Lunt wedge but no built in ND3.0

[Moonshane]

I was going to buy a Lunt wedge from FLO but they advised I would have a week or two delay for stock. Foolishly I decided to buy from a well known German supplier that seemed to have stock but that's another issue. In the end my wedge arrived today after ordering it on 16/7.

Although it looks like an original Lunt wedge it has a shorter than usual eyepiece holder and no pre-installed ND3.0 nor a thread to screw the filter in at the bottom of the eyepiece holder. Whilst I was supplied with a baader ND3,0, a polarising filter ,the wedge and box it is strange that the filter is not pre-installed especially as this is supposedly a new delivery. I can get around this but it means remembering to put the filter in each time with the solar continuum / polarising filter filter onto the eyepiece which with both sticks up out of the holder. Is this normal?

Stu has kindly provided details of his Lunt wedge which is different to mine as described.

Any comments appreciated.

Cheers

Shane

ps boy do I wish I had just waited for a FLO order now!

[Pig]

Shane I got my Herschel wedge from a well known German supplier and it all went smoothly. However, the same supplier is driving me potty with the Leica zoom and are nothing short of disgraceful. Almost to the point where I want to pay them a visit and teach them some manners.

FLO are light years ahead of their competitors

[Stu]

Can you post some pictures up Shane, would be interesting to see what it looks like.

[Moonshane]

Hi mate

I will later

working this pm.

[Davey-T]

They've got a feedback button, hope you left some

Dave

[SkyGibbon]

Seems strange. Mine came with the 3.0 pre-installed. The eyepiece holder seem normal, but the 2 - 1.25 inch adapter is really short. May have to do with damaging the ND filter somehow. Not really sure.

[russ.will]

I bought mine from APM (no fear of mentioning them on my part) and it came with the ND3 pre-installed on the bottom of the EP holder. I'm wondering why Lunt would produce a variant where, the absolutely required, ND filter could not be installed? Seems weird unless it's not a Lunt....

Some of my EPs would not insert all the way in with a polarizer/BSC attached. I tended to be careful as to how far in I insert the EP prior to tightening the thumbscrew to prevent it being knocked off-square. This was only an issue with EPs that have a big tapered undercut ie, my ES82s. My MVs and latterly the Delos, all secure nice and straight. 

Russell

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

As far as I know, Lunt made two versions of the 1.25" wedge, one with a fixed ND3.0 filter, and one into which one could be inserted. I believe the EP holder could be unscrewed so the filter could be attached inside, but I am not sure.

[Stu]

I agree Russell, seems realty strange. I reckon you should return it Shane, it's not as advertised and it will be a pain having to put both filters into the eyepiece barrel, plus there's always that worry that you will forget. When it is installed in the wedge you just forget it's there.

Stu

[Stu]

As far as I know, Lunt made two versions of the 1.25" wedge, one with a fixed ND3.0 filter, and one into which one could be inserted. I believe the EP holder could be unscrewed so the filter could be attached inside, but I am not sure.

This is how mine looks, the ND3.0 fits into the bottom of the eyepiece holder.

[Moonshane]

Will upload some pics later (busy decorating) but mine does not have the little ridge near the end like Stu's nor capacity to hold filter. Even if it would screw in it would project off the end and hit the prism not sit inside the body of the holder. I am worried about naming the supplier just want to give the full story once the have a chance to sort things out. One thing I do note is the screws on mine are smaller cross heads not slotted like Stu's although this may be a red herring.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

My Lunt lacks the ridge you mention. The filter did stick out a bit but did not hit the prism, as I recall.

[Moonshane]

here's some pics of mine. the eyepiece holder is 34mm from the top surface to the top of the main prism box. I note my thumbscrew faces the scope not the rear.

there is no way a filter can screw into the bottom of the eyepiece holder and I have put a bright ring on the end of the eyepiece holder (where the anodising has worn off) during my relatively  gentle attempts to do so.

I have found some recent reference to Lunt not pre-installing on some of them but then Lunt stated that they do have pre-installed ND3.0s in all units so I await the reply from the supplier with interest.

