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Thanks Zeta So am I right in believing the optics are similar in quality to those brands?

Iv been reading a lot about zoom eyepieces on here lately, which got me thinking about an old zoom iv had for years. So popped it in my Startavel 102 for terrestrial use and found it pretty good in daylight. I'm planning on trying it in my scope the first chance I get at night. I'm pretty sure it's at the lower end of the scale, but seems OK for terrestrial, so will see how it manages looking up. But I was wondering if anyone knows this brand and if you could give an opinion on it.

Thought I’d update this thread, I lost 3/4 of a stone and opted for the Asterion Variseat as I read a review on here and thought that sounds the strongest. It certainly is strong and rock solid and I’m very pleased with it. Loads of height adjustment and a stitched padded seat which has been comfortable, but I’ve only used it for between one and two hours so can’t say yet for longer spells. But I don’t think it will disappoint. Probably the best accessory I’ve got as the difference in comfort and no aching back was incredible. The review I read was very good so I would say key in the chairs name in the search bar and have a read. highly recommended by me that’s for sure.

Theres a lot more to AP than I'm interested in trying, but I will try the Barlow connected to the dslr just out of curiosity of what it might show. But thanks for all the views and advice guys, but I'll mainly stick to visual as there's nothing more relaxing than just enjoying the view. But curiosity has struck 😁 so I'll try with this simple set up and will let you know how I get on.

And thanks too John I was just curious if mine would work simply with the Barlow, as its things I had to hand, so thought I would have a go if it did work. I'm not into AP enough to start getting adapters ect.

Thanks Happy-Cat Mine is a Nikon 3200, so not on the list of cameras in the link.

Cheers Steve, Yes I didn't think, I don't know anything about AP so wondered if there was something different happening with the cameras possibly. I'll stick with visual and maybe try the phone the odd time at the eyepeice.

Thanks for that, I was hoping it would be better than a bigger dot though. 😁

Hi guys I'm a visual astronomer normally, but playing around with my astro stuff I found the 2x Barlow would screw on to my dslr and wondered what difference it makes. My reason for asking is I put my dslr onto the focus tube of my startravel 102 and the image in the the dslr's screen of Saturn was barely a dot,only seeable if I used the cameras digital zoom. Which reverts back to a dot when taking a picture of it. Does a 2x Barlow increase that so saturn can be seen more than just a dot, or is my ignorance with Astro photography showing? Cheers all.

I only had to extend while I was using the 2” Barlow and swapping 1.25 eyepieces. With hindsight I would have made a note of which ones. But no extension is needed with all my 1.25 eyepieces even with the 1.25” Barlow in an 8” Dob. The 2” 30 I use the extension every time

I wasn’t paying attention to which eyepieces needed extending with,but I’m guessing there’s a line you cross, be it high to low or low to high power where the extension is needed after a certain mm eyepiece? But this is with the 2” Barlow if I remember correctly? Ill try to remember next time to see if I can take note .

Yeah for the 2" 30mm, I tried it and sometimes it was too much, again it's a new user thing with me. I'm sure I'll get used to which eye piece needs the extension. But just pulling the Barlow out a little was no problem and easy enough to do if needed. So should I use the extension with the 2" Barlow as the normal thing to do Mr Spock?

I'll get there, and can't wait to be able to see the GRS😁 One thing I did notice last night with the stellalyra 2" 2x Barlow, I had to move the Barlow a little out of the focus tube to get focus on some eyepeices. It's not an issue, I just didn't expect it.

Iv only turned the locking screws lightly until they just touch so as not to move the circle over the dot. This is what iv managed up to now. I'll keep having a go though.

Thanks Moonshane I'll keep at it, and your advice of looking at a planet for a while is something I hadn't thought about, but I now know. Cheers for that, I'm taking all you guys advice and tips in and learning something all the time. I'll get the collimation right, eventually I'm sure, but if it wasn't for this forum I'd have been not quite collimated but believing I was. But the improvement in what I can see with this Stellalyra 8"dob, even when I wasn't collimated properly, has really upped my enjoyment of looking up. It was that much better than anything else I've got it had me thinking it was collimated, it's that good in the extra detail. Roll on good seeing conditions.

Tonight's observing was a little disappointing as the seeing was not good. But I was able to look at Saturn through a number of eyepieces. Though even Saturn seemed that bright it looked over exsposed. I'm wondering if this is due to the adjustments I've made in the collimation? The new stellalyra 2" 2x Barlow wasn't that much different to my normal 2x Barlow, but I'll have to wait for good seeing to make a real comparison, though there did seem to be a very slight improvement, but it was difficult to say with any certainty this time. Similar with the stellarlyra 18mm katakaru, it would be unfair to compare with the very bright Saturn and seeing, but it performed similarly. I have to mention the observing chair I also recieved today, the Asterian Variseat. What a great seat this is, strongly made, folds flat and has more than enough adjustments in height. My back never ached once while I was out tonight,as normally I have to stand up straight and stretch it out regularly. I can't say enough about this chair, other than it's great. According to clearoutside.com the next clear sky is Thursday, I hope it doesn't change as I'm already looking forward to getting out again. But this time I'm going to christen the chair properly with a good relaxed visual night. I might plan a couple of targets, but then again I might just scan and have a pot luck sort of night too, so fingers crossed it's clear skies.

Hi Moonshane Thanks for that, that's exactly how I did it. Going on the picture I posted would you say that's collimated?

There you go Moonshane.

Iv been trying for a while, and no matter what I do I can't seem to get it just that tiny bit more centred. This is where I've decided to stop today. One turn of the screw leads to it further away and a few more turns to get it back. I'v tried that many times I'v had enough this time 😂 I'm hoping you guys say it's close enough. 😊

Thanks Spile I'll have a go at it later. That's really helpful, I would have happily carried on with the bullseye target set up thinking it was collimated when it wasn't. Iv learned more on here from you guys than I could ever have. It's much appreciated Spile, I'm looking forward to looking up more so now.

I dare not turn another screw in case it jumps to the other side of the circle 😂 Is this good enough to be well collimation?

Iv been trying for an hour, got a sweat on 😂 It goes everywhere but closer to the centre. I seem to get to the maximum adjustment and it won't go any further, as in the adjustment thumb screw is tight and would need what feels like a lot of pressure to turn it some more.

So do I adjust the primary mirror centre circle to the collimation cap centre spot in the eye peice, even though its slightly to the left.