nicoscy

1. Open in PIPP and save as .ser file

2. Open in AS3! and stack best frames

3. Use favorite editing software (your phone’s photos app will do nicely) to further edit the image.

This and this.

Yep, just switched to 2.4G and Station mode - works like a charm and not missing 5G - but do like the extended range!

Mine refuses to connect in 5G but does not object to 2.4 at all. Probably some kind of bug…

Station mode works in 2.4 only. First switch to 2.4 and then you can switch on station mode and connect to your home network.

Installed it last night and switched on my Seestar. Yep, also full screen mode on iPad which makes it more enjoyable.

Jim,

Well said on all fronts! I have had 3 SV scopes, one I will call average, one really good and one sublime. I should never have sold the SV80T but I stupidly did!

If it wasn’t for taxes and shipping, if I were looking for another scope, SV scopes would definitely be on the list - a key driver being the SVX180 thread believe it or not. SV have taken steps to ensure consistency in quality and this has / will definitely filter down to the quality of scopes leaving their facilities from now on.

I will never like SV marketing language, and I so wish Vic Maris would do something about it, but apparently this is the way he prefers it. Too much Kool Aid for my taste, but I like the product line and that’s enough for me. I can separate the two.

”The other site” is frequented by many who dislike SV marketing over the years (and some mistakes by SV over the years) and are the first to attack SV. Your links to scope tests do indicate something which is indeed a bit sad: many choose to forget the mistakes made in the past by other premium manufacturers. I think SV is just going through some growing pains at the moment and so is Vic Maris as an owner. 

SV was not helpful initially when they insisted that testing in red is better. However - and this is the key take - they changed their position and will be doing in-house DPAC as well to verify the optics. Also, since scrutiny is now high, they will ensure that they manage expectations. In the end, this is a win win. SV keeps improving, we have more alternatives for high end scopes in the market.

I will also post something here, where I don’t expect to be crucified by AP fanbois: I had a second run AP Stowaway 92. I have had many scopes in that aperture so I feel I can make a fair estimate of its abilities. To bottom-line it, nothing special at all and a bit underwhelming actually. It went the way of the dodo quite fast. A second reason for its sale was the behavior or many fanbois on AP group badly disparaging people “on the other site” and Roland not asking that they keep it civil, when he could have. So, a lot can be said about characters….

I’d gladly buy a SV scope again. And I may do so in the future! Not AP thought.

Gerry, I would agree re doublets and long focal ratios, but triplets can afford well corrected optics at shorter focal lengths.

Between a 130F6 and 130f9 triplets, I would definitely go for the f9 as it is easier to figure and you can ramp up magnification much easier than the f6 in terms of eyepieces + barlows used. After all, most DOS fit in under 0.5° TFOV and if I want wide fields, that's why we have those lovely 60mm f6 ED scopes (dual mounting anyone?). Slap the TS 2" flattener on a diagonal and you also have a flat field to boot with the 60mm. In terms of imagers, a few points off in Strehl as long as spherochromatism is well controlled, makes no difference and it is usually the skill of the person processing the image that determines the outcome IMHO.

In terms of QC, SV is more expensive than resellers, but cheaper than say TEC and AP for example. If they want to step up their game, they would need to perhaps reject more, or test rigorously so that they can correct figuring as it happens. Both add to cost. It is up to SV to decide what segment of the market they wish to occupy. It's a matter of deciding on quality of optics. Judging by the steps they announced, I do think they will up their games and I personally welcome that.

If I was not "across the pond" so to speak, I would consider one of the new SVs to roll the assembly line. However, unless the USD crashes against the Euro, 19% VAT and 4.3% optics tax make importing stuff from the US prohibitive...

There are some other tests on the other side in a pinned topic. However, the sample is still low, although one can certainly get a feel for quality to some degree.

I have a feeling that the whole SVX180 bruhaha has been a wake up call for SV and that from now on, extra special care will be given on the optics. This may necessitate an increase in price by some %, but I would certainly pay a premium for this particular SVX127!!!!!

