HollyHound

The Nikon adaptor for my binoculars does too... again I didn’t realise this until after months of use 🤣

It's a very good solid tripod... not quite "insanely" expensive, although not super cheap, but it's build quality is top notch... it's the Berlebach Uni 28 (EQ5 head)... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/berlebach-tripods/berlebach-uni-18-tripod-heq5-eq6.html The mount head is also separate, and again arguably not cheap, but also very high quality and allows both smooth free movement and slow motion control simultaneously (without locking and unlocking clamps).... max payload is 7kg... it's the Scopetech Zero... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/alt-azimuth-astronomy-mounts/scopetech-mount-zero.html Other mounts and tripods are available of course 😀

That's a lovely scope, nice amount of aperture and will likely be a really good "one scope"... good decision 👍

Oh yes, definitely get a dew shield 👍

Agreed, they are pricey.... Certainly worth mentioning those thoughts to @FLO 👍 Cheers Gary

Get's cold at night... it is a heated towel rail you know 🤣

Bit late to this, but being one of a relatively small number of owners of the StellaMira 80mm f/10, I can confirm that it is quite a specialist scope... however, what it does do, it does supremely well, that being lunar, planetary and double stars. It's also still quite portable and functions as a grab and go (just). My Mak 127 doesn't beat it on those targets except it gives a little brighter view, but the view is (this phrase has been used before) "scruffier", whereas the StellaMira has a cleaner image. However I wouldn't want it to be my only scope... the aperture does limit it's capability and I would suggest a quality 100mm if that was the criteria. I've not owned one, so can't comment on quality, but the StellaMira does have exceptional optics... it is my most flawless scope. I have considered replacing it a few times, but won't do that now unless I can retain the quality whilst increasing the aperture. A potential upgrade for me is likely a Takahashi 100mm (DC or DZ), but these are not cheap. I'm sure other 100mm APOs can provide decent quality too at somewhere between the price of these and mine 👍 I don't think that FLO have sold too many of these, and although recently re-stocked, they are not flying off the shelves at the moment... I think this reflects the specialist nature rather than the quality of these scopes. Certainly mine will be staying until replaced by the afore mentioned Takahashi, but even then I may still keep this around, as it's also an incredibly lovely thing... daft I know, but it is... inserting obligatory photo 🤣

I can't comment on the Bresser, but I have the Mak 127 and it is a superb scope, particularly for lunar and planetary... it's super sharp, doesn't take too long to cool down (I leave mine out for about 30mins anyway) and is light enough to mount on a grab and go mount. I have mine permanently mounted on the Scopetech Zero, with binoviewer and Hyperion zooms, ready to go for the moon. It's also fantastic for double stars and pretty decent on most DSOs. You're not going to get wide fields with this, but then that's a known part of long(er) focal length Maks anyway. I've had mine almost a year, was superbly collimated out of the box and has remained so ever since. I did briefly have a Mak 150, which was also extremely good, provided just that tiny extra edge in resolution, but it was significantly heavier and I really couldn't find enough of a difference (at the time) to justify keeping it, so retained the Mak 127 👍

You could almost mount that scope IN that handle 😮🤣

I'm looking forward to being the recipient of one of the famous Inderby handles, mounted on his CC6... these things will become collectors items one day... the handles I mean not necessarily the scope 🤣

Well the StellaMira 80mm f/10 has just been sold... having one myself, I know how much of a wrench that must be deciding to sell it 😢 However, this new one looks like a well specified upgrade 👍 Really interested to hear how it performs and also perhaps what sort of increase in performance you see over the StellaMira 🤞

Ha... I knew it, I was right... you'd seen my form for favouring eyepieces around the 70 degrees mark and selling on the 82 degree ones and figured that I'd not manage with the 100 degree. As I said in one of my posts from a few weeks back, I hoped that you'd win your bet because I didn't want to go down that slippery Ethos slope either 🤣 However and much to my great surprise, whilst I found 82 degrees (at the time) not too great, I was really blown away by the 100 degree view. I think as mentioned, it's because I wasn't even trying to see everything (too wide), just relaxing and letting the view surround me, so that the edge disappears and it's just a "view". Possibly I had the wrong technique or the wrong scope when I first had those Nirvanas but interestingly I didn't find the ES 4.7 82 as compelling last night, but that could have just been the high magnification 🤔 All I can say is that I get the reason and desire now for the ultra wide view in these dobs and it was most odd to swap back to an XW20 and see the edge of field again 😬 I'm very happy to be in the ultra wide camp now... I'm sorry you lost your bet and my wallet is certainly sorry you lost your bet too 🤣

Fair comment and it's totally true to say that any of the eyepieces we choose are likely worlds better than were used years ago to make all the major discoveries we take for granted today 😀👍

