Basementboy

Thanks, good to know. I've stopped ordering anything from the EU, though. I'm still waiting on a piece of cork from Portugal I bought 10 weeks ago. Maybe once they sort out the border issues?

This FOV chart is really useful, thanks. Looks like the 102mm F7 ed doublet is almost as good as the ST120 in that respect. What about visual quality for DSO? Is the ST120 better or does the 102mm doublet hold its own? (I'm basically trying to decide between getting a cheaper refractor to get started – for widefield views and to ease my way into astronomy – or whether to just pull the trigger on a more expensive f7 ed doublet if it's going to be as good as the SST120 at deep space anyway)

Incidentally – are any of these EP doublets (Altair or otherwise – I hear Tecnosky, TS-Optics etc are all basically the same device, rebranded) actually in stock anywhere?

This was a great review, thanks. I've been looking at exactly the same scope myself. In fact, I'm currently deciding between a ST120 (just to get a feel for navigating the sky, at a lowish entry price – I'm still a beginner) and this Altair, which I understand is a much better scope and, I gather, more of an all-rounder. Did you find planetary viewing with the ST120 pointless because of the CA? Also, do you happen to have any thoughts about FPL51 v FPL53 glass? The price jump is so substantial I can't imagine it's worth it (given I won't be doing imaging to any great extent) Thanks again for the excellent review

Late comment here – found this thread really interesting, particularly as I've been looking at those Altair ED doublets that are apparently rebranded Tecnosky scopes (had no idea). Does anyone have any thoughts about the difference between FPL51 and FPL53? The price jump is substantial and I'm not sure it's worth it (I won't be imaging to any great extent) And, corrollary, are any of these actually in stock anywhere? Or do we need to wait for the slow boat from China?

Thanks Mike, that's reassuring. After some great (if slightly overwhelming) advice on other threads, I've decided to hold off buying a scope for a while and I'm just going to use my binoculars for a bit to familiarise myself with the sky – to see what I can see by looking. And then buy something decent when it comes up, probably secondhand: and probably a 102mm refractor that I can carry. Great minds etc!

You've got a roof, that's good – I'm probably going to have to be in the parks most of the time. I have a reasonably large garden (for London) but it's surrounded by buildings that block the view and spill a lot of light. Speaking of which, have you considered a light pollution filter?

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I feel like we're in a similar boat. Do you have to carry yours around through the city to get it into decent viewing locations?

Thanks but I think I'm going to try to get my hands on a secondhand 3" or 4" ed doublet with an AZ mount, ideally bundled. Either that or something cheaper like a Startravel 102 or 120 that's still relatively portable with good FOV (and I'll just suck up the CA on bright objects for now)

Very helpful to hear. (How'd you buy the scope? Secondhand?) I'm also in London and worried about light pollution. But mount-wise I'm going to operate on the principle that if I can't find it, it can't be THAT impressive to look at haha. (Though I get that you're talking about navigating/starhopping, not objects themselves.)

Thanks! Great spot. I think I've ruled out the long refractors for now – I need it to be portable. Seems like a great scope in general, though, and #cantbeattheprice

Thanks! How so, if you don't mind my asking? Decent FOV, good for exploring the sky, that kind of thing? (I note you'd still prefer a 2" widefield eyepiece) How is it on planets? Do you find the CA very distracting/unpleasant?

Yeah I'm gonna have to make a spreadsheet

Lol. Office not home, unfortunately

If I'm being very honest, I'm actually really grateful and a little stunned that you've all taken the time to essentially help me patiently take halting steps forward. You must get asked these questions all the time. I'm not at all worried about being bombarded – in fact, the best result has been that I DIDN'T buy that Evostar 120 I was nearly ready to pull the trigger on. And that's all thanks to you. I also would not have had any idea about the ED doublet refractors, or actual real-world advice about cooldown times and portability and FOV and what really matters and what kinda doesn't. And I would almost certainly have bought an EQ mount, too, because I had zero clue about something as basic as the fact that you have to carry the counterweights, and maybe that's a total faff to deal with in a park at night. In other words, I would have made an early mistake trying to get the Biggest and Best scope, instead of something that suited my criteria properly, and ended up instead with an overcomplicated, unwieldy beast that just stressed me out. I'm particularly grateful, also, because of what Tiny says – namely that I can't actually see any of the scopes in person or meet anyone to chat it through. So to understand what CA really is (totally get it now about the light wavelengths!), and to hear how much it matters in real life, I'm treating like gold dust – because when I do decide to buy something I've now got a wealth of information specifically about the things I'm interested in. And that's kinda the biggest thing of all – which is that you've convinced me not to buy anything yet, but instead to get a feel for the sky and bide my time until a good scope comes up in a secondhand sale, or restock actually arrives. And then, crucially, not to worry too much about buying the "wrong" scope, either – because clearly there's a healthy resale market for this stuff (and a healthy percentage of that market cornered by Stu 😉 ), and as long as I don't blow the budget then I might even end up with two telescopes. And that would be OK. And looking through binoculars until I get there is OK, too. So while I appreciate you guys looking out to not overload me, it's precisely for this level of detail and interest in my own totally unoriginal and dull newbie situation that I posted in the first place, having read dozens of threads over the past few months and got the feeling that it was a safe place to ask a stupid question. More stupid questions to come. Until then, binoculars on the roof tonight. Fingers crossed for clear skies. Chris

Thanks. That's really clear and helpful.

Also (and apologies if this should be raised in a more specific forum) – but of these two Altairs, why is the one with the smaller aperture more expensive? https://www.altairastro.com/starwave-80ed-r-ed-doublet-refractor-telescope-466-p.asp https://www.altairastro.com/starwave-ascent-102ed-f7-refractor-telescope-geared-focuser-468-p.asp

I hear a lot about these TAL 100RS scopes but don't see them retailed anywhere. Quite old school? They look v cool in a Cold War way

Interesting – it hadn't occured to me that I might find CA appealing in some sense. Again, because I'm colourblind, I'm very unlikely to be bothered by "incorrect" colours – as long as it doesn't also mean a serious reduction in sharpness of detail/contrast (which is what my brain hunts for visually/aesthetically, instead of colour). I'll keep a lookout on the secondhand forums. Why an 80mm over a 4"? Just for price, you mean? