johnnyp

On 21/09/2022 at 19:55, tico said:

Someone know if the SWED72 focus with one terrestrial Amici Prism? 

Thanks. 

Tico

If it's a 90 degree 1.25 inch then no,not without an extension. 45 degree probably yes. 

2 inch amici I think yes it will reach focus

15 minutes ago, Don Pensack said:

Low price: BST Starguider ED or the Barsta 58° eyepieces that are very common.

Both are available under many different labels.  FLO has the Starguider EDs.

A little more:  Celestron X-Cel LX or Meade S5000 HD60.  The Meades would only be available used.  FLO has the Celestron X-Cel LX.

High-end in the same apparent field: TeleVue Delite.  Looks like FLO has those too.

 

@Don Pensack thanks you've been a great help. Obviously very knowledgeable:)

On 14/12/2022 at 22:04, Don Pensack said:

I'm a case in point.  I no longer sell to the UK or EU.

 

As for eyepieces, if the 50° field is not too narrow, it is hard to beat a Plössl for performance for the pound.

However, focal lengths shorter than 10mm are a significant problem due to small eye relief.

The Vixen SLV takes up the mantle of a 50° eyepiece with long eye relief, but they are not inexpensive.

It is a significant problem to find a widefield with long eye relief that is inexpensive.  Very few exist.

However, some excellent 60° eyepieces are sold that are decent, and that is where I recommend people start upgrading.

 

There are some decent 82° eyepieces from United Optics that aren't too dear, though.

Example: 82° Nirvana eyepieces.

@Don Pensack what would you recommend in the 60° range ? 

35 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

I've got the version of that innorel tripod without the column.  I'm using it with a 130pds and az5 which is a fair bit of movement arm and weight on the tripod.

You do get some vibrations with the legs fully extended, although it's only an issue at higher power (x80 is okay, x160 is not pleasant).  As Laurence mention hanging weight off the hook does help.

Ultimately though not having the legs extended makes a massive difference.  It's one of the reasons I want to build an observing chair.

I've just bought a steel leg tripod to compare and whilst I've only tried it on solar, at x80 it seemed improved but obviously weights quite a lot more.

I think you might get better performance with the 72ed and azgti than I have with my combo as everything is more central and being honest the 130pds is even pushing the limits of the az5 so it's probably a contributor to the vibration too.

@Ratlet that useful feedback thank you. I use my 72ed mainly with a azt6 which is quite light. I very rarely go over 35x mag. I'm mostly a low power sweeper:). I observe sitting down so the legs extended won't be an issue. The main interest for me is being able to adjust the height easily when I move to using a 45 erect diagonal for spotting birds and planes etc. 

Thanks for all advice lads, seems like the innorel will do the trick. I've gone for the one with 25kg payload to future proof myself :). Plus it's Christmas 🎄

4 hours ago, JAC51 said:

I bought as a travel mount a Sirui AM254 carbon fibre tripod with a pillar  to use for travelling with a TakFS60 and a Borg 76mm. I thought the Sirui was fine for the purpose and the Sirui has an official payload of 12kg half of the tripod you are looking at.

Maybe the 25k payload isn't needed then . My whole kit  only weighs around 7kg. 

Also I should add, no stop down like with many other 1.25 diagonals

Not sure if this is the right place but wanted to share . Just picked up this diagonal.

POFET 1.25 Inch Dielectric Mirror Star Diagonal 90 Degree Mirror Diagonal Adapter for Astronomical Telescope https://amzn.eu/d/f9x17W7

For £24.99 it seems really good value. It looks alot like the svbony one at around £50. It's only 120g, but feels sturdy. If you're looking for a cheap 1.25 mirror diagonal I don't think you can go wrong. My eyepiece screw is positioned at approx 1 o  clock though if that makes a difference to you. 

Clear skies !

Apologies if this is the wrong section. I currently have a Skywatcher tripod (for the star adventurer) with pillar that came with my azgti. I'd like to upgrade for something more stable, and something I can adjust the height of while in use for scope spotting duties. I have my eye on this one from innorel. Any experiences with it or its variants? (I will be mounting a 72ed on it ) 

Carbon Fiber Tripod-INNOREL GT324C Professional Compact Portable Tripod for Digital DSLR Camera Heavy Duty Camera Stand Support with Special-Shaped Center Column 1.25in/32mm Tube Max load 55lbs/25kg https://amzn.eu/d/hvkBLCj

Cheers all and clear skies 

8 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Here's the one I had.

Does seem like the position of the thumbscrew varies from unit to unit. Thanks for that

8 minutes ago, Louis D said:

Don't ask me, ask the OP why he has "fallen in love with the big eye glass on the let".  I've assumed it has to do with the relaxed view from longer eye relief that doesn't require mashing your eye into the eye cup to see the entire field of view.

