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Deadlake

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Posts posted by Deadlake

  1. I'm looking at getting an AZ75, however which tripod to use? Main reason is to have a lighter mount.

    At present I use an AZ100 with a TPod-110  that is solid even with two scopes with a total weight of 25 kg in use.

    I have asked around and the TPod-90 does not provide enough support when used with a TSA-120, the recommendation is to stay with the TPod-110. 

    Looking at carbon fibre tripods I've yet to see any recommendations with the exception of the SuperMount tripods. 
     
    Has anyone used an AZ75 with a carbon tripod that provides adequate support with either a 8 or 12 kg scope mounted?
     

  2. I have a beta version of the AZ100 mount software, the front end (web app) is running under iPadOS on a iPad mini 6. I find the screen size on the phone too small.

    The gamepad controlller is a SteelSeries Nimbus however any MFI compatible controller will connect.

    The controller works well for short movement of the mount and is great to keep nudging the  mount while observing the planets.

     
    Due to the Rowan software being in a web app if the application is back grounded or the screen locks then the web app loses control. The gamepad is still connected to the iPad.

    Ultimately the real workaround is the gamepad should connect directly to the mount, Xbox or PS gamepad will work best in this case, don’t rush out and buy a MFI device as might not be fully supported. How this works on Android no experience of.

    I would also like to see the option for faster slewing assigned to the digital pad on the controller, but time will tell.

    No ETA for next code drop.

    • Like 2
  3. 10 hours ago, DirkSteele said:

    Wow, look how far those correction graphs showing theoretical strehl to wavelength go into the UV and near IR! “Price on application.” If you have to ask….

    Well here is another price point

    https://www.skypoint.it/en/astro-physics-130-starfire-gtx-ota-apochromatic-refractor-with-rings-and-losmandy-dovetail-plate.html

    up 1/3 from last time I was looking at 130 mm scopes.

    • Like 1
  4. Well the original price Matthew quoted would in todays money be considerably more.

    The 130mm/F6 I have is the same price and in 2021 money around £6500.

    A more compact scope with a mere Strehl of 0.98 on the green line.

    IMG_4781.thumb.jpeg.ac48d1bc23b1baf1142969c590011846.jpeg

    Talking to Rupert the cost new would be almost double. The lens cells are bought on a fixed 10 year contract and due to cost increases that was the end of LZOS as APM would have too buy a fixed amount per year. Not even going near the current situation.

    The only comparable European scopes I can find are Zeiss APQ here 

    https://apq.de/en/products/uni_polychromats.htm

    Which are at *new* LZOS prices.

    A bit like houses everyone priced out…

    • Like 2
  5. 22 minutes ago, Louis D said:

    Unless they're in a globular cluster, then then tend to just look like fuzz in most affordable refractors.  In a large Dob with a premium mirror, they break up at high power into twinkling crushed diamonds on black velvet, at least under Texas skies.

    Sure, compare like with like. I would need a Lockheart mirror to compare with my APO’s and also a place to park a 20” dob. 😃

  6. If going for an F6 scope I would want a triplet, I'd pick the slower scope for a doublet. At F6 it's hard enough with a Triplet design to get good colour correction.

    A little off topic I did see this 125 mm doublet which comes with a Strehl of 0.95 on the green line.

    https://astrograph.net/epages/www_astrograph_net.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/www_astrograph_net/Products/AGTEC125F78

    However back on topic also this one, gets good reviews on SGL and CN (Astrometrics brand),

    https://astrograph.net/epages/www_astrograph_net.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/www_astrograph_net/Products/AGTEC102F7
     

  7. 4 hours ago, osbourne one-nil said:

    Maybe not in Europe but I think in Japan (which is a sizeable market in itself) they'll be pretty secure as I get the impression Vixen gear is the Ford Focus of astro stuff over there. 

    I do think my SXD2 mount was the single best astro purchase I've ever made. I'd even call it value for money. 

    I wonder if the newer stuff isn't being made available in Europe until the older stock has gone? I did enquire about an SD115S II a while back  and was told it was doubtful any would become available while the older model was still in stock. 

    The SD 80 S II is available on the Bressner site.

    I believe there are the EU sellers now and Bressner owns part of Vixen.

    I hope Vixen produces a harmonic mount, I think the Starbook software while now old fashion was the best thought out mount provided software. 

    The AZ100 software is going in the right direction, but really needs to be a native application for iOS and Android IMHO.

    • Like 3
  8. 8 hours ago, Elp said:

    Another option would also be the Pegasus Astro NYX which would be similar to the HAE43.

    This handles the C11 very well, the waiting list is long and the amount of users quite high.

    There is native suppprt for this mount in most astro software as well.

    The only gotcha is the power supply needs to maintain correct ampage…

  9. 6 hours ago, DirkSteele said:

    Sadly, not me posting about those two scopes. Would love to get my hands on either though and put them through their paces.

    Gavstar sold the Baader Traveller some years back…

     

    @DirkSteele

     

    From a mount point of view I would look at the AZ75 or HAZ31.

    The HAZ31 is very light and would make excellent use up until your 130 mm, whereas the AZ75 would support the C11. 
     

    Depends how manual you would want to go.