SW focuser for the ED series (81 and 120) are really something that one has to accept as in need to be replaced. Great scopes optically, let down by shoddy focusers. Still, an easy repair

Consistency is key. Apparently Stellarvue is still struggling with this - churning out products at all apertures that would have the optical characteristics of this specific sample. The ability is there for sure.

I could write a lot about why there is so much animosity against SV, but it would serve nothing as it is what it is for many reasons (had 3 SV scopes myself, but I am well aware of SV practices).

What IS important, is that SV accepted that part of the methodology and procedures they followed could be improved, and have committed to changing them. I am sure the new batches of SV scopes should all perform to the highest standards and this whole issue will not reflect badly on SV long term, but rather, will help them elevate their game and at some point, be at the level of TEC and AP if they wish.

I have both the 585 and 533, but chose the 585 for a particular scope to sample as best as possible given my seeing conditions. So, binning would undersample quite a but in my case.

Expecting a 8" f4 newt, reduced by 0.95 to match with this sensor solely for galaxies, PNs and small clusters. Excluding M31 and M33, all other galaxies fit in nicely on the 585, thank you!

Must make an excel sheet for that!

Thank you for the calculations! Makes sense!

Hi Alan,

Kindly elaborate as I may be wrong on this, but the 585MC appears more sensitive than the 533MC. If I am wrong, always willing to receive some education!

585 is also quite sensitive to longer wavelengths if of interest, much more so than the 533...

Relevant new announcement by SV is here.

In case it is revised, copied below:

Just as imaging cameras are most sensitive to red light, the human eye is most sensitive to green light. Users who only observe visually and never plan to image should purchase a telescope that is optimized in green light for all the same reasons that imagers should purchase a telescope that is optimized for red light. We are making a large investment this year in a customized phase shifting laser interferometer that will allow us to figure our objectives in green light creating high strehl optics optimized solely for visual users. These telescopes will be made with a slightly different part number using the prefix: SVX-G. This will differentiate if the telescope optic is nulled in green light or red light. SVX-G optics will be made for discriminating visual observers.

And  a new claim to justify the past:
 

Originally, (back in 1998) most of our customers used their telescopes visually. That has really changed over the years and by 2018 90% of our customers were astro-imagers and that percentage continues to grow. The Zygo Phase Shifting Laser Interferometers use a HeNe laser, so it measures in red light. CCD and CMOS cameras are most sensitive to red light. So it makes sense using red light when figuring optics to very high Strehl ratios that are used with electronic cameras. Stellarvue SVX optics are made for discriminating imagers and those who image and observe visually. While they take over a year to make we are in continual production so current waiting times are weeks to months, not years.

Some misleading facts by SV.
 

Please note : most color cameras have a RGGB matrix, so color cameras are more sensitive to green wavelengths. However, QE depends on each camera. If you are imaging in visible light, the 533MC is superior to the 585Mc due to high QE in visible light. If you go towards longer wavelengths (red, infrared, ha etc) the 585MC is a lot more sensitive. So, this assertion does not hold. It depends on the emissions you are interested to image in. Here’s a graph I created on some wavelengths - so, it all depends.

SV now states that they will have two types of scopes - visual optimized and imaging optimized. This is wholly unnecessary and is a marketing gimmick again. Very disappointing. AP, TEC, LZOS test in green. AP and APQ Zeiss check polystrehl (AP for Stowaway and AP110 clearly indicated this, APQ states this for their new range). Agema, a newcomer with long focal length fluorite doublets, also provides strehl info on all key wavelengths.

The implications of this - All scopes sold so far by Stellarvue  were supposedly optimized for imaging, so visual amateur astronomers can now start feeling disappointed and that they own an inferior (expensive and soon to depreciate more) product for their intended use. 

