Grumman

Hello, I am looking to replace my SW 72ED and I was between a few scopes like the Askar 103 and the 80PHQ but then I saw the modular Askar V and I wanted to ask any owners of this system if they are happy with the performance and if they recommend it?

Thank you much appreciated!

Thank you! I found this at FLO, will contact them and ask if it supports the HEM15 mount… https://www.firstlightoptics.com/ioptron-mount-accessories/lynx-astro-ftdi-usb-to-serial-adapter-for-ioptron-handsets-mounts.html

Thank you that’s very helpful! one question remains, do I really need to have the controller connected for the USB connectivity to a PC or is there a USB cable direct from the mount (similar to EQDirect cables for SW mounts) ?

Oh is it? Saw video reviews that you had to use the Allen key for adjustments… I will check again… The Hem15 is cheaper than the AM3 and that was the only thing that I disliked… well also the fact that you need the controller for usb output but I can leave with it… will take a closer look, thanks!

Thank you all, I do hear what you say about the HEM15 but having to polar align with an Allen key is a bit silly to be honest and a major no no for me as if that key goes missing I won’t be able to align it. I think I will go with the AM3 kit as it has an easier way to polar align over the HEM15 and greater payload capacity than the SW GTi without counterweights. Also it will allow me to have a heavier scope in the future if I do change it.

Hello all, I have a Canon EOS 100D APS-C size sensor camera and I have professionally done the full spectrum mod. I have an Astronomik CLS-CCD clip-on filter for APS-C sensor camera but on the flats, it seems to be vignetting a lot… I have attached couple of flats one with filter on the other without. Any ideas?

No they claim that there is no back-focus distance required, just focus on the target, unless you use a reducer but I can see that the tube is short and there is enough Focuser travel. in comparison with the SW 72ED, the body of the scope is too long and Focuser can’t go inward far enough for camera to focus when using a flattener/reducer.

I had bad experience with my Sky-Watcher 72ED (pre 2019) where the flattener is "chewing through" the back focus and I have no room for anything else apart from my DSLR as I won't be able to focus...

I agree, and I think a 600mm focal length scope with a 0.8x reducer is a perfect match for deep sky for my Canon APS-C and IMX178C CCD...

Point taken... thank you!

I hear you... however, the 103 is a triplet while the others mentioned are quadruplets. I am not sure if I should give £1k for triplet or £1.5k for a quadruplet...

That's what I was thinking to be honest... red or green? 🤣

As the title says, I want to ask owners of these telescopes based on your experience what are the pros and cons as on paper they are identical and the price is exactly the same if we take into account the reducer…

On the HEM15 do you have to use the hex wrenches to polar align it?

Thank you all for your replies! I have been checking around and I can’t decide between the iOptron HEM15 or the ZWO AM3…

Cable works just fine! just make sure that you are using the EQMod drivers.

I have a SkyWatcher 72ED main scope with a SkyWatcher 50ED for guide scope and a Canon 100D / Altair Hypercam 174C on a EQ3 Pro mount which I use at home for photography. I am planing to make a small, portable and lightweight kit for taking with me on holidays. I was using a FOV calculator and it seems the Hypercam and 50ED combo give me almost the same FOV as the 100D and 72ED. Any ideas what mount would be good for this setup? Thank you in advance, Thanasis

Thank you, that makes sense! I ordered a cable from FLO, fingers crossed!

Hello all, I have a SkyWatcher EQ3-2 mount and I am using the handset with the relay firmware to connect to my PC via an RS232 to USB cable and control the mount. I have seen online that there is a EQ direct USB cable. 1. Does this replace the handset and connects straight from PC to control module? 2. Does it work with SkyWatcher EQ3-2 controller? Regards, Thanasis

Thanks for the reply @Stub Mandrel! I see what you mean... I might have gone too far with the 1.5mm and it started reversing the whole curvature... I will try and do it in smaller steps and see if it makes any difference. TA!

I wish I have seen this post earlier before spending £170 on the SW Field Flattener.... I have fitted the FF to the scope and attached my Canon 100D DSLR on it with the correct T-ring and I am getting around 40% Curvature according to CCDInspector, where before without the FF I was having curvatures of around 130%!!! - So for starters it is doing something... I have purchased some .5mm and 1mm thick spacing rings and I installed them between the FF and the T-Ring. I have done some tests and with a 1.5mm ring the curvature increased to 44.6% which is the opposite of what I expected to see... It seems like it needs a thinner T-Ring so the camera sensor can come closer to the FF .... ? Has anyone done any tests with a DSLR than can shed some light?