nicoscy

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!

13 minutes ago, CraigT82 said:

Whilst I agree that it’s good to have a method whereby you can hold the manufacturer to account… I can’t help but think that if you can’t tell you’ve got a good or bad one by looking through it or imaging with it, then what’s the point of testing?! 

I agree. Something that you cannot evaluate, simply does not exist for you. But what about the honesty of vendors, who may rely on 99% gullible customers and simply refunding the other 1%, making a killing in the process by skinning said 99%?

Many test optics. Ed Reis in the UK, Wolfgang Rohr in Germany, a gentleman in a Dutch forum but his name escapes me, and many others.

See here re Wolfgang Rohr's website. Pass through Google Translate and feast your eyes on tests galore!

But, it is slowly spreading I guess...

I prefer less drama and more substance. But, I am one of many and since we are not Borg, no collective consciousness and no assimilations!

I guess different rules in each forum. Over there, if there is more to discuss in relation to a topic (in relation, not directly), it remains open.

But, that's on CN. I prefer to focus on this thread which I will be viewing for updates as I want to learn more on the subject

I am a moderator on Cloudy Nights and the thread is a challenge to keep running. However, the value in learning more about what we are purchasing outweighs any burden on the moderators. Yes, a sample of one as noted, but only a run of 50, costing $18K in the least expensive configuration, with a waiting period of about two years. I think expectations were set high, and rightfully so.

I am but a humble egg myself in this and trying hard to learn as much as I can on the subject. I "think" that my scopes are quite good - this after using them extensively, but a certain qualitative measure (images via DPAC) and a certain quantitative measure (AOS software) would be welcome (yes, thinking of setting up my own rig at some point), just because. 

DPAC appears to be a relatively simple methodology to use, with parts easy and relatively inexpensive to procure - meaning that this may kick amateur astronomers into a testing frenzy and separate manufacturers in terms of men vs boys. There have been plenty of tests in the past three years, about 20 or so added to a pinned topic and it makes for good reading, plus it allows comparisons.

I hope scope fabricators are taking notice - customers want more and are now learning to check whether they are getting their money's worth...

On 24/02/2023 at 21:13, Franklin said:

Not seen or heard of this newish scope from Vixen either, though it may be of Taiwanese origin looking at it.

 

Actually this was a limited run by Vixen in response to a crowdfunding campaign. I think less than 200 were made. I happened to find one pre - owned and snagged it. It’s a 60mm f6 doublet - but I have no information suggesting better optics than the usual run of the mill 60mm f6 FPL53s out there. 
 

Significant changes: Better ring, Vixen dovetail, different color scheme, different finderbase. Here’s mine!

Yeah, the Rowan 75 is very tempting for the telescope combo you want to mount…

Noh's Mount CT20 and add a second clamp. I have the CT30 myself and love it.

Both can run concurrently. However, when SS7 tells the mount to go to an object, it does not "inform" ASIAir so you can't do platesolve and center. You need to input into ASIAir planetarium the target and then platesolve. 

Also, SS7 reads where the mount is, and does not receive data from ASIAir, so at least it shows you where you are and what objects are there in MUCH MORE DETAIL than ASIAir.

Lol, has actually about 5,000 classic arcade games on it

I also dropped a panorama in SkySafari 7 both on my iPad and on my Bluestacks install

You can link the ASIAir to SkySafari and you have a full fledged planetarium (much better than the built in one on ASIAir) at your disposal. Basically you have full control of your mount via SkySafari for regular go-tos, and vice-versa, when you execute Go-Tos with ASIAir, Skysafari automatically will point you there.

I have both SkySafari and ASIAir apps communicating both on my iPad and on my windows desktop (the latter via Bluestacks with ASIAir on station mode).

It's just something extra to have. Some find utility to this, others don't.

A good choice of scope and mount! There are coma correctors + reducers you can use should you feel the need to make the system faster. From then on, it is a combination of your local seeing and camera choice in terms of pixel size to sample correctly. 