    If I was taking a trip to some dark skies, then maybe the AZ75 and a Nexus DSC would be the better option, as goto without creating a large amount of light..

     

    Here is a 130 mm LZOS on an AZ100

    IMG_7470.thumb.jpeg.ede988cf9c36cc55d5a73fab0edf2761.jpeg

    And a 130 GTX on the HAZ31, not mine. The AZ100 is 6 kg larger then the AZ75. The HAZ31 is 3.1 kg’s, but no encoders. If you knock the mount on changing an EP it is start again.

    image.png.c8c4f2e9e111d6f435cb17879bea1a22.png
     

    The AZ100 does have a YAB adapter to balance in the Y axis which is unique to the AZ100 and the Half Hitch

    IMG_7724.thumb.jpeg.3f211b3e48ae3796231741802a79eb69.jpeg

    • Like 2
  10. On 09/09/2023 at 10:45, Littleguy80 said:

    I think I’ve pretty much ended up with that kinda set. APM 30mm UFF, APM HDC 20mm, Docter 12.5mm, Delos 10mm, Pentax XW 5mm and Vixen HR 3.4mm. I started out with a more matching set but over time just starting picking whatever seemed best for my tastes at particular focal lengths. 

     The only EP's I could think of adding is the Nagler 31 mm and maybe a TOE 4 mm when the seeing is not good enough to support the HR 3.4 mm.

    The 30 mm UFF I have and really is in a class of it' own.

    And yes I would add the Noblex 12.5 mm to my collection as well. 

    • Like 1
  11. A dream scope is one you have chased after and then it arrives.

    For example a LZOS 130 mm F6 with a Kruppax tube to stop dewing and the tube freezing.

    IMG_7472.thumb.jpeg.2a7e2b40bbf8dde740a79683974e1b8b.jpeg

    I have larger mirrored scops, however for being able to relatively easily take the scope out, align and view and the sharpness on planets and widefield this scope gives a lot of flexibility. Larger mirrored scopes allow to see deeper, the view does not have the pristine view of the LZOS.

    Would I like a larger APO, of course however any scope  over 130 mm needs a dedicated observatory IMHO to offset the setup time.

    IMG_7470.thumb.jpeg.ede988cf9c36cc55d5a73fab0edf2761.jpeg

    • Like 3
  12. Observed Jupiter and Saturn through a C11 (9mm XWA x431) and 105 mm LZOS (4 mm TOE x164). 

    The bonus was Saturns rings where visible, wonder how long this will last before they are edge on?

    On Jupiter I could see more image scale thru the C11  however the view was soft compared with the LZOS. 

    There was no acclamation required for the C11, the scope was stored in the garage and it was still 22 degrees last night however the image was SCT soft while the LZOS did not have the image scale however the view was pin sharp.

    Not a fair comparison as the C11 will never have an MTF similar to an LZOS scope and the price reflects this. 

     

    • Like 6
  13. I don't think I've posted these together, however slight twist in that the C11 and LZOS 105 are perfectly balanced in the Y axis. 
    Both of them just float when manually moved in any direction and stay there without any clutch applied.
    Makes viewing Jupiter and Saturn very enjoyable, especially controlling the mount from a joystick without any vibration.

    image.thumb.jpeg.48323bfdc9e4c7cd8d419618c37e8f49.jpeg

    Balanced in Y axis

    IMG_7721.thumb.jpeg.18e41ff58a8876dabae73e6b0ca7cc03.jpeg

    Y balance adapter

    IMG_7724.thumb.jpeg.3f211b3e48ae3796231741802a79eb69.jpeg

    • Like 16
  14. 3 hours ago, Stu said:

    The 31 Nag is 82 degrees, not 85 so that makes it even worse value 🤪🤣. Doesn’t stop me loving mine. Cost me £375 for a mount used one fairly recently, John seems to find the real bargains although that was a while again I think.

    I’ve never used a UFF, but when I compared the 30mm 82 degree ES with the Nag, the Nag was noticeably better at the edges so is worth the premium in my mind.

    The 31 Nag is almost 1 kg while there 30 mm UFF is 556 grams.

    Good thing my scopes have plenty of glass at the front to balance them. 😀

    The last Nagler 31 mm listed on SGL was at £495.

    • Like 1
  15. On 29/08/2023 at 21:48, John said:

    I've posted these quite often but here are my 3.8 degree rig, the Vixen ED102SS + Nagler 31mm, and the more recently put together Altair ED 70mm + Nagler 31 setup which delivers a 6 degrees true field.

    These ED doublet refractors (and others posted in this thread) are notable because not only can they deliver views of wide swathes of space but they can also quite comfortably handle, and often exceed, magnifications of 50x per inch under decent conditions and on the right targets. 

    Really usable versatility 🙂

    vix102nagler31.JPG.b7abfad63a48c50b530c0bd06b535735.JPGaltair70plus31nagler.jpg.561a96769b9f17dd6b1508606d5a1eb2.jpg

    Is the Nagler 31mm (85 deg) the goto EP's for this, I have a 30 mm UFF (70 deg) at present?

    I'd use in either  a 105 mm F6.25 or 130 mm F6 scope.

    Is that extra 12 degrees worth it?





     

    • Like 2
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