Re: ATM binocular telescopes vs. binoviewers

["Joseph O'Neil" <joneil@multiboard.com>]

>I have binoviewers but have never looked through Newtonian binocs (though I
>am seriously considering building one) so my thinking may be seriously
>unresolved.  Can anyone with real experience and/or knowledge clarify this?

         I am commercially involved with guys who make binoscopes for sale, 
so take my thoughts for what they are worth.

         There is a difference.  Not to say binoviers pe say are a bad 
choice, quite the opposite, I like them.  Plus, they are a lot more 
portable than a true binoscope of any kind.
         It's hard to explain the difference, or why there is even a 
difference, but I find a true binoscope (not just the ones we have made, 
but some excellent ATM scopes I have seen at places like Stellafane), but 
what you get is a sense of "beign out therre".
         For exmaple, looking at the moon with a binoviewer, you can see 
details in craters more easily, at least I can.  But with a true binoscope, 
you feel like you are floating right above the moon, looking down.

         Not very scientific or precise of an explaination, is 
it?  :(  Still, if you are seriously looking at  a building a binoscope, I 
think optically you will be in love with the final results.  The main 
drawback is size and lack of real portability.
joe



http://www.oneilphoto.on.ca
http://www.multiboard.com/~joneil