[Stu]

Looking at the instructions on the APM site Shane, it refers to having to screw the ND3.0 into the eyepiece, and that there is nowhere to fit it within the wedge. This is a definite change, and one for the worse as far as I can see.

http://www.apm-telescopes.de/media/files_public/xtutphuu/APM%20Herschel%20wedge%20English.doc

http://www.apm-telescopes.de/en/product.html?info=3679&x26ca8=cp3feqrspledrkkqkq8cf8kqi0

Stu

[Moonshane]

hi Stu

I did buy from APM but off Ebay. Their listing says:

"Of course 5% are too much for the solar observing. So you need an additional filter for light reduction. You can screw an ND3 Filter directly in the eyepiece connector."

Which is what I was relying on and I took to mean the eyepiece holder - cannot see it being anything else really? The main issue for me is constantly having to change the ND3 and Baader SC filters over when I change eyepieces. In the end what I may do is what johninderby did on his SGL thread - buy a short extension tube and add my two filters to that although it does look a little like a baseball bat hanging out the focuser. As they are only likely to be used in the wedge and with the Vixen this possibly makes more sense anyway as I can then leave them in permanently whereas with the 'proper' set-up I would have to change over the BSC anyway?

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/144420-lunt-solar-wedge-125/

[Stu]

Well, I would say if you want to return it you have every cause based on that description, it's just incorrect!

If you stick with it, John's solution looks ingenious and well worth going with I would say, you wouldn't have to worry about forgetting the filters which is the whole point I think.

[Moonshane]

cheers Stu. I have several options I suppose. 1) live with it and buy the extension. 2) try and get a refund and buy one from FLO. The return postage would be more than the extension so I may well go for option one. I may go cap in hand to FLO and see if they can get Lunt to send at my cost a new eyepiece holder (like yours) when they send the Lunt 50s or with their next shipment to allow me to add the ND3 filter (and maybe the BSC too) on a semi permanent basis.

[Moonshane]

Thinking about it, I am slowly warming to the idea of a short extension. This will mean the two filters I use can stay in and also I will be able to use the wedge on Venus without filtration more easily which apparently increases contrast and possibly detail (albeit with an 80mm scope) and I wonder if this would be the case with Jupiter and the moon (with the same aperture  caveat.).

[Stu]

I just checked on mine, and there is not enough clearance to add the BSC above the ND3.0 at the base of the eyepiece holder, it would hit the prism. The extension is the only option I can see to have both semi permanently in there.

Just hear in mind it's possible they are all like this now? I'm sure it's at least worth discussing with FLO to see what they think, and perhaps to get info direct from Lunt.

[Moonshane]

yeah maybe Stu

will speak with APM and then FLO.

thanks for all your and everyone's advice.

[Moonshane]

The good news is first impressions....wow. Definitely better with the pol filter. Detail superb.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I have found APM to be very helpfull in case of problems in the past. As there appear to be two models, they may have erroneously sent the wrong one. Just tell them what the problem is. I like using a polarisation filter with mine, but prefer the Baader Solar Continuum one.

[Stu]

The good news is first impressions....wow. Definitely better with the pol filter. Detail superb.

That's a relief Shane, glad you aren't disappointed by the views after the long wait :-). How does it compare with the 6" f11?

I prefer the BSC I think, don't use the Polarizing filter much these days.

[Moonshane]

thanks Michael, that's why I was hesitant to name them initially as they have been OK so far (e.g. offering me a 10% discount due to the late shipment) and I wanted to give them a chance to reply to my email sent on Thursday. I'd have preferred to update with good news. All that said, even if I did get the one with the 'threaded bottom' I would based on this morning's test have to deal with swapping two filters over as I found the best detail was observed with the ND3/BSC/Polarising filter combo. At 45x using my 20mm plossl the detail was fabulous and I believe (based on one sample of course) better then even my 6" f11. This especially so for the penumbra and tiniest pore detail. The view was exactly as I recall it the first time I glimpsed it through this sort of set-up, steady and detailed.

[Moonshane]

See above Stu, I think better in the wedge. To avoid Emperor's new clothes syndrome though I will try a side by side at some point in the future.

The view through just the BSC was very bright though and I preferred it dimmed a little although maybe I just needed to give it a chance. Will do some testing when I have more time and no paintbrush in hand.

Thinking about it, I may just live with the set up as is because I feel the view through the 20mm would be hard to better and I am more than likely to just use the one eyepiece anyhow. I may also be able to use unfiltered on the moon, Venus and Jupiter. Will report back when I have tried it.