He's already trodden the path and settled on a lovely set of Ethos 👍I resisted, have a great set of XWs and some others, but now that I have the dob, it seems the lure of the Ethos is also proving too great 🤣 Looking at all the varied collections of eyepieces in this thread, one thing is for sure, it can get very expensive very quickly so if you can buy used do so. I've picked up half of my stuff on here, but the rest from new. Unfortunately, a lot of the desired eyepieces (not necessarily better, but desired) don't often come up used and go quickly when they do. I was initially unsure, as quite a few report it not being needed for an f/5 dob, but I found (that with a decent set of eyepieces), I was seeing distortion in quite a significant portion of the outer field. Initially I though that was astigmatism from my eyes, but then learnt that I was actually looking at coma (they are quite different but can be confusing at first). The Paracorr (when adjusted correctly) removes pretty much all the coma and then you're left with usually just field curvature (e.g. XW14) or astigmatism (e.g. APM 20). The Delos 14 is essentially perfect in my coma corrected dob, and I'm anticipating that the Ethos 13 will possibly be close to that too. Does it matter... not necessarily as most of the central FoV is fine, but if I can correct the whole field (or most of it) then I will, as it just makes discerning detail near the edge a little easier. It is quite an expenditure though, but then it benefits every eyepiece 👍Other coma correctors are available, and likely just as effective, but the Paracorr wins on ergonomics for me. There are various threads discussing the benefits (or not), but feel free to start one if you'd like some fresh feedback 😀

Not sure if you're using a coma corrector, but although I did find astigmatism with the APM 20, it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be and (to me) it seemed like only the outer 15% at most was suffering. It is possible you're also seeing coma too. I will say with coma corrected, I'm amazed how well the stars remain in shape given that this is a 100 degree FoV 😮👍

I won't... I guarantee it will be a horrible eyepiece, I'm only buying it out of spite really 🤣 Same here, Bortle 5 and the Trapezium E/F were easily seen last night again (they haven't always). I am finding that for my 10" dob, a focal length around 14mm to be ideal for an awful lot of my observing too. If the APM 13 is like it's brother the 20, then that will be a fine eyepiece 👍

I agree with Dale here, especially after finally having used the APM 20mm XWA last night, that I bought from him recently 👍 I've been very happy and comfortable with FoV around the 70 degree point, hence going XW and Delos. I'd previously tried various eyepieces at 82 degrees (Nagler, Nirvana, ES) but couldn't quite make it work for me... I think I'm subconsciously trying to take in the whole FoV and can't, whereas at 70 degrees, I see the edge and am content, but 82 is just tantalisingly close 🤔 However, comparing the XW 20 and APM 20 last night, I finally "got" this immersive experience that many have been talking about. With 100 degrees FoV it's impossible (for me anyway) to see the whole field, without moving my head around slightly and when I did, it was extremely useful to be able to see "context" stars at the edges of view to help move the dob around. When just observing however, then I am also only really concentrating on an inner 60/70 degrees too, but as the edges are no longer visible (and I'm not even trying to see them), voila... the view feels more immersive 😀 It felt strangely "constrained" returning to the XW20 for comparison, however these still remain excellent eyepieces and will still be used extensively, particularly on my refractor and for lunar/planetary. I have to say the APM 20mm is also very sharp, contrasty and showed stars as well as any of the XWs or Delos. I did notice a tad of astigmatism at the edges (I was using all of these with the Paracorr, so no coma!) but not really obtrusive. It helped that it was so cold and clear last night... I was able to see the Trapezium E and F stars again with ease using XW14, XW10 & XW7 and "just" make them out in the APM 20... that was a revelation! It's been discussed elsewhere and in fact I think @Johneven has a little bet on with himself, but I have to finally admit that I am convinced of the merits of 100 degree eyepieces, for the dob at least... the APM 20mm works beautifully at that focal length, but I have today succumbed and an Ethos 13mm will be winging it's way to me from FLO very soon 😮 I resisted, I really did... but the immersive nature of that view last night was just too much...

Still both in use with no clear winner... Morpheus has the edge in FoV, but DeLite is very close (slightly longer focal length) with excellent ergonomics 👍 With more clear skies it is possible one will emerge, but maybe they both end up staying... I will update when a decision (or not) has been taken 😬😬

Good point... it didn't say spot the "missing" ball 🤣

Likewise... I think that's been part of it, lots of time on my hands to absorb into this hobby... apart from a brief gap of pub dinners in August (perhaps not such a bright idea in hindsight, but there you go) it's been my unwinding from work too... the geese and horses are the closest we get now to a social gathering with others too 🤣🤣

Actually you’re right, I was thinking the same thing. Some nights I do just like to “soak in the stars” and having an ultra wide field would do that 😃 What I want to try and avoid us having a wide and ultra wide complete set... impressive though the sets @John has are. I think at this level, they are all very decent eyepieces 👍

Well I think it’s fair to say, that it’s probably been a most pleasant journey 👍

Totally shabby lot I agree 🤣 I didn’t get a chance last night to test the APM 20 unfortunately, but will do asap. My secret hope is that I remain more than happy with the 70 degree FoV and then my set is XWs and a Delos 🤞 Very glad you have “your” set now... got there in the end... despite our jovial ribbing about eyepiece purchases, I’m looking to settle on a set too and think I’m very close now 😃

Fair enough... that is a lovely set of eyepieces there and seems you have found your ideal mix 👍

Whispers quietly... "Coma Corrector" 🤣