Robindonne

Maybe check some of dylan o’donnell’s video’s.  He explains his views of different eyepieces.  
 

But i dont know much about good eyepieces.  I only bumped once into a tak 5 le and never stopped using that one.  Also in an 120 ed.   
For the more experienced opinions i would check the eyepiece category on sgl maybe?

38 minutes ago, Peter Drew said:

Probably someone has but not worth doing seriously, you would lose the benefits normally obtained by binoviewing.

Hm yes thats what i was wondering.  You split/dim the light for each eye when using a bino on a single scope. But when using a bino reversed on a bino setup you should think it shows a great contrast image. Or hard to get the two images aligned?

Was wondering if someone ever tried a binoviewer (attached to a binoscope) in reversed position. And center the two outputs to one image

I just witnessed the delivery of an 80mm Evostars at the local astroshop.

17 hours ago, Occy said:

Pretty capable device, to be able to hold the 8" EdgeHD!  I might get one to mount a second telescope on the AZ-EQ6.  Thank you for the information.

or: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/misc/jtd-dual-rig-telescope-alignment-saddle.html

I swapped and changed a lot in my shopping cart.  The esprit 120 was constant switching its place with the 150.   The 120 was 90% the favourite one, mostly because its price and the upgrade from my current refractor. I use an equinox 120.  Considering to use that 120 doublet for AP would bring me in the same non-real-apo Photography as technosky 130 fpl-51. So that Technosky is not what i hoped it would be. (Nice aperture though) 

The next purchase must be a scope that performs for both 90%Ap and 10%visual use.  

Maybe the esprit is still an option, or indeed a used Tak.  

59 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

@Robindonne

Another thought - have you thought about a used Takahashi TSA120, a superb triplet and much easier to carry and mount than a 6” F/8.

Of course.  If one comes for sale and is in very good shape, i would be very interested.  Cant think of a better buy/investment than a used tak.  

I thought the silence...maybe lost your password😉

Sluke321 also lost his login and password

19 hours ago, Louis D said:

Seemingly, an FPL-51 triplet will perform similarly to an FPL-53 doublet at like aperture and f-ratio.

What a helpful link and diagram. 
im sure there are much more factors to rate a certain lens combination, but this is very helpful.  Thx.

1 hour ago, dweller25 said:

 In what ways is fluorite worse than FPL53 ?

Walletwise

23 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

A friend of mine bought a Meade 127 triplet that I'm pretty sure used FPL51. This was quite some time ago and I hate anything with the Meade label on it. Honestly, that scope was as colour free  (visually) as any apo I've ever used. I suspect the Tecnosky 152 triplet will be as good if not better as a visual scope. When mated with the right elements a FPL53 triplet can be a beautiful apo.   

Yes but the technosky is a fpl51. I think its a good scope for visual use.  
Im afraid for saving and spending (on a scope for mostly Photography) and ending up selling it. 

18 minutes ago, BaldyMan said:

There has been a triple whammy of effects all caused by covid really.

1. Furlough has meant people stuck at home have decided to take up astronomy as a hobby. This is great for the hobby itself and hopefully they all stick around but it means all stock in the country has now been gobbled up.

2. Production plants in China are lagging behind due to covid lockdown. There is a lot of demand to meet and this is affecting every sector. 

3. The shipping container crisis. Since Western Europe still hasn't got to grips with the virus there are no products to ship to China. That means containers that should should returning to China with our products for their market (think Brompton bicycles and stuff like that) are all laying empty in our ports as nobody is willing to send empty containers halfway around the world.

So to summarise. Demand has rocketed up, supply cannot meet demand and costs have increased to get the products to market. It's a perfect storm and it is affecting all kinds of sectors.

Strangely my small ali express orders arrive faster than ever.  Around 10 days

2 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

Nobody likes price rises, but I can't help but feel we've lived through an unusual 'low price' period, which may have caused us to expect more for less. Forty years ago a 4" refractor would be a scope of dreams for many, and a 6" a rare beast indeed.   Just looking back at adverts for the beautiful classic Unitron, which I used to lust over, and comparing their prices with today's great refractors, we have little to grumble about really.  I know times are hard for many of us, but perhaps that may serve to reinforce how value able our hard earned telescopes really are.   And even though they may be relatively pricey items, once we have one it's ours for life, so in real terms, even expensive ones are still value for money.  We just have to save a little longer!

There will probably be another brand thats going to be the new affordable allrounder.  ES, WO, etc.  

Hmm also nice item. Thx.   Plenty options actually.  Although its a quintuplet, it comes close to the esprit.  Size/price.  

42 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

I did see this when I was looking:

https://www.365astronomy.com/sharpstar-121sdq-121mm-f-5.6-quintuplet-apochromatic-refractor-telescope.html

Congrats 🎉 

2 hours ago, Deadlake said:

If AP wouldn’t you want a faster scope

Oke so i have to look for a shorter/faster.  
yes mainly AP.  If it would be possible to combine it with now and then visual i would be twice as happy of course.  I might have the option for a reducer?

38 minutes ago, KP82 said:

You will need a helluva mount

It should be carried by an orion atlas pro(skywatcher azeq6).  Yes testing isnt a good option for me. Not enough experience to rate a scope.  But i quess your and the previous advice here was the push i need to skip this model.  
An fpl-53 triplet.  
 

thx
 

I think it would also benefit all the shops if there is some announcement about a temporarily or permanent increase.   Temporarily will let all interested buyers wait for that moment the price drop. Who wants to pay 20% more, knowing in 6 months all prices would drop again. I would buy more easy knowing this is the new normal.

11 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

Don't drop it.....!! 😉

Yes.  We need a drop test with a mewlon.   To check the build quality etc

Drive electric.  Earth is warming up😉

Would love to see him do a meridian flip.  
ai no equatorial😑

Hmm thanks for the explanation.   I know its an never ending subject for questions.  Too bad manufacturers dont rate their systems.   Not by some fency detailed individual test but more like a percentage of false color for that particular glass configuration.

Ok to be short.  That linked 152mm is not the scope to be forever happy with.  
Only own an 120mm, a doublet, and this doesn’t seems like an overall step up.  
 

Thank you very much for the info/warning. 

5 minutes ago, johninderby said:

From what I have read the doublet has advantages such as quicker cool down than the triplet and visually very close in performance but would expect the triplet to have the edge for AP. The triplet would require a stronger  mount.

Think it comes down to how much AP ypu would use it for.

Thats probably very true. So no big no’s for this particular 130 triplet.   Then we have to hurry like you mentioned.  Before other brands also do a non-spaceX launch with their prices.  Go up and never return

John before you decide.  I visited last three days orso, you know since that moment😣, some local shops.  One of the items i had in mind was an esprit. It was priced on the edge before all went up.   I ended in Germany but I think uk has its own rebranded similar version.   
 

so i ended up at Technosky but also here: http://apm-telescopes-englisch.shopgate.com/item/38393132

Im too inexperienced and looking for a first triplet/apo.  
what are your thoughts on that ts photoline?