TheSkySearchers

So, this new product (long awaited from Baader) sure looks interesting. Big prisms for larger field of view than other binoviewers.
https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/b ... -case.html
I've bookmarked this as part of my plan for my ultimate telescope system. Looking forward to seeing it for sale in the USA.

Full 1.25" apperture does sound nice. Thanks for the heads up.

I have been waiting for these for a long time, hopefully they will be out soon.

Looks good, and way cheaper than their MkV model!

I presume you are aware of the guy in Croatia who "supercharges" Leica (and other) binoviewers? See https://www.cloudynights.com/user/208407-denis0007dl/ (check out his current "Classifieds" from this link)

I haven't heard anything negative about him, and he has been advertising his products on CN and IceinSpace for a number of years.

- Dean

Pretty Cool. I need to get one of these for the "floating in space" effect. It would be a great addition for my 6" frac.

There is also Siebert Optics in the USA that does the same service and makes binoviewers and related accessories.
https://www.siebertoptics.com/

helicon wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2019 4:03 pm Pretty Cool. I need to get one of these for the "floating in space" effect. It would be a great addition for my 6" frac.

It surely would!

helicon wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2019 4:03 pm Pretty Cool. I need to get one of these for the "floating in space" effect. It would be a great addition for my 6" frac.

Or get a 28mm Edmunds RKE eyepiece
https://www.edmundoptics.com/f/edmund-o ... eces/12484

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2019 6:29 pm Or get a 28mm Edmunds RKE eyepiece
https://www.edmundoptics.com/f/edmund-o ... eces/12484

OK... maybe I'm just really slow today, but I'm puzzled by this particular suggestion.

AntennaGuy wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2019 12:44 am

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2019 6:29 pm Or get a 28mm Edmunds RKE eyepiece
https://www.edmundoptics.com/f/edmund-o ... eces/12484

OK... maybe I'm just really slow today, but I'm puzzled by this particular suggestion.

The RKE eyepieces are reputed to give the "floating in space" effect.

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:13 am The RKE eyepieces are reputed to give the "floating in space" effect.

I thought that was supposed to be a direct consequence of having a really wide apparent field of view. The RKE eyepieces are advertised as having a 45 deg AFOV. So.... how do they generate that floating in space effect? Is AFOV not the definitive feature?? Is it some combination of AFOV and eye relief? Something else, perhaps? In the case of a binoviewer, I presumed the effect followed simply from being able to use both eyes, so that would be different, I guess. But if using only one eye, then...?

AntennaGuy wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:27 am

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:13 am The RKE eyepieces are reputed to give the "floating in space" effect.

I thought that was supposed to be a direct consequence of having a really wide apparent field of view. The RKE eyepieces are advertised as having a 45 deg AFOV. So.... how do they generate that floating in space effect? Is AFOV not the definitive feature?? Is it some combination of AFOV and eye relief? Something else, perhaps? In the case of a binoviewer, I presumed the effect followed simply from being able to use both eyes, so that would be different, I guess. But if using only one eye, then...?

Large AFOV means only that there is a wider AFOV than the eye can take in. So it involves a "kind of" floating in space effect since its not like looking through a window.

Whatever the RKE does is different. I have no direct experience but it is intriguing. Here are some reviews. Apparently the eye relief and some tricks of human perceptual psychology combine to give a "floating" impression. Folks seem to giggle at their use in binoviewers.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/3624 ... -28mm-rke/
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/4438 ... rformance/
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/6778 ... -28mm-rke/

Some folks don't see it. Since it appears to be psychological YMMV.

Well, that's quite interesting indeed. I look forward to learning more about it.

The most credible explanation is that the RKE without eyecup has a bevel angled such that when they eye is at the exit pupil the eyepiece disappears.

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:45 am The most credible explanation is that the RKE without eyecup has a bevel angled such that when they eye is at the exit pupil the eyepiece disappears.

Yes, I just saw that mentioned in a comment at one of the links.... I wonder if part of seeing or not seeing this effect may also be related to whether one is near-sighted or not! In any case, I suspect that with my older eyes I'm more interested in the clarity, brightness, contrast, etc. of the image that I can see through the eyepiece than with whether I can get that particular feeling of disassociating from the eyepiece/telescope. Thanks again for the education.

Eyepieces with larger eye lenses with thin tube walls will also show the effect to a certain degree I have heard.
The RKE is quite a common eyepiece used for sketching at the eyepiece because of the view produced and the ease of eye placement.

The Hyperwide eyepieces give you the looking out the picture window into space, the RKE view seems to "float" above the eyepiece.

Just received this email today (4/15/2020):

Dear Customer,

You have subscribed to the stock notification on availability of the MaxBright® II Binoviewer. Unfortunately we are experiencing an issue, the automatic emails don't get sent out.

We still want to inform you as soon as possible that the MaxBright® II is now available for purchase and apologize if you will receive this notification another time soon (customized and in your preferred language).
MaxBright II Binoviewer

MaxBright® II Binoviewer

Finally we can introduce the MaxBright® II Binoviewer. It closes the gap between cheaper entry-level binoviewers and our high-end Mark V Giant Bino.

27mm prisms with 26 / 25,5mm clear aperture, for all 1,25"-eyepieces – up to focal lengths of 35mm
Ergonomically designed ClickLock® eyepiece clamps with diopter adjustment
Baader Astro T-2 System™ connector thread (M 42 x 0.75) and Zeiss micro-bayonet for the shortest possible connection to (almost) all existing telescope systems
Scope of delivery: Baader MaxBright® II Binoviewer with adapters to T-2 and Zeiss micro-bayonet in a padded carrying case (image coming soon)
Optical tube length: 110 mm (+/- 1 mm tolerance)
Weight: 595g (200g lighter than Mark V)

Price: 425,00 €


Please also note that the MaxBright® II will be available also in different sets with further accessories.

With kind regards,
Your Baader Planetarium Team

Thanks for the notice. I have the older Maxbright BV and I had the Mark V but reluctantly gave it up. This is an interesting intermediate device.

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:45 am The most credible explanation is that the RKE without eyecup has a bevel angled such that when they eye is at the exit pupil the eyepiece disappears.

You nailed it.

I had a C8 and William Optics binoviewers. My favorite pair of eyepieces to use with that set-up were the 28mm RKE. I used them with and without an add on eyecup. The floating view did not happen with the eyecups installed.

The floating effect is not the only feature that makes them great. When used appropriately in long focal length instruments (f8 or longer) they put up superb views. Clarity and color rendition are beautiful and I think it has more to do with the limited amount of lenses. (3). In older books (when I was a wee child) it was always recommended to put the least amount of glass (and reflective surfaces) between the observer and target. I believe that has all changed now with modern coatings. However, the C8 is long gone but the 28mm RKE pair are still in the closet. Just couldn’t bare to part with them.

AntennaGuy wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:32 am So, this new product (long awaited from Baader) sure looks interesting. Big prisms for larger field of view than other binoviewers.
https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/b ... -case.html
I've bookmarked this as part of my plan for my ultimate telescope system. Looking forward to seeing it for sale in the USA.

Awww man... I thought I'd put my optical buying addiction in check. Stuff like this will make me fall off the wagon again.