Highburymark

Thought I'd jot down some notes about my new Lunt LS60 as I think my experience might be useful to anyone else who may be thinking of buying a new ha solar scope. I previously had an LS50 - a terrific little performer - but I wanted something a bit bigger that could offer more magnification while maintaining detail and resolution. I considered a Daystar Quark, but I'm afraid there were just too many stories of poor reliability and questionable customer service. However, moving up to an LS60 is a big commitment - particularly if you go for a 60mm double stack filter as I did. But living in the centre of London means that I do more solar than night time observing, so I sold a lot of other kit, including the LS50, and raised enough cash for the pressure tuned version with the B1200 blocking filter. The best deals on offer were from Astrograph (the scope) and Tring (the filter) - both well below the rrp at other retailers. So I swooped. The scope arrived first - so I was not a little excited to see how it performed in single stack mode - using Pentax XF zoom and TV plossls. That first week I had three separate sessions - all of them hugely disappointing. First of all, the pressure tuner itself had to be screwed almost all the way in before any change in the sun's disc was noticeable. By this I mean the PT had to be tightened until it was well beyond the last exposed brass thread. This made it very difficult to keep the image in the eyepiece while adjusting the pressure. At this point I could see some small proms - but the surface was very washed out. The fourth session was a little better after I had greased the o-rings in the tuner. This time there were hints of mottling and possibly a small filament - but again the PT had to be tightened to the end of its range to see anything. There appeared to be no real sweet spot when moving the sun's image around the fov either. Not impressed. Then the double stack filter arrived. My LS50 was transformed by double stacking, and I was praying that that this scope would be the same. Out into the garden. Nice clear day. As I cranked up the pressure..... my heart sank a little. A blank disc apart from a small sunspot. The sort of image attainable with a £20 sheet of Baader solar film. Perhaps I had a damaged etalon? I regreased the pt. Acclimatised my eyes. Threw a towel over my head. On with the eyepatch. Tuned and clocked the DS filter. Perfected focus. Adjusted the piston. Now I noticed better mottling - a few small but nice proms. Pushed up the magnification with the Pentax zoom - and was surprised that helped deliver more contrast too. Now I was starting to have a bit of fun. Right up to 6.5mm, the proms were looking very nice indeed. Then I thought I'd check 'Gong' - and saw the most featureless sun i think I've ever seen. So I ended the session more hopeful that I was making progress. If you'd asked me then whether the views I'd seen were of the quaility I'd expect from a telescope costing as much as this had, then the answer would have been an emphatic no. But at least we were heading in the right direction. Ahead of the next session, I refitted and regreased the PT o-rings, and attached a Baader Steeltrack focuser in place of the rather poor stock GSO unit, which allowed me to reach focus with my binoviewer. I also experiemented much more with the double stack filter - achieving more tilt than I had previously. And I made sure that the next observation was earlier in the morning for better seeing. Frankly, the single stack views were still very disappointing. Yes there was slightly better detail - mainly because of the binoviewer - with 15mm TV plossls. But not of the order I was hoping for. Then I attached the DS. Adjusted the DS tuner so the sun 'shadows' - which are a feature of all external DS filters - were only just out of view (so the background sky was redder than previous views), and was rewarded with a wonderful sight - the best proms I have ever seen - breathtaking detail with both the Pentax at 6.5mm and the 15mm TV plossls In the binoviewer. I pushed up the PT further, moved the image around the fov. And there were the lovely snaking filaments I'd been waiting to see ever since first light, beautifully contrasted in three dimensions against the orange peel surface. Today I've been out again - trying out a pair of 25mm Fujiyama orthos in the bino - and have enjoyed even better results, particularly following a great arching prom on the limb. So - when I bought this scope I knew there would be a learning curve, but I also thought my experience with the ls50 would mean I'd be up and running quickly. In fact it has taken 5-6 weeks to get to the stage I am now. Every pressure tuned Lunt is different - and I'm glad I've been patient with this one, working out its foibles and quirks. I'm still not happy about the PT travel or the views in single stack, but double stacked it's absolutely delivering. I'm going to try changing the o-rings for another pair with a slightly thicker cross section to see if it makes any difference to the PT, or to single stack views. But otherwise I now have the solar scope I wished for.

Very nice - congrats

Hmmm. There my knowledge runs out Floater. Though if I had a TV76 I'd be too happy to worry about a replacement focuser ?

Great - glad you've been able to take advantage of the 365 deal. Presume the tilt tuned LS60 uses the same focuser as the pressure tuned - am sure the Steeltrack will fit. If not it's an easy return. Keep us posted.

Hi Floater, it's actually the newt (NT) focuser you want - not the frac one. Baader # 2957030 - 2" NT Steeltrack Crayford, bf 30mm. £149 at 365astronomy. All you do is remove the newt adapter plate it comes with (with a hex screw) and the focuser fits the LS60 perfectly. If you look back at alanjgreen's posts on page 3 of this thread there's a bit more information. It's a terrific upgrade for binoviewing - so much more robust than the stock focuser - and the light path reduction is a bonus.