I know I can barely use my 7.2-21.5mm zoom due to its small eye lens (16mm diameter) and tight eye relief (9mm - 11mm) even without eyeglasses.  My eyelashes keep brushing the top of the eyepiece whenever I blink.  With eyeglasses, it's like looking through a soda straw.  Without eyeglasses, my 2.5 diopters of astigmatism make for spiky star images.

Also, the zoom action is so stiff that I have use two hands to zoom.  Are the Svbony zooms' zoom actions silky smooth enough as to require only fingertip pressure?

Yeah I think it is the eye relief that makes it feel "relaxed " 

13 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

I had an iOptron 1.25" - the build quality was excellent.

@Mr Spockis the eyepiece retaining screw on the bottom of the holder (as per the stock image ) or can the holder be rotated ? 

On 27/06/2022 at 22:15, badhex said:

I had forgotten I'd posted this! I actually solved it with TS-Optics handle I managed to miss the first time round (not hard on their site, it was filed under some obscure category). You can see it on this picture - it's loads easier now to mount/unmount or adjust balance. 

@badhex sorry to derail the thread....but may I ask how the scopetech mount handles the scope ? 

Cheers 

John 

10 hours ago, Louis D said:

Unless @FLO can take a picture and demonstrate that their version of the curvy neck 1.25" diagonal does NOT have a constrictive ring at the bottom of the eyepiece holder, I would err toward getting a GSO made 1.25" dielectric diagonal.  They are sold under the iOptron brand in the UK.  They don't have a constrictive ring at the bottom of the eyepiece holder.

I have a WO carbon fiber 1.25" diagonal that has the curvy neck, and it has the constrictive ring at the bottom that causes vignetting with widest field eyepieces.  Since I only use it with a 22mm clear aperture binoviewer, I'm okay with it, though.

I believe it does as you say, have the ring at the bottom. I know the WO does as i've had one previously.  I am specifically looking for one without the ring, so thanks for your suggestion. I think i've seen that particular diagonal on rother valley optics. I'd like to try a prism like the tak or the baader T2, but i think i'd have problems with focus on my 72ed.

Cheers

John

8 hours ago, Louis D said:

If you're only going to use 1.25" eyepiece for reasons of balance on a small scope, I'd get a quality 1.25" diagonal to further reduce the loading at the back of your scope.  A 2" diagonal adds a lot of weight in my experience with the GSO dielectric.

Any ideas on a good quality 1.25inch diagonal?. The spikes on the stellamira erect prism one I have are far too distracting.

Cheers 

John 

@Don Pensack many thanks for the insight. The stellalyra does tick all the boxes

Thanks alot victor. I have been using a 2inch diagonal with the ED72 but I find that it balances much better with a 1.25inch diagonal. The tak has been on my wanted list for a while now

@Victor Boesen a question if you don't mind. I see you used the tak prism diagonal with the 72ed. Was you able to reach focus with your eyepieces ? 

Cheers

John 

8 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

How about the new StellaLyra 24mm Ultra Flat? £119 and fits the bill.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-eyepieces/stellalyra-24mm-ultra-flat-125-eyepiece.html

 

Yes I've seen this one. It looks alot like the 24mm APM uff. Do they come from the same factory I wonder ? 

2 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Knowing that would have helped...!

Apologies. Can't see my sig on my mobile 

I much prefer correctly oriented views also, so am using a 1.25inch stellamira 1.25 amici diagonal. I'd go for a 2inch amici but my scope just doesn't balance as well.

24 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

The Heritage 130 is f5, so the Hyperion will have poor edge correction. Best to get rid of the Hyperion and get something better corrected. The 130 at f5 will have a fair bit of coma, no reason to add to it with a poor eyepiece.

I no longer the Hyperion 24mm. My sig is out of date. Not sure how to change it on my mobile. I no longer have the heritage either. As for eyepieces, I have a bst 12mm, A 25mm plossl and a 2inch 28mm let.  

1 minute ago, Mr Spock said:

Curious - why do you have a diagonal with a 130 Heritage? Are you talking about a different scope?

Hi yes. I no longer own the heritage . I have a Skywatcher 72ed 

@Victor Boesen with the counterweight and bar it's silky smooth. But as you say it's still usable without it . Interesting regarding the vibrations. I absolutely hate them 😂

I have minimal  vibrations with my current set up (but as mentioned I very rarely go above 35x. ) I only use a Skywatcher tripod and pillar that come with my azgti, and I have been meaning to upgrade to a decent carbon fibre one when I upgrade the scope. 

Many thanks for your insights it's very useful

I recently acquired a 2inch diagonal and a Skywatcher 28mm let eyepiece. Having never used a 2inch eyepiece before, I have fallen in love with the big eye glass on the let. 

I prefer 1.25inch accessories though as my scope balances better with them. Any thoughts on a low power 1.25 with big eye glass and pleasing views ?...I'm not exactly spoiled with the Skywatcher let so I'm easily pleased.

Budget up to around £150

Many thanks 

John