paulastro

There are many reviews and comments re the S50, but there are many, what appear to be, discrepancies between them.  Of course this is not surprising as the writers have many backgrounds.  It's not surprising that experienced imagers may look more critically at how good the images it produces actually are.  

This is fine, but the S50 was designed so just about anyone can use it to get some good images with the least effort - and including people with little to none experience of imaging, observing or even astronomy.

My views are those of an observer of over fifty years with no experience of imaging apart from occasional prime focus images on undriven altazimuth mounts.

I'm not going to  cover the setup of the S50, there is plenty of Information available in other reviews, u-tube videos and comments on SGL and other places.

Your experience will differ primarily according to how competent you are using a smart phone.  I'm just about competent and read lots before buying my S50 which arrived on Dec 20th.  Anyone with just a little more savvy than me will probably have it running in little more than five minutes.  

I think the interface is great and very easy to navigate around.  Some people have indicated some info is somehow hidden away and they had to 'discover' it themselves.  Not so in my view.   There's nothing you can't find out by looking online.  I suggest people actually check out the brief instruction leaflet that comes with it, as well as the tutorials on the app.  The company also have a good video 'manual' on utube which tells you where to find just about everything - though it moves along quickly and like me you might want to pause it to make a few notes.

Since Dec 20th, when my S50 arrived I didn't have any clear periods to try it out on deep sky imaging until last Saturday morning when it cleared to a hard frost at 1am.  The images below are some that I produced.  All of the exposures were 5 mts or less except for M51 (19mts) and M3 (10mts)  The Orion Neb was only 2mts and the Horsehead 3mts.  I would have taken longer exposures but these two were very low down and about to disappear.

I  did a little additional processing using the photo processing software that comes with the camera on my Samsung A52s.  Too much on the Horsehead as 3mts was way too short.

As a non imager I sadly have to confess I'm over the Moon with them!  I'm not daft enough to believe they are anywhere near what my imaging colleagues can produce - but for an aging technophobe they meet my requirements.

Hopefully they may assist others to decide if they will suit them.  Of course if you are an imager you can stack all the individual images yourself and produce really nice images - and longer exposure make a huge difference.

I haven't mentioned the Scenery, Lunar and Solar modes, only because they are so straight forward it's unlikely you'll go wrong!

1 hour ago, AstroCurl said:

Hey everyone!

I’m new here. Been a stargazer since I was a kid but embarking on my first telescope, due to a gift and lots of research from my wife. I live in New York City and most of my stargazing will be city bound, with the occasional opportunistic family trip out of town where I can get some sky watching in. This is also going to be an activity I do with my kid, who’s almost 4. I’m super excited to join and hoping some of you might offer some perspective!

I am deciding between 2 scopes by Celestron from their their StarSense line. After reading a lot and watching video review, I think the app approach is good for me and my kid, since it will help us learn the sky with visual aids.

Since we live in the city and portability and storage are big concerns, we wont get a dobsonian—even though, I know that the best bang for the buck out here (maybe later if we move into a house upstate!).

My wife bought me the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ, which seems like a great telescope. With some additional research I’m considering upgrading to the StarSense Explorer DX 5 (Popular Science model) for the following reasons:
- Much more portable, can get scope and mount onto a backpack for local park viewing
- Erect image for daytime viewing of city views and nature (we live near a great park with cliff views), especially with the kid.
- I found it for a very good price $500 w. mount

From my understanding, the main potential drawbacks to a SCT are:
- More expensive / complex.
- Narrower field of view

I’m wondering if any of you might have experience with the DX 5 or thoughts on any of the following questions!
- Given my needs, are there any major or dealbreaker reasons to avoid a SCT over a Newtonian?
- What do you think of the Celestron DX 5 mount? It seems like the same one as the DX 130AZ but I’m not sure.
- I read that SCT are less good than Newtonian for DSOs, is this for light collecting or field of view reasons? I’d love to do a mix of planetary and deep space viewing.
- Is it worth the $100 upgrade price from DX 130AZ to DX 5

It’s been cloudy here since Xmas but I’m chomping the bit to get outside!

Thanks for the guidance!

Hello AstroCurl.

