HollyHound

Without taking this off topic... you might find, this is now really close to happening... I've been working with various eVTOL companies (for their flight sims) and whilst I was initially sceptical, it's definitely "when" not "if" now... and we're not measuring in many years either anymore 🤞 Article about one company (Jobs), but there are many others 😮 https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/28/joby-aviation-receives-permit-to-fly-first-evtol-built-on-production-line/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKIiX37gQdqr7G8o4QPGoizEwM1KW4Bd3M5M_EmrUbDY0X0SEENf9rD45CCvrpJ_qfd2on44U9EGWPznL9UP3-YaL-6GBnAT_Ezg_PvhvnJCvOc_lRi0QqUH8eJFcz3zPhy-wA1BNyA6SmAKhxlcHz_O4UKrogCOd5oPWLHShJRt

These are amazing photos and that Sigma 20mm 1.4 is superb 😍 I've got the Sigma 40mm Art 1.4 for my Lumix S5, but haven't had the chance to really test it yet... this is inspiring me to get out and use it, thank you 😃

Thanks 🙂 The EM1 MkII is a great camera... the only real difference with the OM-1 is the extra subject detection, faster auto-focus and frame rates up to 120, although the Heron photos I took (on the "Wildlife" post) where only done on single frame (was still learning the camera then). My current avatar (moon) was taken with the PL100-400 (at 400mm) on my Lumix GX8, so will be very interested to see what I can get with this one (sensor is a little better apparently)... not using filters at the moment, as it's fairly dark(ish) sky here on the farm (Bortle 5) 🤞

Latest addition to my "other" (and daytime) hobby... photography... the Olympus OM-1 😍 Arrived yesterday, and I had a few hours to play with it (ahem, set it up properly 😆).... within a few hours of it arriving, I spotted a Buzzard on a nearby (ish) barn roof and took a quick "snap" with this camera... the bird auto detect, auto-focus, ergonomics and image quality are just amazing, and it almost feels like cheating (some skill still required... so more practice needed!) Coupled with the Leica 100-400 (equivalent to 200-800 full frame), this is for sure going to become my primary camera, alongside the Lumix G9 I started with. I have no doubt it will be great for lunar photography too 😃 Now, I just need to find more time again 😬🤞

That's an amazing price for such a superbly capable zoom 😮 Should be great for wildlife too... which is something I'm doing a lot more of recently, as a break from work in the daytime (until the nights improve more 🤞)

Congratulations, that should be lovely... I have the 2.0 version and it's superb in the FC-100DZ 👍

Good to hear you had no issues 👍I 've also taken both small (8x32) and large IS15x50 in my carry on luggage (backpack)... no issues so far over five flights 🤞

Well they can certainly present the viewfinder in a nice shade of "night friendly" red 😁

Although I currently have much less time for doing much else, as I've been expanding my business this year, I have still managed a few short sessions over the last few months... for this, having the grab and go 76" all setup and ready to go (loaded with APM SuperZoom) has helped a lot... take any opportunity that comes along. Someone earlier mentioned complementary hobbies/interest... I started back in photography last year, and have an interest in photographing wildlife primarily. Being on a farm, with loads of surrounding fields/woods does help a lot, but it means I can grab a few hours in the daytime to take some photos, and it's much less dependent on the weather (even rain isn't a real issue). There's just as much opportunity of going crazy buying cameras and lenses (just like scopes and eyepieces), so beware of that and buy as much used (as I have) as possible 🤣 It's almost as relaxing, gets you outdoors and a good alternative when the weather is just a bit crummy. Like others have said, I view both these interests as long term and so whilst right now it may seem a bit of a bad spell, the (hopefully) clear nights ahead will more than offset that 😁 Good luck everyone with the nights to come 🤞

Bit late to this thread, but this is my setup for my DZ… also primarily using 1.25” eyepieces (XWs, ES 24 68deg and Nagler 3-6 Zoom). Using the same 2” Baader diagonal as John, and all eyepieces come to focus around mid travel. Good luck getting it all working… it’s a fantastic step up from the FC-76DCU 👍

