41 replies to this topic

[EboO]

Hi,

Actual to do Ha viewing with a quark and a 32mm Tv Plossl. I see a lot of topic about bino and solar and i want to try.
The Baader maxbright II seems to be a good choice but which eyepieces do I need ? A second Tv 32mm (I use it with eye relief extender, is it a problem ?) or others reference ?
I use a 4" refractor on alt-az mount.

[Spikey131]

I frequently use the Quark with Baader Maxbright 2 binoviewers.  I use the TV 32mm, 25mm, and 20mm Plossls for this.  The 25mm are easiest to use.  The long eye relief and wide diameter of the 32mm present challenges for me because of the shape of my face and nose.  The 20mm is best when the seeing is good.

 

A focusing cloth (or T-shirt) over your head is helpful when using binoviewers for solar, to block out the daylight:  https://www.adorama.com/vwfcs.html

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[Doug Culbertson]

First off, you will find binoviewing Ha solar to be transformative. 
 

I also binoview using either my 60mm f/6 or 102 f/7 and a Quark. My most used eyepiece pairs are 40mm GSO Plössls and 35mm Ultrascopics but, when seeing allows I use a pair of 24mm Brandons.

 

Since you already have a TV 32mm Plössl you might as well pick up another one and see how it works for you, then add other pairs as you see fit.

 

The above advice about something over your head is spot on. I use a hooded mesh vest that fits like monk’s hood or a mylar “space blanket” depending on temperature. 

[EboO]

Thanks for your answers.
I understand that there isn't any all-to-do eyepiece ? It depends of my taste.
I think a second 32mm is the solution but too like Spikey 131 I fear to have some difficulties with eye placement. Do you use eyeguard extender or not ?

And another question : do you think a maxbright could be usuable with a Baader miror bbhs 2" diagonal ?

Edited by EboO, 29 November 2023 - 09:33 AM.

[Spikey131]

Thanks for your answers.
I understand that there isn't any all-to-do eyepiece ? It depends of my taste.
I think a second 32mm is the solution but too like Spikey 131 I fear to have some difficulties with eye placement. Do you use eyeguard extender or not ?

And another question : do you think a maxbright could be usuable with a Baader miror bbhs 2" diagonal ?

I do use eye guard extenders and they do help.  Don’t get me wrong - I do use the 32mm Plossls and they work OK.  I just find the 25s more comfortable.

 

I do use the Maxbright 2 BV with a Baader diagonal.  But not with the Quark.  I just insert the BV directly in the Quark and the Quark in the diagonal.

[Highburymark]

Your eyepiece choice is all about usable magnification (with the Quark’s 4.2x barlow, and your particular scope and seeing). Often a pair of 40mm plossls will be more viable than 32mm. Eye relief is an issue with both pairs - I use eyeguard extenders on both to observe comfortably.

[betacygni]

I’ve used most binoviewers out there, for solar h-alpha optically they perform similar. Biggest difference is the eyepiece holders and overall build quality, which favors the value of the maxbright II.

If your budget allows the Denkmeier Binotron are the best with the quark though. The advantage here is the powerswitch, all 3 settings work, but what’s unique is the reducer arm. This will allow a lower power than using 32mm plossls natively (though not a wider FOV, it will hard vignette). It also lowers the power after the quark, so you enjoy the long focal ratio that the quark prefers. I still find the standard native 32mm setting best most of the time, but the lower power (brightens dim features due to larger exit pupil) and amplification arm are still useful under right conditions. It’s a lot of fun to be able to quickly change the magnification without swapping eyepieces.

For eyepieces, pay attention to how well they block stray light. For example the Baader 32mm are among my favorite due to deep recess, and the included batwing eyeguard.

Edited by betacygni, 29 November 2023 - 02:53 PM.

[betacygni]

I do use eye guard extenders and they do help. Don’t get me wrong - I do use the 32mm Plossls and they work OK. I just find the 25s more comfortable.

I do use the Maxbright 2 BV with a Baader diagonal. But not with the Quark. I just insert the BV directly in the Quark and the Quark in the diagonal.

This is why I stayed away from the TV 32mm plossls, too wide for my big nose. You might want to try the Baader 32mm plossls, they are as narrow as possible and extraordinarily comfortable. They include a free eye guard extender if you need to reduce eye relief more. With the winged eyeguard they block stray light so well I don’t need to wrap a towel over my head, etc (nice in warmer summer months). I’ve since bought many pairs of these to steal their eyecups for my Brandons (which are also extremely narrow physically, but much more pricey).