It doesnt make sense to buy two different complete DX scopes.  The mount is the same for both scopes - you don't need two mounts.  Any scope with a Vixen type dovetail will work with the DX mount you already have.  This means you could  buy any new or used scope with a Viven dovetail and use it on the DX mount you already have, as long as they are within the capacity of the mount.  The phone holder is fixed on the mount of course - and it doesn't know or care what telescope you are putting on it !!

I've had a DX, and personally don't think it is as sturdy as it should be with some of the scopes supplied with it.  If you want to 'upgrade', I would consider one of the tabletop dobsonians, or if you want a larger scope, the 6-12 Starsense dob scopes are all excellent and the mounts are much better than the DX mount.

8 hours ago, Carbon Brush said:

Absolutely right.
Since receiving mine there has been cloud, gales, rain. Or I have been away from home.

Every time there has been a glimpse of an easy target, it has hidden behind cloud within 10 minutes.
I have manged to charge the battery and install the app on a tablet.

Another new owner sent me his first pictures - houses some distance away in daylight!

I understand from another thread on SGL that is possible to do more with these scopes - eventually 🤣
 

Carbon Bush, I think you'll find it's the lack of clear night skies that has prevented many of the seventy five S50s FLO sold in one day producing any images.  Its certainly true for the one I bought 😊.

Mind you, there does seem an awful lot of traditional imagers selling their gear.  Perhaps they account for the other seventy four people that bought an S50? 🙂.

Happy Christmas everyone - and clear skies.

I'd put myself in this category.  I admit l just haven't the skill set or patience to climb the steep learning curve or enough clear skies to do visual observing and astrophotography.  Or the money come to think about it - which is why I ordered an S50 myself 🙂.

Just checked and FLO have sold all their stock.

Probably the price if you're an imager who has  spent 5k or more on imaging kit and hasn't yet produced better pics than the S50 can 🤣.

Looks like they will sell out by later this evening.

Yes, I'm not surprised  I guessed that stock would be going to all the outlets at the same time.

About an hour or so ago they had 54, now stock down to 38.

Apologies if this has been posted somewhere already.

Best not to hang about if you want one 😊.

For folks thinking of buying the Seestar S50, FLO have around 40 in stock, it was 55 when I first looked about an hour or so ago 😊

5 hours ago, wesdon1 said:

@paulastro Thanks for that very helpful response Paul! Also, I'm in Liverpool, UK so quite far away unfortunately, but thank you so much for such a kind offer Paul, I was pleasantly taken aback! Thanks!

After reading these responses, I'm definitely buying the 120 triplet model, because I've wanted a good triplet with plenty of aperture for a while now, and finding the ASKAR 120 means it's now affordable for my typically limited funds! I will of course write up and post images in the coming months and share my experiences so other members know exactly what I found!

Regards, Wes.

Many thanks for your kind words Wes.

It will be good to hear how you get on with it, so do share this when you can.

If there's anything I can help with, you can send  a PM anytime.

Best regards, Paul

4 hours ago, wesdon1 said:

Hi all. So today I found this beast of a 'scope, a 120 triplet apo, which as you all know triplet refractors are very expensive because the glass to make them is so expensive etc! Askar 120 APO Triplet Refractor | First Light Optics

My question is...is £1499 for a 120mm triplet apo just too good to be true?? has anyone had a chance to test this particular 'scope out? They also do a 103mm, a 140mm and even a whopping 185mm aperture version!!?? the 185mm is circa £5k, which is a similar price to sky watchers 150 esprit triplet model. What are peoples thoughts on this 120mm triplets price?? If it's even fairly decent, I would argue it's the bargain of the decade!!

I have had the 103 version since November 1st, and before buying it, like yourself wondered how on earth they could make it for the money.  A month and a a half later,  I ask myself the same thing every time I use it.  It's more amazing when you have actually used it and know how good it is.

To save  repeating it here, my review is on FLOs website.

Of course, it doesn't necessarily mean all its relatives are the same quality, but they certainly produced a cracker with the 103.  I would have thought it likely they are made to the same standard. If you want to pm me regarding any aspects of the scope, please feel free to do so.  I've no idea where you are located, but if you are anywhere near West Yorkshire you are welcome to come and check it out for yourself.

