niallk

Sounds class!! - and a big congratulations to you both on your engagement 🍾🥂

A 12" dob would provide some shade in the daytime too 😉

PS I'd love to be able to binoview with the LS50, but focus travel issues... I once observed through a TV Binovue in a LS60 double stacked with a 50mm front etalon, and it was just stunning 😎 It's what made me get my own kit!

My double stacked Lunt 50mm beats Gong images on surface detail. In particular, I can focus to a sharper degree revealing subtle fine detail, imho. Similar to gong on proms, except sharper. The pressure tuning then allows different features to be accentuated. I use a TS zoom EP, but it degrades views below about 8.5mm. I can get better results with a 2.5X PM and fixed focal length EPs.

Mine was a SW 250px: great scope & phenomenal value for money 😉 I had such an enjoyable learning process with it, and it showed me so many wonders of this universe we live in.

Great link - thanks for posting it! 👍👍

@Captain Scarlet, @Simon128D, In previous years I've both pitched a tent on the dunes behind the beautiful beach there in Ballinskelligs, and another year I had the family with me and pitched in the grounds of the Skellig Lodge itself - along with several other campers! I requested permission beforehand, and it was no prob - in return for a donation to the chosen charity, which I was glad to do. This year I might wild camp on the dunes again if needs be 😉 Not strictly permitted, but... I can drive the scope up and just leave it in the car at the end of the night. probably have a few beers and collect the car during the day!

@Simon128D great report - fantastic sounding session!! Glad to hear the scope is delivering superb views. It looks class too 😎 Sounds like a great location... you've made me itch to get a road trip with my dob in soon 😉

It will look awe-inspiring, especially in August!

Beautiful!

Replacement blue glass received - prompt service from Baader 👍 Replacement was - as others had said - very straightforward: * picked off some black 'silicone' on the retainer ring * used two woodscrew, one in each hand, to unscrew the retainer ring - no problems 😊 * old glass freely fell out, dropped new one in * re-tightened retainer ring, and backed off 1/2 turn per Lunt advice for avoiding heat induced expansion stresses Then got to check and.... lovely 😉 no scatter around the limb, so improved contrast for proms. No feeling like I'm observing through patchy cloud on the disc. My 'lil Lunt is restored 😍

Congrats Stu, looks like a very nice scope, very Obsession UC-esque! Looking fwd to hearing more

What's the seeing like at your typical observing location(s)?

Superb report - and great pics too: brrrrrr!! 🥶 Will be stealing from your list of targets there 😉

20ES100 ... displaced by N31T5 & 17E. It has only been used a few times, and is just sitting in its box. I've never sold anything on the Internet before though... 🙈 Might see if anyone wants to buy it at the Skellig Star Party in August. I gave away a few TS plossls and a nice enough 15mm 70° 'super wide' EP & barlow.

I wish they'd post some pictures inside and outside of focus so we could examine secondary breakout...😂

Fine job 👍👍

Fingers crossed the views will be as good as that scope looks 😎🤞 If it performs well, it does look like a beautiful scope with a great design for portability.

That's poor. My 15" mirror was shipped from OMI in Iowa, USA to Ireland, and it was pristine. The packaging was impressive, and I've kept in case I need to ship for re-coat. As Magnus says, a rinse with is worth a shot, and see if the views are sharp with low scatter. If so, maybe worth trying to forget this disappointment- but you're right, the company should do better. On my mirror, within minutes I could see the odd bit of dust / fibre settling on the surface! They never stay pristine long... especially after one night under the stars.

I spent > €150 on an EP kit from TS when I first started... money down the drain! I eventually took the plunge on a TV N13T6, and wow! I was hooked. Twice the price, but still a favourite 10 yrs later. I deviated once and bought an ES 20mm 100°... edge aberrations and false colour led me to purchase a 17E- which I love. I have confidence that if I invest in a TV item, I'll get a quality, high performance product, and I think I get a fair sense of pros and some cons to set expectations from reviews on SGL etc. They offer the most complete ecosystem too - eg Paracorr, and I may end up getting Dioptrx. That's not to say other brands aren't top notch - but in a world of buying on-line, and a poor 2nd hand market in Ireland, I personally choose to 'buy once, buy quality'. And I do like the backstory and the repeated innovation from TV. I would say they've earned my brand loyalty!

At €22, I'm OK to swallow the cost for a pristine optical element. Obviously would prefer it not to happen, or be free. The next thing for me now tbh is to source a tool for the retaining ring!

Ordered from Bresser - I had to pay (really would have expected to receive this for free given it is a materials design/spec defect imho... ) €21.90 shipped, but it's the principle! Should be here in a few days...

Fwiw, I purchased my scope in early 2017. I noticed it beginning to corrode in early 2021, and it degraded a helluva lot in 1 year... despite silica pellets etc.

You can see in my pic, the filter is quite bad looking. Now, I still got very nice views - BUT it was obvious something was amiss. There was uneven light scatter, and it was like observing through mottled light cloud... or when a secondary mirror on a dob begins to dew up! I'm looking fwd to getting it fixed - fingers crossed for a reasonable lead time 🤞

Cheers - yep I'm familiar with CN 😉 My main concern is lead time... lots going on with the sun these days, and hopefully will get sorted quickly. I'll either have to fashion a tool, or purchase one to remove the glass. I don't recall reading that replacement glass has addressed the root cause of the corrosion... but maybe I've missed it.