TEC (Teleskope Engineering Company) has been producing high-end apochromatic telescopes for many years. At the request of its customers, TEC has begun offering astronomical binocular telescopes or "binoscopes". These instruments offer outstanding usability and functionality for visual astronomy. The well-known advantages of binocular vision are seen here at their best.
A conventional binocular distributes the aperture of a telescope to both eyes, whereas a binocular provides a telescope for each eye. The light path is guided to the eyes by a special mounting mirror system, which TEC obtains from Matsumoto and integrates into the system.
Binoculars currently available from various manufacturers typically have apertures between 80 and 120 mm. TEC only starts from 140 mm. There are currently three sizes: 140 mm, 160 mm and 180 mm, all with the same construction, but even a special edition with 200 mm or even 250 mm apertures is possible!
The advantage of astronomical bino-telescopes over the usual giant binoculars is that they use true apochromatic optics. Their optical quality is much higher, as they were designed to be used as single telescopes and provide sharp images even at the highest magnifications. Giant binoculars are not usually designed for magnifications higher than 100x, but TEC binoculars can offer much higher magnifications. 150x is no problem.
On nights with a visibility of more than 1", magnifications of more than 300x are also possible.
All TEC astronomical binoculars share these properties:
- Manufactured with two high-end telescopes
- Three-element apochromatic lenses
- Oil-spaced and permanently sealed with TEC's special design
- With fluorite center element
- 3.5" Feathertouch focuser
- 3" precision dovetailed tube rings for binocular mounting
- 3" Matsumoto EMS 3" erecting mirror system for 2" and 1¼" eyepieces
APO 180 f/7 Fluorite Apochromatic TEC 180 APO FL
It could be considered the largest portable telescope on the market. It fits in any car and can be lifted and installed on the mount by a single person. It offers the same excellent color correction as the APO160FL.
The APO 180 boasts features that, in a given combination, are rarely found in a single telescope:
Precision apochromatic objective with a modern coating that makes the lenses nearly invisible.
Retractable eyecup.
Lightweight tube assembly.
360° rotatable FeatherTouch focuser with coarse and fine focus. Clip-on eyepiece holder.
Technical Specifications
TEC Bino 180 FL
Product details
EAN Code: 4047825039804
Manufacturer: TEC
Net weight (kg): 35
Optics
Aperture: 180 mm (7")
Focal Length: 1260 mm
Focal Ratio: f/7
Maximum useful magnification: Ex. 380x
Mirror system: Matsumoto 3″ EMS
Optical Design: Apochromatic Refractor
Tube (material): Lightweight tube with baffles
Elements included
Focuser: 3.5″ Feathertouch