The finally factor in my decision was that I knew if I bought it from any of the suppliers who have a long proven record of a very favourable returns policy, then I wasn't risking anything by ordering it. In the event, its turned out to be a very wise purchase 🙂.

6 minutes ago, happy-kat said:

Paintshop pro is another similar to photo elements, but I also often use GIMP as well.

As GIMP is free there is nothing lost in installing it and having a go.

Paint.NET is free and might be similar too. I've not used it

 

Thank you happy-kat, I'll look them up.

Just now, bosun21 said:

I was a total beginner and even I got decent images from both Siril and Gimp. Good luck 👍.

Thank you bosun. I might have a use for Siril in the future so the information is very helpful.

2 minutes ago, Elp said:

You've outlined how long you want to spend on processing. Unfortunately good processing takes time, I'm currently doing one waiting to finish once Ive capture RGB stars, the pre processing in Siril alone including stacking has taken more than 5 odd hours, and another 5 maybe post processing and aligning each sessions stack ready to finish once I've added the RGB stars. And likely I'll spend another 5-10 hours on it refining it. Sometimes images take much less time, for example I don't spend so long on galaxies as much of the data is there at face value and don't need teasing out.

But yes, gimp is pretty good and just as good as the normal Photoshop. Elements is not like the normal PS, it's much simpler and you cant do as much with it. I've just added Affinity as it's a decent price for the one time purchase, I refuse to pay a subscription to Adobe for the main PS.

Elp.  You're right, I said all that in the first post. I only take single frames with my Olympus mirrorless camera, mostly solar.  I take pics as records, not works of art.  I like them to be as good as possible, but I've no pretentions of being the words best solar photographer.  I'm sorry if I've misled anyone

Having said that, the information you have all provided has been very helpful, and I'm grateful for everyone's help who has contributed.

1 minute ago, bosun21 said:

It’s basically for astro only.

Thank you bosun.  I'll take a look, but as I said, my astro imaging is at a simple level, and the software I have will be used more for other subjects.  I'm the sort of person who'd be happy with the seestar 🙂.

1 hour ago, bosun21 said:

Siril is another free processing software that is used by many.

Many thanks.  Is Siril for all imaging or only astro,

1 hour ago, Mr Spock said:

Try Adobe: https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/download-install/kb/downloaded-older-app.html

 

Many thanks fior that, I'll take a look at it tomorrow when I have more time.  Thanks again.

1 hour ago, Mandy D said:

Another vote for GIMP, here. It is very good, but the learning curve is steep. Much in it is not obvious. You know it should be there, but can never find it on your own because it is buried deep in a menu somewhere. Much of the help online is very outdated. I really like it, but get annoyed when I want to do soemething for the first time and have to trawl the web for answers. Rule of Thirds is now in it and easy to use, yet doing a search for it, you only find the old fudges that can barely be said to work.

Thanks Mandy, that's along the lines I read previously about GIMP.  I think it would test my patience too much.  Generally, if an image takes more than about 10/15 mts to process where I want to be I wouldn't bother.   As you can probably tell, I spend more time observing than imaging 😊.

46 minutes ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

Check GIMP. It's free and not intended purely for astro use.

I tried installing Photoshop Elements from CD to one of my laptops, and found it was a severe pain, for some reason.

Thanks Geoff.  I did look on line for alternatives and I recall looking at GIMP in a long list that came up.  I'll go back and take another look.  I'll compare what it offers compared to my ancient Elements software.

44 minutes ago, Mr H in Yorkshire said:

There is a good chance you can download this for free straight onto your new PC. I looked briefly and the omens were good.

Thanks Mr H.  I'll see if I can borrow a cd drive and give it a go.  I might buy a cd drive otherwise if they are not too much.

My ancient laptop  riuninjg Windows 8 has finally given up the ghost and I've bought a newer used laptop running Windows 11.  I've used Photoshop Elements 9 on my old laptop for many years, and it's been good enough for me.  I have the original CD and access code, but he computer I now have doesn't have a disc drive.  

My first question is, if I bought or borrowed a disc drive, would I be able to download Elements 9, put the access code in and carry on using it on the new computer with Windows11?  This is my preferred option.

If this  won't work, can anyone recommend some other free imaging software?

