Astroscot2

I had a look at the N series Newtonians on Peters site, they look to be the same as the Orion CT range ?  I own a CT10, optically very good but I had to strengthen the tube for imaging,  tubes are very thin, anything heavy on the focuser flexed the tube.

Mark

Im looking forward to seeing more reviews of this scope.  I think WO could be onto a winner here.

Mark

Excellent image Alex and nicely processed too .  Can I ask what intervalometer you used for taking your frames ?  Ive also recently purchased a 6d and fancy attaching it to the scope or a few lenses.

Kind regards

Mark

I watched the video yesterday ,  must say I was quite impressed by the little Ioptron mount producing 4 min unguided subs at 250mm.  The narrowband image produced looked very sharp and flat from what I could see.  Looking forward to seeing an unfiltered broadband image. 

Mark

5 hours ago, SteveNickolls said:

+1 to all that. However it's 51mm objective and f/4.9 optics  light grasp pales against the Samyang 135mm f/2 lens. Apples and pears though.

Cheers,
Steve

The Samyang is fine if you want to image at 135mm, I'd be interested to know if there is a 250mm lens out there with the specs and comparison to the redcat?

Thanks for the link, had a look, 1 corner had very slight elongation bit otherwise I could live with an image like that, I'm down in Devon early July.. may have a visit to FLO?

11 minutes ago, wxsatuser said:

Looks nice and tempted but.....

Thought of using with a full frame but seen an image with one, would have to crop a bit.

Hello, can you share the image?  I've just invested in a Canon 6d just as this wee scope comes to light,  I assumed a perfect combo, if not will stick to my MF lenses.

16 hours ago, nocturnalguy said:

Hello Mark

I got exactly the same problem.

Where did you get the adapter?

Hello,

I had a custom adapter made by JTech Designs in the UK,  they were very helpful and not expensive either.

Mark

Thanks William for the information, I've dealt with TS quite a bit in the past so will contact them,  I thought M48 adaptors were expensive but it looks like I need to spend quite a bit for a solution. 

The SW adapter which comes with the scope has 2 parts, there is an M62 female ring that I wonder if I could have 5 mm machined off, not sure if that would leave enough thread to securely hold the imaging train.  I need to have a think about this.

Mark

I've started installing my Esprit In the observatory today in preparation for the darker evenings, Ive come across an issue with my imaging train, the M62 female to M48 male adapter that attaches the Esprit flattener to my OAG adds to much to the back focus, I've searched on line but can find no other M62 adapter options.  I could remove the OAG and guide via a guidescope but I'd rather stick with the OAG.

Anyone know where I can source such adaptors?  The skywatcher manual mentions a custom ring to suit your imaging train so I suspect a few other esprit imagers may have had the same issue?

Thanks

Mark

Ive been thinking of buying a refractor recently so this thread is of some interest to me,  Ive owned the older FSQ once upon a time and really enjoyed imaging with it.  the only reason I sold it was that I wanted to image at longer local lengths and knew a better mount would make life easier, turned out my EQ8 was not up to the job.  Anyway not having the funds nox for an FSQ Ive been looking at various reviews on a number of refractors, I narrowed it down to either the WO 130,  Esprit 100 or 120, I do fancy the longer focal length of the WO130 & SW120.   Looking at various astro images on line and Rays pelican shot above, The Esprit's FOV looks to be well corrected up to APS which would be fine for me.  Would like to see is individual subs though RGB so I can determine if there is any bloat in the blue channel, narrowband only tells 1/2 the story.

Mark 

Tim ,  I decided to go down the same road.  Thanks for your reply today.

cheers

Mark

First time ive ordered from this company, was looking for a Bahtinov mask for my 10" Newtonian,  they had the lowest price around, ordered it

and is arrived well packed next day, cant ask for anything more - their website is worth a visit just to drool over the kit.

Mark

My almost 8 year old Loadstar began to throw a wobbly and would drop connection whie guiding. Spoke with Terry at SX who asked me to send it to them to be looked at. A few weeks later its back in my hands and working like new. The thought  of spending 100s for a new one would not have been an option.  I was not charged for the fix and considering the age of the camera i thought it had come to the end of its life.  Great service from SX and im greatful to them all.

Thanks Mark

Cheers

I bought the star tails APP only to find it takes a noise reduction image after each shot.

How do you operate yours fro star strails, are you depressing the shutter every image or using an intevalometer?

Thanks

If I were you I would remove the Skywatcher Guidescope mount and secure your guidescope by some fixed means . I suspect younever need to move the guidescope to find a guidestar anyway. Im think Mark is right pointing towards Fexure as the issue. At that focal length I would want pinpoint stars and you right to expect them.

Mark

When I was young TASCO was just about the only option. I recall they had one of the 3" refractors (gosh !) in a camera shop in Bath (this was the 1970's) and I must have stared through that window for a long while each time I went shopping there with mum and dad. It seemed so inaccessible back then - I think the price was about £400

I remember those scopes too, on a table top tripod if I recall.  like yourself I would stare through the window at what I thought was probably the best scope available.  My first scope was a red 50mm tasco with a (finger) scope as I would call it ;-)  I remembe cuttiing the tube and sticking a bino lens I found in its lens cell - It became the finder on my first real telescope which I had on load from the local Astro Society a 4.5" dobsonian.

No, there was no solution so I sent the A5100 back.  The more expensive Sony A6000 (which uses the same sensor) is a possible alternative that does allow LENR to be switched off.  

Since my aim was to replace my trustworthy Canon 350D (for astro-imaging purposed only)  I ended up totally reconsidering my options and went for the extremely low noise full-frame Sony A7S which only last night I modded for H-alpha response. 

Mark

Thanks Mark, I think I will still press on with the A5000 as a family camera, im sure there is a solution for the occasional time lapse.

Look forward to seeing your results with the modded A7s

Hello Mark,did you ever solve the issue or find a setting to prevent the auto LER? Im in the process of buying a A5000 as a replacement for our family camera that has got lost.

I would like to use this camera for timelapse / startrail shots .

Thanks

Mark

This is going to be a great thread . Look forward to your progress

You really feel that every part of that image is linked together, just incredible, beautiful. . Well done.

This is my first experience ordering from Telescope House - Ordered online a dovetail plate around 2PM yesterday and found the item on my desk when I came into work this morning - great service

A friend just last week bought a 16" dobsonian and eyepieces from them last week,  gave him very friendly and honest advice not pushy in anyway - even threw in a few little extras into the box as a suprise.

Well done Telescope House !

Im unsure where to go with all this concidering that Ive not had first light with this mount, My plan for a while is to load this mount up and have all my eggs in one basket, I checked the full rotation of the dec and there is loosness at one part and none in the opposite which indicates the same issue other have with their mounts.  There is also some play in the RA.  I had a quick look through the manual last night and there seems to be a backlash compensation option on the hand controler, also Im sure my guiding software AA5 has a backlash compensation option too?  Should I bite the bullet and contact the deal and send it back or carry on till first light .  Problem is I send this back I have no mount.

Well i do have some play in mine in dec and i suspect some movement in

RA! although that may just be my imagination . In dec its worse in one position

and the hand controller says its approx 2' s worth ..... what to do? Where's the booze