joe aguiar

3 hours ago, Louis D said:

You might be right about the solid tube imaging versions, but the Flextube versions, even with SynScan, appear to have the old focuser:

ok your kinda right i just looked its the 14 and 16" flex tube versions that have the dual speed the smaller single speed. I wonder if they changed them over the years. The quattro also have the dual speed and i think the other eq version thx for the correction

joe

5 hours ago, CLOUD90 said:

I do have a 2inch adapter but I think I’m gonna stick to the 1.25 lens  atm as I’m new to astronomy and to all the equipment lol would it also be worth investing in some filters planetary,lunar ect  I live in the cotswold in the middle of nowhere and get great clear skies a lot of the time Lol typical as soon as I purchased the telescope I haven’t been able to use it yet as it’s been cloudy the past couple of days 

Moon filter is good

Forget planet filter

2x Barlow over 3x

I'll send u a link y planet golter not always great

Joejaguar 

4 hours ago, merlin100 said:

Talking of upgrading, any recommendations? I've already got a Meade 4000 15mm Super Plossl in 1.25 inch.  I would certainly like a small selection of new Plossl EP's for it in 1.25 inch. For wider field of view generally, would any 2 inch EP be of any use?  Sorry if I'm already asking what I've asked before...

The meade 4k sp ep is fine u dont need to upgrade this one unless u want a bigger fov from the 52 fov

Yes I would get at least 1 2 inch ep for lower powers wide field views

Joejaguar 

There r so many companies with 3 to 5 lines of eps that can be a good up from the ones that come with it

I think any plossls  or super plossls will be better, like omni super plossls 

Meade 5000 HD 60 are ok

Es has least 3 sets of eps 82 68 50 eps

Bst seem to be popular however I dont have those

Tele vue would be better corrected in a f5 scope but cost alot altho TV has plossl line

U can try used market get really good quality for good price since they used

If u can find used TV radian on used market u may find for 80 each which is really good.

Joejaguar 

I'm pretty sure their eq versions and the flex tube have the better dual speed over the solid tube dobs.

My thinking is since those solid tube versions have been out for least 15 years they still come with the then single speed  Crawford focuser which was an upgraded to the b4 r&p focuser, keeping prices down 

joejaguar 

If u add duper after super it becomes 

Super duper eps and they wont need to be upgraded 😁

joejaguar 

1 minute ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

BTW, my first solar filter (still have it lying around) was a Thousand Oaks glass filter for my C8, which gave a slightly yellowish image. For imaging, I later got a higher transmission Baader film one which I combine with the green solar continuum filter and IR-block filter, and these give considerably more detail.

That's was mine too but 10 inch sct 1000 oak glass filter

Joejaguar 

12 minutes ago, Mick H said:

Thanks joe/Michael, now I probally have to spend more money. 😉

Ops sorry

I still prefer eq mount over alt az so I can polar align and easier tracking  but u decide if that's more import or less weight 

Joejaguar 

I recommended he get the skywatcher 120mm ed it's only 5.1 kg or 11 lbs and  only 6mm less then the 126 wo

The sw ed120 comes with aluminium case 2 inch dielectric diagonal ep finder and bracket.  Only 2 downfall is dewcap not sliding and the focuser may or may not need to be upgraded

But the wo is ota only so if u were to buy case ep finder and bracket and diagonal that would equal at least the cost of the upgrade focuser 

What Louis says is correct too cause a doublet has to be longer to have the same color correction of a smaller triplet, so the extra length will add some weight but the triplet has extra lens but smaller tube so I guess both weights cancel each other out.

