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I had my C11 in an Oklop padded case. I cannot recommend them highly enough! Very robust and high quality material. I bought the same bags for my AZ-EQ6 Pro mount head + for the tripod + for the counterweights. https://www.astroshop.eu/carrying-bags/oklop-padded-bag-for-c11-telescopes/p,55900

Good evening everyone Have been waiting forever for the Esprit 100ED to be back in stock. Have grown tired of waiting, and had a look at Telescope service, and they have a few options in stock. Anyone here has experience with their Photoline scopes? Here are the options I am considering: 1- TS-Optics CF-APO 102 mm f/7 FPL55 Triplet APO Refractor with Certificate FL 714mm. I like the idea of a longer FL, and a 0.8 reducer is available. FPL55? Would that be equivalent or BETTER than FPL53? 3.7" R&P focuser https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p12878_TS-Optics-CF-APO-102-mm-f-7-FPL55-Triplet-APO-Refractor-with-Certificate.html 2- TS-Optics Imaging Star 100 mm f/5.8 Quadruplet Apo with field flatener FL 580. Similar to Esprit. FPL53. Quad, no need for flattener. 4" CNC R&P https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p6478_TS-Optics-Imaging-Star-100-mm-f-5-8-Quadruplet-Apo-with-field-flatener.html 3- TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 107 mm f/6.5 FPL53 Triplet Apo - 3.5" Focuser FL 700mm FPL53 3.5" R&P https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p11024_TS-Optics-PHOTOLINE-107-mm-f-6-5-FPL53-Triplet-Apo---3-5--Focuser.html What are your thoughts on TS Optics and their line of imaging APOs? What is their QA and finishing like? The Esprits are tried and tested, and have quite a following amongst imagers, but I have not read a lot about TS Optics and their scopes? The TS APOs I mentioned above all seem to have better focusers than the Esprit, which would be a bonus when attaching cameras and accessories. Are the Esprits far superior to the above TS options? Should I just keep waiting? I had the option of buying a used Esprit 100ED last month, but it had an optical issue, and the sale fell through!

I'm confused. ZWO website says it fits, but FLO explicitly say on the website that it does not fit the Edge models? I HAVE JUST emailed FLO, and they also confirmed that the C11/C14 bracket does not fit on Edge series? Confusing?

Has anyone managed to attach the ZWO EAF to the Edge HD 11? ZWO sell the brackets for the Non Edge C11, and I have been told by FLO it would not work with the Edge series? Not sure why? The focus knobs are identical? Has anyone managed to use the ZWO EAF with the Edge series with some minor modification? Thanks

Excellent! Thanks

Thank you, that was helpful. I can see that the Baader adaptor is a T2. How can I identify the type of thread on my OVL OAG? There are no instructions or diagrams, and on contacting OVL their response was that there are no instructions? T2 and M42 look very similar. Are they compatible with each other?

Good morning everyone I am trying to connect a ZWO mini guide camera to my OVL OAG The ZWO 120MM mini is 1.25” I think The OVL guide cam side has a Male T2 or M42 thread. Not sure which. Can you please advise what sort of adaptor is needed? Thanks

Amazing. Thanks Vlaiv. I’ll start experimenting

I have tried to move the turret in and out, and it is a very very tight fit. I've read about the aluminum foil fix but to me, I do not think its an issue

Thanks Vlad I was under the impression that the OAG will only affect the image being seen by the Guide camera and PHD2. Do you mean that those chips can actually cause artifacts in the light going to the MAIN camera sensor? Also, this is the first time I actually handle an OAG. The light path to the guide camera is only 5.6mm in diameter!? That is TINY. Is that how OAGs are designed? I had a look on FLO and saw the ZWO OAG v2, ZWO OAG M68 and aslo the Celestron OAG, but there is no mention anywhere of the actual size of the light path size to the guide camera chip. Just that all are 8mmx8mm prisms, and the COAG is 12.1mm. I am confused. If the prism of the OVL OAG is 8x8mm, why restrict the light path to 5.6mm? On SCTs, I've read many threads advising to use at least the 174MM Mini for its bigger sensor size. Those sensors are 11mm on the longer side, and would be a complete waste with the OVL OAG then? Regardless of prism size, if the light path to the guide camera is 5.6mm diameter, that limits OVL OAGs to the 120MM mini and BARELY JUST with the 290MM mini? (290MM mini is 5.6mm on the loner side)

