|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OpticsBlog – Thoughts and reviews of binoculars, telescopes, scopes, sights, and much more - birdwatching, astronomy, target shooting - pretty much anything related to optics, nature, and life!Friday, October 31, 2008Halloween astronomy
Halloween is actually more than just costumes and candy. In terms of astronomy, Halloween (or actually about Nov4th or 5th, but Halloween to keep things simple), is a day that marks the halfway point between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. In other words, the sun is to its halfway point on its way from rising directly to the east on the fall equinox to rising in the southeast on the winter solstice. The observation and celebration of these halfway days for each season (four in all) date back to pre-Christian times. You won't see anything unusual in a telescope or astronomy binocular on Halloween in terms of astronomy, but, of course, you will see many other sights on this holiday.
Thursday, October 30, 2008In search of telescope
One of the games some fellow astronomers and I used to play with our large astronomy club telescope was, "in search of". We would purposely pick the faintest and most difficult object from a star atlas and then see if we could find it on our own, using only a star map. It challenged not only our navigating skills, but also our telescope observing skills. Only rarely, did we see the object in the telescope eyepiece on the first try. More often, it took many hours of patient observing and it was not uncommon to have to go back on a different night when observing conditions improved. When we succeeded, though, we truly knew the thrill of victory and were justifiably proud of our achievement. It is still a game I play on a smaller scale with my astronomy binocular. I can't help but wonder how many astronomers who use computerized telescopes never even know this game exits and what fun they are missing. Truly, getting there is half the fun for me.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008Hastings triplet versus Coddington magnifier
A question I get, now and then, is why pay more money for a Hastings triplet magnifier, when you can get the same thing cheaper with a Coddington magnifier. I explain that you do not get the same thing with a Coddington. A Hastings triplet is better corrected for color, making it the essential choice for applications where ture color rendition is vital. Best example is for grading gems and jewelry, but I have also sold these magnifiers for rock hounds, botanists, coin collectors and other users who want the best optics in a magnifier. A Coddington magnifier is definitely the value choice for more casual applications.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008Big telescope or not
How big is too big in a telescope? When it comes to performance, of course, bigger is usually better. When it comes to actually using a telescope, though, bigger is not always better. I know more than a few astronomers who purchased their dream giant telescope, only to see it collect dust. As a career woman, I understand why, too. You get home from a long day at work, look at that big telescope, think about how long it will take to just move it out into the yard and set up, then do it all over again at the end of an observing session. Makes you think, twice. Really something to be said for a smaller scope you can grab and go out into the backyard and be observing in just a matter of minutes.
Monday, October 27, 2008Leica dream camera
Had a chance to see (okay, drool all over) the new Leica digital cameras of the point and shoot variety, last week. That little Leica red ball on any Leica product is so tempting, despite the typical Leica price tag. When I first became interested in photography in a serious way, many years ago, there were no digital cameras, but a film Leica was my dream camera. No way could I ever afford a Leica camera with a family budget, back then. These new Leica digitals are by no means cheap, but who knows? One thing I do know is that a Leica camera as a gift would make a statement that goes above and beyond the average digital camera. It would sure make a statement for me, though I don't know of anyone who holds me in that high a regard. Maybe in the next life. Sigh!
Thursday, October 23, 2008Image stabilization (IS) in digital cameras
Image stabilization technology is trickling down to ever lower priced point and shoot digital cameras and that is a good thing for consumers. Pocket size digital cameras are tough to steady, due to their very light weight and small dimensions and IS is especially helpful, here, to insure a sharp pic. Was a time when IS was offered only at the top of the digital camera point and shoot line, but now you can get it for under $200 with the Canon A590IS. Really no reason to miss out on this gigital camera feature, anymore.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008Waterfowl spotting scope
With the big push in warblers behind us, now, I will be concentrating on incoming waterfowl as the weather turns colder. For this kind of work, I rely on a spotting scope. It's just a matter of heading to a local reservoir, finding a good vantage point, and setting up the spotting scope. When migration is on, you can see many species of waterfowl, as well as grebes, gulls and other water birds from a single location and often from some amazing distances. That;s the beauty of a spotting scope. It's not exactly strenuous activity, so I dress warmly and bring a thermos of hot coffee. Warm clothing and hot coffee are nearly as essential as the spotting scope, at times. Some of the best days for waterfowl in the fall are when the weather is at its worst. Quite a contrast from birding for warblers in September.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008Spotting scope tradition
Eastern birders don't use spotting scopes as much as western birders, in part, because there's not as much wide-open country here in the east, but also because eastern birders don't have the tradition of spotting scope use. As a westerner, I used a spotting scope as much, or even more, than I did a binocular. Don't have to head west, though, to put a spotting scope to good use. Plenty of opportunity to use a spotting scope, even around the Chicago area. I've checked Lake Michigan for shorebirds and gulls and local ponds and reservoirs for the same groups, not to mention waders and waterfowl. Hard to imagine how anyone could become a good all-around birder without a spotting scope.