U would think tho still the 132 triplet should still be more than a doublet a d not less or same weight 

Joejaguar 

Then u get hooked then u will wanna see it in ha light lol

joejaguar 

Ya they are 3 elements 50 degree fov ep called super set here in north America not sure its same name there but they r still much better the 2 element 25 degree fov hygens 

joejaguar 

Ya lots do that too but its extra step I dont do any more

Joejaguar 

2 hours ago, Louis D said:

How are you liking their new film?  I used it in their eclipse glasses in 2017, and everyone at the observing site agreed they were way sharper than the cheap, mylar glasses, but that's a pretty low bar to judge it against.  I've been using the Baader Solar Film for 20 years to good effect on my scopes, but I always wondered if I could do better.

the badder is also a nice film and I years ago bought the 20x30 inch sheet its a good filter too, but the image is whiteish colour I prfer the orange colour but I like both

joe

Biggest factor is lp how good bad your location  is

Really all dso need dark skies for best results  but u can over come some of it by getting bigger scopes to a point, nebula filters help and blocking all light from street  lights houses etc.

But best views are country skys

joejaguar 

The Seymour has a green tint on the sun so I dont like it

I just bought the 1000 oaks film 12x12 ag xmas time it gives it a nice orange yellow . Plus that's big enough to do a few scopes if u have the kind where the dewcap has a removable smaller cap

Joejaguar 

If u take out the 1.25 adptor and put the a 2 inch ep its sitting low and may not focus so the adptor makes it sit highter up again.

Some scopes u dont need to use this but depends on how tall the focuser is and if that model has 2 inches of travel or 4 inch of travel

Sw model u need both adptors

Joejaguar 

I too have a 2 inch diagonal on most scopes cept the solarmax of course

Joejaguar 

On 15/03/2020 at 18:42, joe aguiar said:

Both explained it well

I too would agree I sometimes go as low as 20x, besides what both said about the fov, if you star hop low power will also help

I only use a rigel or telrad then my 1st ep depending on my scope I'm using is either the meade 56mm  2 inch ep or the 32mm meade swa  2 inch ep. 

It's kinda like a large  finderscope view almost once I find the item I then bump to the meade 4k 24.5  swa ep etc the highter

So yes get a lower power ep or wider fov one

Joejaguar 

Um quoting myself I know weird am I the only one that did this?

Just wanted to add I dont use regular finderscope at all my 56 or 32mm 2 inch ep is my finder. 

Most people use a 6x to 9x finder which doesnt do much in white zone cities anyway maybe in country skies it's more useful. 

Maybe thay y for me going as low as 20 or 30x makes sence since I dont use finderscope and I'm in a white zone 

Joejaguar 

Remember u need to get dark adapted first that's at least 10 min with zero lights around u

Use only red led flashlights not white, if your using a phone to take pics then that could be a problem and reck your dark adapted eyes.

If the house is lit make sure all curtains and blinds r closed on all windows and no porch or garage lights on

If and street lights shine block them out

These will help alot when see constellations in the sky and dimmer stars and dso

Joejaguar 

I just use 3 pairs of super plossls 

26, 17,10

Remember the binos add maybe 300 to 500 mm fl depending which one u have and if u have the Barlow that adds more plus then that turns my eps into 26 are really then 13,8.5,5 which is high enough 

Joejaguar 

On 27/02/2020 at 18:12, Paul and Chrissy said:

Hi Joejaguar

That was a hefty discount. Where did you get it from. The normal prices are really a bit out of my budget, but if someone is doing a good discount it could be a good option.

cheers Paul

Well I'm in Canada so got it from a Canadian dealer but he ordered it from Coronado tho. The sale is over tho now.

Joejaguar 

I think another problem with it is the cooldown  mine took 1 to 2 hrs for good views but sometimes 2 to 3 hrs for perfect views.

U can Use it for smaller dso but not the wider bigger dso

Altho I dont think I ever used it for that.

I only used it for the planets, I have more suitable scopes for dso that cools much much faster

Joejaguar 

Then a eq5 goto should do also cg4 could work and it be lighter but it wont be rock solid.

They do have a eq3 goto but not sure it will good for ap maybe visual 

Joejaguar 

1 hour ago, johninderby said:

This 304 f/11.8 makes an ED150 look like a finderscope. You would need a bigger balcony though. 😁😁😁

Holy cow is that a 6 inch? Ya it does look small compared with that scope 

For me 6 inch refractor is as big as I would have 

joejaguar