Denkmeier - Deep Sky Binoviewer: Spectrum 60 PSTUpgrade!

Spectrum 60 : NOW SHIPPING!! $499 (S/H additional)
The brand new Spectrum 60 Upgrade for your PST! Increases objective aperture by 50% for substantial gains in resolution. The larger and more detailed image created by the new 60mm F/10 S-60 objective lens shows increased detail! It really works!!

Add Resolution by Increasing the Aperture of the Objective Lens.

*****GREAT SOLUTION FOR ANY PST WITH A FRONT LENS "RUST" ISSUE!*****

Step 1: Send us your PST after placing an online order for the $499 Spectrum 60 Upgrade.
Step 2: We remove your 40mm tube assembly with lens and replace it with the F/10 60mm tube assembly (50% larger aperture)
Step 3: We add our fully machined upgraded focuser knob.
Step 4: We return your PST with the new upgraded Spectrum 60 parts in a high quality foam set in a cardboard box.
Step 5: You may order the optional aluminum case that the foam set will also fit into.

CLICK TO ORDER OPTIONAL CASE -NOW SHIPPING!

CLICK TO ORDER OPTIONAL CLAMSHELL MOUNT -NOW SHIPPING

Some Comments:

"Hi Russ,

The best I can describe at this point given my mount instability issues, is that resolution is dramatically improved. Kind of like the difference of trying to read the paper by squinting through your presbyopia (40 + vision changes) and actually putting on your reading glasses. The difference is even more dramatic than I expected.

Hope this helps! I'll check out the website so I can accessorize when available. " -Thanks , Cathy Leja
"I Received my Spec. 60/PST back last week and did some obs. for the first time this morning. And I am very pleased with the upgrade! My first impressions: Sunspot definition is more pronounced in that I can see the penumbra of a sunspot better than before the conversion. And I can see the penumbra (for today AR1108) as I can see it using my 10" Dobs. with white light filter although the scale is smaller using the Spectrum 60 Other surface detail is also more defined including filaments. On proms: I can see more details in the proms. themselves esp. when observing a looped one even to the point of seeing the "hole" going through it much easier. So, I am excited about further observation with the conversion, letting you know what I find, and await the accessories esp. the clamshell. " -Clear skies, Brad Irish

" I finally got skies good enough to evaluate the Spectrum 60 Upgrade, and I'm delighted! Much clearer image than before, I knew 40mm was just too small for good resolution. Lots of detail that I know I'd never see with the "old" scope. And the sun is getting more interesting, isn't it? This is going to be a good show over the next few years." - David York

"Just a short note to tell you that I am very satisfied with the conversion of my PST. I had to wait a couple of days for a clear day to try it out and it was great. Well worth the wait for the conversion. Feel free to use my comments about the conversion. Thanks again." -Stan Krajenke
"Well I'm sun burned but happy. Comparing the views of the spec60 with what I remember from the old pst. The first thing that I noticed was the colour of the sun. The spec 60 gives a darker red. I had thought at first the image was dimmer than that of the old pst. But how could that be with a 60mm app up front now. It was after looking at the image for a while that it was the darker colour fooling me. Indeed when I did the math on paper for my set up, it shows the same exit pupil as the old pst. But the magnification has increased and field of view has decreased a bit. The view does prove out the math. The view doesn't look any brighter vs. the old system but the detail of the view has definitely increased. Solar spots show more detail, although the pst system as a whole was not the greatest for spots. One of the reasons I run the baader solar film and there solar continuum filter on my cpc925. But what I really liked was the flares. With the increase in magnification they show far more fine detail than I ever saw on the old pst. " - Kelly Manson

Special Introductory Price through Denkmeier-Direct Only!
Place your shopping cart order now and benefit from our introductory price of $599 plus S/H. This is valid for only the first 100 orders. We have a few spots available right now so there is still some time. Follow these easy instructions:

1. Click to place Spectrum 60 in shopping cart.
2. Price of $499 will appear
3. Under "Comments", include the serial number on your PST. Note: The "Comments" box appears several steps into the process of making the purchase in the Shopping Cart checkout.
4. Send us your PST Scope following instructions on this page.
5. In approximately 1 week, we will return your "new" Spectrum 60 Upgraded PST!

Shipping Instructions:
Att: "S60 Upgrade"
Denkmeier C/O STF
135 Marcus Blvd
Hauppauge, NY 11788

Note: It is a good idea to place some tape on your PST tube assembly prior to shipping to us with your name and serial number written on it.

6. We will convert your PST with our Spectrum 60 Upgrade and return it to you.
7. Optional Accessories: NOW SHIPPING!!! Hard Aluminum Case, Clampshell Mount.

Note: The PST, now outfitted with the Spectrum 60 will be returned in a strong cardboard shipping box (rated 200 lb) with high quality custom cut PE foam made in USA. If original packing container is sent to us and you wish for us to return it, an additional shipping charge will be required.

