12x50 binoculars - mount/mods

Hi,
I recently picked up a pair of Nikon Action EX waterproofs 12x50
binoculars which weigh in at one kilogram!!

Suffice it to say I would like some kind of mount for them and have read
about the sky mirror/window device. I am situated in the UK, is there any
place here where I can purchase a flat first surface mirror for such use?
I would make the rest of the mount myself. Anyone found "alternatives" to
astro produced flats - say vehicle windscreen mirrors which it has been
said are suitable?

What about some kind of diagonal in front of the eye pieces? I figured
they would be preceded by some sort of lens and another after the
prism/mirror? I have searched for such item to no avail. Any info? It
could be easier/more convenient than the sky window mount that's the
reason for my interest in it.

Any help/info much app.

Thanks.

"John" wrote in message
...

Hi,
I recently picked up a pair of Nikon Action EX waterproofs 12x50
binoculars which weigh in at one kilogram!!

Suffice it to say I would like some kind of mount for them and have read
about the sky mirror/window device. I am situated in the UK, is there any
place here where I can purchase a flat first surface mirror for such use?
I would make the rest of the mount myself. Anyone found "alternatives" to
astro produced flats - say vehicle windscreen mirrors which it has been
said are suitable?

What about some kind of diagonal in front of the eye pieces? I figured
they would be preceded by some sort of lens and another after the
prism/mirror? I have searched for such item to no avail. Any info? It
could be easier/more convenient than the sky window mount that's the
reason for my interest in it.

Any help/info much app.

Thanks.


Have look in www.gcw.org.uk for a project to make a parallelogram
mount - it might give you some ideas.

--
Graham W. www.gcw.org.uk Homebuilt Computer cooling. DIY projects
Wimborne. www.wessex-astro.org.uk Society website, meetings,
Dorset UK. location maps and future programs.

On Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:06:47 +0100, lid wrote:



Have look in www.gcw.org.uk for a project to make a parallelogram mount -
it might give you some ideas.

Thanks but I'm really looking for something which will give me a downward
view. I haven't got the room to swing such a large mount either. Maybe I
should have gone for a £200 scope with a diagonal but I thought the
binoculars would come in handy as multipurpose/terrestrial etc but by the
weight of them they might be useless for that too. I did have some 10x42
opticrons (much lighter) but the coatings were crap from the factory -
peeling off and so forth, lots of specs of crap all over the
prisms/whatever. I cleaned a lot off but thought I would get a better pair
hence the Nikons. I dunno, I might take them back to the shop and swap for
something else.

If you email me I can send you the details of a build your own sky mirror

Cheers

Andy

--
Mr Andrew R Green BSc(Hons) FBIS, FRAS
Fellow British Interplanetary Society
Fellow Royal Astronomical Society
Director & Lecturer, StarDome - Astronomy & Astronautics
Director Anglo-Australian Astro Education Partnership

Web Site:

www.stardomeplanetarium.co.uk


"John" wrote in message
...

Hi,
I recently picked up a pair of Nikon Action EX waterproofs 12x50
binoculars which weigh in at one kilogram!!

Suffice it to say I would like some kind of mount for them and have read
about the sky mirror/window device. I am situated in the UK, is there any
place here where I can purchase a flat first surface mirror for such use?
I would make the rest of the mount myself. Anyone found "alternatives" to
astro produced flats - say vehicle windscreen mirrors which it has been
said are suitable?

What about some kind of diagonal in front of the eye pieces? I figured
they would be preceded by some sort of lens and another after the
prism/mirror? I have searched for such item to no avail. Any info? It
could be easier/more convenient than the sky window mount that's the
reason for my interest in it.

Any help/info much app.

Thanks.

Hi John

Found it at last.

In January 06's Sky at Night mag, on page 74, they have an article on how to
make one. At the end it says 'The 4 x 8-inch front-surface aluminised mirror
can be purchased for £16 inclusive of UK postage from:
Vacuum Coatings Ltd.
66 Barrett Road.
Walthamstow.
London E17 9ET.

Tel: 020 8520 5353
Email:
www.vacuumcoatings.co.uk '

Might help and remember the £16 is the 06 price.

Neil

On Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:15:13 +0100, Neil wrote:

Hi John

Found it at last.

In January 06's Sky at Night mag, on page 74, they have an article on how
to make one. At the end it says 'The 4 x 8-inch front-surface aluminised
mirror can be purchased for £16 inclusive of UK postage from: Vacuum
Coatings Ltd.
66 Barrett Road.
Walthamstow.
London E17 9ET.

Tel: 020 8520 5353
Email: www.vacuumcoatings.co.uk '

Might help and remember the £16 is the 06 price.

Neil

Thanks a lot.

On Oct 9, 8:33*pm, John wrote:
On Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:15:13 +0100, Neil wrote:
Hi John

Found it at last.

In January 06's Sky at Night mag, on page 74, they have an article on how
to make one. At the end it says 'The 4 x 8-inch front-surface aluminised
mirror can be purchased for £16 inclusive of UK postage from: Vacuum
Coatings Ltd.
66 Barrett Road.
Walthamstow.
London E17 9ET.

Tel: 020 8520 5353
Email: s.co.uk'

Might help and remember the £16 is the 06 price.

Neil

Thanks a lot.

A problem with exposed first surface mirrors lying flat is heavy
dewing. The image is also reversed.making identification of
interesting objects very difficult. There is no easy reference if you
glance up to see where you are viewing through the binoculars. Taking
the mirror back indoors to warm up and dry out will help but loses
your dark adaptation. You could make a simple resistive heater under
the mirror driven by a battery. I've used the mirror method to study
birds of prey circling overhead in thermals to save my poor neck from
lengthy contortions. One can also use a reclining garden chair or sun
bed for even more comfort. with your elbows resting on the chair arms
to steady the binoculars. You'll need to dress warmly because you'll
quickly lose body heat lying down under the stars. If you fall asleep
you'll probably get hypothermia turning binocular astronomy into a
dangerous sport overnight.

When I'm not using a simple and cheap tripod clamp/ binocular adaptor
on a heavy video tripod and bending my neck very uncomfortably I use
the roof of the car to rest my elbows to support my various
binoculars. This is really comfortable with the right height of car
but expensive if you don't already have one. .Car roofs also make
excellent elbow supports for bird watching and viewing the landscape.
Google for tripod binocular adaptor. Downside with these is damage
to the centre bar of the binoculars if the clamp isn't very well
padded and maintained. Some binoculars have a tripod screw bush where
a pan and tilt head can be fitted directly without using an adaptor.
It is amazing how much more you can see with the binoculars held
absolutely steady instead of wobbling all over the place hand held in
the usual manner.