AdeKing

I've just received one too and found that it was perfectly aligned for the Moonlite attached to my ZS66 straight out of the box. When the bright spot is in the centre circle, the solar disc is pretty much in the centre of the FOV of my 12mm Ortho. Very pleased with it. Interested to know how @johninderby removed the white disc to highlight the etched lines. I unthreaded the retaining ring but the disc wasn't going anywhere without persuasion with a blade so I've left it alone.

Thanks for giving some balance to my negative experience Steve. On reading my response again it is much more negative than intended. It sounds like good and bad examples can be had once you've got the item. My experience was clearly one of the latter and sadly enough to put me off. Apologies again @domstar for my rant above.

I had one of these a while ago and used it twice before quickly selling it on as personally I found it about as much use as a chocolate teapot. In the example that I owned I found that the "click" between eyepiece positions ranged from vague to virtually non-existant and as such found that I spent too much time twisting the turret left and right trying to get the eyepiece in the correct position to align with the optical path and give a view. I have no desire to replace it, though I guess that I could just have been unlucky with the one that I had. There are others available, in addition to the Geoptik one linked to above although they tend to be rather expensive. However, given the prices they sell for they should be supremely well engineered. https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p5863_TEC-1-25--Eyepiece-Turret-for-up-to-5x-1-25--eyepieces.html https://www.astronomics.com/takahashi-4-turret-1-25-eyepiece-holder.html https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/npae-rotating-eyepiece-turret.html Based on my experience I'd suggest that you avoid the Baader Q-turret and look towards something like a Baader Mk IV Zoom, which gets good reviews (I own both a Mk III and Mk IV Baader). The slight issue with the Baader Zoom is that the AFOV is a bit tight at 24mm at only 48 degrees getting progressively wider up to 68 degrees at 8mm, but I've never found it to be too much of a hinderance to be honest. The Pentax Zoom is very well regarded, but has a significantly higher price tag than the Baader.

My B1200 scope side filter reflects red/green though the green is not uniform like in your image. Serial: 20101259

At one of the clubs I attend, being in my forties I'm definitely a younger member, but in the other group there is a more even spread but nobody really under 30 I'd guess. I manage to make the monthly meetings with talks but struggle to attend the observing sessions due to them mostly being during the week and me having to be up early in the morning and all that.

An example of how to show a product at its best (not). 🤣🤣🤣

I had been observing for a while before I took a break and read your post Stu and that prompted me to dust off the Maxbrights and grab a, pair of 24mm Orthos. What a revelation, its so long since I've spent any time on WL that I'd forgotten how much more detail the BVs reveal in WL. The detail in the larger spot was stunning in moments of good seeing as you've already said. I think I might have even had a fleeting glimpse of true granulation too rather than the suggestion of macro-granulation that I normally see. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and early evening.

Thanks for the heads up, I wondered whether there was something lurking around the corner that was causing the proms on the limb, now I know.

Yesterday I had a nice StellarVue 9x50 RACI finder and 12mm Circle V Ortho delivered thanks to @F15Rules, thanks Dave. I'm very impressed with this, it's a proper small telescope and may well be used as a very compact travel setup. Just waiting for guidescope rings to arrive on a slow boat from China. Looking forward to trying out the Ortho in the LS60 today.

I seldom observe near the Zenith Shaun, so straight up wouldn't bother me too much but I was just concerned with how much the extra length of the ED120 (approx 960mm) compared to the FC100 (approx 815mm) that you're using might reduce the maximum "safe" viewing altitude by, though I know that in reality you shouldn't leave a mount slewing unattended just in case. I'm pretty much decided on the mount but tend to massively over analyse things before I take the plunge. I'm also quite keen to avoid having to purchase another astro tripod if I can (plus it adds £200 the the price of the setup), as I have several astro tripods cluttering up the garage already and another wouldn't be well received by SWMBO. Out of interest, does anyone know whether the mounting plate from the Skywatcher Pillar Mount is compatible with the 16" Skywatcher extension tube? If it is and the EQ6 version can be purchased as a part that might be an option for providing a flat base to mount the AZ Pro on if your happy to level using the tripod legs instead of the star nuts. Thinking out loud here, someone tell me if its a stupid idea.

