Dean Hale

I have this 

TalentCell - it lasts an age before needing a recharge
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0713T4XT9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07B4FH27V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also use the cable to power both an Asiair 1st generation and the AZ GTI from the battery.

Got the idea for the battery from @ScouseSpaceCadet who maybe able to advise further.

Completely agree with you @powerlord i recently purchased one of these and for £20 a very good bargain.

First Berlebach product and definitely not the last. Report 312 Tripod in Titanium grey. It is lovely. Unlike the scuffed attic floor.

19 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

That dark grey is rather lovely 😊

Thanks Gary. Initially wanted the natural colour however none have been in stock an age and read that you and @johninderby had used the Stella on the report and it managed ok. Really pleased with it and 'wood is good' according to melody lane.

Thanks @johninderby - the picture makes it obvious now - every days a learning day - in this area that's basically everything.

1 minute ago, globular said:

There are different module inserts available for the Raport - and the 'bubble blower' is a 'module wrench' that you use to add or remove them.

https://www.berlebach.de/en/?bereich=produkte&kategorie=85

https://www.berlebach.de/en/?bereich=details&id=664

Thank you @globular

Berlebach Report 312 ordered yesterday from FLO and as usual here the next day. Smell reminds me pencil shavings - a little nostalgia. Anyone any ideas what the thingamajig is for? Maybe a bubble blower? 

Ignore that google helps - it's a module wrench!

Wanted something to hold a star chart or tablet and I stumbled across this post for star chart stands. £14 from Amazon and it's actually ok. If it works in reality not sure. If not i can always take up the recorder.

1 hour ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

A water resistant molle pouch

i have exactly the same bum bag - sorry molle pouch  🙂 for the talent cell too although a different badge

Indoors in the attic - not as bright as it looks on the photo . It's a school night and it's comfy for a hour or two to catch up my learning with the Asiair or for a quick peek between the clouds. One towards Orion t'other up at Pleiades.

1st time attempting anything like this but enjoyable for a lazy Sunday afternoon. 

Processed in Affinity photo.

How did i do it? Basically created adjustment layers with abandon and wanged filters here there and everywhere then started again. Then used this tutorial and some help from the Affinity photo book by Dave Eagle. Looking forward to seeing the other submissions so i can improve.

Loaded the .tifs into individual layers
Used recolour
Levels and curves readjustment x2
Background filter
Denoise
Selective colour
Brightness x2
Clarity

For attempt 2 - The Christmas card look. Same process as above except also used Autostretch1(RGB) from the Photokemi Tools plugin and lots of selective colour adjustments within Affinity photo. 

Little and large. Looking forward to trying a 2" eyepiece and the Baader is for the Omegon flip mirror. Thanks @HollyHound and @Second Time Around

I may actually end up with a decent image. One can hope.

Like a scene from The Fog here - loads of sea fret so unable to do a nice picture in the garden. The attic/home working office will have to do. Mounted on a Scopetech Zero and More Blue half pier. Vibrations seem minimal so think they will work together well.

Prior to today we have had 4 cracking nights so another picture of the moon - finally managed to get a little colour.  It's a superb telescope.

First time attempting this. Quite pleased especially with Photoshop the automate function seems to work quite well.

Untracked AZ mount. StellaMira 80mm ED and ZWO 120MC-S.
9 x 50 frames. Processed in Autostakkert and the resulting 9 images stitched using Photoshop automate / photomerge. I've adjusted the brightness slightly.

May help those with a stainless steel tripod with a 3/8 screw. I bought a Manfrotto 120 tripod head converter. It fits a few mm into the recess so quite snug and seems very secure. Worked very well last night no slippage - silky smooth. Also waiting for the More Blue pier to arrive on Monday and can then compare.