Edited by betacygni, 29 November 2023 - 03:11 PM.

[EboO]

I do use eye guard extenders and they do help. Don’t get me wrong - I do use the 32mm Plossls and they work OK. I just find the 25s more comfortable.

I do use the Maxbright 2 BV with a Baader diagonal. But not with the Quark. I just insert the BV directly in the Quark and the Quark in the diagonal.

Good to know, thanks.
I put the quark in the diagonal too but I wonder if I can use the bino for nightview too. Because my diagonal is a mirror I think i can't use a bino on.
Baader 32mm seems to be a good choice and well adapted for solar.

[Highburymark]

On the issue of how transformative binoviewers are for solar Ha, I find they are most effective on Quarks/Sundancers/mica etalons. They’re still wonderful on dedicated solar scopes with air-spaced etalons, but the BV contrast difference on my Sundancer is even more impressive.

[ABQJeff]

Good to know, thanks.
I put the quark in the diagonal too but I wonder if I can use the bino for nightview too. Because my diagonal is a mirror I think i can't use a bino on.
Baader 32mm seems to be a good choice and well adapted for solar.

Regarding night viewing and achieving focus, if you use Baader T2 diagonals, you can get their GPCs to use with any prism based binoviewer.  This will provide back focus so you can focus refractors, or in case of SCT, minimize spherical aberration and aperture loss.

[EboO]

I have a 2" mirror diagonal, i think i'll fail to achieve focus.
Perhaps a bino with no additionnel lightpath but is it as good as a Baader ?

[ABQJeff]

I have a 2" mirror diagonal, i think i'll fail to achieve focus.
Perhaps a bino with no additionnel lightpath but is it as good as a Baader ?

You can insert a GPC into a 1.25” nosepiece and screw that into the Baader T2 connector for the MBII. You can then use any 2” to 1.25” adapter to insert into your diagonal. You will want to go with the 2.6x GPC bc of the 2” diagonal. Be great for planets, double stars, lunar.

[EboO]

Will it works if I use a PM2.5 and not a GPC ?

[ABQJeff]

PMs are parfocal, so I guess/suspect no. But I have not tested it.

[Doug Culbertson]

Will it works if I use a PM2.5 and not a GPC ?

The 2.5x Powermate works at just over 2x when used with a binoviewer. It's what I use with my binoviewer in my 10" dob and my 4" refractor for it to reach focus. I don't use GPCs though as my bino uses mirrors rather than prisms. 

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[betacygni]

The 2.5x Powermate works at just over 2x when used with a binoviewer. It's what I use with my binoviewer in my 10" dob and my 4" refractor for it to reach focus. I don't use GPCs though as my bino uses mirrors rather than prisms.

Do you happen to know how much light path the 2.5x Powermate compensates for? I have considered getting one for my dob, but it’s extremely short on back focus. Right now I use the Televue 2x amplifier, but like the idea of the powermate more with my CZAS.

Edited by betacygni, 01 December 2023 - 11:19 PM.

[EboO]

The 2.5x Powermate works at just over 2x when used with a binoviewer. It's what I use with my binoviewer in my 10" dob and my 4" refractor for it to reach focus. I don't use GPCs though as my bino uses mirrors rather than prisms.

Nice setup
Do you think it works same with a MB2 ?
With quark no need to use a barlow, i use the bino screwed on the quark am i right ?
What can I expect with a 4" in astro use ? Lunatique observation no matter but will be interesting with some DSO ? Does 32mm plossl with PM would be great or do i need other eyepieces ?
Bino seems to be a great adventure but astro is always compromises and i want to avoid bad experiences. Actually i use XW 20,14 and 7 and I'm happy but if I can have a "wow" effect with bino why not ?

Edited by EboO, 02 December 2023 - 03:20 AM.

[Doug Culbertson]

Do you happen to know how much light path the 2.5x Powermate compensates for? I have considered getting one for my dob, but it’s extremely short on back focus. Right now I use the Televue 2x amplifier, but like the idea of the powermate more with my CZAS.

