25585

23 hours ago, Peter Drew said:

I think this will give a corrected image only when used in conjunction with the Orion Premium binoviewer. With just an eyepiece the orientation will still be upside down and back to front. 

That is correct. The YT videos I linked to in my thread on the Orion and TS bino viewers, explains that.  

Considering one of these myself.  

12 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Hope it works out 25885

Thanks. No contact from APM today. Think I'll stick to UK sold products in future even if they cost more. Too much stress otherwise when things go wrong. ?

Bad karma day SGL. It was the last item on order for my kit to take on holiday. Email sent to APM, so hope exchanging wrong for right can happen quickly. I have bought from them before so feel sure all will be OK.

My APM 2 inch CI prism diagonal. But they sent the wrong one. The roof with black top is what I bought. Back it goes. 

On 25/06/2018 at 22:40, Ags said:

I need a bumper sticker for my ST80: "My other scope is a Tak!"

"....an Astro Physics" is cooler ? 

Got one last week. Must try it out, but it was meant for spotting purposes as I have an astro diagonal as well.

For people using star charts alongside refractors, cats & casses,  unless the chart layout is specific to a certain type of view (for example Sarna is for Newtonians, showing south on top ), I consider correct image diagonals a great boon, albeit necessity for beginners at least.

Terrestial adapters such as the Vixen one https://global.vixen.co.jp/en/product/3847_09/ can also give correct images.

32 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Still waiting for the new camera but in the meantime bits arrived for mounting the tablet on the mount. Nice CNC aluminium  adjustable tablet mount. Don’t trust the cheaper plastic ones. Ball head used for adjusting the tablet to the right angle and tilt.

          John

Big biro or little mount? ?

19 hours ago, Lockie said:

Me too, I bought a WO prism, and despite the build and helical focuser being lovely I thought the prism was sadly terrible. Very strange star shapes at f/6 in the Tak, so I sent it back as possibly defective?

I shall be trying mine out. Have an APM 2 inch correct image astronomical grade prism from their clearance sale to compare with as well, not that I am expecting the WO to win, just be OK enough.

53 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

..And no box? From a Tak retailer at new price? If so, I'd send it back. OK, it's only a box, but its' absence would take value from the prism if you sell it on

I'd be interested in your thoughts on it vs the WO prism at first light ?

Dave

Came in a box ☺

WO is for my travel Equinox 80 so it can be used as a spotting scope. Tak prism for use mainly with bino viewers but it is my main 1.25.

4 minutes ago, iPeace said:

Well, I bought one absolutely mint new from a local retailer, at the shop, and there were no caps with it in the Tak box. They did give me caps, free of charge.

In any case, it wouldn't surprise me if a Tak prism came without caps.

Why wouldn't it?

Today's delivery (with caps!) 

12 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

The Tak prism wasn't new was it? I've bought a couple of these new in the past and both came with a good quality Tak box and two end caps. If yours was bought used (I saw one on UKABS with no box or end caps, and selling for £50), then a) that's a good price vs c £90 new and b) it's hardly Takahashi's fault that it was sold on used without the box or caps, is it?

Optically, the Tak prism is excellent, really good. I like it's lightweight construction and helical securing ring but I wouldn't feel confident loading it with binoviewers and 2 eyepieces, which is why I sold mine on. But great as part of a portable setup?.

The WO correct image prism is not bad, I bought one a few months back, but when used next to a Baader T2 prism (not RACI), the Baader was MUCH better on contrast, sharpness and scatter.

I actually think the Baader T2 1.25" prism with both 2"-T2 and 1.25"-T2 nosepieces and helical focusing eyepiece holder is the best performing, best built such unit for the money you can get.

Dave

No brand new prism, still in sellophane. 

Waiting for Parcelforce to deliver.....

9 hours ago, iPeace said:

...because it was not the only box. It contained the primary mirror for this:

CF tube ? looks like an 8 inch..... Dob or for the AZ8? 

21 minutes ago, iPeace said:

I'm so happy.

 

Useful for when you sell things on. And stuffing cushions, pet beds etc.  

Today a WO correct image 1.25 inch diagonal. Nice packaging in foam, helical focuser, end caps.

Also a Takahashi prism 1.25 inch diagonal. Bit of bubble wrap, sellophane bag, no end caps. 

Looking at both anyone would think the Tak was cheap Chinese and the WO upmarket to it. 

Altair 10x60 finder has arrived. 

From an eyepiece use POV, refractors can be used with 2 or even 3 inch fit, while Maks are usually restricted to 1.25. 

SCT can have 2 inch adaptors which will vignette certain models. But it's the better than nothing. 

An alternative is a long focal length Newtonian such as a 6 inch F8 , or 8 inch F6 which would have smaller secondary mirrors. Their OTAs would be 4 feet long. Cheapest option for larger aperture lunar & planetary. 

4 hours ago, RiponJas said:

New to all this astronomy business and not got to much spare cash at moment but after starting the other month with a dob I have now bought my first frac. 

Bresser AR152L/1200 on a HEQ5 Pro. Thought it might be a good little starting package for me. Certainly made Jupiter look better than the dob did last night. Money well spent me thinks. ? 

Certainly some nice looking set ups on here, not jealous at all honestly! 

Very nice! How does the HEQ5 handle your scope's weight?

If only there was an AZ HEQ5 in SW range!

I have a Q1.6x ED extender now making my DL F14.4 & 1440mm FL. 

Yet to try it out, but soon hopefully. A flourite doublet long FL frac with over 100x on a 14mm Morpheus ep & twice that with a XW 7mm. Long eye relief & high mags ahoy!

On 20/06/2018 at 13:42, AdeKing said:

Today I received a new to me 1.25" Baader Q-Turret.  

I really enjoy using my set of BCOs for WL Solar as they give excellent views, but having to keep swapping the solar continuum filter between eyepieces was becoming rather tiresome, so hopefully this item will solve that particular problem.

However, I was surprised and slightly disappointed to find that everything was plastic except the central pivot nut and bolt and the eyepiece securing thumbscrews ?.

I know that they're quite cheap but I was expecting something a bit more substantial from Baader.

I guess we'll see how it performs in practice.

 

Always this instead 

I have one of those yellow & red tripods that needs the same solution. Just needs a couple of very big washers with 10mm holes in the middle. I have a bolt etc.