Timebandit

Only when absolutely necessary. You could do more harm than good to the mirror fettling. The odd bit of dust or a very light covering is not going to effect the views, but incorrect cleaning or accident when cleaning can effect the coating/mirror. So only when absolutely necessary IMO 

47 minutes ago, John said:

I didn't find my AZ-4 stable enough for the ED120 with either 2 inch steel legs or the Berlebach UNI 28 tripod unfortunately. It was great with my F/6.5 Vixen ED102 but longer tubes troubled it when the magnification got over around 150x, which it often does with the ED120 and similar length Tak FC100-DL as well.

I wish it had been different because I always liked the AZ-4

I'm glad @Timebandit is happy with that combination though.

I suppose it all depends on your personal preference, I use mine on the lawn so this does help dampen any vibration. But as a whole I don't find any slight short time vibrations annoying. Obviously we all have our factors that grate on us i suppose. Some persons may find this does not agree with them. Its like focusers I suppose, I see a lot of people upgrading a focuser as they cannot live with a factory fitted focuser , to which many persons are more than happy with. All personal choice and preference. I could get into eyepieces and personal preference, but that's another story 😀

17 hours ago, Alkaid said:

Really? I think I’d be alright with that set-up for casual DSO hunting, but for Luna or Planetary I’m thinking a bit shaky shaky...

I’ve mounted a heavy 4” (TAL) frac on an AZ4 and it was too much for detailed work.

Had my 120ED on the Az4 with 2" stainless legs for years now. And this includes planetary and Luna. More than happy with this AZ4 mount set up with this scope and was great value second hand. 

1 hour ago, Nair al Saif said:

 I have thought about buying the ed but if I’m paying 500 pounds I need a Mount too lol. Yes the second market is good but you never know why they are selling it at a low price!

Firstly if you are after a good mount at sensible money. Then a AZ4 are very sensible cost second hand. I have mounted my 120ed on a AZ4 and more than happy with it.

As for being nervous about the used market , You risk getting good and bad persons in all types on transaction I suppose. But when it comes to Astro gear then from my experience most fellow astro chaps/ladies are usually decent people who look after their gear. Probably around 95% of my astro gear has been purchased used with no real problems. If you are still a bit nervous then keep to the SGL sales site, probably the best used gear site available👍🔭

I see you say you don't mind CA. But CA can grow very annoying over a period of time, especially if the CA is not semi controlled. Try Luna for example and badly controlled CA just totally detracts from a beautiful sharp crisp image IMO,that is achievable in a good scope on a sensible budget.

I would suggest that you look for a ED doublet and the one that I would suggest is the ED100 from skywatcher . The second hand market on this site and I am sure you will get a cracking little SW100ED for your budget. Why put up with visual CA? when you can buy a nice used SW 100ED refractor.

Hello. I would opt for the Delos range out those you mention. A good fov on these which is handy when nudging the dob mount, and good eye relief which is always a positive for comfort of viewing. The optical ability of these eyepieces are also up there with the best. The Delos would be my choice out of those mentioned. But also don't forget the Pentax XW range which are very good and similar and cheaper. If you are not in a rush to build a set ,then keep a look out on the used market. You could save a considerable sum of money buying used.

6 hours ago, Robindonne said:

So just start loving it and keep it?
When you’re not that experienced yet, and not have been using often a step higher eyepieces then medium performers, its hard to tell how good or bad, this tak for example, is.   

 

thanks
 

 

With any good high quality eyepiece then you should notice a difference between medium performers. I know when I had the Pentax 5mm XW I noticed this was visually a noticeable step up in optical performance . Sometimes the transparency of the Sky's can sub due a noticeable difference. Or the scope itself you are using may not get the best out of certain eyepieces. I suggest you try your eyepiece over numerous nights\weeks  to get a true picture of its a step up in performance to your personal eyes before you make a decision. If you still are not getting the results that satisfy you ,then you will need to go eyepiece chasing again. I am lucky as now with the short set of Pentax XW and the BGO , then I am in a very satisfied place with my eyepiece choice these days. 

The best you can afford

All depends on your budget

But if you buy correctly the first time, then the eyepieces can be used in future scopes you may acquire, and be keepers for life. 

Personally i love the Pentax XW range , 3.5XW to 10XW , use these in a number of high quality scopes, and they are very high performance eyepieces.Real keepers

Go for both

Get the 7XW first as you will probably use it more

And then go for the 5XW

Then you will need the 3.5XW too 😁

I have the small Pentax XW set , 10, 7, 5, 3.5 XW all keepers 👍

Hello. Light pollution can be very adverse on the fainter DSO.

Just to give an example. I have a 14" OOuk and a 8" OOuk. And the 8" at a Dark site will easily out perform my 14" at a light polluted site on fainter DSO

The 8" reflector is such a versatile scope and will perform excellent at true Dark sites. Aperture is only king on fainter DSO ,if you have the sky conditions to use it . True Dark Sky's are an absolute must for faint fuzzy hunting. And it is certainty worth the efforts to travel to a Dark Site. 

Hello. If you want a quality eyepiece , that has good fov and eye relief and quality optics then the TV Delos range is certainly a contender. The other possibility is the Pentax XW range in the 3.5XW to the 10XW, above this and there have been reports of field curvature problems. Obviously depending on the focal length you need then both the Delos and Pentax should certainly be contenders.

The 120ED should not be ruled out. Optics are very sharp especially on luna and planetary. Great at handling CA and for DSO then the extra aperture is useful. Can be mounted on a half decent mount, so you do not need at heavy duty expensive Mount. Got mine on a AZ4 and works just great for me. Also the SW 120ED do come up second hand and can be had for very sensible money for such a high quality refractor, quite a saving can be made from purchasing a new one. Do not rule out the 120ED very capable and very affordable used, for such a capable refractor. 

