Concept: At Tele Vue, the driving force has been to get as close to the contrast, resolution and field of the most remarkable instrument of all: the human eye. While always respecting the need for viewing comfort, convenience and value, we have broken through conventional barriers to bring you eyepieces and telescopes with performance dramatically closer to our "spacewalk viewing" goal. A major limitation has been the lack of binocular viewing. The night sky with one eye closed is missing a lot. Open both eyes and see the dramatic improvement in resolution, contrast, and viewing comfort. All this plus an illusion of depth. Yes, your brain loves two eyed viewing, even when it's not true stereo. Open your eyes and mind to Bino Vue. — Al Nagler

Limitations of ordinary binoculars

You're probably aware that the color correction and resolution of all high powered binoculars is far less than ideal. Usually the size, weight, cost, inconvenience and lack of interchangeable eyepieces render them undesirable for all but the most die hard fans.

Limitations of ordinary 45° binocular attachments

1. The 45° angle is very uncomfortable for high angle viewing.
2. Interocular adjustments require refocusing.
3. The 45° angle makes it difficult to use with reflectors.
4. An erector must be added for terrestrial viewing.

Enter Bino Vue

We immediately recognized the advantages of a binocular attachment that adjusts interpupillary distance like an ordinary binocular and sets up as easily as changing an eyepiece. The in-line viewing arrangement allows inter-ocular adjustment without focus shift. And, we use the largest prism apertures possible.

The Tele Vue Touch

To permit Bino Vue to reach focus with any telescope, we engineered an optical elimination of its 5.1" path length. Our special compensator lens system makes the Bino Vue parfocal when fully inserted to its stop and, results in only a 2x increase in magnification. The compensator lens also corrects for prism effects that can degrade high power viewing.

For short focal length scopes such as the Tele Vue-76, Tele Vue-85 and Tele Vue-NP101is, the 2x amplification results in low powers down in the 30x range. Even larger instruments will find the Bino Vue extremely versatile. For example, a 13.5" f/4.5 Dobsonian, would have a low power limit of 96x with a pair of 32mm Plössls.

SCTs have enough focus travel to use Bino Vue without the compensator. For any scope that can accept Bino Vue's 5.1" of path length, you can use Bino Vue without the amplifier assembly.

Finally, Tele Vue tests the collimation and image quality of each unit. This time and labor intensive operation is essential for a binocular viewer used at planetary magnifications. Tele Vue has the facility and expertise to service the Bino Vue should it be required. You always have that assurance with Tele Vue.

Bino Vue Operation

Bino Vue comes standard with the Flat Coupler and 2x Amplifier installed on the body. This permits the Bino Vue to be used in all telescopes with just a moderate focuser in-travel requirement. The 2x Amplifier has filter threads to accept 1¼" filters. The Flat Coupler provides enough space for the inclusion of filter without hitting the diagonal mirror when using 2" Tele Vue diagonals and the 2" - 1¼" Tele  Vue "High-Hat" adapter.

Why Choose The Tele Vue Bino Vue

When considering binocular viewing, we strongly recommend our Bino Vue to preserve the utmost image quality in fine telescopes. Bino Vue, first bought to market in 1995 by Tele Vue has a number of unique attributes that secured its reference quality status:

1. 27mm aperture prisms to permit full use of maximum field 1¼" eyepieces such as 24mm Panoptics.
2. Multi-coatings and dielectric beamsplitter coatings for highest transmission with neutral coloration.
3. Collet-type adjustable eyepiece clamping for non-marring, rock solid security with no chance of high powered collimation loss from screw-type diopter adjustment systems.
4. 100% inspection, collimation Q.C. to assure prevention of eyestrain. Factory collimation checking and realignment service available with quick turnaround.
5. Lightest weight large prism unit (saves ½-lb).
6. 2x Amplifier Corrector fully compensates for introduction of spherical, color and astigmatism in prisms, along with path length compensation -- maintains simple drop-in installation just like any 1¼" eyepiece, while maintaining optimal optical performance in the finest, fastest instruments such as the Tele Vue-NP101is.