BGazing

@FLO is there any guide to alignment etc with Syn Scan Pro app?

On 29/03/2019 at 14:46, FLO said:

So far all the ones we have seen and sold have had the silver machined metal knob. 

Steve 

Now when I look at it, you are selling a dual Vixen-Losmandy version...I have ordered the Vixen one. Hence the difference, Vixen version gets no bling, I hope clamping power is the same.

@JeremyS, that was my reaction, too. I could swear the picture on the website was like the one on FLO when I ordered...

I've sourced mine from the US (prior to the mount delivery) and the fastening knob is not the nice silver one you have, but rather a puny-feeling and scrumpy-looking one on their website...?

https://www.admaccessories.com/product/vpa-azgt-v-series-dovetail-adapter-for-skywatcher-az-gti-mount/

2 minutes ago, FLO said:

Thank-you for he heads up ? 

Artesky wasn’t a good fit for FLO so we stopped stocking them some time ago. I don’t think we have ever stocked Geoptik - perhaps you are thinking of another retailer. 

Steve

Yup, could have been the TS with Geoptik.

My EQ8 Artesky bag is still in operation...but I feel only because I use it relatively lightly.

49 minutes ago, Prador said:

Many thanks for that. Exactly what I'm after and cheaper than repurposing an awning bag or similar. A bargain at £60!

As an aside, how do I get in on the gift gig? ?

Thank you for the link.

Ah, it was accidental. They wanted to test their C8 bag with a real C8 and hear what an owner thinks...and I happen to be one of the rare C8 owners in Serbia.

Anyway, the padding is  good (10mm I believe), zippers are pretty cool, and bags are really practical. I was surprised when I saw the quality, prior to that had no idea that someone in Serbia makes bags.

@FLO might want to take note, with Brexit and all. I bought one Artesky and one Geoptik bag from FLO, Artesky is below Oklop in quality...significantly, and Geoptik is I'd say on par but with much less thought given to usability features.

They do custom, too. I might order something for Evo mount, just have to think how I want it shaped. They even do 15mm padding on request, but that's custom.

On 18/02/2019 at 17:52, Prador said:

Cheers for all your suggestions and I can't believe I didn't check Altair. Having a look, they do have an extensive range but nothing for a 250pds. It's quite a brute and I'm having trouble finding anything under £150.

Oklop bags, very good quality. I have one for my Tak (disclosure, it was a gift from the guys who make them).

https://www.astroshop.eu/carrying-bags/oklop-padded-bag-for-250-1200-newtonians/p,55894

Okay, a question...how difficult will it be to fit that ADM thingie. I do not have the mount yet and I've heard it was not built with modding in mind.

https://www.admaccessories.com/product/vpa-azgt-v-series-dovetail-adapter-for-skywatcher-az-gti-mount/

looks the biz, someone have just posted this in CN AZ GTi thread

On 08/02/2019 at 16:17, John said:

I've done the same comparison and, overall, preferred the NBP. Yes there was a red tint to stars but I thought that the DGM NBP bought out a little more structure in nebulae than the Astronomik UHC did with my scopes / eye / skies and it's the nebulosity that I use such a filter to see.

I recently asked about the Astronomik UHC again (it's been a while since I owned one) on another forum and it got a bit of a rasberry from the folks there, which surprised me because Astronomik make good filters, if a little "wide" for some tastes.

Filter preferences are pretty personal though so I've no doubt that opinions will vary as is often the case !

I'd love to try another Astronomik O-III though. That one was all the deep sky filter that I needed for quite a while.

Astronomik have narrowed their bands a couple of years ago. I have their new OIII and it is superb.

I also have DGM NPB and it is good on nebulas, but I honestly did not compare it with Astronomik. It has some ghosting on the stars, for those who are concerned. 

6 minutes ago, moise212 said:

meteoblue predicts also seeing

their seeing predictions are essentially useless at the moment...not a single night they guessed it right lately. predict mediocre, it's excellent, predict fantastic and it turns out poor...

