Jump to content

Banner.jpg.b89429c566825f6ab32bcafbada449c9.jpg

New Refractor??


Recommended Posts

Hello, 

I was not really sure where to post this but as I have not been observing that long, I thought I would post here for some advice.

Currently I have an Skywatcher ST80 on a AZ4 mount. I am quite happy with this setup, however recently I have fancied something a little bit bigger. Unfortunately my garden is not the ideal observing spot due to street lights and the fact that the houses are very tall, very much limiting the sky available. I am very tied for space, so my AZ4 mount is the only mount I will be able to use and I will not be able to get another. I will be shot if I try and store lots more stuff. 

I live near Exmoor, so a scope that is portable is also ideal. I am not keen on a reflector, even though I know they are the best value for aperture, this is because I will be transporting the scope in a Van, which can be bumpy, so I feel If I transport I will have to do collimation often which I don't really want to do, plus I know I will be OCD about it and never stop tinkering with it. 

I do not have specific uses for the scope, however I do enjoy hunting double stars. DSO's do interest me, but are not my obession, Planets I do like to look at, but as and when really (they are the wife's main attraction). 

I have looked at a few and come up with 3 possibilities: 
 

Startravel 120

Evostar 102 (which I cant find as an OTA. The 120 would be nice but I think its too big for the AZ4)

Skymax 127 - I know this is a MAK, but was thinking its very portable and good for doubles and planets. I'm worried about DSO performance, but if it could see Andromeda, Orions Nebula etc ok then it could be a possibility. (if budget allowed this might be a Skymax 150 as it would fit the AZ4 im told). 

I will be keeping the ST80 in anycase, which is very nice for widefield, but I feel it does not bring enough light in and I cannot magnify enough for a lot of double stars.

All advice would be greatly appreciated. 

Thankyou!
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 30
  • Created
  • Last Reply

What sort of budget do you have available? I would suggest a 120ED but that's probably too pricey so how about a 100ED? Used they can be picked up relatively cheaply (although I understand that has different meanings!)

At f9 it is very well corrected as an ED doublet and would be lovely on doubles and planets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A 120 ST would be ok on your AZ4, I did have this combo myself for a while and it was a tad jittery at times especially if any kind of a breeze around. Then there is the issue of chromatic aberration with the ST which may or may not be a showstopper for you.  An ED 120 might be a bit of a handful on AZ4 especially if you have the alloy leg version.

The suggestion of an ED100 above is very sound, excellent optics and very manageable and balances well on AZ4 and is reasonably portable.

The 127 is also another scope I owned for a while and was excellent on the AZ4, but I did miss the wide field of the refractor and the fact that the refractor cooled down a heck of a lot quicker. Not sure how the 150 would fare on an AZ4, but again with the Mak dew and cool down are issues that crop up  a bit more than they do with fracs.

I know what you mean about reflectors, I would not be keen on that myself but it might be worth shortlisting a SW130 which would be powerful, easy to transport and give you a combination of aperture and functionality. ( not to mention reasonably priced )

Good luck   

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Im pretty much set at no more than £300

I reckon you could get a reasonable 100ED for that sort of budget on the used market. Keep an eye on AstroBuySell.

If doubles and planetary are your bag, the better corrected optics of the ED are worth getting over the achro Evostars

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Mak is good by all accounts, but needs decent cool down time. 100EDs are definately a good option as has already been suggested.

Another option is a Tal 100RS. Maybe not quite as well corrected for colour as an ED scope, but pretty good nonetheless, and quite a bit cheaper. Should be fine on an AZ4 too, and leave you with change to get a couple of nice eyepieces or whatever else you may need.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Based on my experience I would buy a 6" f5 Newtonian and a 80mm ed and sell your 80mm ST.

This would give excellent range and portability.

Newts of this focal length are simple to keep in collimation and rarely need adjusting in any case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the replies. If I went for a Newt Id go for the 150pds as it is supposed to be a good match for my mount and would be the biggest I could get for the expensive, however I'm still not sold on it. 

I will admit I'd prefer to buy new (I like shiny things :D) in which case the only ED I could afford would be the ED80. Would this give me much more than my ST80 in reality?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As already mentioned, an ED refractor with the added bonus of good astrophotography if you decide to go down that path later on. The choice by many here are the ED's.

Also as Roy mentioned, the Maksutov Cassegrains are a great scope design, sturdy, very compact, longer focal lengths to the fracs and hold collimation well with adequate cool down time if you live in the colder ares. A slower scope design for astrophotography though. I have a Mak127 and have started doing a few moon photos. Visually they are very good with clear viewing and with more focal length/magnification. A Mak150 may be ok on an AZ4 for visual but weighty for it's compact size, not sure you'l get one for £300.