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, but I've never really measured the light path of the PM2.5 in my dob. All I know is that it reaches focus without coming close to running out in either direction. As I recall, Eddgie has used both the PM2.5 and the TV 2x corrector for the BinoVue and he said that they perform similarly, so I'm not sure that you would gain anything by going to the PM. Of course, Eddgie uses a MBII, but it shouldn't be too much different from the CZAS.

 

Nice setup
Do you think it works same with a MB2 ?
With quark no need to use a barlow, i use the bino screwed on the quark am i right ?
What can I expect with a 4" in astro use ? Lunatique observation no matter but will be interesting with some DSO ? Does 32mm plossl with PM would be great or do i need other eyepieces ?
Bino seems to be a great adventure but astro is always compromises and i want to avoid bad experiences. Actually i use XW 20,14 and 7 and I'm happy but if I can have a "wow" effect with bino why not ?

Thanks! Yes, it will work with the MBII. I used to have one but switched to the CZAS because I couldn't use it with the Quark due to my eyes and polarization from the prisms. 

 

The only way that you will be able to screw the MBII directly to the Quark is to purchase a T2/Quark adapter like this one: https://www.firstlig...uark-to-t2.html

 

I have this adapter, but I use it to attach a T2-1.25" eyepiece holder like the ones you see on my binoviewer. If it ever clears up again, I intend to try attaching my binoviewer directly to the Quark. You are correct that the built in telecentric barlow in the Quark means that you will be able to reach focus without any additional GPCs or barlows. 

 

There's a lot that can be seen with a 4" refractor; probably enough to keep you busy for a lifetime. I'm firmly in the aperture rules camp, but I use my 4" refractor for a lot of objects, both deep sky and solar system. 

[EboO]

I have exactly this adapter to fit a clicklock on. So it will easy to try.
Please Doug which eyepieces do you use with your 4" refractor ?

[Doug Culbertson]

I have exactly this adapter to fit a clicklock on. So it will easy to try.
Please Doug which eyepieces do you use with your 4" refractor ?

For solar? With the Quark my most used pair are GSO 40mm Plossls. I've compared them to TV 40mm and I honestly can't tell a difference other than a significant cost savings. Next I use 35mm Orion Ultrascopics and, if the seeing is good enough, 24mm Brandons. 

 

For white light I can use quite a bit more magnification, so I use the aforementioned eyepieces, as well as 18.2mm and 13mm DeLites. 

 

For lunar and planetary I also throw in a pair of surprisingly good 15mm Celestron spotting scope eyepieces that I got from AliExpress for $11 each, as well as my Svbony 3-8mm zoom. 

 

Deep sky I tend to stick with lower power with the exception of globular clusters. But, to be honest, if I'm in a real deep sky mood I use my 10" dob. 

[EboO]

For the quark I plan to use two tv Plossl 32mm, i have some hesitations for DSO and lunar/planetary.
An other set of Plossl 18-20mm ? And for more I play with PM and GPC ?

[EboO]

I'm looking for Baader prism diagonal to use with MB2, but I wonder if it can works for astro with eyepieces.
By the past I tried Baader t2 mirror and i failed tonfucs with xw, so would it be the same with a prism ?

[betacygni]

I'm looking for Baader prism diagonal to use with MB2, but I wonder if it can works for astro with eyepieces.
By the past I tried Baader t2 mirror and i failed tonfucs with xw, so would it be the same with a prism ?

Which scope model and prism diagonal (baader t2 or 2” prism) are you considering? For most scopes night time use is going to require a glasspath, barlow, etc. The only reason the quark can reach focus is because it already has an internal 4.2x Barlow.

[betacygni]

For the quark I plan to use two tv Plossl 32mm, i have some hesitations for DSO and lunar/planetary.
An other set of Plossl 18-20mm ? And for more I play with PM and GPC ?

Yes, my only regularly used eyepiece pairs are now 32mm, 24mm, and 20mm. These combined with various barlows get me my full sets I need for all types of observing. What exact focal lengths you will want will be based off which scopes you have, and glasspaths/barlows (just keep in mind amplifiers not specifically designed for binoviewers will give different magnifications in binoviewers, for example 2x TV barlow will give about 3x, a TV 2.5x powermate only 2x, etc). In general my most used eyepieces/amplifiers are the combos that give me about a 1mm exit pupil for planetary, 2mm for general deep sky, then the 32mm for maximum FOV/largest exit pupil possible.

Edited by betacygni, 05 December 2023 - 10:32 AM.