Basically, what Mike said!
I have the Astronomy Tech version of this scope, really the same FPL-51 glass, anodized finish, like that. AT offers the scope in 6 or so colors ("forest green" would be nice for birding use). One minor diff is that the coarse and fine focus knobs are covered in diamond-cut rubber, which is a nice touch, but otherwise the scopes are identical.
The limiting factor in the view of many potential owners of this rig has been the lack of a decent quality, compact, reasonable cost 45-degree erecting prism, but within the last couple of years good multi-coated, BK-4 glass ones from a number of vendors have hit the market. I also have a 1 1/4 dielectric 90-degree mirror star diagonal, but honestly there is not much, if any, performance points in favor of the mirror diagonal. Off axis, maybe a bit more lateral color with the prism, but it's minor and not noticable. In the past, the majority of the right side up, right way round reading diagonals were pretty bad, at least the ones I had looked thru. I use the AT one, which looks like what is shown in Mike's initial posting. Generic versions are available for a slightly cheaper price. Mine ran $69.
The ability to employ various 1 1/4 astro eyepieces is a BIG plus, not to be underrated. Currently on the business end of the scope is an Agena Astro 15mm Super-wide angle, yielding (with the 8% increase in mag the diagonal adds) right at 29X. The ocular runs $42 paid shipping. Specs: fully multicoated, 13mm eyerelief, 70-degree apparent FOV.
THIS IS A FLAT OUT KILLER COMBO! Resolution of fine, feather-level detail, color neutrality/saturation, and especially contast (these scopes have 10 to 13 internal knife edge baffles) is right up there with the very best, period. I also have a Nikon ED82, and prefer the view with the AT 66. Last year, at the local hawk watch site, we AB'd the AT66 and a Swar 65HD. Verdict? A dead heat according to everyone who took the time to look.
Great for the moon and planets too!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED- a real sleeper product, and one that more birders should consider!
I have the Astronomy Tech version of this scope, really the same FPL-51 glass, anodized finish, like that. AT offers the scope in 6 or so colors ("forest green" would be nice for birding use). One minor diff is that the coarse and fine focus knobs are covered in diamond-cut rubber, which is a nice touch, but otherwise the scopes are identical.
The limiting factor in the view of many potential owners of this rig has been the lack of a decent quality, compact, reasonable cost 45-degree erecting prism, but within the last couple of years good multi-coated, BK-4 glass ones from a number of vendors have hit the market. I also have a 1 1/4 dielectric 90-degree mirror star diagonal, but honestly there is not much, if any, performance points in favor of the mirror diagonal. Off axis, maybe a bit more lateral color with the prism, but it's minor and not noticable. In the past, the majority of the right side up, right way round reading diagonals were pretty bad, at least the ones I had looked thru. I use the AT one, which looks like what is shown in Mike's initial posting. Generic versions are available for a slightly cheaper price. Mine ran $69.
The ability to employ various 1 1/4 astro eyepieces is a BIG plus, not to be underrated. Currently on the business end of the scope is an Agena Astro 15mm Super-wide angle, yielding (with the 8% increase in mag the diagonal adds) right at 29X. The ocular runs $42 paid shipping. Specs: fully multicoated, 13mm eyerelief, 70-degree apparent FOV.
THIS IS A FLAT OUT KILLER COMBO! Resolution of fine, feather-level detail, color neutrality/saturation, and especially contast (these scopes have 10 to 13 internal knife edge baffles) is right up there with the very best, period. I also have a Nikon ED82, and prefer the view with the AT 66. Last year, at the local hawk watch site, we AB'd the AT66 and a Swar 65HD. Verdict? A dead heat according to everyone who took the time to look.
Great for the moon and planets too!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED- a real sleeper product, and one that more birders should consider!