I wasn't aware either until recently when someone pointed it out in a post. The C9.25 looks a bit of a monster. I really need to drill out and tap one of my short dovetails to take my EQ6 counterweight bar so that I can use a counterweight on my mount, like you have. I'm too tight to pay for one when I have the parts laying around, just need a suitable drill and tap.

I have an EZTouch as well and its a great mount that I use quite often with either an ED120 or ED100. It struggles a bit with vibrations on my Starwave F/11 though, but thats more down to the length of the tube than the weight. I think that there is actually still a version of the mount posted above that is in production. 365Astronomy have a Giant Alt-AZ or GIAZ mount which looks nearly identical apart from the colour. https://www.365astronomy.com/Giant-Alt-Azimuth-Telescope-Mount-with-Stainless-Steel-Tripod.html With proper balancing these mounts are an absolute pleasure to use. Ade

I was thinking about getting a price for a custom made Aluminium one, though I'm wondering whether it would be possible to make one out of wood. I can't find the adaptor plate again, though it might have been the ioptron adaptor for a permanent pier that I'm thinking of which I think has threaded holes for the Star nuts. Sounds like the EQ6 tripod and pier extension are compatible with the mount based on @fate187 post above. I'm guessing that's because the North pin on the EQ6 is removable which isn't unfortunately the case on the EQ5/HEQ5 tripod and pier extension.

Thanks for the info Steve, I won't be getting one anytime soon but have probably settled on this option like yourself. I thought I'd seen an adaptor from Primaluce or someone similar that allowed fitting to an EQ5 tripod head, I just need to remember who made the adaptor, or where I saw the link. I'll be interested in how you get on if you get the mount.

Thanks for the info @Pig, I figured that I'd probably need a pier extension for the Starwave f/11 with it being about 1,100mm focal length, and your photo has just confirmed that to be the case. Its also confirmed that fouling may well occur with the ED100 and ED120, both with a 900mm focal length, but I think they'll be ok. The accuracy is nice to hear about, there is someone at our local astro group who brought his along for me to have a look at and the lack of cables etc is a big draw, so I may have to speak nicely to him and try one of the OTAs on it at one of our observing sessions. From reading the rest of the thread, I think I'll definitely be ok with the ED100 and the ED120 weight wise but am likely to run into issues with all scopes fouling the legs unless a pier extension is used, which is a tad on the expensive side. The Starwave 102 f/11 may also present an issue due to the moment arm, so I might have to carry on learning to love the EQ5 Mount for that one. This has been an interesting thread and thanks to all for the information and discussion.

Thanks Stu

I'm interested too, I'm keen to know whether it'll be OK with an ED120 or a Starwave Classic 102 f/11. The tube weights should be within the limits, its the length I'm more concerned with, particularly the f/11.

I've managed to reduce some of the flex by tightening the clamp very tight, which has improved the feel significantly, but the panning handle definitely flexes. However, it feels more like I was expecting it to now. ?

A new to me Gitzo GH2720 QR head for my lightest weight travel setup following a review from @iPeacea while ago. Shown here with my ZS66SD in WL solar mode. Copes nicely with this setup though the panning arm is much more flimsy than I'd expect on a head of this price bracket.

Thanks John, this one came to me after passing from @Grumpy Martian to @Moonshane and back again. I'm very pleased with it. I knew you had a gold ED120 as well but didn't know you had the same focuser too. Martin tells me that Shane added the Moonlite and substantial rings to the setup. What I wasn't prepared for was the weight increase from the ED100, I can see why Martin was finding it a bit of a handful. Martin comes down to Swanage regularly so still gets to look through it.

I don't know Dave, but I'm making the most of it because looking at the direction the clouds are travelling I think its coming from Stu's direction. Thanks Stu, I'm really pleased and am sorted with scopes for a while now. I wasn't expecting clear skies today so have WL and Ha running to take advantage.

First outing for the ED120 in WL mode with Lunt 1.25" wedge. Will try with the BVs shortly.

That's a shame. Looks like I'm going to miss it this year as that is Mrs Kings birthday weekend and she'll never agree to camping and astronomy for HER birthday. ? This seems a lot later than the last two years? Hopefully see you all in 2020 then. Ade

Glad that you're pleased with it Steve. Looking forward to participating in international SUNday again.

Very nice Steve, that will make a nice difference to the contrast. Hope it wasn't looking through the DS Lunt at Sixpenny Handley that sparked that purchase. My Lunt is with me at work today, but now its lunchtime, we're clouded out again ?