The Startravel 120 has a much shorter focal length but a good travel scope. I briefly owned a Skywatcher Black Diamond StarTravel 102 with a focal length of 500mm on an AZ3. It was a very nice rich field scope but I craved for much more magnification after owning a few larger diameter Dobsonian reflectors.

I'm still craving for more magnification... and more aperture.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It just never ends: this shopping around for the next rig, does it?! ;) there's a used 120ED on ABAS that catches my eye but it's £675. With doublet correction it would be a huge step up from your ST80. Double your budget, but you'd be finished for a long time! I'd even venture to say you would keep it as long as you're into the hobby.

I'm wrestling with aperture fever but love the ED80's quality, and the struggle is purely financial :)

Good luck hunting

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Mak is good by all accounts, but needs decent cool down time. 100EDs are definately a good option as has already been suggested.

Another option is a Tal 100RS. Maybe not quite as well corrected for colour as an ED scope, but pretty good nonetheless, and quite a bit cheaper. Should be fine on an AZ4 too, and leave you with change to get a couple of nice eyepieces or whatever else you may need.

I have a Tal100rs, and for the price it is excellent. Very little false colour and has given some really good views of the planets, clusters and the odd fuzzy.

Ben

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Trying to see If I can find a TAL in stock. I would also need a Dovetail bar? Would the medium Skywatcher be ok to use?

I've been using a medium Skywatcher bar with a TAL100. It seems fine. The TAL is not a particularly heavy scope.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm going through a Refractor mid-life crisis at the moment and currently own these:

Tele Vue Pronto 70ED F6.8 - too similar to your ST80

Skywatcher ED100 - as others have commented, this could be ideal for your needs but even second hand they are over your budget

Altair Starwave 102mm F11 - a fantastic scope and well inside your budget second hand - lots of magnification and no significant CA to worry about

Bresser Messier AR127L F9.5 - brilliant, but perhaps too big for your mount

Helios 150 F8 - too big for your needs

I have not owned an AZ4 but if it would cope I can highly recommend the Starwave 102 F11 :wink:

I have owned an ST102 and an ST150. Both were excellent for wide field and I am considering an ST120 for that purpose but I wouldn't think they will give you what you are looking for.

All that said, I agree with Moonshane - get yourself a mid-size reflector and give it a go. More light grab and bigger images for not much money. A SW Explorer 200P will cost you less than £200 used and will out-perform any refractor at that price. Once you get the hang of it collimation takes a couple of minutes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been using a medium Skywatcher bar with a TAL100. It seems fine. The TAL is not a particularly heavy scope.

I use a medium dovetail for my tal 100 on an az 4 and it is sound.

As john has said its good on doubles and planetary which is my main interest and ok for a few fuzzies.

Pretty light set up as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it will be the TAL, I have found some in stock. Its speaking to me, which the newts aren't doing in the same way (In the future I will probably have both :D). 

Quick question, I have a nice finderscope I want to use with a Skywatcher shoe, can this be made to fit the TAL in some way?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it will be the TAL, I have found some in stock. Its speaking to me, which the newts aren't doing in the same way (In the future I will probably have both :D).

Quick question, I have a nice finderscope I want to use with a Skywatcher shoe, can this be made to fit the TAL in some way?

I reckon you'll be happy with that, nice choice.

Not sure about the finder. I think you will just need to get hold of a SW base from somewhere, try AstroBoot or perhaps 365Astronomy and find somewhere suitable to fit it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's a great scope and you'll like it a lot. I fitted a standard dovetail to my Tal / PST mod by inserting a shaped piece of ali plate into the shoe that's built in and then adding some tapped holes. I'll try and upload some pics when I get a chance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it will be the TAL, I have found some in stock. Its speaking to me, which the newts aren't doing in the same way (In the future I will probably have both :D).

Good choice, I bought mine from 2020 optics if that helps.. Arrived next day much to my (and the wife's!!) surprise :-)

Quick question, I have a nice finderscope I want to use with a Skywatcher shoe, can this be made to fit the TAL in some way?

I find the stock Tal finder to be really good but I would recommend a RACI finder since it can be really difficult to find things near the zenith. It's not too difficult to modify you might also be able to use the more expensive baader finder shoe as it's curved so only one screw is required. I think the current holes for the TAL finder are M4 so you might be able to fit one that way. Again I haven't tried it but might work...?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.