Hi everyone I have an OVL OAG. I’ve noticed some minor chips on the very edge of the prism. I have not used it yet. I looked though the light port in the turret with my naked eye during daytime, and noticed the effect at the very edge at just one point on the circle’s diameter. Will this be an issue with guiding? Never used an OAG before, so not sure what to expect? Is this a major issue, or it can function fine? the light port is 5.6mm in diameter. I intend to use a ZWO 120MM mini with my short focal length refractors, and a ZWO 290MM mini with my SCT? I tried to show how it looks when looking down the light port. Many thanks

With regards to refractors, and excluding all the super brands, who else thinks that Altair Astro's refractors are really high quality? I have SW Evo, Altair Astr & WO refractors, and have handled TS optics, Esprits & Explore Scientific fracs, but to me at least, the Altair Astro refractors exude quality. I realise most of the above brands source their refractors from similar factories in China, but for some reason, the Altair Astro refractors feel much much better made? Who else agrees with my observation regarding AA?

One LAST thing please if I am to re-grease the focus flat shaft and worm in the focuser, which type of grease should I use? I have 2 tubs. One is white lithium grease I use on my bikes which is quite thin, and the other tub is thick brown lithium grease. It’s much thicker and more viscous. Which one should I use?

Excellent. If it’s nit too much trouble, do you mind please sending me some pictures? PM would be very helpful Thanks a lot!!

Thanks James Yes, I think the grub screw protrudes enough to foul the coupler

Thanks Vlaiv Just to confirm, sorry to keep repeating, as I will end up keeping it if you confirm? When just imaging and electronic focusers are concerned, a rough and grindy focuser is not really a big issue? That would be just an issue for manual focus and visual?

Yes, I had a look at the manual just now. It seems the EAF goes on the COARSE side. Thats good news. So, if I plan to use the scope SOLEY for imaging, and with a permanent EAF attached, will this work? Also, when electronic focusers are used, am I right in thinking that the focus does not need to be buttery smooth? Because it certainly is NOT smooth?

Tried that. I have a set of fine pliers, but there just isnt enough torque in my hands to turn the grub screw

Sorry, what does that mean? What I have noticed is that the protruding part of the screw looks TILTED to one side, and not pointing straight at the centre of the circle as it should do

exactly, that's why I am asking. If the ZWO EAF goes on the COARSE side, then this whole problem would not really be an issue. It will be a decisive factor in me keeping the scope or returning it?

But how would I fix the EAF to this side? The focus arm (what ever the brass coloured arm is called) is recessed in the focus housing? How will I fix the EAF to the arm?

And if I manage to get the grub screw out, and put in a new grub and sort the Coarse knob out, which screws need adjustment to make the focus smoother and less grindy?

Thank you all for your replies. I am not that savvy with tools and drills to do it myself!! Can you please answer my other questions? Especially regarding fitting a ZWO EAF to this COARSE side? If the ZWO EAF can go on this side, I can ignore the coarse knob entirely?

I've recently acquired a WO Star 71 5 element wide field APO. The optics are pristine, but it's an old scope, and the focuser has the usual marks on it from years of imaging, and had an electronic focuser attached to it. Lots of marks and scratches on the underside. The coarse knob was very loose when I received it, and on trying to tighten it, I noticed that the grub screw is stripped. The coarse knob then just suddenly fell off, and I have been trying for the past 2 days to sort it out, but have failed. Overall the focuser works from the FINE side, but is grindy and rough, but works. I have ordered some new Imperial and Metric allen keys, tried WD40, GT85, pentalobe screw drivers, regular flat head screw drivers, but nothing catches on the grub screw. I even ordered a ful set of grub screws, hoping to get the old grub screw out. The seller is extremely helpful, and offered to take it back, or get it fixed. Can I get some advise before I make a decision? I plan to attach a ZWO EAF in the future. 1- Will the ZWO focuser, or any electronic focuser attach on the COARSE side or the FINE side? 2- Is it possible to attach to the COARSE side, even though the focuser arm is recessed deep in the housing? 3- Is there a solution to this stuck grub screw? 4- If removal of the grub screw is possible, Is there someone I can ship it to to fix it, at cost of course? 5- Is the whole focus assembly REPLACEABLE with a new one? This focuser looks different to othere refractor focusers I have seen, where the focus draw tube is inside the OTA, with a ridged bar screwed underneath. Is this a R&P design? Not sure. 6- The optics look clean. Is it worth keeping it, and getting it fixed, or its just not possible and I should return it? many thanks

Apologies on resurrecting this thread from the past!! I am in the process of setting up a remote Obs in Egypt. Could you please share details of your piers so that I can provide them to a local metals work shop in Cairo? Many thanks