Orion ULX 52106 User manual

IN 355 Rev A 01/09
Orion®ULX™66mm ED
Zoom Spotting Scope
#52106
Congratulations on your purchase of a quality Orion spotting
scope.Your ULX 66mm ED Zoom Spotting Scope is a high-quality
optical instrument for viewing birds, wildlife, sports events, or any-
thing else you want to see more closely. It provides bright, sharp
images even in low-light situations. The ED glass optics deliver
crisp images in vivid color, and the zoom eyepiece provides a 16x
to 50x magnification range. Before using your new spotting scope,
we recommend you read through the following instructions.
Attaching to an Optional Tripod
The ULX 66mm ED zoom spotting scope can be attached to a
sturdy camera tripod or other mount by use of the 1/4"-20 threaded
hole in its mounting block (Figure 1). Use the rearward hole in the
block; this hole accepts 1/4"-20 mounting studs that are standard
on most tripods. (The other hole does not have a ¼"-20 thread,
and is used for assembly of the spotting scope.)
The spotting scope can be rotated relative to the mounting block,
should you wish to change the orientation of the eyepiece for a
more comfortable viewing angle. With the spotter attached to a tri-
pod, loosen the thumb screw on the mounting block’s ring (Figure
1), and grasp the body of the spotting scope. Rotate it to the
desired position, and re-tighten the thumb screw when done.
Focusing
Remove the cover cap from the eyepiece and the thread-on dust
cover from the objective lens. Point the spotting scope in the gen-
eral direction of an object at least 20 feet away. Rotate the blue
(coarse) focus knob with your fingers until the object just comes
into focus. Now, use the black (fine) focus knob to achieve a pre-
cise focus. Go a little bit beyond sharp focus until the image just
starts to blur again, then reverse the rotation of the fine focus knob
to make sure you’ve hit the exact focus point. Ten turns of the fine
focus knob equals one turn of the coarse focus knob, so the fine
focus knob provides a very convenient way to achieve best focus.
Using the Zoom Eyepiece
The ULX 66mm ED provides continuous zoom magnification from
16x to 50x. The magnification is adjusted by rotating the knurled
zoom ring on the eyepiece (Figure 1). (Do not rotate the knurled
ring on the bottom of the eyepiece, as this connects the eyepiece
to the spotting scope’s body.) The arrow indicator and magnifica-
tion scale show the current magnification setting. Changing the
magnification may also require slight refocusing to achieve the
sharpest image.
For general use, it’s a good idea to start viewing at the lowest
magnification (16x) until you’ve acquired your target. Then you can
zoom-in to a higher magnification to see more detail. Note that as
magnification increases, the images will become dimmer; this is
an inherent law of optics, and cannot be avoided.
Twist-up Eyeguard
The spotting scope features a twist-up eyeguard on the zoom
eyepiece. The eyeguard helps comfortably position your eye and
blocks stray light. The eyeguard should be extended during use;
to do this, simply rotate it counter-clockwise. To use the spotting
scope with eyeglasses, simply retract the eyeguard by rotating it
clockwise; this allows more clearance to the eyepiece’s eye lens.
Extending the Lens Shade
A nice feature of the ULX 66mm ED is its retractable lens shade
(Figure 1). Having a retractable lens shade is desirable, as it keeps
the length of the spotting scope shorter, and thus more portable,
when transporting it. When using the spotter, especially in bright
daylight, the lens shade helps reduce glare (stray light) from enter-
ing the field of view. Glare is undesirable because it decreases
overall image contrast.
To use the lens shade, extend it by grasping it and pulling it out-
ward from the spotter’s body. A twisting motion can aid in doing
this. Retract the lens shade before putting the spotting scope back
into its case.
Note About Chromatic Aberration
Chromatic aberration literally means color distortion. Whenever
light passes through one material to another, light of different
wavelengths (color) is bent by different amounts. This is a problem
that plagues spotting scopes, since light passes through both air
and glass to form an image. Visible light is actually comprised of
many different wavelengths of light, so each wavelength will be
bent by a slightly different amount when passing through a lens.
This results in each color of light reaching precise focus at a slight-
ly different point, which reduces image contrast and sharpness.
Figure 1. The Orion ULX 66mm ED Zoom Spotting Scope.
Coarse focus
knob
Eyeguard
Zoom ring
Lens shade
(retracted)
Thumb
screw
Fine focus
knob Mounting
block
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun through your
spotting scope — even for an instant — without a
professionally made solar filter that completely covers
the front of the instrument, or permanent eye damage
could result. Young children should use this spotting
scope only with adult supervision.
One-Year Limited Warranty
The Orion ULX 66mm ED Zoom Spotting Scope is warranted against
defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from the date
of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser
only. During this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair
or replace, at Orion’s option, any warranted instrument that proves to be
defective, provided it is returned postage paid to: Orion Warranty Repair, 89
Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076. If the product is not registered, proof of
purchase (such as a copy of the original invoice) is required.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been
abused, mishandled, or modified, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other
rights, which vary from state to state. For further warranty service information,
contact: Customer Service Department, Orion Telescopes & Binoculars, 89
Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076; [phone].