About The Spectrum 60

Increase in Resolution
Since the resolving power of a lens is related to the aperture, increasing the lens diameter will produce a more highly resolved image of a given target provided that other aberrations are not introduced when doing so. Frequently cited are The Dawes, Raleigh and Sparrow limits. These methods, sometimes used to predict the resolving power of an objective lens to separate two points of light such as the Airy Discs produced by a telescopic image of a double star, are based on telescope aperture and either mathematical formula or observational evidence. According to these methods used to determine resolving power, fine structure on the solar disc will be more highly resolved in a Solar Telescope that utilizes a larger objective lens. The value of using a larger aperture telescope is self evident and illustrated by the push for larger diameter lenses and mirrors that permeates the astronomy equipment industry.

The upgraded Spectrum 60 objective lens provides a 50% increase in aperture compared with the 40mm lens and this means that theoretical resolution is increased accordingly. It should be noted that the PST's internal H-a Etalon filter characteristics will remain the same in terms of bandwidth not being narrowed. While the Spectrum 60 larger objective lens produces a higher resolution solar image, the bandpass and inherent properties of a given Etalon filter will be unchanged but still will be provided with the Solar image produced by the new 60mm objective and selective Solar Spectrum 60 filters. Certainly, a raw image of The Sun that exhibits higher resolution means that a more detailed image will be processed by a given Etalon filter housed within a PST. This will result in greater detail of fine features such as filamentary structure of prominences and surface detail on the Solar Disc, if they are present at the time of observation.

Quality And Safety of Components
Every component including the three-element 60mm objective lens assembly, has been very carefully designed for optimum performance. The 60mm Objective lens assembly offers diffraction limited performance, with blocking from ultraviolet to far Infrared to 10^-5 to ensure the safety of the observer. An upgraded fully machined focuser knob is also included to improve ease of focusing.

Spectrum Thin Films: http://spectrumthinfilms.com/

A First Light for the Spectrum 60: Observations on December 16^th, 2009:

Sky was finally very clear, transparent, temperature in the upper 30s Farenheit. Observation from Maryland. Comparison of my own typical PST and then same PST with installed upgrades consisting of a BF 10 Blocking Filter in the PST Diagonal, The Spectrum 60 tube assembly with 60mm objective lens and select proprietary filtration. Time : 1PM EST

Using the PST as it has always been with standard parts, the Sun looked small, fairly sharp using the D21 Denkmeier eyepiece. There was some nice surface detail after carefully tuning the tilt of the etalon via the PST's original tuning mechanism and focusing using the PST focus knob. An area of sunspots was located in upper right area of the lower left quadrant with a nice spot also in the lower part of the upper right quadrant. I could see no prominences on the edge of the solar disc though.

I then outfitted the PST with the Spectrum 60 parts for a careful comparison in the same conditions. The solar finder built into the PST was usable, though the Sun's image disappeared when it was close to the center of the tiny finder 's screen. This was due to the larger aperture 60mm objective that now increased the aperture by 50%. Would this gain in aperture translate into increased resolution in practice and be observed in this test? We know in theory this incease in resolution is a must, provided that the objective is made to very high standards (we did produce the components to very high standards). My first impression viewing the same sunspot groups left no doubt. The resolution boost was obvious, and in was more noticable than I would have expected. I was very pleased. I looked around the disc, tuned a bit and there was a very nice double prominence at the 10 o'clock position angle. I could see the finest detail within the prominence structure and did not have to strain to pull out detail. Focus snapped beautifully, especially when seeing steadied. I also noticed several minute prominences in the 7PM position angle area as well. These were so tiny and fine, that amazed me at how sharp they were.

Switching at all back to the original PST configuration, I worked on finding the prominence at 10 PM position. There it was. But, it was smaller since the image scale was reduced in the 40mm objective, and detail within the prominence could not be pulled out. I was straining. I could not find the very tiny prominences and the image was smaller and dimmer. It just required so much more work to extract detail on the surface. The prominence at 10PM was there, but I could not see the fine structure within it. Assembling and viewing once again with the Spectrum 60, I could immediately sense the increase in resolution and brightness. I was confident at this point that I had examined the real differences that all of you could expect. Theory is interesting and a driving force behind creativity, but observations should bear out the advantages of any new system, or it remains a paper gain only. In this case, I am very pleased that Tony Pirera's creation is a worthy first product that we are offering in the H-a arena! Tony is President of Spectrum Thin Films in NY and co-owner of Denkmeier Optical.

Eyepieces
The Denkmeier D21s worked wonderfully and I was always a bit hesitant to recommend the D14s due to the higher magnification produced. In this test, the D14s worked amazingly well also. The Spectrum 60 can hold up to higher magnification demands without a doubt. This is a very big added advantage.

Congressman Joe DioGuardi (Yes, American Idol Judge Kara's Dad) visited us to see the latest products that Denkmeier Optical and Spectrum Thin films were working on. He enjoyed a view through the Spectrum 60 Upgrade for the PST! See the link below for the photo newsfeed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joedioguardi/4990157540/in/set-72157624954829040/