FLO

For those of you who already have a William Optics RedCat 51 (V1) telescope on backorder at FLO we have good news: You will receive the new V1.5 model for the same price (saving £50) 🙂 (Unfortunately doing this has wiped out our first delivery of V1.5 RedCats but we are expecting more to arrive in 2-3 weeks). Steve

William Optics have updated their RedCat 51 😀 The new William Optics RedCat 51 V1.5 model has the same 51mm f/4.9 Petzval optics with FPL53 and FPL51 ED glass elements but features a new integrated camera tilt adjuster, an updated mounting ring with longer dovetail (easier balancing) and a new focusing index. An optional saddle handle-bar is also now available. For this new model the price has risen £649 -> £699.

Yes. No problem 🙂 If you email us your request we will respond with price & ETA. Or you can speak with Ian direct at: Email. info@ikarusimaging.comTel. 01392 791001‬ HTH, Steve

No problem 🙂 It is good to hear your new Esprit telescope is performing well. Steve

We are aware of the new eyepiece and are quietly confident we will receive some around Oct/Nov. HTH, Steve

Sorry - we don't need any 'New Gear Testers' at the moment 😛

Due to continued growth we have two job opportunities for someone living in the Exeter area. ------------------------------------------- Office Administrator and Bookkeeper We are an online retailer specialising in optical equipment for astronomy and nature enthusiasts. We are looking for a full-time administrative assistant to work at our premises on Marsh Barton industrial estate. Responsibilities include: Handling administrative requests and queries. Monitoring stock/inventory. Placing (and chasing!) supplier orders. Updating customers. General book-keeping, emailing & filing. To be successful in this role you must have: Good time management skills and ability to prioritise. Strong I.T skills including email, word processing & spreadsheets. Be able to use computers to generate reports and conduct research. Have knowledge of office management systems and procedures Show attention to detail. Have a sense of humour! Prior administrative experience preferred but not essential. Hours: 9.30-5 Job Type: Full-time Salary: £17-20k depending on experience. ------------------------------------------- Part Time Dispatch Operative We are an online retailer specialising in optical equipment for astronomy and nature enthusiasts. We are looking for a part-time dispatch operative to work at our premises on Marsh Barton industrial estate. Responsibilities include: Receiving goods in/out Picking and packing customer orders Handling customer returns Some emailing, filing and order updating Keeping area clean and tidy Making great coffee 🙂 To be successful in this role you must: Have good time keeping Be literate, numerate & able to use a computer Be hard-working and conscientious Show attention to detail Be able to admit mistakes Have a sense of humour! Hours: Can be flexible. Job Type: Part-time Salary: £8.50 /hour ------------------------------------------- To apply for either role, please send your C.V to: jointheteam@firstlightoptics.com

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/lakeside-motor-focusers.html The Lakeside Astro motor focus system, designed and built by Peter Chance here in the UK for the past 10+ years and previously sold directly or via Ian King Imaging is now part of the FLO family We are taking over production, support and retail of these products. We currently have a batch of stock but more units, brackets and cables are in production and will be with us soon. These have proven to be a rock solid reliable product that are used worldwide by astronomers, many in remote operations - indeed Ian has mentioned that in his IC Astronomy remote telescope hosting, a lot of residents are using the Lakeside products. With good software support in ASCOM and dedicated drivers for TheSkyX and Indi not to mention custom designed brackets suitable for 100's of different telescope models we are extremely product to carry this product on. Peter will still be around to offer support particularly whilst we get up to speed with these. We want to thank Peter for his dedication to the astronomy community over the past 10+ years and all the help and support he continues to give us.

