DRT

I'll do something with it, Chris, even if it is just a new coat of Matt Black paint. Thinking about it now, having removed the broken finder there are now four holes in the OTA up near the eyepiece. It's possible that the full Moon was throwing light down those holes as I approached it rather than it being reflections further up the scope.

It has been a few weeks since I last looked through this scope but tonight's full Moon gave me the perfect reason to do so. Since I last posted here I have acquired an adapter that allows a 1.25" diagonal to be securely fitted to the focus tube so I hooked up my Tele Vue Everbright 1,25" diagonal and Tele Vue 25mm Plossl and went hunting for the Moon. I don't currently have a finder attached to this scope so it was a game of point and shoot until I managed to get the Moon in the FOV. The search revealed that there is a fair amount of light scatter and reflections inside the OTA as I could see the Moon coming well before it arrived in front of the lens. Once I had the Moon in view I slid the focus tube in and out to reach coarse focus and then a quick tweak of the focuser and bang, I had a fabulous view of the Moon with almost no CA. Stunning. I did not try any other EPs or diagonals in the scope tonight so have no idea whether or not my expensive TV solution at the back end made a difference but I can say I am happy with the result. This has given me some motivation to get the sandpaper out and finish the project!

You might not be allowed to post pictures until you have a certain number of posts - you currently have 17 which is very low. A number of functions here switch on automatically the more posts you make.

Thanks, Damian, I'll have a look at the side mount. I put the longer 150 on top thinking it would give me a relatively consistent EP height with the ST150 but having now mounted and unmounted both I agree that the side mounts are probably better for the big scopes. I might try to find a way to mount my Polarex-Unitron 60mm on the top puck as a "Heritage Finder"

Both of these guns have appeared here before but this evening they are sitting on their new SkyTee-II with ADM shoes Unfortunately, the sky doesn't look too impressed

"a good price" = "best not tell my wife"

no need to worry, Gordon, your post made me laugh and I am aware that my state of being "done" is a somewhat loose term Cheers Derek

Thank you for continuing to be my personal mirror, Gordon. I do need one held up in front of me every now and again Now then, where is that link to the Pan 24mm on Ebay.........

Your jumping around and mine sound quite similar, John. I did get good use out of the Delos EPs but mainly in my Lunt 50Ha and none of them out-performed the Ethos 8mm in that scope. However, I do not have limited options for the Lunt as the 10mm and 13mm Ethos cannot reach focus due to the lack of inward travel. That is principally why I have bought the Plossls but they will also come in handy for travel. I agree that unless the DeLites offer more than just another set of black and green things they will not necessarily be a good investment, but my interest is shorter term than that and I am lucky enough to be able to buy just because I want to try them. If nothing else, they might remove my need for the five Plossls which would allow me to recover some of the cost.

It is a bit of a beast This is it here, currently out of stock but they will probably get more in: http://www.allendale-stores.co.uk/aluminium-flight-case-with-foam-03.html I do like the 8mm Ethos. I have heard a few people saying it's not as good as the 6mm and 10mm and I am looking forward to putting that to the test

I took a few deep breaths and sold my Delos 3.5mm, 4.5mm, 6mm and 10mm yesterday. Ethos 6mm & 10mm, a 2x 2" Powermate and a 25mm Plossl have taken their place in the case. I now really am done on eyepieces until the DeLites are available

I picked up this Helios 150 f/8 on Ebay yesterday and collected it this morning. Here she is sitting on EQ6 legs with a 16" + 12" pillar extensions and a Giro III mount. I replaced the standard rack and pinion focuser with the Crayford from my ED100 but intend putting a dual speed upgrade on it soon. I managed to get a 30 second glimpse at the Sun through my Baader wedge and a 41mm Panoptic and it was simply stunning. Looking forward to getting a longer session with it this evening

I didn't have the focal extender or the ES eyepieces for long and it might just have been that I didn't encounter the right circumstances to use the magnification. But I've taken the advice above and ordered the TV 2x @" Powermate to avoid spending another £800+ on the E3.7mm and 4.7mm.

Please don't search for "DRT"+"Eyepieces"+"I'm done"

Thanks, John. My bank manager says you are a bad influence me Typing: www.telescopehouse... #powermate

I had a focal extender when i had my 82° ES eyepieces and wasn't overly impressed with that either.

Will do. Just the 3.7mm and 4.7mm to go and it's a full house. Then I'm done, until the DeLites are actually available to buy

Definition of frustration: working in London during a tube strike and receiving an email from Telescope House to say your Ethos 6mm and 10mm are being delivered today, a text from your wife to say a package has arrived and a weather forecast that says it's clear all night at home. or should that be...

Lucky boy. I get funny looks if I leave an eyepiece on a shelf on a bookcase never mind a whole scope and tripod in the sitting room

Which is nearly twice as many as some other threads

I do like the look of the Megrez. Might have to scratch that itch one day

Very nice, Shane. Should we shout "it's behind you!" and see if the wake up?

What were your targets John? Oops! Just read the post properly! I keep promising myself a Powermate but have become completely disillusioned with the 6 or 7 Barlows I have owned, including 4 from TV. Is the Powermate really that much better? If so I might have to do it.

Alan, I have similar experience of preferring the Delos for planets (and the Moon) so will probably hold onto them if finances allow when I bring the high power Ethos into the case. The DeLites will very much be experimental and I have resigned myself to taking hit in the wallet if I buy them and decide to move them on. Those very high power EPs from these ranges are a true luxury and I have to pinch myself at times when I realise that I have a few hundred quid tied up in EPs that will leave the case three or four times a year. That won't stop me buying the E3.7, but it might prevent me hanging on to the D3.5 for the long term.

I wanted the 4.5D to fill the gap Alan but the long term plan is to have the full line-up of Ethos when funds permit. Once I have those I will consider selling the 4 x Delos but might decide not to.