Monday, October 20, 2008Jupiter in a binocular
People have been asking of late what that bright "star" is in the southwest sky just as it is getting dark. They seemed surprised to learn that it is not a star, but the planet Jupiter. Guess some of them are just noticing, now that it is getting dark earlier in the evening. I tell them to just take any binocular of 8x or more, even a compact binocular or birding binocular and they will see a small round globe with three or four star like dots alongside. Those dots are four or Jupiter's largest moons, though you won't always spot four in the binocular, due to the fact that one may be hidden by the planet. Of course, if you want to see detail on the surface, you will need the magnification of a telescope or, at least, a spotting scope, but any binocular will distinguish Jupiter from a star.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008CCD Imager as a camera
Had a customer ask why he couldn't use an imager like the Celestron NexImage or Meade DSI for snapshots during the day. I explained that, for one thing, an imager is not a camera. It cannot store images. That means you would also have to carry your laptop along in the field. Resolution is also far lower than a typical point and shoot digital and, of course, you give up flash, metering and all the other standard camera functions. Lastly, noise level would be unacceptable for use by day. A CCD imager is a great tool for astronomy, but not a great idea as a day use camera.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008Bogen and Gitzo
What could be better than a Bogen tripod? After all, Bogen has been the bread and butter tripod of serious photographers and spotting scope users for many, many years. Bogen tripods are tough and sturdy, so what's the next step up? That would be Gitzo tripods. No, Gitzo is not cheap, but if you want something lighter, yet stronger, than a Bogen, you go to a Gitzo. One of these days, I will do this very thing, after my Bogen falls apart, though I suspect that may be many years from now.
Monday, October 13, 2008Unico microscopes
Had a great visit from the folks at Unico microscopes this past week. Jim Dennler delivered a super training session on Unico microscopes. Given the wide range of models and good availability, I expect Unico microscopes to become a bread and butter line of microscopes for us, here at OpticsPlanet. I was especially pleased with the M220 series. The basix Unico M220 has all the features needed to qualify as a good student microscope, but at a very reasonable price. Should be a top selling microscope for us during the holiday season.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008Sky Watcher telescopes
OpticsPlanet is now carrying Sky Watcher telescopes! Timing couldn't be better, what with the holiday telescope shopping season approaching. Being a fan of Dobsonian telescopes, I am especially pleased to see a Skywatcher Dobsonian telescope in the Sky Watcher line. With the Celestron Starhopper no longer available, it is nice to have another Dob to sell. Okay, a Dobsonian telescope won't fit in a Christmas stocking, but it will put stars in your eyes.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008Color calendar for cameras
Even if I never saw a calendar, I would know it is mid October from the birds that are moving through the area. Every year, at this time, I see my first Juncos of the fall/winter season and this weekend was no exception - lots of Juncos and White-crowned Sparrows in mixed flocks, with even some Palm Warblers thrown in to keep things interesting. This movement also coincides with the first fall color in area trees, which are beginning to show some red and yellow. I expect to see some great color by this next weekend and, of course, more birds. What a great time of year for a binocular or a camera. You don't need anything special in a camera to capture fall colors. Any good digital point and shoot camera will do a good job. Just don't leave it at home.
Monday, October 06, 2008Binocular? Spotting scope? Halfnocular?
What do you get when someone hands you half of a Pentax 20x60 binocular? My boss gave me half of a Pentax 20x60 that broke right at the bridge. It was apparently a victim of an accident, no fault of the binocular. The good news is that the focusing mechanism on one half of the binocular was still perfectly functional and this half also managed to keep the tripod adapter socket intact. Okay, so do I have a 20x60 monocular, a 20x60 spotting scope, a broken 20x60 binocular or ….. maybe I should call it a 20x60 halfnocular. How did my halfnocular work on its first outing? Great! Used my halfnocular the other night at a local pond. It made a nice, compact scanner for shorebirds and waders. I can safely say it is the best halfnocular I have ever used.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008Telescope students
Doing a training class this week on telescopes for our employees. Actually, this week is a follow up class to one I did on telescopes two weeks, ago, since there is no way you can even scratch the surface on the basics in a single session. In fact, I am not even going to cover astrophotography and the finer points of visual observing. Just covering the basic features is a huge undertaking for students who have never even looked through a telescope. My fondest hope is to get some of my students out under a night sky to see what all the excitement is about.
|
|
|
|
|
© 1999- OpticsPlanet, Inc
- telescopes,
binoculars,
microscopes,
riflescopes,
rangefinders,
& more.