If of any use, play with the attached. Change only the yellow cells. I use this for checking my setups. It's set for ZWO cameras (I use the ASIAir hence only interested in ZWO), but the chips used are the same, so if you use a different camera, it's the sensor that matters as opposed to the brand.

ASI Sensors.xlsx

Interesting discussion and I will post from the perspective of EEVA use.

Previously, I had a laptop running with SharpCap, ASPS, CdC, Celestron Nexstar software controller and ASCOM, connected to a Celestron AVX and a 6" RC. Yes, there was some faffing around, but once the system was configured, it worked flawlessly and I would do a quick PA and happily zip through DSO. The initial setup was an issue - how to get every piece of software and hardware to talk to each other, but once that was done, all I did was to keep a backup image and ensure that after each windows updates, things didn't go south.

Fast forward to today. I switched to the ASIAir Pro (I was already in the ZWO ecosystem so not a real issue) after considering the use of a NUC or similar mini PC, because the feature set I needed (PA, guiding, Go To, Platesolving, Electronic focusing) was there and it all worked on plug and play - zero configuration needed. Also cut down on an additional power supply in the field to power up the laptop. I have been using the ASIAir Pro since it came out and the feature set keeps getting richer with every update. 

Would I have more flexibility with a win based option? Sure, but I don't need it. Do I want to do EAA with SharpCap? I would like some of the features in SharpCap which are not present in ASIAir, but I can live without them.  Would I consider going back to a win based solution? For sure, if SharpCap had a killer feature I couldn't live with. But then again ZWO is baking into ASIAir plenty of features from its competitors and they are optimizing their software and hardware integration, making it easier for users.

To cut a long story short, it's ease of use with about 90% of the feature set Vs mostly unlimited flexibility but harder to configure and maintain. Choose your poison, there is no right or wrong and the cost of testing both methods is low, as you already have the mini PC and trying the ASIAir and then selling it if not suitable for you, you can always sell it and lose just a bit of money, for - let's call it - the cost of rental and trying it out.

Just my 2c...

Zooming in and out provides different perspectives, hence why a zoom is a good fit for solar…

Pentax SMC XF 6.5-19.5mm for me. Lightweight, decent FOV and a good range for solar work!

George,

Keep in mind that battery power will be used mostly by Peltier cooling of your camera, so you will definitely get less than 4 hours. Expect 1.5 hours max unless you set the cooling to a more "reasonable" temp than the 35° delta permitted by this camera.

If you find a cable with splitters you should get the job done. I did so in the past but now I use a Pegasus power box (the smallest version they have) to distribute power.

We are all here for you, eager to spend your money for you 🤣

But seriously, enjoy all the planning that goes now into deciding all the accessories for the scope and sooner than later hopefully, there will be a "First light with my Tak FC100DZ" report from you!

Gary,

I have the clamshell on my 102NSV as well because... clamshell!

That link to Aliexpress will serve you fine. These come out in black and silver, but silver fits most for this scope! A good 6x30 or 8x50 RACI finderscope and you are good to go.

Another option closer to home but more expensive is this finder shoe.

There is also a More Blue fine focus option if you prefer that over the MEF option.

Many other options for mounts and tripods at a lower OTA weight!

I agree with Alan. There is no right or wrong here. You WANT the 4" but logic says more light gathering. If you should ever change your mind re the Tak, they have excellent resale value. Also, you may buy the 5" to supplement later in the future.

Just remember to budget for the extras for the Tak:

• I would fit it with a MEF to have a two speed focuser. 
• Don't buy the complete OTA package -  consider buying just the tube holder or the More Blue 95m rings and fitting a regular finderbase to use any finderscope / RDF as the straight through finder scope does not come with a chiropractor. You can fit this on any Takahashi focuser.

The AZ75 does have the encoders "properly" installed and not as an afterthought, so if you need encoders, the AZ75 is a better proposition.

However, even without encoders probably quite more expensive, but it looks like a quality piece of kit, that's for sure!