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Black Night Binoviewer/Siebert Optics
 
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Sunday 04/30/2006 1:15:40pm
Name: Philip Canard
E-Mail: pcanard@cei.net
Referred By: Just Surfed In
City/Country: Coal Hill, Arkansas, USA
Comments: I replaced my generic Chinese binoviewer with the Black Night 22 about 3 months ago. It was instantantly obvious that the BN22 was a better unit. I had owned two of the BV125 Burgess units (all the generic Chinese binoviewers are built by Kunming United Optics in mainland China, with slight twists between brands), and both suffered from slight miscollimation that means little at low mags, but might be a problem at high mags. Also, the Kunming units have a reputation for being easily knocked out of collimation (except for the Baader Maxbright, which has numerous proprietary upgrades, and a higher pricetag to match.). My BN22 came well collimated and has remained that way. Also, the Chinese binoviewer cannot be adjusted for degree of stiffness in the interpupillary adjustment. They are very stiff in winter conditions. The BN22 is adjustable and maintains a steadier degree of stiffness with temperature change. This is important for those who observe in cold weather. The self centering eyepiece holders on the BN22 are far superior to fumbling with three thumbscrews on the BV125. The BN22 also weighs less than the BV125. Sharpness at high magnifications is slightly better in the BN22. There is slightly less light scatter on bright objects in the BN22. The BN22 will just cover the field of a Celestron Axiom 23mm wideangle, but the BV125 would vignette the FOV slightly. Both binoviewers will vignette with a Celestron Ultima 30mm, but the BN22 has less vignetting and will almost show the field stop. This is with the Siebert 1.8X Maxlite OCA and a 2" diagonal. I have noticed that the BN22 has as much field coverage as most standard 1.25" diagonals. If the BN22 had more coverage, the diagonal would most likely vignette the FOV anyway. The BN22 is as good as you can do in a 1.25" binoviewer, and is hundreds less dollars in cost than a BW Optik binoviewer, its nearest cost and performance competitor. Also, the BN22 performs fabulously well with Star Splitter eyepieces in my f/14.2 LOMO Astele 150 Mak-Cass. I have never had better (or seen better in any scope) lunar or planetary views than with my BN22/LOMO Astele 150/Star Splitter combo. This is largely because the binoviewer eliminates most of my eye floaters that are problematic at high magnifications, the BN22 has dielectric coatings that have very low light scatter, and the LOMO 150 Mak-Cass is a 1/8 lambda research grade scope that the public failed to recognise and is sadly out of production. It was recognized by astronomy insiders as fully competitive to APO refractors that sell for around $5000. It was a screaming bargain at its $1000 street price, and the Siebert BN22 is also a screaming bargain as well. For only $300 you get a really excellent 1.25" binoviewer. The next binoviewer up the scale that can possibly give you any increase in performance whatsover is the Tele Vue binoviewer at about $800, and even then, the difference is miniscule and comes at a weight penalty. Also, the Siebert Star Splitters are the equals of the fabulous Celestron Ultima eyepieces (10mm and shorter), but with many more focal lengths available, better eye relief, a larger eye lens, and slightly wider FOV. You simply can't do better at anywhere near the cost than a BN22/Star Splitter combination if high mag binoviewing is your interest. I also use the Star Splitters in cyclops mode in my fast f/6 refractor, and they work very well there as well. With the Maxlite 1.8X OCA , the BN22 works very well in my f/4 Meade SN8 for deep sky viewing. I have another BN22 on order, that's how well I like this binoviewer. I would highly recommend that anybody who can afford the price difference to get the BN22 instead of the generic Chinese binoviewer. The Baader Maxbright is the only version of the Chinese binoviewer that I would consider, but even there the cost savings is very small and does not justify the loss of the self centering eyepiece holders that the Siebert BN22 gives you (not to mention the weight difference). The BN22 is simply in a "class of one" when price vs. performance is considered.

Phil Canard



Wednesday 02/15/2006 0:42:47am
Name: Floyd Blue
E-Mail:
Referred By: Friend
City/Country: California
Comments: Hi Harry
Well I have had a few chances to try out the Multi-Mag OCA and the 1.6x OCA. I thought I would get back to you on what I thought and discovered.
First off, I have found the Multi-Mag to be very useful. The optics seem to be first rate and the OCA seems to bring alive the William Optics Binoviewer. The magnification range is great and makes my three pairs of EPs seem like a full set.
One thing I have found is that the OCA lens can be screwed directly to the Binoviewer! This is without the tubes or the corrector lens. It seems to give about a 3x magnification, maybe a little less. The FOV is increased over the 3.5x setup but is a lot less than the 2x setup. Very crisp and clear though, with no vignetting even with 26mm EPs. I know that you do not mention that it can be used in this way, so I thought you might like to know that it does work in this fashion. I am not certain of what the magnification is, but the FOV is a increased by a lot over the 3.5x. Can you tell me what this might be giving me in power.
No vignetting or CA or anything that I can see. The FOV is big and sharp. The throughput is quite good too. Even with the 3.5x on the 15mm EPs (4.28mm) the view was sharp and no loss of definition on the Moon last night.

Floyd Blue



Wednesday 02/02/2005 8:46:53am
Name: Richard Blaisdell
E-Mail: blaisdell25@charter.net
Referred By: Just Surfed In
City/Country: Au Sable Forks,NY USA
Comments: I just upgraded from my ETX125 to an LX90. "WHAT A DIFFERENCE".I was pleased before but NOW!!!!!! Thank you Harry! Rick(adkstars).



Saturday 09/25/2004 12:15:02am
Name: Richard Blaisdell
E-Mail: blaisdell25@charter.net
Referred By: Just Surfed In
City/Country: United States
Comments: Can a Seibert bino be sucessfully used on an ETX-125? Absolutely! I live in the Northern Adirondacks of NY and have very dark skies, limiting mag. 6.3 to 6.5. Mag. 10 is very doable under my local conditions. Viewing is like using a LP filter of which I have three but have never needed to use.I opted for the $150 diopter pkg. and found I don't need my eyeglasses.Depending on the sky where you are viewing will determine if a bino of any kind is suitable for your ETX-125.You will need to counter weight it for an accurate go-to. Rick Blaisdell



Monday 06/07/2004 11:03:18pm
Name: H Mortley
E-Mail: hlmortley@yahoo.com
Referred By: Just Surfed In
City/Country: Albuquerque
Comments: I finally got to use the Black Night Binoviewers that I recently purchased from Harry Siebert. I used them with both my 8" Meade Starfinder and homemade 5" refractor. The Binos came with a corrector and matched 19mm eyepieces. The instructions were simple and warned that using the binos might take some time and practice to get the image to merge. I first used them in daylight and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the image, like a giant pair of binoculars. So with eager anticipation for darkness I finally got to look at the moon. I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head, the image looked so crisp and clear, and truly 3D. Okay, let's try Jupiter. Again, an amazing 3D like image. No practice, no time consuming adapting, just a wonderful two-eye, no strain view of Jupiter. I had my whole family come out to see, and they all said, "Wow!" Even my 17 year old son who very seldom looks through a scope said, "Wow, the moons look like they're actually around the planet!" Four different eyes and no adjustments and no complaints about fuzziness. This is defintely the best gadget I've ever bought for viewing the sky. Two eyes are way better than one. I will never go back to cyclops viewing again!

Thanks much Harry!

Hunter

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