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William Optics 1.25" Binoviewer Package (with 1.25" Wide Angle Eyepieces and 1.6x Barlow)

4.6 (19 Reviews) Read Reviews Write Review
Brand William Optics
Part Number E-BINO-P
Availability available

Product Info

Manufacturer Description

William Optics does it better and especially cheaper! Until today, you could choose only between high-end expensive binoviewers or monocular eyepiece observation. Today you can enjoy the benefits of BaK4 quality binoviewers in your refractor, Newtonian or SCT scope with a convenient package including:

• 1.25" Binoviewer with anti-marring compression rings
• 2x William Optics 20 mm WA 66 deg. eyepieces included
• 1.6x Barlow nosepiece for easier focusing with most telescopes! It can be mounted on other eyepieces too!
• Exclusive gift box.

The price is very inviting, but the experience of two-eye viewing is even better!

WO Fit & Finish
• Large chromed thumbscrews and anodized aluminum.
• A very useful optional 2x Barlow/Corrector and Extender are available separately for telescopes with special back-focus issues.

BAK4 Prisms
• Only high-quality BaK4 prisms with 20mm clear aperture for maximum brightness and contrast with any telescope.
• Fully Multi Coated.
• Anti-marring brass ompression rings for your eyepieces.
• Individual eyepiece focus adjustment.

Choose the Best! Best price!
• The best quality-prism 1.25" Binoviewers package out there at this price point!

Features:
Prism material: BaK-4 FMC
IP Accomodation: 53mm to 75mm
Clear Aperture: 20.2mm
E.P. holders: Helical focusing, compression rings
Dimensions: 120mm x 112mm x 42mm
Optical Path: 100mm (4")
Weight: approx. 18.35 oz (without eyepieces)

Please note: There are very good binoviewers at an excellent price point. However, please note that minor imperfections like slight ghost images/reflections (especially during daytime terrestrial viewing) or slight differences in the color of the prism coatings may be present and are not treated as defects. You will see the same issues with virtually all binoviewers sold on the market for under $500. We have sold many pieces of this item to very satisfied customers over the years, but those looking for 100% perfection might want to consider other binoviewers costing 3-4 times as much. As WO puts it, "You cannot get Mercedez quality for Toyota prices."

Reviews

4.6 (Based on 19 Reviews) 95% of reviewers recommended this product.
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    1. Guest

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      Review by Paul G.
      1503407285
      Aug 22, 2017

      5.0 binoviewer

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Really solid viewer and nice set of lenses. Very clear optics. Will make viewing more comfortable.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    2. Guest

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      Review by John F.
      1500400139
      Jul 18, 2017

      5.0 William optics Binoviewer

      Pros:

      Cons:

      Comments:

      This the best binoviwer you can buy in this price range. Very good product.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    3. Guest

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      Review by sonny of Secaucus, NJ.
      1458000000
      Mar 14, 2016

      4.0 WO Bonitiere

      Pros:

      Quality Lenses,Strong Construction,Accurate,Easy to Use

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I use this product with my C8 with a standard 1-1/4 diagonal. With this combination it yields a 2362mm fl total. It comes to focus without needing the included 1.6x barlow. The 20mm 66 degree AFoV ep's included with the set are surprisingly good. Everything fits together with precision and the finishes are quality. I was so satisfied with the quality for money paid that I bought the 15mm WO SWAN ep's to compliment the set.
      This BV with the 20mm ep's offers good contrast when viewing clusters. It really shines when observing the moon. I have not done any planetary yet but Im confident it is going to be good.

      I have only recently discovered Agena Astro and am very happy I did. Shipping was fast and orders were without issue.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    4. Guest

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      Review by SEL of Sydney Australia.
      1457913600
      Mar 13, 2016

      5.0 Two eyes are much better then one for sure

      Pros:

      Accurate,Good Clear Optics,Good Quality,Strong Construction,Perfect Collimated,Easy to Use

      Cons:

      Comments:

      WO binoviewer is such a wonderful way to observe the night sky there is so much detail you can see with both eyes rather then with one eye at the same time your eyes are so much relaxed. The 1.6 corrector thats supplied with the binowiewer it is absolutely useles with a dobsonian telescope unles you enjoy very high magnifications to enjoy the binoviewer need to buy harry sieberts corrector which I have.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    5. Guest

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      Review by Sledhed of Alberta.
      1436054400
      Jul 4, 2015

      5.0 Sweet Binoviewer package

      Pros:

      Quality Lenses,Easy to Use,Strong Construction

      Cons:

      Difficult To Focus

      Comments:

      Looks amazing on planets and especially the moon! Comes in nice package

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    6. Guest

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      Review by jonpio of Ireland.
      1422835200
      Feb 1, 2015

      5.0 Works great, very happy, good quality.

      Pros:

      Accurate,Strong Construction,Quality Lenses,Easy to Use

      Cons:

      Heavy

      Comments:

      Great example of, does exactly what it says on the tin.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    7. Guest

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      Review by gcfboulder of Boulder, CO.
      1414281600
      Oct 25, 2014

