From: TerryMoselaol.com
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 20:57:09 EST
Subject: Skylux Good, Binocs Bad!
Hi all,
I've just received the following comments on the Skylux refractor, and the
8-24 x 50 binocs, already mentioned in earlier emails.
If you want to get one of the Skylux refractors, they are still available in
the Cookstown store.
1.A. "Hi Terry, Thanks for recommending the Skylux! I was in Lidl in
Cookstown today and I noticed they still have quite a few left, at least 15. I got one
and am just in from my first try at it.
For something so cheap it's really very good! I'm used to a really old
Tasco reflector which I always thought was alright, but this is much better. I
can make out faint bands on Saturn itself where I could only just about detect
the rings before and I think I can see the Cassini gap when the atmosphere
settles.
Best £50 I've spent in a long while!
Thanks again! " Philip Heron
1.B. (re 70mm Skylux) "Mine proved to have an excellent objective - nice
diffraction rings when viewing Gamma Cas; Castor split nicely (using Meade
"shorty" 2x Barlow with 12mm eyepiece, which is about as much magnification as 70mm
aperture
justifies); my suspicion about vignetting (uneven illumination of the focal
plane) by focussing mount seems to be unfounded, focussing movement is
adequate, smooth & well centred; but I don't think much of the supplied star diagonal,
the erector thingy is 'orrible and I don't see the point of the 4mm eyepiece.
Slow motion flexy sticks are far too stiff, slow motion mechanisms are set up
too tight (but adjustable), tripod isn't stable enough but improves massively
if a couple of breeze blocks are suspended from the eyepiece tray. Two minus
marks for not supplying dust caps for the
accessories. The finder does not focus (though mine is near enough) and does
not have an adequate "dew cap" extension in front of the objective."
Brian Beesley, past President of IAA.
(I agree about the star diagonal, 1.5x erector (which astronomers ignore
anyway), and the 4mm eyepiece. As I mentioned before, it's worth using good
quality eyepieces & star diagonal to get the best from this scope. T.M.)
2. "Hello Terry,
With reference to the Lidl zoom binos, I had the opportunity
to examine these as they were on sale this time last year . The build quality
is quite good, but alas, the optical performance is quite poor.You have
already mentioned the small field at 8x, at 24x the field is extremely small
indeed, also the zoom mechanism is not very precise, as they seem to need focusing
every time they are used.
Stars appear as doughnuts at 24x, but at 8x they are just about
acceptable. When using them in good daylight, it never seems possible to get sharp
images at any setting, betraying poor optical components.Our old friend, chromatic
aberration appears with a vengeance at 24x.
Summing up these binos will be a disappointment to anyone using them for
Astronomy, or come to that anything else.
I was lucky, as I noticed a small score on one object lens, so I returned
them for a refund.
P.S. the 10x25 miniature binos sold some time ago, are in my opinion far
superior.
John Hall" (IAA Treasurer)
I respect John's opinion, so no more needs to be said!
Clear Skies,
Terry Moseley
aol.com Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 20:57:09 EST Subject: Skylux Good, Binocs Bad! Hi all, I've just received the following comments on the Skylux refractor, and the 8-24 x 50 binocs, already mentioned in earlier emails. If you want to get one of the Skylux refractors, they are still available in the Cookstown store. 1.A. "Hi Terry, Thanks for recommending the Skylux! I was in Lidl in Cookstown today and I noticed they still have quite a few left, at least 15. I got one and am just in from my first try at it. For something so cheap it's really very good! I'm used to a really old Tasco reflector which I always thought was alright, but this is much better. I can make out faint bands on Saturn itself where I could only just about detect the rings before and I think I can see the Cassini gap when the atmosphere settles. Best £50 I've spent in a long while! Thanks again! " Philip Heron 1.B. (re 70mm Skylux) "Mine proved to have an excellent objective - nice diffraction rings when viewing Gamma Cas; Castor split nicely (using Meade "shorty" 2x Barlow with 12mm eyepiece, which is about as much magnification as 70mm aperture justifies); my suspicion about vignetting (uneven illumination of the focal plane) by focussing mount seems to be unfounded, focussing movement is adequate, smooth & well centred; but I don't think much of the supplied star diagonal, the erector thingy is 'orrible and I don't see the point of the 4mm eyepiece. Slow motion flexy sticks are far too stiff, slow motion mechanisms are set up too tight (but adjustable), tripod isn't stable enough but improves massively if a couple of breeze blocks are suspended from the eyepiece tray. Two minus marks for not supplying dust caps for the accessories. The finder does not focus (though mine is near enough) and does not have an adequate "dew cap" extension in front of the objective." Brian Beesley, past President of IAA. (I agree about the star diagonal, 1.5x erector (which astronomers ignore anyway), and the 4mm eyepiece. As I mentioned before, it's worth using good quality eyepieces & star diagonal to get the best from this scope. T.M.) 2. "Hello Terry, With reference to the Lidl zoom binos, I had the opportunity to examine these as they were on sale this time last year . The build quality is quite good, but alas, the optical performance is quite poor.You have already mentioned the small field at 8x, at 24x the field is extremely small indeed, also the zoom mechanism is not very precise, as they seem to need focusing every time they are used. Stars appear as doughnuts at 24x, but at 8x they are just about acceptable. When using them in good daylight, it never seems possible to get sharp images at any setting, betraying poor optical components.Our old friend, chromatic aberration appears with a vengeance at 24x. Summing up these binos will be a disappointment to anyone using them for Astronomy, or come to that anything else. I was lucky, as I noticed a small score on one object lens, so I returned them for a refund. P.S. the 10x25 miniature binos sold some time ago, are in my opinion far superior. John Hall" (IAA Treasurer) I respect John's opinion, so no more needs to be said! Clear Skies, Terry Moseley