Looking at your requirements. Then I certainty would be looking to fill in with the Pentax XW of the 5XW 7XW and 10XW all top quality eyepiece's and cheaper than the delos.

With regards around the 20mm then the Nagler 20 mm Type 5 is an excellent eyepiece. Not made anymore I believe, but if your lucky they do turn up second hand occasionally. I own all the above and they work great in my frac and reflector , real " Keepers "

I have a lovely 8" OOUK the VX model with high grade mirror. This scope is very light and manageable and the views are cracking, . Such a portable and capable aperture . I do use mine on an AZ, but i cannot see why you can't get some sort of tracking mount if that's what you desire. The OOUk 8" is such a good versatile instrument and second hand come up at very reasonable cost.

Nice scopes the OO VX range. I am slightly bias though, as I own two of these wonderful scope. But I do like well made items with high quality mirrors. The OO VX is the type of equipment that will last a life time.

There are seemingly persons who will criticize the SW 120ED. But skywatcher opened up the market for a mass produced high quality refractor at very very sensible money when it produced the likes of 80ED , 100ED and the 120ED

I will still remember the first time I used my SW 120ED Equinox. It was on the moon. It is still etched on my mind how as I adjusted focuser, a super sharp etched image of the luna surface appeared. It really was a Woow moment. I have owned this scope for many years and still get that super clarity image on luna, planetary and double stars. A great , sensible price high quality refractor IMO.

Hello. I absolutely love bonoviewing on the Luna in my ED refractor. You seem to get an 3D sort of impression that you are flying over the Luna surface.

But with DSO and planetary targets I prefer mono. Don't ask me why but to my eyes I just seem to get a more drawn in feeling with mono on these targets. Each to their own I suppose. 

Hello.

I would not start messing with the truss poles.

I would not start altering the primary or secondary mirror position.

You could make a whole lot of problems for yourself by "tinkering" with the above.

If you are gaining focus by extension pieces on the focuser, then go down this route. Just get the right length of extension pieces and your eyepiece will come into focus. Don't forget also different eyepieces/makers can come into focus as different lengths on the focuser position.

I hope this helps

33 minutes ago, rl said:

Very nice collection...add them all up and you've got about the light grasp of a 12" Newt....

I get where you are coming from and it gave me a chuckle 😁

But a lot of people who prefer the refractor, are not necessarily after light grasp as a priority. What tips the balance with most refractor owners is the pin point sharp views that you get on the likes of doubles stars planetary ect. Light grasp plays second place to the lovely HD type of views that you get from a top quality refractor.

I started of in the hobby on a refractor. And given the choice of a good refractor v reflector at the same aperture then I would opt for a refractor every time. I just find on targets such as stars / doubles then a refractor image is just so sharp and clear of a pinpoint star visual image. But after I had been in the hobby for some time you realise that to start hunting for those faint fuzzy DSO objects then you really do need aperture (together with Dark Sky's). And the only way to get plenty of aperture that is cost effective and portable is through a reflector. You get so much more aperture per inch to the £  with a reflector. So refractor v reflector is not a debate in my head anymore , as have both now and they are both needed and used for my particular preference on targets that I feel that I get the best views to my eyes.

45 minutes ago, Macavity said:

Late to this, but the words of Sir Patrick: "Inch for inch reflectors are less efficient than
refractors"etc., are permanently etched into my brain

 

This may be the case, and I certainly am not going to question the late great Sir Patrick.

But from a amateur astronomer . I can afford a great 4" to 5" refractor. I can afford to buy a mount to use this refractor. 

But I cannot afford to buy 14" refractor, I cannot afford to buy a Mount for a 14" refractor and I cannot afford to build an Obs to keep this in, and enable it use. 

I can afford to buy a 14" reflector on a dob mount .

So inch for inch a quality refractor may be better than a quality reflector, But practically wise and cost wise a reflector is a must for most of us that want great light gathering ability that we can practically use and afford. 

31 minutes ago, Dannomiss said:

I would love one mainly for portability. My heritage 150p is very portable. But as I don't drive obviously its awkward. Not heavy just awkward. I'm away a lot for work and where I work there is plenty of dark sky... So a refractor for that reason is also tempting. Need to get more out of my Reflector before I also get a refractor, but the differenece has intrigued me

Don't forget you can still get a lot of enjoyment with mark one eyeballs under real Dark Sky's.

Also a great grab and go and very portable option is a pair of binoculars. A good pair of binoculars are also very portable and effective under dark Sky's.

So the list is increasing , reflector, refractor and binos ☺

Horses for course's👍

The old refractor v reflector debate again , these can get very interesting. I will get my popcorn😁 🍿

Hello. See if you cannot get some type of adaptor plate first.

If an adaptor plate is not available . place some masking tape around the tube area first. This will make it easier to mark out correctly. And help prevent the drill bit slipping. Make sure when you mark out the tube , you check and double check your hole positions. Otherwise mistakes are not easily forgiven or covered up. Check and double check before any new holes are drilled.

The short Pentax XW set 3.5XW to the 10XW are excellent eyepiece's in my opinion.

Had my Pentax 10XW for numerous years , purchased second hand, the eyepiece optics are sharp like a Ortho, but great eye relief and good fov. Have never regretted purchasing this eyepiece. Use it in the reflectors at around f /4.7 and my refractor also.

A real "Keeper" in my opinion.