      3.0 OK for starter setup

      Pros:

      Nice Eyepieces,Decent Eyepieces,Low price

      Cons:

      Difficult to Use,Difficult To Focus

      Comments:

      This binoviewer is OK to get your feet wet in binoviewing, but will eventually disappoint for serious, long-term use. It was fun to look at the moon and M42 with it using my C8, but I found it was very difficult to eliminate double images on Jupiter, Saturn, bright stars, etc. I tried the usual work-arounds, such as rotating one eyepiece, adjusting distance between eyepieces, etc. but the problem persisted. When I inquired about this with the seller, it was suggested that there could be something wrong with my eyesight. (But when I purchased a better binoviewer, I had none of these problems.)
      Also, I never got it to focus in my 12" Dob, even using the included 1. 6 barlow nosepiece, and even after purchasing the optional extender tube. (Again, this problem was solved when I purchased a better binoviewer and a corrector for Dobs.)
      I endeded up selling the WO unit, but I kept the 20mm eyepieces, which are pretty nice.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? No
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    8. Guest

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      Review by Cascadeflyer of Bellingham WA.
      1409961600
      Sep 5, 2014

      4.0 Williams optics binoviewers

      Pros:

      Strong Construction,Quality Lenses,Easy to Use

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I did not have super high expectatations at this price point, but I was pleasantly surprised. Several amateur astronomers at the Table Mountain star party this year were amazed at the quality of construction and how well they worked. M17 was clear and sharp with the stock eyepieces in my Celestron CPC 11. Well worth the money!

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    9. Guest

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      Review by Peter of Charlotte, NC.
      1407542400
      Aug 8, 2014

      5.0 Collimating two eyes is a trick

      Pros:

      Easy to Use,Strong Construction

      Cons:

      Difficult to Use

      Comments:

      The views are great. The only issue I've had was bringing my two eyes together with a second pair of eyepieces; however, in the instructions it mentions rotating the holders to help align them. I almost returned the two Celestron X-Cel 12mm and then tried the rotation thing and zap, they aligned!

      My favorite binoviewer trip is to cruise the terminator on the moon. It reminds me of the moon bus in the movie 2001 a Space Odyssey. It is very cool.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    10. Guest

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      Review by Rick of Australia.
      1390694400
      Jan 25, 2014

      4.0 Good quality and great viewing.

      Pros:

      Strong Construction,Easy to Use,Quality Lenses

      Cons:

      Heavy

      Comments:

      Great product and very good quality.
      I am using this with a Skywatcher 14" goto Dob telescope. Views of the moon and nebula etc are fantastic!
      My setup with the Dob has only one issue which is to do with the loss of light intensity due to Barlow and corrector, therefore darker objects are a problem.
      Overall I am very happy with my purchase.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    11. Guest

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      Review by mosca of New Mexico.
      1385769600
      Nov 29, 2013

      5.0 William optic binoviewer

      Pros:

      Easy to Use,Strong Construction

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Excellent value. These binos are a good value with great contsuction. If you have been exploring the possibilities of binoviewing, these are a great option. These binoviewers are what you want. They excel at the moon and planets. 3-d viewing is everything it is cracked up to be. Buy these entry-level binoviewers and save your money for some great plossls.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Review by leesim of Land of enchantment...New Mexico USA.
      1377907200
      Aug 30, 2013

      5.0 I like it; affordable too

      Pros:

      Easy to Use

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Very impressed observing the moon with my 8" dob.A Barlow was used to aquire proper focusing on the Dob. Weather permitting I will test it on my other scopes.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    13. Guest

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      Review by Hal 45 of Ontario.
      1364515200
      Mar 28, 2013

      4.0 Great product

      Pros:

      Compact,Strong Construction,Easy to Use

      Cons:

      Comments:

      This arrived in great condition, build is solid and eyepieces fit snug. After several cloudy nights I finally got to use them. Optics were clear and really easy to use. The unit fit well onto my SCT and the weight is far less than I expected. Jupiter was easy on the eyes to view looking through the binos and the Orion Nebula was stunning when seeing it with both eyes. As an entry into binos I am very happy with the product.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    14. Guest

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      Review by Oz of Hopkinsville, KY.
      1348272000
      Sep 21, 2012

      5.0 Taking stargazing to the next level!!

      Pros:

      Accurate,Easy to Use,Quality Lenses,Excellent value,Compact,Strong Construction,Lightweight,Superior Performance

      Cons:

      Comments:

      Wow!!! This truly takes Planetary and Lunar observing to the next level. It is absolutely amazing! I purchased this for my 8"SCT and it worked perfectly right out of the box. Using both eyes,I am able to see fine detail that I can not do with any single eyepiece. The 3D effect is absolutely mesmerizing. It is so cool!! Star fields are rich. Greater Orions Nebula is a puffy cloud hanging in the sky. I can split close binary stars. The 20mm eyepieces that came with it are high quality eyepieces. The 1.6x barlow works very well. I also owned one of your Agena 10mm SWA eyepiece, which I love, and have purchased a second one to use in the binoviewer. They work great. Jupiter is crisp clear and big. Does not work with my short tube refractor due to lack of focus travel but I knew that going in. It is the thing to have for a SCT.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    15. Guest

