Hello all,
Not that anyone was waiting with bated breath, but after accumulating 25 pages of observing notes and email exchanges with other binoviewer users and Russ Lederman at Denkmeier, I have decided to abandon my binoviewer to binoscope comparison article.
As I progressed farther into the project, it became increasingly apparent that my experience was the exception not the rule. From what I have been able determine, my Vixen R200SS f/4 Newtonian had two issues (maybe more) that affected its use with binoviewers. They are 1) The image plane is brought 5" outside the short tube, requiring an exceptionally large 37% C.O., and 2) The primary is actually slightly over-corrected, i.e. past a parabola into a hyperbola. Although the scope produces stunning widefield mono views (2.6° with Paracorr & 31NT5), it does not like binoviewers at all.
It simply would not be fair to cast doubt on binoviewers in general for the results I got from this specialized scope. My only advice would be that if you have a non-mainstream scope, check with the binoviewer manufacturer first before you order your package.
I will continue to monitor this forum and, who knows, may give binoviewing a try again in the future - but with a different scope.
Clear Skies,
Milt
Not that anyone was waiting with bated breath, but after accumulating 25 pages of observing notes and email exchanges with other binoviewer users and Russ Lederman at Denkmeier, I have decided to abandon my binoviewer to binoscope comparison article.
As I progressed farther into the project, it became increasingly apparent that my experience was the exception not the rule. From what I have been able determine, my Vixen R200SS f/4 Newtonian had two issues (maybe more) that affected its use with binoviewers. They are 1) The image plane is brought 5" outside the short tube, requiring an exceptionally large 37% C.O., and 2) The primary is actually slightly over-corrected, i.e. past a parabola into a hyperbola. Although the scope produces stunning widefield mono views (2.6° with Paracorr & 31NT5), it does not like binoviewers at all.
It simply would not be fair to cast doubt on binoviewers in general for the results I got from this specialized scope. My only advice would be that if you have a non-mainstream scope, check with the binoviewer manufacturer first before you order your package.
I will continue to monitor this forum and, who knows, may give binoviewing a try again in the future - but with a different scope.
Clear Skies,
Milt
