rwilkey

Hi Avtar, that's a good set-up you have there, you seem to have all bases covered!

Here is my pride and joy:
 

23 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Regarding the "fold up rubber eyeguard", I wasn't aware the XFs had such a feature..a twist up click lock feature for comfort, certainly, but not fold up as far as I'm aware? The top part of the rotating/twist up cup has a directional arrow to indicate which direction to turn to adjust the cup up or down, so if the cup also folded up it would obscure this? (See photo below, image credit to Microglobe Ltd).

Hi Dave, getting my 'eyeguards' mixed up, what I mean is the rubber covering on the twist-up feature (which works perfectly well), unless this is just a odd one that failed quality checks?

I think I would choose the Vixen SLV for a better overall view and sharp as they come.  The only pain about the Pentax XF is that the fold-up rubber eyeguard comes loose easily and comes off, otherwise the ep is quite good right across the field.

I have just bought the XW10 from a fellow SGLer and am looking forward to using it soon, loved your report, so thanks for that.

On 13/07/2017 at 21:35, Alan White said:

Do you reckon it will be ok on the AZ4?  ?

No, an AZ4 will not support it in my opinion.

Very surprised, the ED100 is a cracking scope in my opinion!

On 28/05/2015 at 21:34, Chris Lock said:

Lovely! Now I want a Moonlite for my 100ED   

Just to make you more jealous, here's mine (a year after your post!):

Hi Gus, in my opinion the Semi-APO filter will serve your purposes better for reducing CA, I used to have one and it is quite good, but got rid of it when I bought an ED refractor.

Hi Nogbad, nothing intrinsically wrong with the Seben filters, they ARE the GSO ones, but rather annoying they don't have the wratton numbers on the side.  That's some fine ep's you have there!

And ideally something for these:

Hi Joves, I see you have gone for the Astronomik filters, I pressume for the CCD ones, myself, being visual only, have just completed my Lumicon collection and keep them within their outer boxes within my eyepiece case, sorry no photos.

Hi there, avoid the Danubian Delta 30 at all costs, these telescopes are cheaply made and do not perform as they boast, this model looks to be the bird-jones type of set-up where the focal length is extended by using a Barlow in the focuser, hence its description as a 'catadioptric reflector'.  Also avoid buying any equipment from non-astronomy suppliers like Amazon who know nothing about optics, hence rubbish like this.  Go to a dedicated astronomy supplier like FLO, the forum sponsers and get good and honest advice, as well as very competitive prices.

I would say they are plossls, there is a trend for bundling better quality ep's at the moment, anyway, it's how they perform that counts in my opinion.

thanks, I will take a look at the link now. Just as sanity check to what i already think, do you think a refractor or reflector telescope would be more appropriate for me any my price range. Many Thanks

I think if you are on a small budget, a refractor is better, as a small reflector mirror does not have much light-gathering power as a refractor of the same aperture. I think the views through a refractor will be clearer and sharper.

Hi David, by traditional I assume you mean the mount, what's called an altazimuth mount, which in my view is more intuitive, the following telescope has good credentials in my view: http://www.firstligh...tar-90-az3.html

See also the customer review on this one, which is actually more realistic regarding expectations.

Hi David, sorry to say this, but avoid like the plague, when it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Most reviewers looked only at the Moon, that pretty well says it all really. One reviewer said the so-called maximum magnification (175x (700/4mm = 175x)) was easily achievable, mathmatically this is not, most cheap manufacturers include a 4mm ep to make it look as though the scope is capable of more than it can manage. This make of telescope is poorly constructed I am afraid, and you would have difficulty reselling it. I am afraid it is not well regarded. Look at telescopes from the forum sponsors, FLO, see banner at the top of this website. Also, better to buy from a dedicated astronomy supplier rather than a shop like this, and get some good advice. You will need to budget a bit more I think, but better than wasting cash completely.

A great loss to popular astronomy, as others have said, he was an inspiration. RIP.

I have the full set, so I would be interested as well, thanks.