125 is much bigger and heavier than a 4 inch frac of comparable focal length, it will be around (or more than) 9 kgs with diagonal, finder, dovetail and ep. AZ 4 cannot handle it...I suppose you included it in the discussion just for the sake of comparing quality?

32 minutes ago, vlaiv said:

Well it looks like I'm going to have a chance at taking a peek thru your new FC 100 DF (I guess that is new scope? ) if you are planning to come to Messier Marathon on 14th/15th?

Weather permitting we were thinking of going to Debelo brdo on those dates, the sky is much better than Letenka (where I assume MM is taking place).

In any case, we are close enough, planets are getting higher every evening, so yes, you are very welcome. DF it is...

14 hours ago, vlaiv said:

Hi, no not yet. Did not get much chance to observe this winter, weather was bad so purchase is postponed until further notice

TS photoline 102 F/7 is still main candidate for me, I have 80mm F/6 apo triplet (also photoline) but I use that only for imaging. For visual I wanted something with a bit more light grasp and a bit more FL.

I'll probably do sort of review with testing when I purchase scope, so you will get the chance to see my impressions, unless of course, you make your purchase first.

But that is why winter is best used for planning and purchasing.

You are welcome to have a look through my new 100mm acquisition to see whether you like the 100mm/f7ish combo. 

On 15/01/2018 at 14:02, Mak the Night said:

I have them both and have no intentions to part with either lol. They seem very different animals to me, both in physical size, weight and FOV. Both Barlow and reduce well. I tend to see the DeLite as a lunar/planetary EP (it was designed as a sort of light Delos) and the Panoptic is more of an all rounder. It is good for low and medium power viewing in lighter, smaller scopes. I even have a bino pair. Although it can be used for almost anything in my experience. 

Hear, hear.

I regularly use Pan 24 in my small frac, it is almost as light as the T6 Naglers. Delos 17 is heavenly, and I absolutely love it on galaxies and some globulars...but it belongs in a Baader Clicklock diagonal. It's big and heavy...and...something else.

There has to be more feedback on this one. Cmon! How's the mirror? Do the DSOs pop? How is the primary fan working? How smooth is the hand tracking at high powers?

great setup, ayo II in particular looks awesome.

rdf is of WO brand, or a clone/similar?

Just to report that, for our Greek vacation, I packed my clothes like a ninja (wife was astounded) and squeezed both Evolution 8 and (admittedly very compact) Borg 71 with carbon fiber into my estate. 

No such thing as car with a boot too big.

The only thing is that for Mars opposition 2018 I will have to take my gear in a submarine to get Mars above 30 degrees...

13 hours ago, nicoscy said:

Chris,

I have 4 observing sites within a 50 minute drive with SQM readings between 21.1 and 21.3 which I try to frequent twice a month, so I consider myself blessed.

wow. 

Thanks! This is the first time I see something like this released by a manufacturer (or recorded by someone else). Looks like the shorter lengnths cancel the curvature out (the typical one), and I see why 20mm is singled out in reviews...

how is the field curvature in pentax xws? i know people mention 20mm as the one which adds to the curvature of the telescope, how about the others?

looks like it solves the zenith problem of the fluid video heads...

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/de/info/p5148_.html

Anyone tried? Apologies for somewhat repetitive threads, but I can't find anything on any fora about this...

Well, I accidentally ordered 31mm Aspheric and failed to see my mistake when reviewing the order at the checkout. So 40mm will have to come sooner or later.

Is SW Aero identical to the TS Paragon clone? 125 euro vs 175 euro...could it really be that the same eyepice is sold for 50 euros more in Germany?

On 03/09/2014 at 01:36, cloudnine said:

I'm a bit late to the party, but Clear Outside looks good. Not sure what I'll do with the ozone info. Does that impact visibility?

Martin

Just coming back to this question, I cannot find the answer to in in the thread or online. How is ozone value relevant?