Alan White

I did the 50 degree plossl return a while back and then hankered for a bit wider in some circumstances. Mainly settled at 70 degrees area now, but still have 50’s and keeping them.

Fully agree on its a no brainier Don, the 30 UFF is a stocking eyepiece that happens to be a super price too. I displaced a Panoptic 27 with the 30 UFF in APM clothing sometime ago.

I like my 30 UFF a great deal as many know, I also like my UFF18 too, but bang on about that less. A 10mm sounds tempting for an out reach set though.

As already said, boy do I understand, I also am the only Male in a Female household. Resisting is something I do a lot, but over time I buy and forget to sell things. But the real error I made was allowing the critical mass to build in one room…. You live and learn. Mrs W always knew how many and how much I was spending, it’s always in the open and we share all bank accounts and material things. The real issue is an account of true number had not been taken, well until last night that is. The thread was not intended to be a partner bashing exercise, far from it, more to see what others said, Mrs W always has fully supported my Astro interest as I do her Photographic one.

And after posting, I have just realised she missed the Eyepieces in that accounting....... Runs to hide things in cupboard from Dining Room.... 🤣

Last light while eating Dinner, dear Mrs W suddenly took stock of just how much Astro Kit was sat in the Dining Room, My bad on that one! It was pronounced 'You have too many Telescopes' and I think you should sell some...... which was greeted by shock on my part and a look of slight panic. The recent aquisition of Big Red, so close to the Vixen SD103, both collection trips that Mrs W joined me upon have seeded this train of thought. I have to say having two 103 sized scopes is clearly a bit odd, but driven by circumstances, but really everything else has its place. I forsee that the Khazi must grow to store (aka hide) these treasures from the accounting person at home. I never buy without discussion, never hide anything, we do open and honest and only buy if I have the money and its not needed for anything else, but sometimes bringing it all together can be a bit risky! I presume others have found themselves with such a proclamation and how have you dealt with it, more for everyones entertainment than anything else now...

Bags from RVO as not at other places. So a Bag for my most used, yet portable scope, the 80mm f6 not a true ED but does ok and great at WL Solar etc. and a bag that truly fits Big Red 152 5.9 Altair, not a repurposed reflector bag, but one made for it. Geoptik have improved the interiors and now smooth nylon no longer velour Somehow Big Red needed a bag to suit and be red.

Nice purchase John, enjoy those Solar views.

That made me chuckle and I can see where you picked up on this.... And nothing like an admission of temptation in aswere, made me grin as well. Oh how we all cannot help ourselves when it comes to kit!

@FLO does the Starfield have an inbuilt ND3 and Polariser?

I use a Lunt 1.25 wedge at present, I moved to this from Baader Film a good few years ago, no regrets other than I should have bought the 2" one at the time. Filter wise, single Polariser (Baader) and a Solar Continuum Filter (Baader) which gives better detail /contrast and does indeed turn the sun green. But after years of using this, the sun goes yellow in my brain, even though for 20 seconds or so its clearly not, it shows as a vivid green.

Amazing to see these, thank you for sharing. I have just bought a 152 5.9 in Altair Red for Solar WL, But now its setting the Quark idea off once again...

They read differingly on inbuilt ND3 and not, which concerns me to be honest. The Altair one ND3 is 1.25 and loose to fit to the EP or is it The APM has inbuilt nd3 I think the Starfield might, does it?

Wow, another lucky observer. Thanks for sharing the images and time lapse, enjoyed it.

With sincere appologies to all at @FLO, this is not a post to do ill to a product, promise. I am curious on this product. I am looking at 2" Solar wedges as I have dipped my toe into a 152mm refractor for in the main solar observing, a big step from the 80 and 100mm refractors in WL to date. I have a 1.25" Lunt wedge, its great but too small for a 150mm scope, it is a super item, but I am lead to believe others out perform this. I am looking at what is available and fallen off my seat at the prices these things are, except the Starfield one. It (Starfield) is so much much lower in cost it leaves me wondering, why? Please dont put the price up!! Anyway, has anyone on here bought or used one and how did it perform? Any feedback is appreciated.

From Ifracombe as well, not oop North, thats even more a wonder to celebrate. 👍

Super images and lucky you Nigella to see this. I have seen a poor display once and only once, it's a dream to see a decent one.

Great image, Thanks for sharing. chuckled at the Raptor visualisation, juts how my mind works too.

Thank you? Nothing like helping my future spending….. 🤣

Yes, just collected it today. See the Postman thread for images etc. Quick peak in WL with the 1.25 Lunt wedge,was quick as far too small a heat dissipation for the scope size, Its stunning, so the 2” wedge should sing.

It needs a 2” wedge to dissipate the heat, so something on the to buy list.

Stu, it’s a prototype just handed over at NEAF, see a post on Cloudynights.

Thanks for the info Stu, most interesting indeed. I foresee one of these in my future to go with the 152.

Wow, that's amazing and Thank you for sharing it. Brought a grin to my chops.

So for getting this straight in my head, your ND3 is not fitted to the Cool Wedge? My Lunt 1.25 as @Paz has, the ND3 is fitted within the Wedge. I do agree though that the Continuum and then the Sinle Polariser building towards the EP works slightly better. Leaves me wondering if the ND3 can be moved?