johninderby

Would like to see FLO bring out a deluxe Bresser dob with the dual speed knob already fitted and a RACI finder.

Think it’s now a choice between the StellaLyra and Bresser dobs. Now if Bresser would bring out a 12” solid tube. 🙂 

Pity Bresser dobs are unavailable for months yet. 😢

No it won’t clamp on landscape mode as it only clamps down to 5.4”. I bought it for use with an iPad and discovered it also worked with a phone.

I went through cheap ones and ended up with the one linked to. Not so cheap but clamps an iPad or phone absolutely securely. Set the height of the clamp to just slightly more than the phone and lock the height then use the screwdown clamp on the top to lock the phone in place. 

And pic of smartphone fitted to clamp.

Can highly recommend this one. Very solid all metal. Holds iPad or Smartphone. You just have to position the lens to the side of upright.Although they say it’s  for an iPad also fits most phones as long as long they are 5.4” tall.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Compatible-iPad，Aluminum-Adapter-Microsoft-Universal/dp/B08PZ9PPGS/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ZWZHQ20SHUON&keywords=arnarkok&qid=1643232328&sprefix=arnarkok%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-5

The old saying you learn from your mistakes certainly applies to buying astro kit. 😁😁😁

Or a collapsible dew shield a bit like those bellows on an old time camera.🤔

££££££££££££

https://www.365astronomy.com/optical-accessories-1/finder-,-guider-and-polarscopes/finderscopes-brackets/televue-starbeam-red-dot-finder-with-sct-base

The stock RDF isn’t very good. There are much better ones available. Telrad is really only suitable for a bigger scope as it’s rather latge.

For a smaller scope the Rogel Quickfinder is more suitable. Often combined woth a RACI finder (right angle correct image).

Upgrading the diagonal to a better one is popular as besides the quality of the mirror also will have much better build quality.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/rigel-quikfinder-compact-reflex-sight.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/telrad-finder-astronomy.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/diagonals/stellamira-125-90-erecting-prism-diagonal.html

You have to pay to visit normaly and the site is open from 9:30am till 5:00pm.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/prices-and-opening-times/?utm_campaign=aka_stonehenge_21&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9pft08TU9QIV2t_tCh1TIAjsEAAYASABEgKpFvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Not sure if they ever allow visting outside of those hours. Maybe worth asking if they ever have nightime events.

Sorry couldn’t find the old bracket.

I’ve changed over to these brackets now. More expensive but lower profile and solid.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guiding-Telescope-Diameter-Finders-astrophotography/dp/B07RQT5CHV/ref=sr_1_27?crid=2NT7WACYQ4VMA&keywords=guide+scope+bracket&qid=1643367134&s=electronics&sprefix=guidescope+bracket%2Celectronics%2C73&sr=1-27

The FLT91 is a lot more than the StellaMira. The StellaMiras are also checked and tuned.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescopes-in-stock/william-optics-fluorostar-flt-91-apochromatic-refractor-checked-tuned.html

Thinking about it think the screws are M4 pr M5. Got one of the brackets somewhere and will try and find it to check.

Actually doesn’t look that old. Here’s a similar Orion one.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Orion-Illuminated-Finder-Scope-Bracket/dp/B000TDRXUI

Can’t remember if they are M5 or M6 but look for nylon thumbscrews.

And why is the bracket mounted the wrong way around on the finder? 

The Baader 1.25” Quick Lock is better suited to the mak. You just need a T2 to SCT adaptor to mount it to the mak if it has the SCT thread otherwise the mak to SCT adaptor is also needed.

I experimented with a 2” visual back and 2” diagonal and while you can get a slightly wider fov with the right eyepiece concluded just not worth the bother. Just adds unnecessary weight. The mak just isn’t meant to be a widefield scope in the first place.

5 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

 

An f20 CC is almost unbeatable on planets. You can get them - at a price.

And hence the reason for CCs going out of favour until now.

While the Baader is an excellent zoom it is not cheap. One of the Hyperflex zooms is a lot cheaper and not that far off the Baader performance wise.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/hyperflex/

The Svbony zoom is surprisingly good for the price. Can be had cheaper on eBay if you don’t mind the wait from China.They do a few other zooms as well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SVBONY-SV170-Telescope-Eyepiece-Element/dp/B08CVCWKBP/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2LBYMOS3JOZAW&keywords=svbony+zoom&qid=1643321559&sprefix=svbony+zoom%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-2

The Bresser 127 now includes a solar filter which can be usefull. Had one and found it edged out the SW mak due to the increased aperture. However as the OTA and mount would have to bought seperatey that does push up the price.

Are you balancing it with the tube at a 45 degree angle? If you balance it with the tube horizontal then you will have balance problems in use.

Both. Think SW is 2.1mm and Meade is 2.5mm for instance.

It seems that some of the 127 packages have the old thread and others the SCT thread. Why not just have the SCT fitting  on all of them. 🤔

11 minutes ago, jjohnson3803 said:

Not to highjack the thread, but does anybody have an approx. weight for the head alone?  APM says 5 kg. 

Thanks.

 

 

Here’s the specs for the TS version of the Skytee.

The Skymax127 comes with one of two thread sizes. The old non standard thread and the SCT thread. You would need to check to see which one.