binomate w/ XT8 dob

Started by zagijimzoo, 09/26/2004 03:03PM
Posted 09/26/2004 03:03PM Opening Post
whats involed with getting a binomate to work with an Orion SkyQuest XT8 IntelliScope? and what range of eye pieces would be usable?



thanks...jimo
Posted 09/29/2004 12:29PM #1
Jim,

I use the Binomate part #AC555, a $35 converter lens that gives a 3.3x magnification, to focus the Binomate on my 6" f/8 Dob. It should work equally well on your XT8, since it compensates for the necessary 3" additional in-focus. Joe Castoro of The Binomate Company recently recommended using the element from a Meade teleconverter. Contact him for details; he's very helpful.

I'm using 25mm Orion Sirius Plossls (160x) and 15mm Ultrascopics (267x) with the Binomate + AC555 on the 6" f/8 Dob, and these work quite well. The 10mm Antares Elites (400x) that are nice on my 100 mm f/6 shortened refractor have too much magnification with the AC555, so they won't work on the Dob. I balance the tube with an exercise wrist weight band, resting it on the mirror end of the scope.

-- Tom