69 replies to this topic

[denis0007dl]

Well, I read not often about using ADC for both monoviewing, binoviewing, and astrophotography, but really never cared enough about it, and over half year ago, I decided to purchase Svbony ADC.

 

And recently I finally put it on test.

 

Here is how Svbony ADC looks like...

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[denis0007dl]

Next, here is binoviewer setup I tried:

 

Takahashi TPL 12.5mm eyepieces - APO binoviewer - T2 prism diagonal - Svbony ADC - directly screwed APM 2.7x ED barlow lenscell - 1.25" to 2" adapter - telescope.

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Edited by denis0007dl, 17 May 2024 - 10:17 AM.

[denis0007dl]

I have to say, I was super impressed with drastical optical improvement over setup with NO ADC at all.

 

Even cheap Svbony ADC bring picture: 

 

1. tiny bit SHARPER,

2. tiny bit more CONTRAST,

3. bit less FALSE COLOURS made from Atmospheric dispersion.

 

Mechanics of Svbony is....you know, not precise, not quality, with parts moving and shifting and unscrewing, maybie even banding a bit depending of setup used, and I didnt like that so much....

 

Observed objects:

 

Moon: small sharpness improve, more details on Moons can be seen, small contrast improve, small false colours improve,

Double stars at position at approx 40deg: I was able easier to split doubles, and stars seems a bit smaller,

Saturn: same results as on Moon, except there were no anyhow false colours without ADC.

Very bright stars at approx 40 deg position: bit less false colours.

Jupiter and Venus were not visible at time of testing.

 

Thus, even at daytime objects I can see very small improvement in picture quality.

 

Wait a second: I already tought I had excellent picture quality without using any ADC, and enjoying in obsrving all the time?!?!?!

 

That immeadiately makes me very curious to try what can do best ADC on market:

 

Gutekunst ADC

 

Here is site for it for those who dont know about it:

http://www.gutekunst-optiksysteme.com/

 

Luckly I have friend in Germany, who own one, so I pleased him if he can borrow it to me to see how it performs vs cheap China made Svbody ADC.

And he did it, thanxs a LOT  

 

Here is how he looks like...

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Edited by denis0007dl, 17 May 2024 - 10:43 AM.

[denis0007dl]

Once I opened Gutekunst ADC box, I say WOW!

 

THAT thing is MASSIVE, and such superb quality made feel in hands!

Gutekunst finish is absolutely amazing, first cllass, while Svbony looks, you know, you will see on pictures further more....

 

Svbony in hands seems and feels like a toy.

 

Phisical size and weight comparations, Gutekunst ADC vs Svbony ADC:

 

picture reveals difference in size, but there is BIG difference in weight:

whole Svbony weight 156 grams,

and Gutekunst is 551 gram!

(plastic covers removed on both ADCs).

 

(with red lines is covered serial number to stay annonymus)

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Edited by denis0007dl, 17 May 2024 - 10:53 AM.

[denis0007dl]

Gutekunst comes with high quality aluminium big case, with perfectly prforated hard foam to prevent any damage of precious ADC.

 

Svbony ADC on other hand, is packed in calssic white carton box.

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Edited by denis0007dl, 17 May 2024 - 11:07 AM.

[denis0007dl]

...look at interior of Gutekunst ADC case...

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[denis0007dl]

Interesting look at prisms edges comparations, sharpening with phone camera first Gutekunst ADC...

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Edited by denis0007dl, 17 May 2024 - 11:10 AM.

[denis0007dl]

...and then Svbony ADC...

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[denis0007dl]

So, its very visible precision, finish and perfectness of high end Gutekunst ADC over Svbony ADC.

[denis0007dl]

Here is interesting look AT prisms:

 

coatings colour differ a bit, thus in live looks more simillar.

 

Svbony Clear Aperture of prisms is 29mm,

Gutekunst Clear Aperture of prisms is 28mm.

 

 

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[denis0007dl]

Gutekunst comes with very nice manual small book on Germany language...

