Are you a climber aswell? Did notice the Scarpa chalkbag

Really nice kit btw

On 01/03/2022 at 23:00, MalcolmM said:

Thanks all!

@Justin P I went round the houses a few times on the choice of BB. I was originally going to get one of the Vixen tripods but various posts and pictures from @JeremyS (and others) persuaded me I simply had to get a BB! A Report was my first choice (and I still suspect it might have been a better choice as the mount is quite light) but I felt I wanted the option of putting a bigger scope on and having a rock solid base so a UNI seemed the next step up. I didn't want too much height so it came down to the 18 or the 8 and the 8 was a bit lighter and had a smaller fold down size. I must admit their range is a bit bewildering. I'm still not sure I can see the difference between the UNI 4 and 8. 

FLO were very good and ordered it for me even though it was not listed on their website .

Malcolm

Great looking kit you have there

Not an Expert on berlebach models but I think the difference on the Uni 4 and 8 serie is following:

4 is for "photo" and 8 Astro. But the 4 can also be had in "astro mode" with the spreadstop and tray but always with 1/4" or 3/8" screw mount and the 8 series you can choose all of the different mounts.

The number before the model is how tall it is so, 8 < 18 < 28. 

Same with the Report serie.

The first number is height, second is mount module (0, 1, 4, 7) and last is model. so a 212 is taller then 112, have a 1/4" or 3/8" center screw and is model 2. 

On 16/02/2022 at 17:15, Swithin StCleeve said:

Brilliant!
This is what I was hoping when I saw there were copies on sale so cheap. It's an excellent resource for the observer which can be picked up for the price of a pint. I've used mine lpads of times over the years. I know the images are out-dated by modern standards, but they're really useful when comparing what you actually see. On some of the images, the nebula or galaxy in the photo is hardly discernable, just like in real life when you're at the eyepiece!

I just got one used from Amazon UK , 5 £ to Sweden. I probably has to pay som tax aswell but still very cheap. Thanks for the tip

The Rigel is really expensive in Europe for some reason compared to UK but with the import tax etc it was not worth it ordering from the UK

My grab & go setup, and the reason I need one 😀

Great video! I just ordered one over the Telrad even though the Rigel was more expensive due to the fact it is much smaller and lighter and it comes with 2 bases so I can move it between my dob and small refractor. 

A Skywatcher Evostar 80 on a Ayo Vamo traveler/Berlebach 2042 tripod. Got everything assembled yesterday so haven't tested it out yet. 

A new focuser for the Dob and a new scope... And the forecast is clear tonight 😁

I pulled the trigger on the TS Expanse 22 mm and a Baader classic Ortho 6 mm. Cant wait until they arrive

https://teleskop-austria.at/index.php?produkt=CRjmic#m

Not sure if this fits your telescope, but I have ordered this focuser for a SW 8"

I got turn left at Orion and a planisphere as a total beginner and can highly recommand it 

I haven't donated to any astro software. But I do donate to Wikipedia and Lichess

1. Plan my sessions a little better

2. Start to sketch in my log book

3. Attend local astroclub meetings 

Binoculars, Didn't know anything about the sky excepts Orion's belt and the big dipper (Karlavagnen in Swedish). 

I justed scanned the sky with them and found the Pleiades and my god it looked like a box of jewels. After that I started reading and learning about the sky and telescope and got a SW 8" Dob  

My thought was that I maybe could see some details or colour on Jupiter for example with a shorter focal length EP and I really like the wider FoV of my 32 mm so was thinking to get something similiar in the 20-25mm range as the zoom is really narrow at 24 mm. 

Best would be to try some different eyepieces out before I buy anything more, I just joined an club so hopefully I get som advice from there  

17 hours ago, Louis D said:

If eye relief is a thing for the wife, I'd get the 24mm APM UFF or one of the more recent brandings of the same optics.  The 24mm ES-68 doesn't have quite enough eye relief for eyeglass wearers, but the APM has plenty and is just as well corrected.

