johninderby

Bresser uses the hexafoc focuser which is the same as the Explore Scientific one. Had one and it was not bad ar all. Didn’t slip but could have had smoother movement. A good budget focuser though.

It isn't adjustable but they do another version with a mini ball head that is. Actually any ball head could be used as the finder has standard photo screw threads. I’ll sort out a mini ball head tomorrow and see if I like it.

Well the sun peeped out through a break in the clouds and had the chance to try out the solar filter and finder. With a 25mm 60 degree eyepiece the sun just about filled the field of view. Nice sharp image of a featureless sun. ? The Baader micro focuser worked nicely. ?

A solar finder. Better pic in my scope thread.

Few bits arrived for the scope. Dew shield, Baader micro focuser and a nosepiece for it, solar filter and a solar finder. Hard to find the right sized dew shield as everyone in the UK seems to have stopped stocking this size but found a new one on eBay. The Baader micro focuser will add fine focusing. The stock focuser is actually pretty good and smoooth though. Found an open box but new solar filter at a nice £25.00 discount. Perfect fit and even matches the colour of the rear of the scope as well. The solar finder came from China via eBay for a whole £12.16 delivered but very well made.

Few bits for the Bresser 127 Mak

As has been discussed in other threads unfortunately Stellarvue didn’t seem to have the capacity to support dealers over here. It didn’t work out very well at all when they had dealers over here. Pity Stellarvue wasn’t able to make it work.

My Skymax 180 won’t allow the Bresser 152 in the house. ? Love the 180 but wanted something that basically took no setting up and was curious about the Bresser 127.

Looking forward to some lunar observing with it where it should perform well with the increased apeture over the Skymax. Did come across some comments comparing the Bresser and Skymax and they thought the Bresser optics were slightly better. It is a more expensive scope so not surprising if it turns out to be a bit better. Did read some negative comments by a Cloudy Nights “expert” who it turns out had never looked through the Bresser and didn’t know the specs. ?

Bresser Messier 127mm F15 Maksutov Just bought this OTA as my grab'n'go planetary scope. ? Chose it over the Skymax 127 for one main reason. The Bresser is a full 127mm aperture, not only 118mm like the Skymax. Also has a bigger primary and a smaller central obstruction. Tube is bigger in diameter than the Skymax to accomidate the bigger primary. Just on simple aperture alone it's 8% bigger but due to the smaller central obtruction it's about 10% bigger in aperture area. A worthwhile difference. Build quality is similar to the Skymax. IE: not high end but very good. Do like the clip on front cover which is similar to a camera lens cover instead of just a push on type. Finder bracket has an 11mm mounting rail on the top so many red dot finders will just fit on. However I wanted a regular Synta type mounting so used an Orion SCT shoe. Also replaced the standard visual back wth a TS one with compression ring. Just don't like those visual backs with a single screw that bites into the diagonal. Diagonal is a Skywatcher delectric. Just waiting for a dew shield to arrive and a 1.25" to T2 adaptor so I can fit a Baader helical microfocuser to the top of the dagonal. Sits nicely on my Manfroto 475 geared tripod and Manfroto 405 geared head. The head has beem modded by removing the centre geared secton to make it into an Alt-Az head. I have used a C8 on this combination which was pushing it's capacity to the very limit. Doesn't even notice the weight of the 127 Mak. The whole setup with OTA can easily be carried single handed outside. Proper grab'n'go. ? Had it's first light about 4:00am this morning. Was a bit misty so not a lot to see but Jupiter was visable just over the neighbours roof. The scope had been sitting in the conservatory so not to warm and was able to observe right away. Was impressed with how sharp and clear Jupiter was at 158x mag. The equal to what I had ever seen with my old Skymax 127 and the scope wsn't cooled fully plus Jupiter was low down. Did the obligitory star test and the Airy dsks both in and out focus were excelent and showed colimation was spot on. Left the scope out to cool for a while but when I went back out the mist was getting thicker so just brought the scope back inside. Oh well at least had a nice look at Jupiter earlier. So I'm pleased with the build quality and the optics seem to be slightly sharper than both the Skymax and Celestron 127 Maks I used to own. More testing needed but very happy with the scope so far. John

As refered to above even though they may come off the same production line it doesn’t mean the scopes are the same. The company ordering them will be able to choose the spec of the parts used and the level of quality control during production as well as what focuser etc is used. Often the scopes that don’t come up to the quality standard demanded by one buyer may be sold off at a lower cost to a lesser retailer. Hence the eBay specials that show up at lower prices. Best to buy from a retailer that supports their products and has a good return policy.

I should be getting commission on these sales. ? To stop the spacers slipping off just wrap a small amount of masking tape around the thread.

And something else arrived by courier. ? Bresser 127 Mak. Will review it when the clouds and rain go away. Decided to go with this instead of the Skymax 127 as unlike the Skymax it’s a full 127mm aperture not 118mm. Has a smaller central obstruction and a bigger primary. Will have to see how much difference the increase in aperture makes. Fortunately had the bits in the spares box to upgrade it right away. Orion SCT finder shoe screwed on and an Orion 6x30 finder fitted. Also replaced the stock visual back with a TS optics one with compression ring and Skywatcher dielectric diagonal.

Can’t understand why they don’t use knobs in the first place. So easy and quick to pull the mount off. ? From WDS Ltd. They do the ends in black and grey as well. M6 x 25mm long thread. http://www.wdsltd.co.uk/product/3464/knurled-knob-traffic-red-thermoplastic-with-stainless-steel-screw-wds-8440/ And some M6 x 10mm long spacers. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Nylon-SPACERS-Plastic-Standoff-Washers-M3-M4-M5-M6-M8-M10/143122929582?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=442076878651&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Desiccant cap from FLO and some knobs for quick removal of my AZ-EQ5 mount from the EQ6 pilar extension.

Aue Aye

Free lifetime supply of clouds included with every scope sold.

Altair Vixen Mini Saddle for my photo tripod. Nice compact saddle that is just the right size.

EQ6 extension pilar for my AZ-EQ5 mount. ? The EQ5 pilar was taller than I wanted so went for the EQ6 one. And yes that is an EQ6 tripod with 2” legs. I’m using a Geoptik adaptor.

Wearing two eyepatches at once is not a good look. ? Don’t know who he is and don’t want to know.

The Apollo astronauts also used eyepatches. This eye patch was provided to astronaut Michael Collins during the Apollo 11 mission for maintaining night vision in one eye during Earth and lunar orbits as well as covering one eye during use of the navigational eyepiece. First used during Apollo 9, these rubber patches were available in both the command and lunar modules.

Eye they look like a bargain. ?

Some round black and orange things. ? Not bad for £15.99 delivered for a brand new set. ?

What really makes me shudder at the horror of it is Amazon’s in home delivery seevice presently in the US that they want to introduce in the UK. Idea is you allow the Amazon driver to have an entry code to your door so they can enter your house and leave the package inside. Yea right as though I want that to happen let alone needing a new door lock fitting. They claim it’s safe as the key code is a one time use code that’s only valid for a few hours but still the driver would be alone in your house.

Couldn’t be worse than this delivery fail. ? https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/look-what-under-fire-delivery-2297921 Should always put the seat down. ? And more brilliance from Hermes. https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/derby-mums-shock-after-catching-2288676