johninderby

Unfortunately FeatherTouch Micro Focusers are only made for SCTs. so no luck for a Mak.

It was just one of the Skywatcher basic Auto Focusers.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/skywatcher-auto-focuser.html

The TS one you have linked to is very overpriced considering it’s just the Skywatcher unit with a pulley and drive belt..The pulley wheels and drive belt I used were just 3D printer parts off eBay.

Looks like a basic Crayford. Not bad but there are much better ones such as this. Did have one of the Baader Steeltracks on my old Skymax180 which did work really well and will handle a big load unlike the cheap Crayfords.

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p8214_Baader-SCT-EHD-Diamond-Steeltrack--Focuser.html

Downside was it added a lot of weight to the back of the scope so removed it and fitted a Skywatcher Autofocuser and Hitec control so I could focus remotely using a laptop. Even with out the laptop the hand control that comes with the Autoficuser made it easier to focus as you don’t have to touch the scope to focus so no shaking of the scope while focusing.

Right angle finders and  straight through finders have different tube lengths so it’s not so simple as sticking a diagonal on a straight finder. Won’t work. You would have to shorten the tube and as most diagonals on a finder screw into the tube you can see the problem.

Easier just to sell your straight finder and buy a right angle one.

Will be on iPlayer.

Apparenly she chose solar observing as it was too cold at night . 😁

Was watching todays episode of the Antiques Roadtrip on the BBC and the bit where one of the experts visits somewhere cultural or historic today was on Elizabeth Brown the Victorian solar astronomer. Only a few minutes but quite interesting with info provided by someone from the Cotswolds Astronomical Society. 

Had three Opticstar scopes including the 80mm f5 and all had good optics. 

A 1.25” decent quality mirror diagonal can be picked up for under £25.00 new that will do the job. A dielectric diagonal would be about £70.00 new or £35.00 to £40.00 used.

The Flextube 130p will show far more and not have any CA. However you will have to learn how to colimate it, but not very difficult. The refractor is far smaller and easier to transport and shouldn’t need colimating. The Opticstar has a photo tripod screw fitting on the dovetail bar so can simply be fitted to any photo tripod.

I’ve had the AR80S dual speed and the AR90 and an ST80.

The optics of tje AR80S are noticeablely sharper than the ST80 and a bit less CA. A great value for money. The Opticstars are a real bargain. Reasonable build quality and a not bad Crayford focuser. Not up to the build quality of one of TS scopes but for the money quite acceptable. 

The little f5 Opticstar 80mm is a smaller cheaper option and while f5 still less CA than the ST80.

http://www.opticstar.com/Run/Astronomy/Astro-Telescopes-Opticstar.asp?p=0_10_1_1_90

They used to do one with a dual speed focuser which does show up used from time to time. 

The Opticstar achros have far less CA than the Skywatcher and are quite usable for planetary observing. Yes there is CA but it isn’t bad particularily the  90mm being an f8.8.

The OPs total budget for everything is only £150.00 to £170.00 so that doesn’t allow for a C6 SCT or a nice 80mm APO.

Opticstar do a couple of very nice little achro refractors. Decent optics and build quality and not too heavy and fairly inexpensive.

http://www.opticstar.com/Run/Astronomy/Astro-Telescopes-Opticstar.asp?p=0_10_1_1_54

http://www.opticstar.com/Run/Astronomy/Astro-Telescopes-Opticstar.asp?p=0_10_1_1_65

Seperate makes sense as not everyone would want or need them but having an option available will prevent any cristisim along the lines of “If this mount is so great why can’t you align two scopes properly”. 

Interesting news. Did  Dave give any idea of it would be a seperate add on bit or not? 

The pier type tripod was discontuned a while ago in the UK and EU with no reason given. However have read complaints about the pier type tripod lacking stability as the legs just aren’t spread very wide. 

I used to have one of the Az-EQ5 mounts and fitted an EQ6 tripod with the 2” legs and the EQ6 extenstion using a Geoptik adapter. Was much more stable. Celestron used to do an EQ5 tripod with 2” legs if you can find one.

Of coirse a Berkebach wooden tripod is a better choice but more expensive.

The mount is an EQ6 fitting so an EQ6 tripod with it’s 2” legs would be OK. Look for one of the older black EQ6 tripods .

The wooden Berlebach do look beautiful though as well as reducing vibration but extra ££££ 😁

Simple fact is the 180 is totally outclassed in every area by the CC. Just no contest.

The neodynium filter is my favourite all round filter. Great on the planets as well as the moon.  Some mistakenly think it’s just a light polution filter but it’s so much more. 

Never bother with a primitive ND filter. Find the Baader neodynium gives me better views. 

Besides the dovetail saddle you need an adapter puck to allow the saddle to fit to the HEQ5 mount As mentioned above you can get saddles that accept Vixen or Losmany dovetail bars or you can get a dual,fit type that takes both types of dovetails. The saddle you have linked to is a bit weak and undersized for an HEQ5. something that is stronger is recommended.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/primaluce+heq5/

It is F12 so not a huge difference to the mak or 8” SCT..Nearly the same weight and not alot bigger than the 180 mak so just  as easy to mount..I fitted tube rings so I could mount the dovetail on the “side” for easier fitting to the Alt-az mount

It just impresses me every time out so I don’t get too caught up in the specs. I simply enjoy using it. . 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

And the Skymax 180 is actually the Skymax 170.

Think Bresser may now be fitting colimation knobs on the seondary of the 8”and the mirror cell is a 6 point wth proper adjusting knobs.

FPL55 by Ohara perhaps?

https://www.ohara-inc.co.jp/en/product/optical/new/s-fpl55.html