Chris M48

Can I incorporate my .85x Flattener/Reducer with this combination or is it solely for DSLR? If so, what adapter will I need? Will bypassing the Flattener ruin any prospect of decent images? Any help will be appreciated. Clear skies. Stay safe.

Or will 180s exposures damage my camera? Clear skies. Stay safe.

Hi again, Does anyone know what effect will be of attaching .85 100ED reducer/ Flattener to Evostar 120 frac (non-ED)? Thanks.

Will Orion 6 Slot filter slider work with EOS70D+Flattener/Reducer on SW100ED refractor? Thanks.

Thanks guys. The filter cell adapter will simplify the setup somewhat and will allow me to have 2 filters together when required. How about an Orion 2” filter slider to 100ED draw tube adapter then reducer with barrel adapter to EOS T3. Will that work? Thanks again.

Hi All, How can I fit a wheel or slide into the following chain? EOS T3 to .85 reducer with barrel adapter to SW 100ED Refractor with 2” Holder. Looked at Baader case and slider but can’t see how it would fit with 55mm limitation etc. (Nor can guys at FLO). Oh, forgot to mention filters are 2”. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Nice one Adam, using that option, I could add a short spacer before the adapter and have a 2nd filter if and when needed. Top man. Thanks

Hi again, My Reducer/Flattener is screwed directly onto the draw tube of my SW100ED with a connecting ring to my EOS DSLR. Question is how do I fit any of my 2” filters? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Thanks fellas, as I shall have both telescopes for a short while, I will hold off on purchase until I’ve tried it out, I’ll probably ask FLO guys anyway. Clear skies.

Hi Guys, Will my SW 100ED .85 Reducer/Flattener also be ok for Evostar 120ED? Basically because £185 is a lot of money if not necessary. Thanks, Chris

Recently bought the SW Skyliner Flextube 250px dobsonian very soon to discover it needed balancing or head droops. Wanted to share an idea which seems to work: A 1 metre length of coiled pond hose filled with sand with the ends joined with gaffa tape snugly fitted at the base of the scope. Large diameter hose will snag though so check first. Better to have 2 smaller depending on imbalance. IMHO Looks neat and works well.

Thanks again everyone. Never disappointed on this forum. Took the scope to www.intrasights.co.uk and met Harry Truman the proprietor who is best known for his binocular repairs but occasionally works on telescopes. I had previously cleaned the lenses but obviously not to such a professional standard as with Harry. He put quite a few hours in over a 10 day period but only charged me £70 which I found more than reasonable. Judge for yourselves the result. I should have given the camera a clean too. What am I like?

If your looking to build a DIY pier and live near Dorset then you might be interested in this post: I’m happy to donate an Altair adapter and made up base plate Alan bolts and sleeves provided you can collect them from Shillingstone, Dorset. At the base was 4 feet of 4” soil pipe sunken into concrete and strengthened with angle iron. Filled with sand and topped with bolted base plate into concrete to secure. I hope the pics will help to explain. Not in the pics is a mount securing bolt and disc. The soil pipe and angle iron was destroyed during excavation. If you want the items mentioned , get in touch.

That’s great stuff folks, plenty to work on there. Thanks everyone.

No cropping at all, minimal processing with just DSS but yes the camera has had its filters removed. I use a Bhatinov mask on all scopes as a matter of habit. A dozen subs with darks,flats and bias. 120 secs at 800iso. Can’t seem to get small stars as pinpoint as once was the case.

I can’t seems to get good focus with my SW ED100 Refractor. Below is an example of a typical image taken with my T3 (1100D). It’s an APO doublet so I’m very wary about disassembly. Any suggestions please?

Thanks Mike. Yes, I did that 1st thing. Clear nights

That’s really helpful, thank you guys. David, I’ve arranged a meeting at IntraSight next week for them to appraise. Good stuff. Clear nights

My SW 100ED APO Refractor is approaching 10yrs of age and is tired. The images are no longer pin point as once was the case. I’m retired and know how it feels. Can anyone suggest an organisation that will give it a service and adjustment as required to give a few more years life. It is an old friend. Many thanks.

Thanks Adam, good info. Gone for the ZWO from FLO arrives on Monday. cheers.

Both of these CMOS Cameras are similar in price and specification but which should I buy? I use a GPCam aro130c on an Altair 60 finder for guiding which I find brilliant. I’m wanting a camera for Planetary and some DSO’s. I hope that some of you currently use or have tried both and will be able to advise. Many thanks.

I have a Celestron CG-5 Advanced GT Mount that I bought second hand last year and have grown to love it. Alas, it is beginning to fail me by switching itself off whenever it fancies. The fault seems to point toward the power board but when I made enquiries was told that the mount has been discontinued and the mount and accessories are no longer available. Come to the rescue Rother Valley Optics who are sourcing the board for me at the normal price. I’ve used them before and certainly will again. Not only that but they said that in the unlikely event of the board not fixing the problem they will be happy to look at the mount for me with a view to finding the problem and rectifying it. Happy with that service. Credit where it’s due I say. Thanks again RVO.