I've been through a lot of eyepieces, trying to find what works best for me. Finally trimmed it down now to a more manageable number Pentax XW 40, 16.5, 10, 7, 5, 3.5 TeleVue DeLite 13mm TeleVue Nagler Zoom 3-6mm Vixen HR 2.0mm ES 24mm (68 deg) APM SuperZoom 15.4-7.7mm Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom (x2) - Binoviewing Baader Classic Ortho 6mm Baader Hyperion 2.25x Barlow ES 2x Focal Extender (1.25") Burgess/TMB 8mm There are a few I've had, that I do sometimes miss, and may consider buying again at some point, but am content with this set for now 😁

Ah no.... I use the More Blue finder dovetail system, so I can remove the finder easily 🤔 Good point, if you do indeed want (or need) to keep it attached 👍

@astrodanIf it helps... my FC-100DZ has been quite safely living in this exact Oklop bag for almost two years now... I also have my Mewlon and FOA-60Q in Oklop bags too 👍 Edit: Forgot to add... the scope can fit into this bag with the dew shield extended or retracted 😁

Brilliant setup 🙂 The AZMP is a great mount and very capable for dual scope use 👍

Same... I've spent a good while poring over the reviews on Alpha Lyrae too 😬 Not forgetting ScopeViews too of course... I've had (and in most cases still have) a good number of the scopes in these reviews 🤣

Ha ha... you love it really 🤣 And what fine setup(s) you have now 😁

Getting one of these was the best investment I made in astro kit... sessions became so much more relaxed with one 😁 Still in perfect condition after almost three years of ownership too 👍

Superb report Malcolm 😁 Sounds like you're enjoying the Masuyama too. They're excellent eyepieces and I enjoyed my time with them, only sold them on because I wasn't really seeing anything more than my XWs were giving me, and with the new 85 degree 16.5 and 26mm, my two Masuyama were (unfortunately) superfluous 🤔 They are super light, extremely contrasty and the edge of field performance isn't an issue in an f/15 scope anyway 👍 You're pushing of the FOA-60Q reminds me very much of my first experience with mine.... I really must get back out and use it soon, with Venus so nicely placed... too much work, but I'll make a few hours spare very soon 😬 Enjoy and look forward to more reports like this 🤞

Just popped outside… bit hazy, but was able to snap this with my Lumix G9 and 100-400 zoom at 100mm. Moon, Venus with Castor and Pollux (just visible) 😀

Welcome back, hadn't seen/heard from you for a while, but glad you're back observing... I'm currently in a super busy work period too, so only getting short observing sessions for a while, so totally understand 😁 Lovely scope, and look forward to seeing how you get on with it 👍

Oh dear, I am extremely late seeing this post... this is terribly sad news indeed 🙁 John was extremely helpful to me when I first started back in astronomy almost four years ago, and first joined this forum. His reviews of the StellaMira refractor and Bresser 10" Dob inspired me to get the same, and later I bought his StellaLyra CC6 (which he bought back again a while later, as he missed it so much). We chatted loads on and off the forum. His reviews, comments and knowledge were detailed, inspirational, well written and always kind hearted... like others, I had wondered why he hadn't posted for a while. He will be sadly missed... RIP John 🫡

Sounds like this is a real "keeper" scope, one that "just works" perfectly, and that should serve you very well for years 😁

I've always found the tightness of Alt and Az to be quite consistent on both the AZ100 and AZ75. I'm guessing this tightness has come on fairly recently, so might be some kind of wear issue 🤔 Hopefully someone can help... perhaps message Rowan themselves too 🤞

That's a real beauty @Stu... seems to be a plethora of FS128s appearing right now 😁 I bet that must be quite a reasonable step up from a 4", but without some of the weight penalty of the heavier 5" scopes 👍

You only want four Taks... you're not trying hard enough 🤣