For more info regarding the Es Reid test and how it came into being please see this discussion here at SGL. Es Reid checked telescopes

No. If you purchase an Esprit telescope without an Es Reid bench test then find it’s optics require realignment under warranty we will collect it then relay it to Sky-Watcher’s appointed UK distributor (OVL) who will handle the realignment. (Assuming of course we haven’t simply replaced the telescope). We don’t know who the distributor uses for optical work. It is not Es. If you purchase a telescope with an Es Reid bench test then find it needs attention FLO will collect it and Es will make the necessary adjustments. That is a good summary. It is an optional additional layer of QC made available in response to requests from customers. HTH, Steve

Actually, problems with Esprit optics are unusual. Here at SGL we resisted offering an Es Reid test for Esprits (an unnecessary expense in most instances) but we received so many requests we made it available as an option. Very occasionally Es does find one that needs adjustment but that is rare. HTH, Steve

Some retailers will do a simple star test if requested (it isn't difficult) but as far as I know the Es Reid bench test (by someone who truly understands optics) is a FLO exclusive. Steve

Had better not comment 😇 Steve

So not one of ours. No problem 🙂 Hope you find a solution soon. Steve

I don’t recall anyone reporting a faulty temperature sensor but, if it is one of ours, we will happily arrange collection & replacement. HTH, Steve

This thread was started because back in March (when we became an iOptron dealer) iOptron mounts were difficult to source in the UK so it pleases me greatly to say CEM40, CEM60 and CEM120 mounts (both regular & EC versions) are now available for overnight delivery from our warehouse in Exeter 🙂 We will do our best to keep it that way... Steve

Our next order/delivery is already in progress 😎 Hope we aren't boring people with these delivery pix. My hope is they demonstrate work in progress and provide assurance to customers with backorders. Steve

It has just arrived 🙂

I agree. The tube-rings felt should not need replacing so soon. I am sure I have said the same elsewhere here at SGL 🙂 However, if Sky-Watcher's felt is too thin or too easily compressed then we will need to do something. Replacing the rings with the same is only a temporary fix (as predicted) so currently I am thinking the best solution is for us to collect souls33k3r's rings and replace the felt ourselves with something better/thicker. Am happy to consider other solutions? Steve

Just received your message 🙂 I have your email address now so will do a deep search when at my desk tomorrow. Steve

This has been available on the website since February:

Don't forget, these are experimental so at the moment the colours don't make much sense, we are working on that. Seeing and transparency - lower is better. Lifted index - this can be used to predict the chance of thunderstorms, I would ignore the values for this for now as it needs more work. If you press on the label it gives a little more info but 7t means it comes from 7timer.

No. I don’t think so. Couldn’t see it this morning and searched for words ‘Esprit’ and ‘Rings’ this afternoon but didn’t find anything. When you sent it did you receive our usual auto-response saying your email had been received?

We mentioned some time back that we were testing some experimental features in Clear Outside which include additional cloud forecasts from 7Timer as well as seeing predictions and another cloud forecast from a third source. These experimental features are now available in the mobile apps, scroll to the bottom of the forecast to turn them on or off: Once on you will see the additional data: This is experimental so bear that in mind but we would be interested to see how you think the other forecasts compare to the default ones we use. All of this is part of our project to rebuild the Clear Outside website and mobile apps, the site is over 4 years old now so it's time for a refresh and as part of that we want to add in all the additional features people have been asking for - unit of measurement settings, alerts (possibly!) and the ability to see multiple forecast sources in one place and hopefully, the option to choose what sources YOU want to prioritise for your forecast.

A quick snapshot of the FLO team. Who we are and what we do... Annette: My boss (wife) and Company Secretary. Maintains my sanity! Grant: Company Director, IT Wizard and Project Manager. Holds me to task. Indispensable! Ian: Has probably done more to promote and support astrophotography in the UK than anyone else. A Rush fan! James: FLO's first employee. A Scot and a rock. Manages cashflow! Katie: Works with Lisa in dispatch. Quiet and capable! Lisa: Warehouse supervisor. Knows where everything is. Calm and steady. This is Lisa's tenth year at FLO. Martin: Oversees FLO's Helpdesk. A people person. Likes conversation and sugar in his tea! Rob: Mr Fixit. Likes to dismantle, improve then reassemble things. Often for fun! Steve: I started the company but generally keep out of everyones way. It is usually me posting at SGL.