Some questions about Binoviewers.

I’m thinking about getting some binoviewers and have a few questions about them. Are they worth it? By this I mean is it really more commutable to observe with them and will I be more likely to see planetary detail? Can they be used for deep sky? Also what brands are good? I was thinking Televue but the Siebert Optics look tempting form a financial point of view. BTW right now all I have is a AR-6 but soon plan on buying one or two other scopes. My 3 most likely “next” scopes are: Meade 7” APO, c14, FS-102. Thanks.

Worth it? Yes, if you can afford it. Bino + pairs
of eyepieces gets expensive.

Yes, you will "think" you see more planetary detail.
My experience is that you see what detail is there
much more easily. But I find in switching back and
forth, I can also see the same detail with one-eye
after first finding it with the bino. It just much
easier to see with bino.

Yes, can be used for deep sky, too.

Brands: I have used AP/Baader, Denkmeier, and TV and
found these to be quite good.

Bugs: Most need about 5.5 inches of extra backfocus,
and so won't reach focus in all scopes. Usually
this can be fixed with a Barlow lens or similar
accessory lens (more $). I expect you will have
this problem with the AR-6, FS-102, and Meade
7" APO. C-14 should be OK.

Vladimir,

Yes, binoviewers are worth it. I see more low level detail on planetary objects with them than in mono mode. The image scale of the objects being observed are larger also. A binoviewer gives the objects a neat 3D affect, and you notice a deeper depth of field on deep sky objects that you do not see in mono mode due to the 3D affect that the binoviewer gives to the objects observed. Globular clusters seem to start resolving at low powers with a binoviewer also. It's a two eyes viewing thing I guess.

You will need to get an optical corrector/barlow for your refractor for a binoviewer to come to focuse. Well, not all binoviewers. The Celestron unit will focus on most refractors without the use of a corrector/barlow. But the Celestron only has a clear aperture of 17mm, and for deep sky binoviewing it is best to go with a unit that has 22mm or more clear aperture. I have the Tele Vue / BW Optik / Denkmeier / Black Nights and the Siebert 2" binoviewer. You would be more than pleased with any of those bino's for planetary and deep sky viewing.

Don

Two weeks ago at a public star party someone walked up to m scope (12.5" Dob) with a Siebert binoviewer and asked if he could take a look at Mars with it. I'm not sure what eyepieces he had in there, but the resulting image was perhaps the best view of Mars I've ever seen.

-Bret