I don't want specialist astro imaging software, just something for everyday use.  The extent of my astro imaging, such as it is, is only for single frame solar shots,  lunar shots or  widefield shots of comets and other wide field events using my mirrorless camera.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions.  Many thanks.                       

I was after an altaz mount for the Askar 103 Apo.  Alas, the AZ5 is fine for powers up to about x80, but above that the view was far too shaky to get the best out of planets and the Moon.

I wanted a rock steady mount, manual, with slow motions for the Askar apo - approaching 6k with dovetail, rings, small finder and binoviewer with x2 Orthos. Money was not plentiful and I had a limit of around £300.  I was surprised there weren't more options in this price range, certainly that I might have confidence could cope with the Askar.

I had a SkyTee (1st incarnation)  around 20 years ago if I remember correctly. In my recollection, it could hold a big load but there were some drawbacks.  It was rather rough and ready, the movements were not that smooth, not much finess and in those days it was generally accepted you had to replace the two clamps.  If you didn't there was every chance that a clamp could spring apart, if you undid the knob too far,  and spill the scope onto the floor!

Roll on 20 years and we have the mk 11 SkyTee.  The mk11 designation perhaps indicating it may have improved over the years?

In addition, FLO now have their own version under the StellaLyra brand.  In the pics there are at least a couple off differences between it and the Mk 11. It also comes with a couple of counterweights.  I had some confidence/hope that FLO would have specified a better spec than the Mk 1 and possibly the Mk 11.  With a  black Friday reduction on offer, I ordered the StellaLyra.

It arrived on Nov 29th and I was impressed with its appearance and sturdyness - at least set up in the lounge!

Nov 30th, frozen snow on the ground, - 3 degrees and a GRS transit pending at 9.36pm at an altitude of 48 degrees.  I was set up by 8.35, the SL mounted on a Vixen channel aluminium. tripod.

Well, in summary, what a agreat decission, rock steady and firm but smooth slow motions.  The Askar was mounted on one side no counterweight used on the other side. ( FLO rate the mount as 10 kilo each side)  at around x150 Jupiter was indeed rock steady, the seeing was fairly good and it looked like a drawing. The detail, particularly around the two EBs was very good with either barges or other details spilling into the EZ.  The GRS was visible all the time.  There was easily more detail that I have seen through any four inch class scope scope for some years.  One or two expletives punctuated the cold night air.  Wonderful.

I'm not sure which was more responsible for the wonderful views, the quality of the optics or the steadiness of the mount.  The seeing was good, but by no means the best.  Certainly the Askar on the AZ5 wasn't in the same class at high power - not unexpectedly.

The clamps were very good, and far better that the originals on the SkyTee Mk 1, in my view they don't need to be replaced.  Having said that I did replace one with an ADM clamp.

The only small negative with the mount was that one of the azimuth slow motion knobs caught on the slow motion locking lever.  I noticed this on the day it arrived and removed the offending knob.  I never missed it, and I may put on a short-stalked knob which won't foul the locking lever.

I'm over the Moon with the mount, it's a bargain buy at the price, it would probably be fairly at home with the Askar 140 Apo 🙂. 

I have never used the SkyTee Mk 11, so cannot comment on how it may compare with the StellaLyra.

The pic below was taken on the night of the test, complete with snow.  An extended dew shield was put on to keep the frost off.

Thanks John. I had owned one many many years ago - perhaps as many as 25 years if they've been around that long.

My recollection is that they were more 'industrial' at that time.  Some aspects seem to have been improved over the years, and it seems a bit smarter than I recall my original one being.  It's certainly very sturdy, Hopefully I'll be able to put it through its paces tonight - but the omens are good.

This arrived this morning.  The mount is FLOs version of the SkyTee 11 of course.  There are some minor differences, but I'll leave those until I write a review.

The important thing is, it appears steady as a rock, and we'll within the mounts capacity.    It doesn't need the counterweight - I was just trying it out.

Far more convenient than a GEQ for visual observations for me - especially when using the Starsense Explorer.

Me buying this mount has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it can take the weight of some of the 103s larger  cousins!

I'm not on Facebook but my wife went on the link re the 185.  It appears to be a few pics and people's comments.

I've attached two of the pics - bear in mind they are screen grabs so haven't the original resolution.  The Jupiter pick was taken with the 185 - the original is much better.