AdeKing

17 hours ago, AdeKing said:

I guess that there is a bit of room for slight altitude adjustment in the holes in the clamps anyway.

Maybe I try it with a spare ADM clamp that I have first and see how it looks.

I had a go with my ADM clamp and have found that I can achieve pretty good, though not perfect alignment by using a milk bottle shim and using the altitude slack around the bolts so I'll give that a go first before shelling out on the adjustment plate as it's been a heavy couple of months on the wallet 😳.

8 hours ago, Stu said:

Thanks Ade 😀

At this stage I haven’t bought the adjuster plate, mainly for financial reasons. When I tried the prototype it included an AZ adjustment and while it worked, I found it rather fiddly, particularly for the AZ adjustment. I do like having the scopes exactly aligned, particularly for solar when both are at high power. When you have one widefield and one higher power it matters less. I may try one later, depending on how far out mine end up being.

Thanks Stu, I think I'll give it a miss to start with and see whether it's actually needed first.

It will irritate me if it is needed and I don't get it, but I'm hoping that the engineering is of such a quality that the alignment won't be too far out.

I guess that there is a bit of room for slight altitude adjustment in the holes in the clamps anyway.

Maybe I try it with a spare ADM clamp that I have first and see how it looks.

4 hours ago, Stu said:

I finally joined the official AZ100 owners club, having tested and provided feedback on the original prototype unit. Looks great, nice little bracket to hold my Nexus II and the handle seems very handy too.

Won’t get to try it for a few weeks unfortunately but can’t wait!

That's excellent news @Stu' I'm glad that you got one.

As someone who regularly uses two scopes, did you opt for the alt az adjustment plate gizmo for the second saddle or did your previous testing with the mount suggest that it wasn't really needed?

I'm looking at adding a second clamp so I can use WL and Ha scopes together but am pondering whether the adjustment plate is needed.

As the mount doesn't track I'm leaning towards not needing it, but am still undecided.

4 hours ago, Alan White said:

Ade, the plate I bought from Serge at Astro Devices with my Nexus DSC looks different,
but it not purchsed for the AZ100:

 

Hi Alan,

I'm not seeing any images, but thanks for checking.  I did look on Serge's site and the shelf there is different.  The box it came is is also branded as Rowan Optics.

Anyway, I came up with a satusfactory solution that didn't involve any extra costs or drilling.

I had a 1/4" camera QR base securing screw hanging around which is just long enough to pass through the plastic shelf and thread into the base of the ball socket.

There is just enough clearance between the back of the head unit and the top of the screw for the Nexus DSC to clear the screw.

I may also see if I can find a serrated washer as I note that this is what Serge supplies with his shelf. This should stop the shelf from rotating.

Now feels much more secure.

2 hours ago, Steve Clay said:

I use a tiny bit of thread lock and there is enough at the top to get a spanner on to nip it up. I do agree it's not great.

Thanks for the tips Steve, I'll try tightening it up with a spanner and am pretty sure I have some blue threadlock in the bike toolbox somewhere.

40 minutes ago, lifeonmars said:

I  purchased the Encoder package with Nexus dsc, and picked up that if you ask for the shelf  they will throw it in free  but this one as the single screw

Me too, through FLO, and you're right, the shelf was a freebie so I probably shouldn't be too bothered.

However, I think I might try 1/4" screw with a countersunk head and then add a corresponding countersink to the hole in the plastic shelf to tidy things up.

4 hours ago, Alan White said:

OK, how about a turn of events I did not forsee,
the camper van has a starting issue, we are due away in a weeks time 🤪
So any changes are parked like the van is presently until I know what money is still available.
 

Sorry to hear that Alan, but you'll get there in the end.

I am impressed with the AZ100 on the whole but have a niggle with the Nexus DSC shelf.

Is anyone else unimpressed with the cheap plastic threaded attachment to secure the shelf to the ball socket or is it just me?

Whatever I do, I can't get the damn thing tight and so quite frequently it will work loose and the shelf swivels to an odd angle.

See the offending article circled on the attached photo.

I'm tempted to get a suitable threaded countersunk screw and attack the shelf with a countersink bit to match.

I'm not sure whether this is an Astro Devices or Rowan fabrication but this solution seems a bit cheap and nasty to me when compared to the quality of both the mount and Nexus DSC head unit that it was supplied with.

