Buying this binoviewer for my 60mm f/15 Takahashi scope was a leap into the unknown; would everything seem too dim? Would it ruin the balance of my scope/mount? Would it arrive collimated so I wouldn’t see double-images or experience eye strain?

Executive Summary: It works fabulously well in every respect. I’ve been consistently using the superb 1.6X relay/Barlow lens that was included.

Soon, my machinist will supply the special bushings/adaptors to shorten the back-focus distance. I think I’ll be able to use the bare binoviewer and observe with all my eyepieces at “1x” instead of “1.6x”.

The 1.6x will still find frequent use — it just makes everything sing for planetary & double star observing.

From the first glance at Saturn, I was astounded. WOW! It really works. Bright enough (plenty), good collimation, not too heavy, Über-relaxing to look a long, long time w/o an interruption.

Somehow, the low magnifications seem higher when using 2 eyes. 80x w/ 2 eyes shows me more planetary detail (Saturn & Jupiter) than I normally see at 130x w/ 1 eye (even using a monocular-DeLite).

Low-contrast details are more prominent, the limbs of the planets is crisp as can be. The sky background seems darker, and the effects of atmospheric turbulence seem mitigated somewhat. Differences in the appearances of the Galilean satellites are much enhanced. Floaters in my eyes are no longer annoying (this is huge; I’m nearly 70.).

I’m beginning to rationalize (declutter) my eyepiece collection. I know I won’t twin every one — there’s not as great a need to own a “million” eyepieces. No need for my PowerMate anymore.

A pair of lowly Plossls or Orthoscopics seem to give a much more expansive (“immersive” — overworked word) experience than with monocular use.

I have a pair of 19mm Panoptics and at 80x, they are AMAZING. Wide apparent field of view, crystal clear & sharp. And oh-so-relaxing to use (w/o glasses). On Saturn: just stupendous. The beauty is heart-stopping.

Yes! I love it. And I’m shocked that my experiment is a success.

I purchased this as a gift for a friend so his children would better enjoy using his Celestron NexStar 6SE. The feel of the binoviewer is nice. The two 20 mm eye pieces that come with the kit is decent with their slow telescope. His children are having a blast figuring out how to best use the binoviewer. They sometimes use a 32 mm Plossl as a finder combined with an inexpensive zoom eye piece before switching both two zoom eye pieces.