Posts Made By: Michael Sandy

I have a set of the older Baader models, and I believe you'll find the Mark V a wonderful unit - maybe the best of the bunch. I'd love to hear how you think they stack up to the Denk's. I thought they were a step up from my TV units.....but that would be a very small difference. I really like the option of the 1.25x Compensator.

The folks that have viewed through both the new and older versions of the Baaders say the visual difference small, but do you think you can you really spot a 10% improvement on anything but the finest seeing night and smallest details? I have heard mixed reviews on the new eyepiece holders, some have trouble making them work, some love them. I think there is a technique to adjusting them that you just have to get used to. Check the coatings out when you get yours.....they are very interesting.

Enjoy....I think you'll really like the package! Please post your review! It would make great reading.

Hi Mark,

What MB spacing are you trying to achieve? Isn't the standard 76mm? I've got my FS-60/Sky90 reducer set to 76.....and while I haven't done the wide field yet - in the plans for clear weather - I'd love to avoid the issues you are having if possible.

All that set-up stuff aside - that "first" image is a very nice starting point.

Thanks for sharing!

Your history is showing......did you read the report?

Hi Ashton,

I liked the larger wheels....and I don't think they ever really affected stability. When you set the bars up, you lift the wheels up off the ground on the leveling screws. I used blocks to keep the screw length short, and they were never a problem for me (imaging or visual).

You can see photos of my wheelie bars set-up here (go to the equipment page):

http://www.darksights.com

Hi Larry,

You'll get a lot of axes ground with this question - people with no real experience with either set offering opinions. Since I've been taken to task for offering my opinions before - it's the nature of this forum - I'll limit my comments to what I have first hand experience with.

I own a set of the Baader Binos produced just before the Mark V. The Mark V models have some improvements in the coatings, and the adjustable diopters (although I've added the adjustable Lapides Eyepiece holders to mine).

I think you'll find the everything about the Baader units - workmanship, coatings, mechancials, and glass......first rate. They have some very nice features - I really like the Baader diagonal that comes with the Bino, high quality and it uses very little backfocus. The three available glass path compensators (1.25X, 1.7X, and 2.25X - they come standard with the 1.25X) gives you about all the optical options you might need. I believe they have the largest clear aperture available in any Bino. I owned a set of TV units before the Baader....and I have to say I prefer the Baader. you can see some photo's of my set here: http://www.darksights.com/Binoviewers.htm . They are a little higher priced - but I think they are the best total package on the market.

I haven't had a chance to look through a set of the Denk II.......so I'll let others add comments about them. But everything I've heard about these Binos has been very positive.

I hope that helps some.

Hi Rob,

I'm not sure how much in-travel margin you have with the TEC. According to the AP Website, with the 1.25 corrector and the Baader Prism Diagonal in place, the Bino use 4.5" in-travel.....if you switch to the 1.7 corrector, that reduces the needed in-travel to 3.25". When you consider that a standard MaxBright Diagonal has about a 4.1" optical path, that doesn't seem too bad. I think these numbers are accurate - and they match what I remember happening when I switch the Bino into the OTA. I notice you are in the SF East Bay Area also - maybe we should get together and you could give mine a try.

Regards

Mike

Hi Tom,

I've posted a link to this write up several times before, but it is still worth a read as you consider the shorter fl eyepieces in your Bino. Skip the top section of this page and read the information that starts about half way down the page. Here's the link:

http://www.darksights.com/Binoviewers.htm

Regards

Mike

Well done! Thanks again for taking the time to write the review.

Oh man - PC comes to the Binoviewer Forum. I never would have thought it possible.

Hi Larry,

I'm using the Borg 45ED as my guide scope. It is a nice little scope, offers a very flexible set-up, and it is light. I haven't had a lot of time with it yet - but it has been a very useable, cost effective addition to my system.

Mike