Collins Image Intensifier EP

A recent poster mentioned the Collins I-3 Image Intensifier eyepiece in his profile writeup. It sounds interesting but the price is quite high for a "check it out" EP. Has anyone else had experience with this item?

Jud

I know there are some reviews out there, but I'll add my $0.02. As is, I'd say it's a bust; but with an H-Alpha filter ($200-$300), it is miraculous what faint nebulae I have been able to see in detail from light polluted locations. I'd say it is totally worth it if you can pick one up on Astromart for $1,500 or so, whether it is the original or the new thin-film version, and add an H-Alpha filter.

One caveat: it takes more in-focus travel than many scopes have. I lucked out with my 10" Dob, but had to countersink my collimation bolts to get it to focus on my 12.5" DSE.

Cheers,
Hugh

I have used one of these extensively because a friend of mine in the astro society has one. He brings it to star parties to play with. It is pretty amazing. We use it in my 20" f/4 and the detail in globulars is astounding. It does well on some nebulae and not so well on others. He puts a 50mm lens on it and you can simply use it to scan the skies and find all kinds of objects without a telescope. Scanning the Milky Way is a blast!

It is good in light polluted areas because it allows you to see objects you would otherwise not be able to.

Some folks do not like the bright green image field, but I get used to it. The newer thin film models have greatly reduced the scintillation that many folks object to. It DOES tend to ruin your dark adaptation, so switching between it and a normal eyepiece takes some re-adaptation.

Denkmeier has partnered with another company to produce a bino version called the BIPH. They manufacture them in batches. They have a great website with explanation and pricing (denkmeier.com), so you may want to check that out also.

Yes, they are expensive. This is mostly due to the cost of the tubes used to produce them. I have considered purchasing such a device, but was waiting to see how the BIPH pans out and evolves. I have not had the opportunity to examine a BIPH yet.