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[denis0007dl]

...and as well English version...

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[denis0007dl]

Testreport/certificate is also included BTW.

[denis0007dl]

Here is setup I used:

 

Takahashi TPL 12.5mm eyepieces - APO binoviewer - T2 prism diagonal - Gutekunst ADC - T2 to 1.25" adapter - directly screwed APM 2.7x ED barlow lenscell - 1.25" to 2" adapter - telescope.

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Edited by denis0007dl, 17 May 2024 - 11:18 AM.

[denis0007dl]

Here is direct image comparation Svbony ADC vs Gutekunst ADC...

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[denis0007dl]

Now lets talk about mechanics of Gutekunst:

 

PERFECT, BUTTERY SMOOTH working, SUPER PRECISE, and of course, ROBUST, revealing high quality product.

 

Small knob for adjusting ADC correction have some fine gear inside, and have like some soft stops - amazing.

 

Optical test:

 

again, same tested targets used as previously dont with Svbony, but his time, all objects lower on horizon are:

 

1. MUCH MORE SHARPER,

2. MUCH MORE CONTRASTIER, 

3. MUCH MORE DETAILS can be reveald on Saturn and Moon,

4. NOTICABLE BETTER FALSE COLOURS CORRECTION produced by natural atmospheric dispersion,

5. STARS ARE NOTICABLE BETTER SMALLER/SHARPER DOTS.

 

Overall meaning picture quality is NOTICABLE IMPROVED with Gutekunst ADC than in Svbony ADC!

WOW!

Didnt expected such big improvement over Svbony ADC have to say, while I was already impressed with Svbony ADC job done.

 

Conclusion:

 

for binoviewers users, cheap ADC is very good piece of equipment to ad, but there is always big FEAR that cheap ADC will suffer from astigmatism which will damage image more than help improve it.

Next thing, cheap ADC suffer from some mechanical imperfections, and in some prisms might be not good adjusted.

So buying cheap ADC could be sometimes gamble, becasue you never know what you get, and you never get EXCELLENT ADC correction, neather EXCELLENT mechanics.

 

Having Gutekunst ADC for binoviewers users (but also same for monoviewing), is simply GODLIKE piece of equipment 100% needed to IMPROVE your overall picture quality like you can only dream about!

 

I wasnt even think such dramatic change could happen even in dreams!

Seeing is believing it!

 

I personally ignored trying any ADC many years, and Im now sooooo sorry I didnt pull trigger on it many years back!

Now Im trying to save my money to get Gutekunst ADC ASAP!

 

There is also a lot of future play to improving even more such system by using different optical and mechanical components, which I plan to do in future once I will got my Gutekunst jewel myself!

 

Kind regards to all,

Denis, binoviewers expert

Edited by denis0007dl, 17 May 2024 - 12:19 PM.

[Sarkikos]

I have a ZWO ADC that I bought years ago.  The design looks similar to the Svbony, but the fit and finish of the ZWO seems better.   I binoviewed and monoviewed planet/lunar with the ZWO ADC.  There was an improvement in sharpness and perceived contrast.   I haven't used it in years, though, because it's one more thing to bring out and add to the stack, and I'm basically lazy.   That's also why I mostly monoview.  (Sorry!   )

 

The main advantages I see to the basic design of the Svbony and ZWO, are that they are smaller and lighter.   Also, the clear aperture of the Svbony is 29mm vs the 28mm of the Gutekunst, if that matters.  I have no idea how the optical improvements produced by the ZWO compare to those from the Gutekunst ADC.

 

Mike

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[Gabby76]

Pozdrav Denis,
As always I enjoy what you have written but as a comparison it is not in the same league.
I have the Teleskop-Express version (ZWO/ SVBony/ others) and find it makes enough difference to be noticeable and useful.
I have not used it with my binoviewers but it does make a difference with just a single eyepiece.
I have also used the Gutekunst ADC in the past and it is a excellent bit of astro kit!
Comparing a100-160€ ADC to a 5 000€ ADC is something as comparing my made at home 70/ 700 to a TMB 203/ 1830.  
What I want and what I can afford are different.
Enjoy the Gutekunst and clear skies to you. I look forward to more of your reviews.