Edit: I assume that the shelf that is shipped with the AZ100, encoders and Nexus DSC bundle comes from Astro Devices as the description on FLO for the Rowan Nexus DSC shelf suggests that it's CNC Machined and of an all metal construction.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/all-mounts-motors/nexus-dsc-shelf-with-ball-joint-for-rowan-az100.html

I sense more raiding of the piggy bank is on order.

1 hour ago, Highburymark said:

Real shame this John. Loved the Moonlite I’ve used, almost as good as Feather Touch focusers for most purposes. But Chinese focusers getting better and better, then there’s also the Baaders.

I own three dual speed and one single speed motorised, all of which I've been fortunate enough to pick up used for a reasonable price and really love using them.  They are as luxurious as I can afford and so have made a resolution not to sell them after seeing the announcement earlier this year.

1 hour ago, johninderby said:

Lot of really annoyed people out there that were planning on buying a regular Moonlite . 🤬🤬🤬

I can imagine. I'm hoping that Ron will continue to offer the mounting flanges for the manual focusers but am concerned that might not happen.

Oh well, at least that is a reason for me not to chop & change scopes.

1 hour ago, Steve Clay said:

The push to is really good..

 

The push-to is really, really good.

Looking very nice Dave, the Wilko green will go nicely on the tripod hub.

Lovely clean counterweight bar to boot.

I did a similar mod with a TAL wooden tripod for the GP but was very fortunate and @Alan White kindly donated me a genuine Vixen tripod hub and I picked up a Berlebach spreader which proved a vast improvement over the original thin metal tray on the original tripod.

The Celestron XLT102ED, your old Skywatcher 120ED and the Altair Starwave 102 f/11 I own have all given excellent views over the years.

The thing is with planetary that the seeing plays such a large part.

You know my armoury of scopes only too well and whilst I've had what I considered to be excellent views of Jupiter through all of them the view that I had of Jupiter in the small hours of 22nd July with the ED100 far surpassed and views I'd had previously so I can only put that down to excellent seeing conditions at that time.

Ade

An Oklop bag to protect my AZ100 when I take it out to dark sites and (especially for @JeremyS) a pan handle for said mount to stop me grabbing the drawtube when moving rapidly between targets.

I won't post a photo of the pan handle just in case it raises Jeremy's blood pressure a bit too much 'cos you know what he's like where handles are concerned 😂.

How about something like the iOptron tri-pier Alan?

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/all-mounts-motors/ioptron-tri-pier-portable-pier-tripod.html

Not cheap by any means but this could be set up, with a mount on top then covered and left set up semi-permanently.

This would have the flexibility that it would be very stable and can be easily moved to give you to the prime observing spot back when you need it for the dob.

7 hours ago, Ags said:

More toys for my ZS 66 arrived - a TS 99% dielectric diagonal. after years of using SkyWatcher freebie diagonals I finally have a proper one. I wonder if it will make any difference?

Initial thoughts on fitting the diagonal and inserting an eyepiece - nosepiece catches in compression ring! Good thing I avoid changing eyepieces.

You could always wrap insulating tape around the undercut area to stop this.  I think it was @John has suggested this previously.

Ade

On 05/07/2021 at 20:59, F15Rules said:

Just an Awesome combination Steve!😎

Dave

A beautiful combination there Steve and a perfect combi for the AZ100.

9 hours ago, Ags said:

To get a measly 5 degrees from the ZS66  I would need 2" eyepieces, a 2" amici prism, and enough backfocus, none of which I have. Also, the ZS66 focusser is only 4 cm not 2". 

If you unscrew the blue collar at the end of the 1.25" compression fitting you have a standard SCT thread. 

The 2" William Optics star diagonal with SCT fitting should then reach focus with 2" eyepieces.

Other SCT diagonals may also work but I can only speak for the W/O one as that was what I used.

SkySafari suggests that an ES 24mm 68 degree AFOV gives you 4.29 degrees FOV, not quite 5 degrees though I know.

I'm glad that it's finally arrived safely and that you're pleased with your first impressions Agnes.

I'm hoping that I don't regret letting it go but it's seen very little use over the last year and is such a nice little scope that it really deserves to be used and enjoyed by someone.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Ade

I've just switched my filter out today, swapping it for the one I treated with Viakal 2 years or so ago.

