Stu1smartcookie

reckon it will work ok in EQ mode too , Lee ...when i get round to updating the firmware lol

I am a little spoilt for choice as i also have a WO ZS73 ... i really like the 130pds ... really light and set up for photography ... it will give me a bit more aperture for viewing over the zs73

So i picked up a new scope yesterday which i was a bit concerned wouldn't happily sit on the AZ-GTi mount . As it happened i needn't have worried . Its well balanced and the scope is surprisingly light .. a bit too windy last night to try it out ... hopefully tonight i will at least use it for a bit of visual . I've kept my AZ-GTi in alt az mode for now.

Hi Mark , where are you from , in Poland ? I've spent a lot of time there in the past ... lovely country . Welcome to SGL Stu

Seems to be a few conflicting reports of Nirvanas , to be expected , but they do seem to get a good press .

I think , i would go for those two if i went down the Nirvana route , did you use a barlow with these EPs ? If so how were the views ?

I like the look of the ES range but the prices literally scare me lol ... thats why the nirvana Eps look tempting .. still not sure though .

The ES eyepieces were also on my list

Yes and that’s a very good point, convenience. I can get three Nirvanas for 250 or the zoom for 223 I reckon I am looking towards the zoom at present , a night of YouTube awaits though lol

I've read good things about the Nirvana EP's ... Have to say , whilst i like the thought of not chopping and changing EP's , the Nirvana EP's really do look like good value

Steve , did you find the restricted field of view a problem compared to the more expensive EP's ?( maybe not if you were focusing on doubles ) . How about contrast and image brightness ?

Sorry for indulging in the 80's music scene , but , its relevent , to a point . I have very briefly owned a rather substandard zoom EP which had no branding and to be honest i reckon i could have made a better one myself . I would like to purchase a good quality Zoom EP for my WO ZS73 . Question 1 ... is the Baader 8-24 at least twice as good as , say an OVL Hyperflex 9-27 mm ... or indeed an SvBony zoom EP. From what i am reading the Baader does have a slightly wider field of view . Question 2 ... on the other hand i may be interested in the Nirvana 4mm, 7mm, and 16mm ... actually nearly matching the Baader zoom for price . What do you think ? i was rather hoping a Zoom EP would be my sweet spot when using the ZS73 for viewing . Anyone else used a Zoom EP with a small refractor ? Any thoughts welcome Stu

I think when we try to confuse the hobby of stargazing with someone that uses astronomy for anything more than a pastime the lines are inevitably drawn that a casual viewer by definition probably has less , shall we say , premium equipment ... but , dont we ALL have less premium equipment next to the Hubble and the JW scope ? Optics are better these days and astronomy equipment is much cheaper allowing casual stargazers to invest in scopes that people of past era's would have loved to use . The other problem is the dreaded Light polution which can render the most premium scope basically useless , whereas a cheap achromat in a dark site can show the wonders of the night sky . Its all a bit of a minefield .

Hi , the ST102 is an Achromat single lens design that will display chromatic aberation when viewing bright objects . This would be the case for photography also , whereas the ZS73 is a doublet , which uses more expensive glass and offers a much cleaner image . Sure for viewing you will lose the aperture but for photography you will gain . To be honest i have viewed the planets with a zs73 and whilst they appear small , increased magnification gives sharp views . I have also owned an ST102 which is a fine widefield scope , its up to you how much chromatic aberation bothers you ( ie a false halo appearing around bright objects ) . Stu

So, new arrivals include the WO ZS73 and a 3/8” steel tripod .. all very secure and neat , shame it’s cloudy .

Just reading this makes me impatient to set up my WO73 , Joe . Nice report mate Stu

and that has just happened !!!!!!

A little treat for selling a couple of scopes recently saw a trip to the Widescreen Centre ( thank you Simon and Elena ) .. to pick up this little beauty … to be mainly used for visual but I’m sure my camera would love to meet it and make lovely photos together . Of course it’s cloudy tonight zzz

in the end i bought an iphone !!! ... Now it works flawlessly

Fantastic image mate , hope you don’t mind , I downloaded it and used it as one of my wallpapers on my phone . Stu

I have just secured a pair of 15x70’s … just being collimated , can’t wait to use them .. like you I think it’s an incentive to go further afield to a darker site to observe .

Picked up a fine pair of Binos today, many thanks Pete. Going to need a tripod with these though

Why did you write " not brilliant"? ... just think about what you have done ... these are great photos . Especially the flame and HH .

Coming at this from a slightly different angle , as you have a scope , and a tripod ... buy an AZ-GTi and you can track the moon and planets without worrying about slow motion controls ... the scope is light enough and ii'm sure your tripod will suffice for now . The only problem i see is the AZ-GTi is a liitle over budget , but ... thats what happens in this hobby Stu

There must be someone out there that can patent a retractable dew shield for a Mak . Its a necessary item ... lets face it , you wouldnt buy a tv without a plug ( although i am old enough to remember when you did !!!!)