From: "Dwight K. Elvey" 
To: atm{at}shore.net
Reply-To: "Dwight K. Elvey" 


>From: "Dave McCarter" 
>
>> The Bino scope from JMI.
>> In the past I always thought  they had decent seeming equipment,
>till
>> now.
>> Lets park our hot body directly under the light path so steady
>images
>> are never obtained,
>
>I have looked through a similar Binoscope made by SanJo Instruments,
>and the heat issue has never been a problem. Probably because the
>powers used are lower and dew caps place the entrance aperature well
>behind the head.
>
>> Then I just LOVE the price,,  4 thousand BUCKS!  ya have to be
>kidding,,
>
>Don't dismiss the serious engineering challenges that keeping two
>optical trains in alignment entail. Most amateurs have difficulty
>building a scope that stays collumated during an observing session.
>And the eyepiece system needs to be very solid yet easy to adjust for
>interoccular distance and focus. Try it. Not easy.

Hi
 They have made a number of interesting and costly controls to
their bino. This is a telescope for the gadget type. Most everything is
motorized. When I saw the prototype at RTMC, there were a few problems that
I hope they've fixed. I gave them some suggestions that I hope they took to
heart.
 I'm not that surprised at the cost. A lot of machined parts
for the various mechanical gizzies make for a costly scope in small volume.

>
>> lets see what would I rather want,, this or a 15 or 18" obsession,,,
>> hhhmmm?
>
>I've looked through a 20 inch obsession, and a well made 16 inch side
>by side. I'll take the home made any time. Cheaper too.
>
>By the way, Mark St. George, the owner of SanJo Instruments passed
>away last Monday. We're holding a wake for him Sunday evening. At some
>point we may create a web page in his memory and place all the
>engineering drawings and photographs of his binoscope there for the
>world to use.
>
>Dave

 This is too bad. I've conversed with Mark a number of times,
on email, about bino issues. He will be missed by me. Dwight

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