Soligor Rob

Ok John here is the new set-up, have to say it is all very nicely balanced and not too much of a faff to assemble.

John, they certainly look the part, I've fitted a set of the More-Blue Rings, I notice you have fitted the Moonlite focuser how does that compare with the standard one, have to say mine has a nice overall positive feel.

Hi Chris, as relative beginner I'm certain a report from me will be nowhere near as precise as (I think it was John's account) but I will make comparisons against my other scopes, and how I get along with it. It does sit nicely on the Altair Sabre Mount, I have already made some changes at the focus end, fitting the Baader Click Lock adaptor and a William Optic's 2" Dielectric Diagonal. Just waiting now for the Baader Morpheus eye pieces to become available, phew this is nearly a big as drain on my wallet as my Bikes.

Fab pictures, you are almost there, great detail.

Hi John, nice looking rings the Primaluce, what size did you buy?

Certainly Sky Watcher haven't done themselves any favours with the Clamp Rings on the 150ED, whilst the rings on my Explorer 150PDS are a perfect fit and much more sturdy. Still all sorted now and just waiting to get it set up in the garden and enjoy the view, what are the chances of a clear sky tonight or tomorrow so see the new moon, fingers crossed.

Not the news you want to hear but here is an example on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164845160726?hash=item2661898916:g:KE4AAOSwxLdgjt98 £200 with 17 hrs left and no one has placed a bid on it and this is a complete package. As I said the mount and tripod alone you will be lucky to get £100.

Hi Everyone, I would just like to thank Steve and everyone else at FLO for the 5 weeks of the very best personal service. When my brand new Evostar 150 ED arrived in it's more that adequate packing, (they have certainly beefed that up from those early deliveries) I was one happy bunny unfortunately the supplied Clamp Rings just didn't hold the tube in place, actually they hardly gripped the tube at all. After what seemed like a marathon we finally got there and now the scope is sat on my Altair Sabre Mount as steady as a rock, we just need the wind to drop and for those rather persistent clouds to move away. Hopefully for the coming new moon. Thanks again to all in Team FLO. Regards Rob.

Have a look on ebay, and they are asking £200 with a telescope but getting no bids. I would think you'll be lucky to get £100 on it's own.

Oh fair do's to FLO they sent me some replacement Felt but unfortunately it was a lot thinner than the felt already fitted so of no use at all. I could pad the Clamp Rings out with extra padding but if anything went wrong and the scope hit the floor because I used a non standard item that might not sit too well warranty wise, so as much as it annoying I can't use the scope I think it prudent that I wait to get the correct setup. Interesting to not in the thread the guys are talking 2.5mm to 4mm padding, the felt that came in the set-up for my 150ED is 4mm and the scopes slips through this under it's own weight like a piston in a bore, these clamp rings I would say are just too big a Diameter. FLO said the Clamp Rings fitted to their other scope was locked tight so I guess they are the ones they are posting out to me, be interesting to see how they fit on my scope and how they differ in size to the rings I have.

Hi Glen, Thanks for the reply, the Dia of my Clamp rings fully closed not including the felt is 160mm, I measured the Telescope and the Dia of the tube is 154mm. The 150ED is a heavy old lump so I 'm quite wary that it needs to be held securely.

Can I ask those of you to measure the thickness of the felt in the Clamping Rings, I have just bought a new Evostar 150Ed from Flo and the scope just slips freely through the Clamps when they are fully tightened. Flo are sending me out replacement Clamp rings with what they say has thicker felt, as the felt in mine is 4mm thick I am somewhat concerned as to just how thick this other felt will be, the felt over time will compress and I fear I will be back in the same situation. Thanks.

I'm wondering how do you work out the Maximum Magnification (or Optimum) for your telescope. I have just bought the Sky Watcher Evostar 150 Ed Pro and am planning on which Ep's will suit the scope best. Is there a formula for working this out?

Hi Billy, Thanks for that, FLO have now got back to me with exactly what you have said, they are posting out some new thicker Felt Linings. As usual excellent service from FLO. Cheers Guys.

Have just purchased a new Sky Watcher Evostar 150ED Pro from FLO, Yesterday I found when I fitted it to my Altair Sabre that the tube Rings didn't hold the weight of the Telescope they really don't grip the tube tightened to maximum the tube slides through with the ease of a piston in a cylinder bore. I certainly can't use this set up as it is. Has anyone else experienced this and if so what did you do to fix the problem, I have mailed FLO and unusual for them they haven't got back to me yet. Any help much appreciated.

Hi, Only just down the road from you but Mr Drakeford says I still can't travel into Wales... These cold nights I wear my Weezle diving undersuit, with just a fleece jacket and Beenie hjat I am toasty warm. The weezle suit has kept warm diving in the coldest waters so outdoors here is no problem for it. https://weezle.co.uk/collections/undersuits/products/weezle-extreme-plus-one-piece-undersuit Fab set up you have there and excellent write up.

Thanks for posting that Paul, I've great fun playing with times to match my own photos.

Looks fabulous Stuart, how have you sealed the walls to the decking? An excellent way of keeping out of the wind with clear skies above, quality job, well done.

I have bought several Neewer products over the years, they are excellent value and very reliable, I bought their Intervalometer a few years ago and it is brilliant a huge saving on the Canon one.

Cheers Mark, thanks for the link to your report, interesting reading, this scope is a birthday prezzie from my lovely wife so she'll be happy when she reads how good it performs. We live in a bortle 4/5 and are lucky to have a 360" viewing area so i am getting quite excited about my new setup. When I have it all sorted with the tripod and mount I'll write on hoe I'm getting on.

Well it's been ordered and paid for now, waiting for my EQ6 tripod to arrive, been a bit of retail therapy FLO postage department have been busy wrapping me A Willaims Optics dielectric diagonal, a Baader 2" Clicklock Clamp, and I also bought an Altair Sabre V2 Mount. So plenty to play with .😀

Thanks John for that and the link, I'm going to order one, my lovely lady said Happy Birthday.

I am thinking about purchasing a 150mm size Refractor, I can’t find much info on the Sky Watcher Evostar 150ED DS Pro. Is it worth £1800? is there a better option at that price? I am planning to mount it on an EQ6 tripod on the Altair Sabre mount. Mainly visual use but will be attaching my DLSR to take some photos. Advice greatly appreciated.

Guys thanks for the suggestions I have looked at the Skytee 11 alt-az mount, that looks like it is more than man enough for the job. Cheers.

I would like to buy a new mount for my 120mm x 1000mm Refractor telescope, I don't want to go down the goto motorised route. I'm thinking just a simple manual mount, choices from what I have read are between the Sky Watcher EQ5 and the Sky-Watcher AZ5 Deluxe Alt-Azimuth Astronomy Mount. What would those with a lot more knowledge than myself recommend. Any help greatly appreciated.