dannybgoode

However the Sony RX10M4 is just a little bit special. So good in fact I have sold my Canon 5D mkIII and just use the Sony now. From macro through to long telephoto the thing is just an all round beast. Takes a pretty mean moon too f5.6 @ 1/400 ISO200 and editing in DxO PhotoLabs 3, then LR and PS CC

So the mighty Sony RX10 IV continues to amaze me. This is 169 stacked jpegs taken handheld at 600mm (35mm equiv.). What makes it so good for this is it has a 24fps burst speed and a 249 frame buffer. So, line the object up and hold the shutter for a full 10 seconds and Bob's your proverbial. The shot a stack of around 100 frames or so... Then processed in DxO PhotoLabs 2, Registax and then final editing in Affinity Photo. Click on the image to see it in the correct size - don't know why the forum is enlarging it!

Trying to pose a picture of the moon but when I insert it the forum automatically enlarges it beyond 100% so it looks rubbish. How do I stop it doing this?

@Bruce Leeroy - love the original paperwork. That's awesome. How do you like yours?

Haven't used mine properly yet but have risked the wrath of the neighbourhood by using them in my garden a bit and I am really like the IQ - as you say sharp across the FoV. The depth of field is awesome too - will try them out properly when the clouds clear

It actually makes a lot more sense for them to be based on the Zeiss than the Nikon thinking about it. The Soviets cloned a lot of German gear; some of it very well and some of it... well, not quite so well :D. Goes to show the 'value' a badge adds as well. Zeiss Jenoptem can't be had for £12!

Thanks all for the comments - nice to know the manufacturer and yes they're really nice for the money. Agree they are not really astro bins but they'll do as a nice light travel pair and I can see with their contrast and image rendition them making a nice lunar pair. I do a fair bit of birding as well so they will get good use :). There does look to be a couple of minor defects in one of the objective lenses but looks to be a manufacturing thing. They don't affect the performance. @F15Rules - yep, for the £12 I got the proper case as well. To be honest at that price I was happy to take the punt and even if they were rubbish I'd have not lost anything. However they have turned out to be rather nice - agree there may be a bit of colour cast but it is not offensive; actually quite the opposite. As for the smell - do they all have that. Mine have a very distinct odour! @NGC 1502 - Yes, I have a fondness for vintage Russian optics. I have a medium format camera somewhere and I too had a TAL mount. Nevermind outliving its owner, they'll still be around at the end of days on Earth! So my serial no starts 79 so mine are from 1979?

Spotted these on Facebook Marketplace for all of £12. They looked like a copy of my dream bins - the Nikon Nature 8x30 E II - and they were only a mile or so from my house so took a punt. You know what? They’re rather nice; great colour rendition, very sharp, light and have that wonderful perception of depth a really good porro bin will give you. It’s always a bit of a chance with Russian optics but find something good and they can prove excellent value for money. These are keepers. Don’t suppose anyone can identify the maker?

Was pottering around about 11pm last night trying to hit my calorie target on my fitness tracker and had a quick look outside. Wow - just a normal moon at first! Note camera is my new Sony RX10 iv. Simply incredible - a few hours earlier I was out walking the dog taking macro photos of flowers and then later the moon. Pin sharp across its enormous zoom range and brilliant IQ

Really nice. I can’t wsit until late autumn for Orion to be back at his best - hopefully will have got a lot more hours of imaging under my belt then and will have a go at a nice widefield like this. Even if it is only half as good as yours I’ll be happy

Just downloaded your app. Really nicely presented and works well. Will definitely be staying on my phone

Pretty much but at least I got something out of it. Well quite a lot really so can’t complain

Don’t. I had a nightmare with the mount tonight. First attempt at star alignment worked no problem but I then had to swap scopes and bumped it. Tried to realign and it slewed to the first star almost perfectly but then decided to go mad for the second. Tried several times before just manually aligning on M42 any which way and guiding

Finally pressed the TMB into imaging service. Had to swap the stock finderscope ring for my Altair ones but it works very well. Love the massively over-engineered focuser assembly . To give some idea of scale that’s a 60mm guidescope sat on the end there.

Guess with it being through a retailer they need to earn on it. Will keep half an eye out on ABS etc because I do fancy one at some point.

They have a really nice second hand one in RVO which, had it not been for my lack of willpower on the TMB, I’d be sorely tempted by

How do you find the Mewlon Stu. Don’t see too many around.

Secondhand with Starbright you say https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/second-hand-celestron-c925-xlt-optical-tube-assembly-vixen-bar.html As an observation, I have the Meade 10” SCT so physically very similar with almost the same focal length. Pros - I like the fact you can use big, wide eyepieces and still get a reasonable magnification. Physically a 10” SCT is pretty manageable for one person as well. Robust as well. Cons - (and this may be the Meade as opposed to SCT’s in general) but I find it optically very acceptable but not special. A bit dull at times and not much depth. If the corrector does fog kiss goodbye to your evening - I keep mine in a (very dry) garage and there’s been time in the very cold weather it’s still misted up when mounted and it would not clear. The focal length is sometimes too much as well - means buying longer focal length eyepieces that may not get used much but you’ll want them to hand. Overall a very nice scope but wouldn’t have it as my only weapon by any means.

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/antares-eyepieces.html

I have the 4.9mm series 2 and it’s superb. One of my favourite eyepieces and I know Ian at RVO rates Antares highly. Not had need to buy anything in the series 3 range but they still stock the series 2 and that’s where my money would be going I think. Edit: the fact RVO are the only people to stick them doesn’t bother me. Having used the 4.9mm I think they’re onto something.

First light for the TMB . The thing is a beast - only 105mm objective and 650mm FL but built like a brick outhouse...

I’d probably play the long game with the stubborn marks. They are unlikely to be affecting the visual performance of the scope by any measurable amount. So, rather than risk damaging the mirror and risk performance I’d just clean it in the recommended manner but maybe more often - every 6-12 months and see if they slowly disperse that way.

It was a cold night imaging!

To be honest buying Astro gear secondhand, so long as you buy from here or astrobuysell is pretty safe. Most people look after their gear and a good mount will last for years. I’d have no qualms about buying one but appreciate your caution. If buying new I’d still wait to afford an HEQ5 at the very least. Yes the mount you link to is cheaper but I suspect it would be too long before you wanted to upgrade again. The mount is so important to AP there is little value in trying to save money on it.

I am going to try mine between an Astro cam and a scope as a 2x focal length extender.