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      Review by Gordon of Washington, MI.
      1322006400
      Nov 22, 2011

      5.0 Puts you

      Pros:

      Quality Lenses,Strong Construction,Accurate,Easy to Use

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I use it on both of my scopes, particularly for viewing planets and the moon. The view of the moon's craters, when coupled with short focal length eyepieces is outstanding! It really makes viewing very comfortable.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    16. Guest

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      Review by geno of Kansas City.
      1303948800
      Apr 27, 2011

      5.0 Surprising Quality and Very Satisfied

      Pros:

      Strong Construction,Quality Lenses,Compact

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I was very skeptical of this kit for my celestron CPC 800 Schmidt Cassegrain. It worked flawlessly right out of the box. Definitely get the 2" diagonal as this binoviewer is over 1 lb, and the stock diagonal won't handle it. I was very impressed with the included eyepieces, which are SWAN 20mms from Williams Optics. They give a great view, albeit with less eye relief than the Baader Hyperions. I found taking my glasses off was well worth the extra time since it just felt more comfortable. I had no problem adjusting the individual focus, and I generally set it and forget it. It is a little harder when you have a group of people because each will have to adjust the focus for their eyes. However, that is what the single eyepiece is for! These binoviewers are awesome, and that is their only downside (the individual focus issue). However, I believe that is an issue on all binoviewers, so like I said before, if you want to have a group of people look through your telescope, it might be easier to have a single eyepiece rather than the binoviewers, but in my experience, it hasn't been a major issue because most people can intuitively figure out how to adjust the "system focus" to their own eyes. I have had three people so far look through the binoviewers, and all had no problem merging the images or achieving system focus for their own eyes. Finally, the build quality is something that needs to be discussed. It is built remarkly sturdy and feels substantial in your hand. There is no hint of cheapness in the build quality.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    17. Guest

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      Review by Pierre Stromberg of Woodinville, WA.
      1236729600
      Mar 10, 2009

      5.0 Great quality at a great price

      Pros:

      Strong Construction,Accurate,Quality Lenses

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I had previously shied away from binoviewers because of their exorbitant prices. But William Optics hit it out of the ballpark with this one. I haven't used their telescopes but if this is any indication of their quality, I plan to look at their refractors too. Solid, well built, and well collimated, this made a clear difference in my observing sessions, even with cheap Kellners. Adjustable compression rings keep your eyepieces in like new condition too.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

    18. viperbob

      viperbob New Member

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      1234715880
      Feb 15, 2009

      4.0 William Optics Binoviewer

      Pros:

      Inexpensive at $199 new, less used with eyepieces; One year warranty; Great entry level binoviewer.

      Cons:

      Smaller prisms than more expensive units; Need exactly matched eyepieces when used.

      Comments:

      I picked up a used William Optics binoviewer over the winter months and am very pleased with what I've seen and done so far.

      The binoviewer has 22mm clear aperture with bak 4 prisms. All glass is fully multi-coated. Also, the binoviewer has separate focusing mechanisms for each eye and compression rings. Since I own an f/10 SCT I don't need an OCA as my telescope has enough back focus to come to perfect focus.

      The package I bought came with a pair of William Optic eyepieces and I'll review them seperately. These are great entry level binoviewers. Binoviewers are just great for lunar and planetary viewing. The hardest thing for the astronomer to do is to find exact double eyepieces to use.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No
    19. alanoodle

      alanoodle Member

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      Review by alanoodle of New York.
      1227830400
      Nov 27, 2008

      5.0 Excellent Chromatic Aberration Reduction

      Pros:

      Reduces CA violet haze,Sharpens image slightly

      Cons:

      None

      Comments:

      I own a large aperture, short focus achromatic refractor. While I primarily bought it to observe deep-sky objects, for which it provides excellent views, I occasionally enjoy using it to split double stars or observe a planet or two. This is where the scope suffers from some serious chromatic aberration. All bright objects from stars to planets to license plates are surrounded by a violet halo and an inability to come to a truly sharp focus.

      William Optics’ VR-1 filter is just one of many “minus violet” filters available that are designed to cancel out light from the violet end of the spectrum, effectively reducing the violet haze around bright objects. It comes in two sizes to screw onto eyepieces or diagonals of either 1.25 or 2-inches in diameter.

      The VR-1 filter is very effective at reducing the chromatic aberration to the point of making even my refractor much more enjoyable for viewing planets or bright stars. It even helps to reduce visual “noise,” a muddling of the image also caused by CA, making the image actually appear sharper.

      Unlike some other minus-violet filters, the VR-1 does not cause any distracting color shift in the telescope’s image. Even on bright planets like Jupiter or Venus, the color appears natural without any yellowish tinge.

      In conclusion, William Optics’ VR-1 violet reduction filter does an excellent job of allowing an achromatic refractor to provide an image that’s closer to that of an apochromatic refractor.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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