The “sweep under the carpet” moment: no discussion of zones, ripples and uneven polish of the lens assembly in question which was tested, which at $18k, only one word should have applied for the money: “flawless”. Which it is not…

I was hoping SV would just come up with a similar policy as the true Master Opticians of our times, stick to it, produce real high end scopes and be considered one of the great ones. Alas, it doesn’t appear so…

Agreed Re Istar - they care to a segment of the market with Ha optimized objectives!

Yes, the scope is not a lemon per se. It’s the value proposition and reasonable expectations issue I suppose. Plus the marketing approach which does not match the product.

I do believe people will move on and come back to this later on. This is just one data point, however, as far as I know, there are several SV owners now making private arrangements to have their SVX scopes (of all apertures) DPAC’d. It can get better, if it appears that this scope was a statistical blip, a lot worse if this is the standard to be expected of the SVX range. Time will tell.

Peter,

Just to add, there were zones on the lens (see test in white) and some surface roughness. It tested great in red, but poorly in green and extremely poorly in blue. It would be great for anything in red and longer spectrum, but not so great in green and shorter spectrum.

For $18,000, a limited run of 50 and if I am not mistaken, a nearly 2 year waiting time for a flagship product heavily advertised as being top of the tops, the owner was entitled to something much better.

CN can be very judgmental though. Well, people everywhere are judgmental (guilty as charged myself). Vic Maris posted yesterday that he will test the scope and revert. However, unless you are in the market for a Ha optimized scope, I fail to see the reason why one would be happy to invest $18,000 for this scope and why one would be happy with testing in red. 
 

My take is that Stellarvue should drop the marketing lingo, take the punches and reinvent itself, move to green light interferometry (costs about $100k, the run of only these 50 180SXVX scopes retailed $900,000 in the basic configuration and SV says they test all, so would amortize cost rather quickly) as TEC, AP and LZOS do, ensure the polish is on par with the rest and easily become one of the great optical houses of our era.
 

Let the product speak for itself - and not just the “nice” reviews of “tack sharp views” / “sharp as a tack” / “performs great” / “snaps to focus” and all that. The product as tested should consistently be of a high standard. However, it is up to Stellarvue if it will take the free feedback provided and reinvent themselves. All we can do is discuss to no end in various topics

Someone did over at CN, but now that you are here, and mentioned it, can you please share your methodology with full details? 

I'd certainly like to learn more!

40 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

The point is SV are the only manufacturer I can think of that tests in red, green is as far as I can see an industry standard. No hindsight then, a red flag. Ho ho ho.

I may be wrong, but I believe that most of the scopes also coming out of China and sold by various rebranders, are also tested in red. 

Thanks Jeremy - we aim to please 😁

6 hours ago, John said:

What wavelength of light is hindsight best tested with ? 😁

I think it's been accepted for a while that the most exacting light to test scope optics in is green. 

Not hindsight as much as being consistent and fair with your marketing and not peddle snake oil off the back of a wagon. If one cares to go to sci.astro group and search for “Stellarvue” and go all the way back to 2000, you will catch Vic and Valery slinging mud at each other. The issue with Stellarvue marketing is a recurring theme unfortunately.

I do hope this becomes a learning experience for all and that SV decides to accommodate the - now a lot more informed - potential buyers. I do think they have the makings of becoming one of the great scope makers of our era, in the same league as AP and TEC for example. But, it is up to them…

6 hours ago, Deadlake said:

In some ways the CN thread has run it’s course. I do not see any thing more to add once the scope got taken back, unless Vic decide’s to use green wavelength to null the lens too. It’s not the end of the discussion,  it they could be on other threads and maybe less pruning for you. I see you have your work cut out with the NVD forum as well. 😃

We are all chatty people, so as long as people are on point, why stop the flow of conversation? But, there are 220 emails in my inbox now - that’s the “not fun” part of it! As for the NVD forum, it is still going though growing pains I would say. But, I am excited about the technology and what it offers. I think less expensive NVDs will come in the future and make this aspect of our hobby more accessible!