 

Regards, Gabrielle 

[Brollen]

Wow, this is the first time I have read about an ADC. It almost sounds too good to be true… This is potentially something I might consider purchasing but I’m wondering the following:

 

How much additional mm’s of light path is added by using the SVBony ADC as shown?

 

And would the ADC work with Linear BVs?

[denis0007dl]

Both ADCs took almost 5cm of backfocus.

[Sarkikos]

Pozdrav Denis,
As always I enjoy what you have written but as a comparison it is not in the same league.
I have the Teleskop-Express version (ZWO/ SVBony/ others) and find it makes enough difference to be noticeable and useful.
I have not used it with my binoviewers but it does make a difference with just a single eyepiece.
I have also used the Gutekunst ADC in the past and it is a excellent bit of astro kit!
Comparing a100-160€ ADC to a 5 000€ ADC is something as comparing my made at home 70/ 700 to a TMB 203/ 1830.  
What I want and what I can afford are different.
Enjoy the Gutekunst and clear skies to you. I look forward to more of your reviews.

 

Regards, Gabrielle 

All comparisons are valid, fair and above all, instructive. 

 

5000 EU is about $5,447.  Wow.  That's even more expensive than the NVD kit I've been putting off for the last ten years.  I think I'll be keeping my ZWO ADC!

 

At the Gutekunst website, the price of the compact ADC is 3675 EU.  That's about $4003, so a bit less than the average starter setup for NVD.  

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 18 May 2024 - 08:29 AM.

[Sarkikos]

Wow, this is the first time I have read about an ADC. It almost sounds too good to be true… This is potentially something I might consider purchasing but I’m wondering the following:

 

How much additional mm’s of light path is added by using the SVBony ADC as shown?

 

And would the ADC work with Linear BVs?

Linear BVs don't eat up any back focus, so I think the ADC at least in that sense will work well with the linear BVs.

 

Mike

[noisejammer]

I bought a Pierro Astro ADC when I lived halfway to the North Pole - it was certainly useful for observing shallow space. To be honest, the seeing was usually so dreadful that I doubt I ever got close to seeing what my scope could do.

 

Like the ZWO, the Pierro is a simple, 2-prism design and objects can move right out of the field as you orient them to correct for the atmosphere. So lets say it works well but it assumes a measure of user competence.

 

Digging around, I learned that APM had a 17 mm aperture ADC that works on the same principle as the Gutekunst. Asking Eur 1365 before taxes, it's still a fair chunk of change.

 

Having relocated to darkest Africa (25 deg South), the planets are usually pretty high in the sky. I can't recall the last time I used my ADC. Maybe I should have a go at Luna/

[denis0007dl]

Interesting is, when adjusting ADC correction on Gutekunst, image does NOT shift at all, while in all other ADCs its claimed that image shift, so you have to all the time shift telescope, especially if you using higher powers and small FOV eyepieces.

[Sarkikos]

I bought a Pierro Astro ADC when I lived halfway to the North Pole - it was certainly useful for observing shallow space. To be honest, the seeing was usually so dreadful that I doubt I ever got close to seeing what my scope could do.

 

Like the ZWO, the Pierro is a simple, 2-prism design and objects can move right out of the field as you orient them to correct for the atmosphere. So lets say it works well but it assumes a measure of user competence.

 

Digging around, I learned that APM had a 17 mm aperture ADC that works on the same principle as the Gutekunst. Asking Eur 1365 before taxes, it's still a fair chunk of change.

 

Having relocated to darkest Africa (25 deg South), the planets are usually pretty high in the sky. I can't recall the last time I used my ADC. Maybe I should have a go at Luna/

Eur 1365 = about $1482. 

 

I don't have an intuitive sense for other currencies or the metric system.  I like to convert to what I'm used to.  Otherwise, it doesn't make much sense to me.

 

Mike