RT65CB-SWL

G'day Patrick and welcome to SGL.

Nice image! ...and lens!

If I did not already have my 'cheap & cheerful' zoom, (image below), then I definitely would buy one.

I just came across this... https://www.bcftelescopes.co.uk Steve Collingwood of SCTelescopes is in the process of building a website, (not yet complete), dedicated to the history of Broadhurst, Clarkson & Fuller Ltd. I am sure many of us have spent many a time and our £'s in the shop at 63 Farringdon Road at some point. I know I have and I have not regretted it!

You could try Steve Collingwood @ https://sctelescopes.com/ - highly recommended.

A set of four camera lens pouches... The middle two pouches I shall use for storing/transporting the 'bad boyz' 'bad boys'... ...in my Meade backpack/rucksack ---> and 're-modded' ETX105 + camera tripod + ballhead or Tele-Optic Giro. EDIT: I just found a use for the 'big' pouch, (the one on the left)... keeping PSU and cables for my Android tablet in one place, (and on me when I am out & about with it). 😜

Hi @Andrew Harding and welcome to SGL. Another +1 for the C8/SCT.

You could try Steve Collingwood @ https://sctelescopes.com/ - highly recommended.

The Meade ETX 90/105/125 have a similar arrangement, but you have to remove the ABS plastic back to access the collimation screws. For all things 'ETX' related, look here --->http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html

@Ags I have just weighed my C6/XLT on my digital kitchen scales. It says 4.1kgs/9.0lb with the Celestron 'piggyback' camera bracket/mount... ...and add another 664g/1.4lb, (with 'crayford' focusser) or 580g/1.27lb, (with 2" star diagonal).

Welcome back @Jessun

I have heard that too, [ref: Pentax XF zoom], from non-SGL'ers.

@Ags not yet - planned to do it on my rest days!

This YouTube video may explain/help... ...other on-line video tutorials are available elsewhere on the internet too.

Ahem! - just come across this topic/thread. I have a C6/XLT. Now curious and will have give it a 'weigh-in' to see what the tare weight is without any add-on accessories is, (i.e. 2" SCT star diagonal, crayford focusser, etc.), except for the finderscope. I know my Vixen GP is at its maximum payload limit, as per the image below... ...and report back.

Hi @ju1234 and welcome to SGL. From your description, it sounds like it is a 'CG2' or 'EQ2'. Your RA setting circle clutch may not be tightened up. Have you checked this? - If "Yes!" than get in touch with the seller you purchased it from asap if still under the guarantee/warranty period. Sorry, but cannot comment any futher as I have very little experience of the mount, other that, it put me off using equatorial mounts for many years until I got a secondhand Vixen GP. (image below). I am sure other SGL'ers that use or have used the 'CG2' or 'EQ2' mount will offer more advice.

Hi @Plumb71 and welcome to SGL. OK! so you want to observe the Sun. I admit I have not done any research on the ‘scope you are contemplating on purchasing, so please accept my apologies in advance. To begin with you are going to need a solar filter. These are either full aperture or off-axis and made from glass or a safety solar film... or you can DIY with a sheet of solar safety film, cardboard and self-adhesive tape and if you have any left over make one for your finderscope too, (assuming it has one)... or remove it! - if it comes with an RDF... remove it too! - Do not be tempted to purchase/use any solar filter that screws onto an eyepiece, as the type shown in the image below... These filters are 100% dangerous and should not be used and be consigned to a locked cupboard/drawer/waste bin. There is a video somewhere on the internet showing what can happen. WARNING! it does show scenes of extreme graphic/gory content. Every type of solar filter needs to be thoroughly checked before each and every use for defects, i.e. pinholes, tears, etc. If you see any defect, no matter how small, do yourself a favour... consign to the waste bin and purchase or make another. You are also going to need some kind of mounting bracket to attach your smartphone/tablet to the eyepiece. I will not recommend what/which brand as there are so many types. You may get better results with a compact digital camera or DSLR. I am sure other SGL’ers will offer more advice than I have here. Below is my white-light solar setup - I use a 70mm refractor and a 1.25" solar wedge with built-in ND3.0 filter.

Hi @Adam1234 and welcome to SGL. Just north you in the Royal County of Berkshire and somewhere between Reading & Wokingham .

@MaHa ...following on from my earlier post, just a couple of screenshots. One from Jupiter's Moons and one from Saturn's Moons.

My guess is you have seen Titan, (Saturn's largest moon), too. It is the only one I can see when I use my TeleVue Ranger & 6mm Radian, (or other TeleVue e/p), from my home. When I use my Celestron C6/SCT, I see the others. Good luck with Neptune. The image above is a screenshot from Saturn's Moons app.

3M double-sided self-adhesive tape...

Hi Mark / @MaHa. If you have an iPhone or iPad, Jupiter's Moons app will show you Galilean moons positions. Saturn's Moons app is also available. Both apps show you the views in 'real-time' past, present, future.

If it is on the outside of the corrector, (i.e. menescuis cell), Baader Optical Wonder Fluid on a steralised cotton ball, (one squirt is sufficient), and apply light pressure, finish off with dry one, then a clean micro-fibre cloth. If however it is on the inside and you can remove the cell, then make a mark on some masking tape, or use a self-adhesive label, (i.e. one on the tube and one on the complete cell), to aid you when you re-align the complete cell to the tube during re-assembly. Try not to remove the glass from the cell, unless it is absolutely necessary. This is how I clean the inside of my 're-modded' ETX105 cell when I have/had some FOD, (foriegn object debris), on it, (internally or externally).

Saturn never fails to impress...!

For lunar and planetary, I personally would go for the SCT. Also, being a shorter tube, the eyepiece will be located at a comfortable position. One of the downsides to any SCT is that they are they notorious dew magnets. I own a C6/SCT, and it is comfortable for one person assembly/dis-assembly, though an 11" SCT maybe more of a challange. The other parts you will need to consider is the mount and tripod/pier. What is the maximum payload/weight limit? My Vixen GP is at the maximum payload with both my C6 and 're-modded' ETX105, (see image above). Also, are you going to be using 1.25" or 2" eyepieces? <---These two eyepieces are quiet heavy, so I use 1.25" when dual-mounted on the Vixen GP... ...unless I mount them on my Tele-Optic Giro --->