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Photo by Cory Keating
It's that time of the year again
Milky Way Season
Get into astrophotography with just your DSLR - no telescope needed!
The cooler long nights in Australia and New Zealand are when we face the fascinating, rich centre of our home galaxy, The Milky Way.
Did you know you can take spectacular astrophotos of the Milky Way with your current DSLR without needing to purchase a new telescope and mount? All you need is a low-cost Star Tracker mount to follow the night sky as it spins above our heads at night.
BINTEL has a wide choice in Star Tracker mounts from iOptron and Sky-Watcher, so we're happy to provide independent advice about which one is right for you. Read more about Star Tracker mounts in the article linked below.
Celestron Nature DX binoculars in-store
As summer winds up, it's time to get ready for the approaching whale watching season along the east coast and the autumn bird migrations.
A BINTEL favourite are the Celestron Nature DX binoculars. These are lightweight, compact and have exceptional optics. We'd highly recommend these for all sorts of nature and sports viewing.
Binocular numbers - what do they mean?
We often get asked what all the numbers mean on binoculars and spotting scopes and can they be used to compare one model to another.
The common way they're described is something like:
8 x 42
The first number refers to the magnification of the binoculars. The second refers to the size of the front lenses in mm. Another way of writing 8 x 42 would be
8 times magnification with a 42mm diameter front lens on each side.
On some binoculars and most spotting scopes you might find a description with an extra number such as 22-66 x 100. The dash means zoom.
This means 22 to 66 times magnification with a 100mm diameter wide front lens
While you might think the possible highest magnification would be what you always need, other factors like how a wide a field of view you'd like to see and how quickly you can spot things on the move might need to be considered. Larger size binoculars are heavier and more expensive but certainly help you see things better when it's getting dark, although did you know that they also provide a "higher definition" view even during the day as they gather more detail.
So the views through binoculars of the same size should all the be the same, right? Sadly, it's not that easy.
Other factors like the design of the binoculars themselves, the quality of the optics used, and other factors results in differing views. For example, Celestron Nature DX 10x42 binoculars are a great option for bird watching. The more expensive "ED" version of the same sized binoculars features higher quality glass for even sharper views. If you're a keen bird watcher and the best possible views are important to you, the extra cost could be a small price to pay. For casual users, the standard version would be fine.
Drop us a line at BINTEL and we can have a chat about what's the best way to go for a new pair of binoculars to suit your budget and lifestyle.
Celestron Evolution 8 HD with StarSense in stock next week - $4999
We'll have limited stocks of the 8" EdgeHD version of the popular Celestron Evolution telescope available from mid-February. This features the highest quality SCT optics available from Celestron, Wifi control via your phone or tablet and built-in battery that will power the telescope all night. The bundled StarSense aligns and sets up the telescope for the night's observing automatically in seconds. It's surprisingly portable too.
We had a bit of a head scratch among ourselves at BINTEL and concluded this the best mid-sized, fully computerised telescope package ever produced by Celestron.
Speaking of Celestron...
We've got an interview with John Cross, the Senior International Business Development Manager at Celestron. Part of John's job is to manage Celestron in Australia and New Zealand.
John shares his thoughts on the history of Celestron, what innovative technology has meant to the venerable amateur telescope, picking the right telescope or binoculars and much more.
End of Summer Specials
Until the end of Feb BINTEL has reduced the prices a select number of popular telescopes and mounts that are in stock. Prices go back up on 1st March.
Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102 reduced from $999 to $799
Ideal telescope for a serious beginner or a seasoned observer who wants an easy-to-use instrument to tour the night sky. Connect an Apple iPhone or Android phone and let the Celestron StarSense Explorer app show you exactly where to point your telescope to explore thousands of celestial objects in its database including planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies.
The Saxon AZEQ6 GT Pro Equatorial Mount reduced from $2799 to $2499
Latest version of the Saxon high-capacity EQ computerised mount. Perfect for serious planetary or deep-sky astrophotography. Control via bundled hand controller, PC or Mac using the built-in USB interface or with your phone or tablet using the low cost optional Wi-Fi adaptor.
Welcome back Leica
It's been a long time since BINTEL carried world-famous Leica products and we're looking forward to renewing the friendship. More details in the next issue.
Next time...
From the very large to the very small - we're planning a big microscope update as well as more last days of summer specials.