I'd probably get the 17.5mm Morpheus, though, since it would better complement the BHZ without being too close to the 32mm ES-62 in power.

Another long eye relief option with excellent optics at a reasonable price is the 22mm Omegon Redline SW and other brandings of the same optics.  I find it better corrected across the field than the 24mm APM UFF while showing slightly more true field of view, but not quite as good as the 22mm Nagler T4.  You do have to screw off the stiff eyecup to get enough eye relief for eyeglasses; but if you hover above it, lens scratching has never been an issue for me.  You could always replace the eyecup with the newer Morpheus eyecup which is sold separately, has the same thread, and is pliable enough to fold down flush.

You might get a 4.5mm to 6.5mm eyepiece to complement the BHZ at the short end.  The 5mm BST Starguider is pretty decent, and has almost enough eye relief for eyeglass wearers.  If you can suffer through the kidney-beaning, the 6mm Svbony Redline and similar are supposed to be pretty decent performers for cheap while having decent eye relief and a wide field of view.  If you throw eye relief out the window, orthoscopics are good at the shorter focal lengths.  If cost is not an issue, the 5mm Pentax XW is a great performer while being very comfortable for eyeglass wearers.

As for narrowband filters, I'd start with 1.25" filters to see if you like using them.  I've compared a Lumicon OIII with a Zhumell OIII, and it was no contest.  The Lumicon actually works to show otherwise invisible nebula like the Veil while the Zhumell acted like a weird green filter and didn't really help with the viewing.  The Zhumell OIII is more like a light pollution filter than an OIII filter.  However, I only paid $16 shipped for it on clearance, so I'm not too unhappy with it.

Thanks, some good alternatives to think about. I read about the Omegon Redline yesterday and it seems to be a gem. 

I dont need long eye relief and my wife dont really observe but sometimes she comes along for a few minutes and have a look. But I guess there is no drawback to buy EP with long eyerelief for myself anyway?

OK so I get a qualityfilter when the times come for that  

Baader Morpheus seems to be a great EP and definitly something I want try out in the future.

10 hours ago, Spile said:

I would recommend the matching Barlow for the BHZ IV. I had some great views of Jupiter this evening even tough it is getting low in the sky. 
I’ve tabulated the various combinations with my 8” Dobsonianhttps://astro.catshill.com/the-zoom-eyepiece/ 

Thank you, I havent consider the barlow. Didn't know there was a special one for the BHZ. I Never used a barlow lens though what is the drawback to use one insted of getting eyepieces? 

Great site you have by the way, your collimation guide has really helped me understand collimation better  Seems to be I need to read all your posts

Had clear skies for 40 minutes last night. Looked at Pleiades and Mizar and Alcor in the big dipper with binoculars and when I went inside to get the Dob the clouds rolled in 

Welcome to SGL

Welcome to the forum

Hello,

I have been thinking to further upgrade my eyepiece and possible filter selection and wondering in wich direction I should go.

I have a 8" F5.9 dobson today. 

I found a used Baader mk IV Zoom 8-24 for cheap and bought a Explore Scientific 2" 32 mm LER 62 degree eyepiece wich I have been using alot. I really like the 32 mm.

I got the the 62 degree insted of 68 because of the price and because my wife has agnatism and uses glasses, I dont need the long eyerelif myself. She is content with watching the Pleiades  in the 32 mm from time to time  

Between the two eyepieces I have, I cover 37,5 to 150 x magnification, But I feel while the zoom is great at 8mm to 16 mm it lacks so much FoV at lower magnification so I'm tempted to got some more eyepieces.

I mostly been observing DSO and star clusters in my short time. I havent tried to watch the planets at all, just a quick peek when Jupiter was almost at the horizon and felt that I need atleast 1 highpower EP for that.