Since I treated it 2 years ago the filter had been stored wrapped in tissue in a Ziploc bag with silica gel sachets as a spare and there was not a trace of cloudiness to be seen when I fitted it today.

In comparison, the one I received as a replacement from Bresser and fitted to the diagonal had gone really quite cloudy.

I think I might keep the whole B1200 diagonal in a bag with silica gel and see if that prolongs the life.

In the meantime, the cloudy filter was treated with Viakal, rinsed then polished with Baader Optical wonder fluid before being put into storage.

The view through the eyepiece has improved noticeably.

Ade

3 hours ago, callisto said:

I've been more than happy with my Vortex bino's (8x42 Crossfires)....Enjoy 😃

 

Mark

Thanks Mark, I managed to get a quick look through them after work and I'm pretty impressed with the view which is nice and sharp and contrasty with no obvious false colour when I looked at some dead tree branches against a bright sky.

Looking forward to trying them out at night once the clouds from inside the box disperse.

Ade

Courtesy of Auntie FLO and after a very long wait a pair of Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 10x50s (to replace the Helios Naturesport pair I sold months ago), a binocular harness for my Helios Lightwing 8x40s and a new tripod adaptor to fit the Diamondbacks.

I originally ordered the Vortex Crossfire 10x50s in February as a birthday present to myself but after they were absent from a couple of shipments and then when the supplier couldn't provide FLO with an ETA I decided to pay to upgrade to the Diamondbacks instead, which Steve Tonkin (@BinocularSky) tells me are highly regarded by game wardens in Africa.

@FLO have been very helpful in chasing up and providing me with updates, so thank you very much Ann, my birthday present has finally arrived.

Can't wait to use them now.

Sounds like there could be a problem with the Dioptre adjustment for the right eye.  I have the same binoculars and have no issues reaching sharp focus with both eyes.

I know a friend of mine had a similar issue with a pair of Opticron Oregon 15x70s but was able to find a fix to reset the right eye adjustment starting point so that he could reach sharp focus with the right eye as well, if that makes sense.

If they are brand new then it would be worth invoking the warranty or talking to the retailer in the USA, the latter would be my choice in this case.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Ade

Not sure whether or not I saw them from down here in Poole.

I initially thought they were Noctilucent but then they faded as the horizon darkened so I thought they might have been normal Cirrus catching the last of the rays.

What do you think?

Photos were taken at about 22:44 BST 

18 minutes ago, Saganite said:

Hope you don't have to wait too long to discovers how good it is Ade....

Me too Steve.  Had a quick play with it this morning pretending to align on stars that I couldn't see and the alignment procedure seems easy enough.  I also like just how many different catalogues are on the Nexus DSC, particularly when it comes to double stars.  I can see this rapidly becoming the mount that is left permanently set up on my pillar mount, even though it doesn't yet track. 

A bit nervous to know how much the GoTo/Tracking combo will cost when its released as I know that I'll want it, need to look at what body parts I can sell next 🤔 😀

12 hours ago, Stu said:

Lovely stuff Ade. Right on cue, it started to rain the same day that arrived! 🤣🤣

They’re chunky fellows aren’t they!

Hi Stu,

Yes, the FLO warning on the box proved correct and clouds were indeed released.  So many in fact that I had to wait for them to clear to see what was in the box, well that's what it feels like anyway.

The mount is indeed "Chunky" though I have to confess that it does look like it will be nice and stable for any scope that I'm ever likely to mount on it, which was part of my reason for saving up and spending so much on it.

Starting to save for the iOptron Tri-Pier now, but in the meantime the 2" CG-5 tripod with pillar mount seems stable enough.

Once an iOptron pier adaptor arrives, I'll be able to mount it on the Berlebach Uni 18 that I use for the my AZ Pro as its far too much faff to keep removing the tripod legs and swapping the Berlebach top plates over.

Interestingly, like the CG-5 the AZ100 fits into the well of my HEQ5 16" pillar extension top plate and just needs an M12 bole to secure it.

Ade

Delivered earlier today 🎉🎉🎉

However, opening the boxes released the clouds contained within so no chance to put it through its paces yet.

FIrst impression was OMG that's a lot bigger and heavier than I was expecting.

Can't wait for a clear sky to have a play and put it through its paces.