52 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

Welcome to StellaMira/ScopeTech heaven 😀

and matching socks
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-eyepieces/stellalyra-30mm-2-kitakaru-rpl-eyepiece.html

29 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

You do really need to have the mounting bolt in the base nice and tight, otherwise (as you've found) that when the azimuth control knob is tightened enough to give authority for the slow motion control, it could easily overcome the base friction and undo the mount. I think that's what you're describing 🤔

Thanks for this @HollyHound above is exactly what is happening. I'll have a little more time to play with this tonight and try the tips you mentioned. I'm sure it will be perfect. I've just bought the More Blue Carbon Fiber Half Pillar so may help too - i wanted this anyway for the AZ GTI, good job the pubs are still closed as spent a little too much the past few days.  As to the clamp i noticed you mentioned this in a previous post so also followed your advice. Thanks

Hello

2 questions for you clever people. I've just received a new Scopetech Zero and have actually read the instructions supplied (always a first) around the warnings of balance and potential damage i could cause.

I've replaced the screw clamp with an ADM clamp. Loosed the nuts slightly as it was so stiff it just would not move in any direction. However it mentions potential damage when mounting the scope and appropriate guidance to avoid mishaps. I've added two images which show a gap similar to the instructional warning image. This is without a telescope being mounted. The gap seems to be a uniform and not out of kilter. Is this normal? Hopefully just overthinking this. But thought best to check.

No 2. I've mounted the Scopetech onto a Skywatcher 3/8 stainless steel tripod. This just uses a 3/8 screw direct to the base of the mount and the slow motion is hit and miss (perfectly fine when not mounted to the tripod) - the best i can explain is i can't quite get it to fully tighten. If i use the mount extension it's fine - however i don't trust using this.

Is there a pier or base i can buy - maybe this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Camera-Panoramic-Panning-Aluminum-Panorama-default/dp/B08JD4BGCT/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=3%2F8+panoramic+base&qid=1614187701&s=electronics&sr=1-8 or any other ideas?

Cheers

Dean

Very happy chap today. Actually dithered quite a bit whether to buy the StellaMira 80mm (crayford focuser) or an alternative however circumstances deemed the StellaMira as the one to be. Ooh it's lovely. Plus a few other bits - Scopetech Zero, ADM clamp and a Baader finder shoe. Thanks to the contributors on the various posts at SGL as to suggestions for appropriate mounts and clamps.

2 hours ago, HollyHound said:

They're really superb lightweight alt/az mounts.... my ScopeTech, Report tripod, Mak 127, binoviewer and two Hyperion zooms can be picked up with one hand and taken outside in 30 seconds, including opening the outside door with the other hand... so useful 👍

I was tempted to get another, but now that I have the CC6, I really need something again with bigger payload. I did have the SkyTee, but I think the AZ100 would effectively be an "end game" mount for this purpose 🤔

There was a ScopeTech on sale at FLO last month, so worth checking daily to see if another pops up first 🤞

Thanks, I appreciate the advice and its suitability. Enjoy the incoming AZ100! 🛒

4 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

I like your approach 🤣

However, even with the AZ100, I’ll keep the ScopeTech Zero, simply because for grab and go lunar with the Mak 127, it’s the best

Got one in the basket at the minute - just hanging on till Monday to see if one comes up in the for sale section. You never know.

13 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

If one was inclined towards this mount, is it worth getting it with encoders and the Nexus unit pre-fitted, or can they be fitted later ?

I think you really really should and i'll buy your scopetech zero - hope you don't mind but couldn't resist. 🙂

HI

Has anyone actually replaced the clamp on a AZ5? I've chewed up quite a few dovetails using the existing screw based clamp.  

re reading the thread i can see this an option above but that seems to be for the AZ-EQ5 https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetails-saddles-clamps/primaluce-lab-az-eq5-plus-puck-adapter-plate.html - i think? 

Thanks

Back in business. Thought i'd update on the chance someone else may have the same scope and wish to add tube rings. Probably very obvious to most people but anyways.

Purchased Skywatcher 101mm tube rings and a short dovetail. and once you remove the badge/sticker/logo and reverse the finder bracket they fit perfect. Now have a handy ledge for the asiair and cable management using the 1/4 screw holes too.