DRT

My Lunt 50Ha now has a cute new focuser...

Courtesy of our friends at FLO, a beautiful little FeatherTouch for my Lunt Ha...

And this also arrived last week...

a 13" ADM Dual Saddle to give my Evo 150 a little less opportunity to wobble ?

I have wanted to try one of these for ages and finally cracked a couple of weeks ago. It should give me a wider field than my Pan 35mm in the C11. 

If it truly is a keeper then those stars aren't going anywhere soon so you will just have to serve your punishment from the weather gods before being allowed to use such a wonderful new toy ?

...or drive to Scotland tomorrow ?

Congratulations, Dave, what a fantastic set-up

Having personally witnessed your legendary ability to resist buying and selling astro equipment I am sure you will comply with all the pleas above to make this one a keeper    

I hope you get lots of enjoyment with it - the views should be superb!

On 26/04/2017 at 23:27, Chris Lock said:

I still want the 102/1350 monster Bresser at some point, but it can wait for now. Someone else can review it in the meantime.

Step away from the "Buy" button, DRT, step away...

6 minutes ago, Floater said:

Now, now, gents. Stay on topic, please?

This is not about whisky cases, hip flasks or bees, you rascals. Those aforementioned requirements are in the DNA ... ??

Slangevar to that ? ?

On 30/04/2017 at 18:31, Chris Lock said:

Been doing a bit of penny pinching lately, so out with the ED100 HEQ5 combo, and in with a Vixen A80Mf f/11.4 on an EQ3. 

Two year old (well nearly 3) for scale  

Very nice, @Chris Lock, I'm particularly impressed that you have managed to train the Little Tikes car to look through the eyepiece!    

Very nice, Gordon.

I assume from the proportions that the previous bee in the bonnet was a solution to safely carrying a hip flask and a crystal glass up a hill?  

I emailed FLO at the weekend to ask if they intend stocking the 102 F/13.5 - the reply today says that they are not intending deciding until they see some feedback from customers on SGL

24 minutes ago, Chris Lock said:

Hi John, that makes a lot of sense, it could well have been the case. If so I feel they probably just took it a bit too far. Very interesting info on the C5 verses C8 costs, I had no idea.

Me neither, and having recently bought a new C5 I am very happy to know this ?

38 minutes ago, John said:

FLO's message is a little "warmer" though

I said friendlier, you said warmer - tomaeto / tomato - lets call the whole thing off...

1 hour ago, DRT said:

That reads like an automated response, Chris, so I suspect it is simply their way of informing everyone in their email queue that they are closed for Easter. I think you'd get a similar message (perhaps with slightly friendlier wording) from most retailers at the moment.

I wasn't wrong...

Quote

Thank-you for contacting First Light Optics :-) 

Our office is closed for the Easter weekend. 

We will re-open Tuesday 18th April and will respond then at the earliest opportunity. 

Thank-you for your patience. 

Best wishes, 

Annette, Grant, James, Lisa, Martin, Olle, SteveB & SteveG. 

13 minutes ago, Chris Lock said:

My feedback for Bresser is to please put metal rings and a dovetail on such a looong scope, the plastic clamshell might work for the short tube version but not one nearly 3x longer! Please Bresser add the extra cost to the product, if this scope had metal rings and focuser I would happily pay more. 

I think the problem with that, Chris, is that the order for many hundreds of these units would have gone to China many months ago and those plastic bits will currently be attached to OTAs in containers heading into the global supply chain. It is great to give the feedback, which is absolutely valid, but the supplier's ability to do anything about it will probably be severely limited.

I just noticed that FLO and TH are not yet listing these scopes. It might be worth drawing their attention to this thread or sending them your thoughts on the 90L as it might influence whether or not they want to stock it, or at least how they choose to market it.

A disgruntled end customer is one thing - a couple of top end retailers unwilling to stock your product is quite a different proposition

21 minutes ago, nightfisher said:

Im glad i did not give in and get the 102, i was very tempted for a day, i have been there before with very long fracs and i really do see why they are far less common nowadays, a big up to Bresser for doing these new models but a niche market

I've just had a look on the Bresser website and the 102L seems to be a completely different animal to the 90L. No plastic bits, a decent looking 2" R&P focuser (looks better than the one they supply on the 127 and 152 AR models) and a similar cradle to the one that was on my 127L AR. 

€259 doesn't feel like a lot of money for that, particularly if the lens is as good as the one they fit to the 127L.

On 13/04/2017 at 15:32, Chris Lock said:

Well I've got a response of sorts...I'll try another route!

Dear valued customer,
I am out of office from April 14th until April 17th 2017. 

This email will not be forwarded. 

Thank you for your attention.
Best regards

 

That reads like an automated response, Chris, so I suspect it is simply their way of informing everyone in their email queue that they are closed for Easter. I think you'd get a similar message (perhaps with slightly friendlier wording) from most retailers at the moment.

I'm sure they will sort you out with a refund - if nothing else you have distance selling regulations on your side so you  have 14 days to return it without cause providing it is in mint condition and in the original packaging. 

On the subject of the clamshell v rings, I think most of the scopes from four or five decades ago that this is trying to emulate would have had a clamshell very similar in size to the one on this scope. Perhaps the choice was more to do with the retro look rather than practicality and ease of use? 

Best of luck

That looks great, Mark. Did they tell you what the problem was?

Loving the red Moonlite! First time I've seen one fitted to the scope. Do you feel the upgrade is worth it?

1 hour ago, David Smith said:

Never mind the eyepiece, I want one of those mugs

I could do with 250 of those to give as gifts to everyone in our IT department  

1 hour ago, Stu said:

Sounds fabulous. Might have to pop round one evening  

Sounds like it's time for a a Star Party at Paul's ?

Lovely looking scope, Paul. By coincidence, I was the next owner of the Skylight 60 after Chris. A lovely little scope that has moved on to pastures new. 

I look forward to reading more about this monster. 

Derek 

1 hour ago, Helen said:

Happy Birthday Derek 

Thanks, Helen. 

Happy Birthday to me...

A couple of Ebay items arrived recently as birthday presents to complete my travel kit...

5 hours ago, Moonshane said:

My latest iteration with spaces for (maybe) a 9mm delite plus a second 9mm and 12mm X cel lx.

All of those green and blacks on the right hand side look familiar to me    

Thanks, Helen. I tried to contact the seller yesterday but no response yet