To my understanding to use a high power eyepieces and get good vision it needs to be really clear and stable weather so I guess I wont use that kind of eyepieces as  often as a low to medium power eyepieces and such don't want to spend as much.

The most expensive eyepieces like Telavue is out of question I fear.

I have been looking at the Explore Scientific 24 mm 68 and the 20 mm. Between the two I lean towards the 24 mm.

Do you have any tips if I should get 2 eyepieces more wich ones I should consider? 

Also I have started to read about filters and I really like to look at nebulas, so I want to get a filter for that. from what I read I think I should start with a UHC filter and then maybe get a OIII later on.

Most people recommand a quality filter like Astronomik, Lumicon, DNB and to get the 2" insted of 1,25". 

Is it really worth getting a 2", the Astronomik UHC 2" is almost double the price for the 1,25"?

Is a UHC for filter for say 60 Euro just crap and will I regret that I didnt get a Astronomik insted?

I live in lat 59 and have around bortle 4-5 at home, and 3-4 in reasonble drive if that matters in the choice 

Välkommen from a fellow swede 

Hello, and welcome

On 30/12/2021 at 16:11, KP82 said:

The reason that the TS Optics 80ED is cheaper on the website you listed than their own site is because you were looking at two different models. The cheaper one is a FPL51 doublet (also available under other brands including Altair, AT and Tecnosky) whereas the other is FPL53. According to most reviews I've read so far, the FPL51 should be colour free for visual. So if you've got no plan for imaging in the future, going with the cheaper model can save you substantial amount of money with no obvious loss of quality.

That particular model of vixen 80ed is produced in the factory as the SW 80ED I believe. If you want the "made in Japan" vixen, take a look at the SD81S which is quite a bit more expensive.

For the mount Scopetech Zero is another good option if you've got the budget for the Porta II, or AZ5 to save even more money.

Thanks for the clarification, I looked really hard at the specs but couldn't see the difference.

I'n not going to buy another scope just yet, but all your input is really helpful, thanks

Hello,

I have been thinking about a complement to my 8" dobsonian.

The useage would be for visual only and be used for 2 things.

1. Grab and go at home. Quick unplanned observation at home, it often quite cold where I live and the dob take awhile to cool down.

2. to bring to my parents home when going there with the family, they live in bortle 2 sky and with the family packed in the car there is no room for the dobsonian.

I would most likely never fly with the scope so it don't have to been super small.

I have been thinking about a 72 mm or 80 mm apo refractor on a alt az mount.

I started to look at the Skywatcher Evostar line with the 72 mm ED and 80 ED.

The 72 mm is just 377 Euro and the 80 ED 889 euro, but then found the TS optics 80 mm for 489 euro.

Anyone got experience with the TS optics? It seems to be Telescope-Express own brand but cost 620 euro at their own site(?)

There is also this Vixen ed80sf for a bit cheaper then the Skywatcher 80.

https://www.astroart-store.com/product/4/sky-watcher-evostar-72ed-ds-pro-ota

https://www.astroart-store.com/product/1542/ts-optics-ed-apo-80-mm-f7-refractor-with-25-rp-focuser

https://www.astroart-store.com/product/873/vixen-ed80sf-refractor-telescope

https://www.astroart-store.com/product/9/sky-watcher-evostar-80ed

For mount I have been looking at the Vixen Porta II for 280 euro, any ideas?

Clear Sky's

Hello there I'm new to the hobby and the swedish astroforum isn't very active so have been lurking here and on cloudynights. But prefer this place so created an account here

I got started in the hobby late November and got a Sky watcher Skyliner 200p (8" dob), December here has so far been very clear weather (but cold)so I go out as much as I can. temps have mostly been around -10 -20 C, but other hobbies include mountaineering and nordic skiing so I'm used to get dressed for weather

I live in bortle 4 skys and so far mostly been looking at the Orion nebula and Andromeda galaxy aswell as learning about constellations and the sky in generel.

Cheers