Baader Planetarium’s famed Hyperion 8-24 mm Zoom eyepiece is now in its fourth generation. The Mark IV features an improved click-stop action – a must for binoviewing – with indents at five magnifications: 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 mm. As before, this latest design provides long eye relief across the entire magnification range and a flatfield design that produces exquisite sharpness from field edge to edge.
The Mark IV also continues the line’s High Quality Phantom Coating Group Multicoatings, for revealing faintest objects at maximum contrast with total freedom from reflections. A large, adjustable rubber eyecup, a smaller straight rubber eyecup and a winged, foldable eyecup are included and fit over the eyepiece’s incorporated M43 photo/video thread.
Also, as before, those M43 threads allow for afocal and classical projection photography, permitting optional adaptation of practically any camera with optional accessories. The eyepiece incorporates a convertible 2-inch and 1.25-inch barrel design that is usable for all 1.25-inch binoculars with detachable eyepieces, as well as spotting scopes with 1 3/8-inch thread such as those by Celestron, Sky-Watcher and others.
New features also include: low weight (290 grams/10.2 ounces); a slim design of 55-mm diameter (perfect for binoviewing); Zero-Tilt safety kerfs instead of the hated undercuts in the barrels; 2-inch SC threads for shortest possible adaptation to telescopes or prisms/mirrors yielding a 4-mm back-focus gain with spotting scope A-Rings (included – the Mark IV focuses with all tested spotting scopes; optional adapters available for most major brands); sufficient distance to clamping screws with telescope adapter B-Ring (also included); and an eyepiece holster with belt strap, which can also be attached directly to tripod legs.
In-Depth Look at What’s New with the Universal Zoom Mark IV
The fourth generation of the eyepiece weighs 290 grams and is lighter by 80 grams than its predecessor and its 55 mm diameter is useful in dual mode from 55 mm interpupillary distance -two new features that make it especially desirable for use with binoviewers.
The adjustable eyecup can be removed to expose the M43 video/photo thread and create the maximum “nose space” for using it on binocular viewers with the supplied winged rubber eyecups – for maximum concentration on the target.
The click-stop action has been smoothed out to more easily access the magnification stops at 8/12/16/20 and 24mm (click-stops are mandatory to easily and precisely set both eyepieces to the same focal length for effortless binocular observation without eye-strain).
The zooming-mechanism as well as the inner zooming rails for all lens groups have been modified to improve cold temperature operation and the parfocalty for each focal length has been finetuned.
Perhaps most important is that the Mark IV now offers almost 4-mm more backfocus. This is most beneficial for applications with a multitude of spotting scopes. Two different adapters for telescopes and spotting scopes are included with the eyepiece.
The Mark IV comes with both the 2-inch and 1.25-inch nosepieces mounted, each nosepiece has its own dust cap and both nosepieces are threaded to accept either 2-inch and 1.25-inch eyepiece filters. Both nosepieces are free of the hated undercuts and instead, Baader’s proprietary Zero-Tilt Safety-Kerfs provide an added measure of security by reducing the tendency of an eyepiece to slip from an unlocked eyepiece clamp.
Another nice little feature is the Baader-yellow soft pouch with integrated belt strap – which fastens onto many tripod legs to serve as a bin for all dustcaps that otherwise may go astray.
As with other Baader eyepieces, the Mark IV offers an M43 photo/video thread on top of the eyepiece, to allow attachment of any desired DSLR or T-2 accessory for mounting a video-camera by means of the optional Baader M43/T-2 adapter ring #2958080.
The eyepieces take advantage of the previous model’s optical quality, 68° field of view at highest magnification; Phantom Group Multicoatings; a large adjustable eyecup or two M43 rubber eyecups for binoviewing. An optional spacer ring M43/M43 (#2954250) with 7.5-mm extension enables the user to increase the height of these eyecups.
The Mark IV also accepts the adaptation of the 2.25x Baader Hyperion-Barlow onto the 1.25-inch nosepiece, for high power zoom with a magnification range of 3.6 to 10.7 mm. The Hyperion Universal Zoom Mark IV is available individually (#2454826) or as set together with the 2.25x Hyperion Barlow (#2454827).
The Baader Hyperion 8-24 mm Mark IV Zoom is priced at €245, including VAT, or €205.88 without VAT. For more information, visit www.baader-planetarium.com.
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