good price. Hope I can drive by and try them out (wear glasses).

[PEterW]

If it had winged eyecups to help block stray light it would be even better, but then it has eye focussing which as has been mentioned is important to let people who need glasses to make use of them. Very interesting. Milkyway with filters will be interesting.

Peter

[edwincjones]

these are awkward to hold so consider a BinoBandit

 

edj

[PEterW]

....of course! I have a spare bandit as my larger binocular eyepieces are a little too large to stretch it over.

Peter

[edwincjones]

Any side by side comparisons yet to these, the Vixen 2.1x42 and the Vixen clone?

These have a wider FOV but how is the quality of optics and construction?

 

edj

[range88]

Any side by side comparisons yet to these, the Vixen 2.1x42 and the Vixen clone?
These have a wider FOV but how is the quality of optics and construction?

edj

Optically better than both. The clone is dull in color rendering, the Vixen has poor edges, these are almost crystal clear to the edges.
Construction is good, metal frame and smooth mechanics, Maybe not as luxury as the Vixen, but I don't find anything to complain.

[wrnchhead]

There are some threads on the comparison. 

[MartinPond]

I have always been drawn to these but I am not sure if they are the right product for us glasses wearers.  

You might lose a few degrees, but generally, this kind of 

''very-wide-Galilean" welcomes glasses.  Eye relief is not very

  critical in this optical style.

 

Looking through backwards gives 0.5x , which shows patterns

   and textures in the Milky Way more clearly..

Edited by MartinPond, 14 February 2020 - 10:26 AM.

[harbinjer]

I am curious how these will compare to the Nikon 2x54 home-made ones using the TC-E2 adapter. The focusing will be an advantage certainly.  Also since people made winged eyecups for those, I'm sure it will be possible to 3d print similar ones for these.  Also an adapter to wear them with a gopro head mount or something like that. 

 

Kudos to Orion for seeing an interest and improving on the situation for a reasonable price. If they're as good as claimed, they should sell just fine. If they can make something as practical at ~3x that might be great too. 

 

Other than a head mounting, some larger snap-on grips might be useful too.  

Edited by harbinjer, 14 February 2020 - 10:32 AM.

[range88]

I am curious how these will compare to the Nikon 2x54 home-made ones using the TC-E2 adapter. The focusing will be an advantage certainly. Also since people made winged eyecups for those, I'm sure it will be possible to 3d print similar ones for these. Also an adapter to wear them with a gopro head mount or something like that.

Kudos to Orion for seeing an interest and improving on the situation for a reasonable price. If they're as good as claimed, they should sell just fine. If they can make something as practical at ~3x that might be great too.

Other than a head mounting, some larger snap-on grips might be useful too.

So the story is as follows, reversed in timeline,
This is a factory side project after my friend Laoye Bei sent in his Nikon TC2E to the factory manager Master Wind. He bought a pair and made a binoculars after I was convinced by the potential of a better constellation binoculars and told him about this. And I learned about the Nikon TC2E through the very long thread in this very forum.
So actually it's the CN members here who kicked start this project and made it happen.
Now you understand optically they are as good, if not better than the Nikon.

Edited by range88, 14 February 2020 - 11:50 AM.

[ch2co]

Are these "new" constellation binoculars not the same thing that could be purchased from China, Russia, and several other outlets for quite a few years now?

 

I was going to buy a pair several (5?) years ago and later I found the DIY posts here on CN. I bought two lens assemblies on eBay for around 25 and 30 dollars each 

had my son in law print out the bodies and I put them all together in about 30 minutes and have been enjoying the heck out of them ever since. They do take standard

63mm filters and I usually leave two short 3/4" long  x  63mm lens shades on them. This helps block ambient city lighting.  

 

I've looked through a couple of the store bought ones and except for mine being a little bit more bulky due to the printed case, don't see any real visual differences.

I have no problem with wearing glasses with them except that the farther back your eye is positioned from the eyepiece, the smaller the field of view is.  Still super

wide, but not as wide as if your eye is closer to the eyepiece. They fit well into coat pockets. I highly recommend these things.