DRT

I picked up a second hand Starlight Instruments Synta adapter for not much money a few days ago and it allows me to use my FeatherTouch on my ED120 I do like these focusers. They are lovely to use and very simple and elegant in their design

I didn't spend any time with it to be honest. I had already decided I didn't want my TV eyepieces held and scratched with a screw so just tested it and have since been focused (sorry ) on the getting the Baader Prism to work.

I didn't, I have 3 TV Plossls and just bought a set of Lunt/APM 100 degree monsters which are the same size as the EvoGuide so haven't tried those yet We have to keep reminding ourselves that the Meade Prism that I bought second hand for £20 worked just fine and it looks very similar to the one produced by Celestron for all of their SCTs so there are loads of diagonals around that will work with this thing. Perhaps my mistake is trying to achieve a balance of quality at both ends of the light path

Further update: 1. I could not quite reach focus on infinity using the Baader T2 Prism with the focus ring removed and my TV 32mm Plossl. Sigh. 2. I purchased one of these... 3. Replacing the Baader ClickLock clamp with the TS 15mm Extension Tube has moved the Plossl 5.5mm closer to the objective. If this doesn't work nothing will. 4. This has been a very expensive experiment

A Pentax XW 5mm arrived today from 365Astronomy

I’ve just found that the TV 32mm Plossl does what I need it to do, Stu. It’s normally stuck in the Quark so I didn’t really consider it for this until now. Maybe I should just buy another one of these?

First impression is a bit of a thumbs down for use with the wedge and Evo150. The massive eye lens causes lots of reflection and eye placement is difficult. The eye relief is also tighter than I expected. Will try it at night before writing it off but I’ll be needing something else for white light solar.

Will let you know, John. I bought it partly as a finder and partly for white light solar in my Baader wedge. At £45 from eBay I thought it looked like good value

I am sure you will be pleased, Ade. I had a SW 100ED a couple of years ago which presumably had the same objective as your scope and it was fantastic. Just prepare yourself and your "Finance Director" for the onset of aperture fever and the insatiable desire to buy a 120ED

Here is my new collection of EPs... The space below the XW 7mm awaits its 5mm sibling

I paid £45 including delivery fro Germany ?

This arrived today from eBay - an APM UW 80º 2" 30mm to provide low power as part of the set I posted about yesterday...

I don’t like Barlows and I’m more likely to need the 5mm. If I decide I need one I’ll likely be buying the XW5.

I had both of those Ethos EP's too, John, and found they were seldom used. That's why I haven't plunged in at this point as I want to see what the 7mm XW gives me in the scopes I currently have. My skies don't often allow high mag so if I buy anything below the 7mm it will be for something with a relatively short FL that just needs a bit more oomph. The Pentax are winning in my head at the moment as the reviews are so consistent.

Thanks, Neil. I'm in two minds where to go on the high mag end of this lot as both Lunt and Pentax have 5mm and 3.5mm in those ranges. I think I need to use all of my legendary willpower to avoid jumping in before testing the ones I've just bought

With thanks to @Alan White, these lovely little things also arrived yesterday, destined to be used with my SW EvoGuide ED50...

This evening I came home from a very long day at work and found a large box from APM and a bubble-wrapped bag from 365Astronomy containing this lovely lot... The Pentax speaks for itself and I must say I am very impressed with the build quality of the APM/Lunt XWAs - beautiful design and engineering and I can only hope they have the optical quality to match

That’s exactly what I was asking, Stu, thanks. I just phrased it very badly ?

I could do with one of those for my Evo150, Stu. Are the diameters mentioned on the site directly related to the outer diameter of the OTA around the lens cell?

Here is the reply I received from OVL...

I've just ordered the Pentax XW 7mm to compliment my 9mm, 13mm, 20mm and 30mm Lunt/APM set that are incoming from Germany

I had my (now sold) AZ GTi on a (now sold) EQ5 tripod and pillar with my (now sold) adapter with a Tele Vue Pronto and it was rock solid. I think the Pronto is heavier than your 100ED so you should be good to go ?

Something involving a SW AZGTi? ?

Hmmm? An ED100 and a Berlebach 3/8" Photo Adapter for HEQ5 / AZ5 tripod? I sense a plan coming together!

I think that's a justifiable sacrifice, Steve And fear not - you know me - the Moonlite will end up back on the for sale boards one day