The ULX 66mm ED is designed to minimize chromatic aberration.
The objective lens is comprised of two individual lens elements,
one of which is made of “ED” (Extra-low Dispersion) glass, a spe-
cial type of glass that has superior refractive properties compared
to normal types of glass. The use of this ED glass minimizes the
amount of chromatic aberration, resulting in a crisper, sharper
image compared to that seen in standard spotting scopes.
The Carry Case
The ULX 66mm ED comes with a rugged “view-through” carry
case with a shoulder strap. This high-quality case allows the case
to stay on the spotting scope when it is in use (Figure 2). To use
the spotting scope in its case, first pull back the two flaps that
cover the mounting block and focus knobs. The telescope can now
be connected to a tripod. Now, unzip the eyepiece end of the case
and fold back the flaps; the nylon “hooks” strips on the flaps can
connect to the nylon “loops” strips on the body of the case (Figure
2). Remove the front cover of the case, remove the dust cap and
cover from the spotting scope, and you’re ready to view! Leaving
the case on while viewing through the spotting scope provides an
extra measure of protection when used outdoors.
Using an Optional Camera Adapter
An optional camera adapter is available for the ULX 66mm ED.This
adapter, along with an optional T-ring (camera model specific) and
your DSLR camera, can be used to capture images through the
spotting scope. To use the camera adapter, you must first remove
the zoom eyepiece from the body of the spotting scope. This is
done by rotating the knurled ring at the base of the eyepiece coun-
terclockwise about a quarter turn, and then pulling the eyepiece
out of the spotting scope. Now, connect the camera adapter to the
spotting scope by threading it clockwise onto the spotting scope.
Remove the camera lens connected to your camera and connect
the T-ring in place of the lens. Then thread the camera and T-ring
onto the camera adapter. Center the image in the camera’s view-
finder, and focus using the spotting scope’s focusing knob.
Care and Maintenance
Although the ULX 66mm ED is durable and waterproof, it should
avoid prolonged, unnecessary exposure to the elements. Keep the
spotter in its case and indoors when not in use. If it gets splashed
with water, or is used in the rain, the spotting scope will not be
harmed. It is internally purged with nitrogen and sealed, so water
on the body or optics is not a problem. Simply wipe water off the
body with a cloth or towel and use lens tissue to dry the objective
and eyepiece lenses after a wet observing session. It is also rec-
ommended to leave the spotting scope in a dry place with the caps
off overnight to let it completely dry out. Store the instrument in a
cool, dry place; storage in a humid environment will result in mold
growth on the exterior of the lenses which can destroy the optical
coatings. This is not covered by the warranty.
Cleaning the Lenses
The lens surfaces of the ULX 66mm ED are coated with anti-reflec-
tion multi-coatings, which can be damaged with careless handling.
Avoid touching lens surfaces with your fingers or any coarse mate-
rial. Clean the lenses if they get noticeably dirty. Always use lens
cleaning tissue and fluid designed specifically for telescope optical
coatings. Do not use regular tissue or fluids made for eyeglasses or
household use. Do not disassemble the spotting scope to clean it.
To clean the lenses, first blow air on the lens with a blower bulb
or compressed air to remove any large particles. Then brush the
lens with a soft lens brush and blow air on it again to remove any
dislodged particles. Put two drops of lens cleaning fluid on a sheet
of lens tissue (never directly on the lens). Wipe the lens gently
with a circular motion, taking care to avoid undue pressure or rub-
bing, which can scratch the coatings. Quickly remove the excess
fluid by wiping with a clean, dry lens tissue. For the large objective
lens, clean only a small area at a time, using a fresh lens tissue
on each area.
Specifications
Objective lens: Air-spaced doublet (2 elements), one lens
element made from S- FPL51 ED glass
Objective lens diameter: 66mm
Optical coatings: Fully multi-coated throughout
Prism material: BAK-4
Eyepiece design: 8 lens elements in 5 groups
Magnification range: 16x to 50x continuous zoom
Field of view: 2.25° at 16x, 1.3° at 50x
Eye relief: 25mm at 16x, 16mm at 50x
Eyeguard: Twist-up, rubber covered
Focusing: Coarse and fine focus knobs, 1 turn of coarse
focus knob equals 10 turns of fine focus knob
Close focus: Approximately 20 feet
Body tube: Polycarbonate construction with rubber
armoring over prism section
Lens shade: Retractable
Tripod attachment: Mounting block accepts 1/4"-20 studs, spotting
scope can rotate relative to mounting block
Weather resistance: Waterproof
Weight: 3 lbs. 9 oz.
Length: 15 inches
Case: Soft carry case with shoulder strap included
Tripod: Optional
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
OrionTelescopes.com
Customer Support (800)-676-1343
E-mail: [e-mail]
Corporate Offices (831)-763-7000
89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076
Figure 2. The ULX 66m ED can be used while still in its case. (Tripod
sold separately.)
Nylon “hooks”
Front cover
of case
Nylon “loops”