Pleased to discover that focusing WO binovs with 1.6x Barlow (in Lunt LS60) is easy with the replacement Steeltrack NT (old model) focuser - see pic - much reduced light path (almost 2cm) over the stock GSO unit. More expense of course, but worth considering if the 2x Barlow delivers too much magnification - and great deal available at 365 at moment

I'll stop hogging the thread after this - but now have the double stack unit and Baader Steeltrack focuser for the LS60. The Steeltrack (thanks to Alanjgreen on the forum who gave me the idea) - is the old Newtonian model, and fits perfectly. Very nice upgrade for binoviewer users or imagers. The new Diamond Steeltrack NT does not fit the LS60. But was able to pick up a (brand new) old version from 365 Astro for under £150 - they still have stock at this reduced price if anyone's interested. Had a couple of sessions with the new scope which have been interesting - going to save comments for a proper report once I've done some more observing, and once I've managed to get the binoviewer focused.

Thanks Niall!

Thanks Derek - me too. I know a bit more about these telescopes now than I did when I started ha solar a few years ago - though I've also learnt every example is different. But good forecast for tomorrow - and I've just emailed work saying I won't be in until lunchtime - so an interesting morning to look forward to

Excited to have taken delivery of this 60mm Lunt - and double stack filter arrived yesterday. Haven't had chance to test it yet - but tomorrow's looking promising ?

I only had a few Meade plossls until 4 years ago. Saw me through a decade of stargazing with a 4" Mak.

Think I recognise that Pan 35 in your kit Piero. The only eyepiece I've ever used that could produce frac-sharp stars in an SCT. Wonderful EP. I have now sold all my weighty EPs - apart from the Ethos 13 and Leica ASPH which are most definitely staying - and moved to a lighter set up - the result is attached. I'm particularly enjoying the 11, 5 and 3.5mm Naglers. Only remaining purchases to be made are 25mm and 32mm pairs for solar binoviewing with the Lunt LS60. Considering Celestron 32mm plossls and Fujiyama 25mm orthos. Need to do a bit more research.

Very good of you Ade - thanks

As expected WO binos were just shy of reaching focus in the Lunt 60 with the 1.6x Barlow unit. Can't find any UK outlet selling the 2x unit - whether it be a WO or Skywatcher. All part of the fun with a new solar scope - buying the scope is the easy part.

Just in case this information might be useful to anyone, I don't think the newer diamond Steeltrack Newtonian version will fit the LS60 - think it's just the previous model

Thanks - very nice set up - I think the Skywatcher/WO/Revelation binoviewers are all the same. So the key addition seems to be a 2x Barlow

Thanks! Does your LS50 have a B400 blocking filter? The 600 should make binoviewing possible.

Ok - interesting Floater - I have WO binoviewer too. Only have the WO 20mm and TV plossl 15mm pairs. From reading the forums was expecting the WO to reach focus with the LS60. If it's not possible then one option is to sell the WOs and buy a Baader Maxbright pair (with a Steeltrack focuser) which should be better. But need to do a bit more research. Will report back when I make progress.

Thanks Derek - pleasure to meet you too

Lovely new scope arrived yesterday. Lunt LS60 pressure tuned with B1200 blocking filter. A 60mm double stack filter on its way. Sold 3 scopes and several TeleVue EPs to pay for it - but based as I am in the middle of London, I do far more solar than night observing, so the reshuffle makes sense. Will also allow me to binoview - couldn't do that with my last scope. By the way - if anyone on the forum is looking to buy a Lunt, worth checking out Astrograph (in UK) where I bought the LS60 - competitive prices. Elsewhere all Lunt prices appear to be the same - full rrp. One more thing. I had the pleasure of meeting fellow SGL member Slimpaling (Mike) yesterday at Kings Cross station - he was buying my LS50. I think he got a bit of a surprise when he met me - because he was expecting me to be my avatar - i.e. George Harrison circa 1970 with waist length hair - and not a lanky middle aged bloke in a suit ?.

Thanks Mike - and Stu for the original thread. Although I removed the entire focuser unit from my FC for aircraft travel this summer, I didn't know that the spacer section could be detached on its own. Really useful as I'm using binoviewers more often

Am moving up from my much loved Lunt LS50 DS to an LS60 DS. Have put in order for 60mm double stack unit - so now have to decide whether to go for the tilt tuned or pressure tuned LS60. Should have new set up to post here on SGL in time for that most sun-drenched of months in the UK, November ?. But the LS50 has been a fantastic scope and I will miss it.

From the photo you posted the pressure tuner definitely looks well used - if it was like that out of the box I'd send it straight back. It should be pristine.

I do use a counterweight most of the time, but it still tracks pretty smoothly without. The counterweight also provides peace of mind that it won't tip over if the scope is accidentally nudged - always a danger with such a light tripod.

Yes Piero - that's exactly my set up with all of my scopes now. They work together very well - particularly with light scopes like Taks - and I'm currently on holiday in Spain using them so they are great for travel. The Gitzo is particularly recommended - it's very light, and capable of a 25kg load. As I've said before though, they are expensive. I managed to pick mine up in a half price sale. So worth shopping around. The Ercole is also very capable. Last night I spent about an hour lying flat on the ground with the scope pointing vertically at Cygnus and Lyra, and it was steady as a rock.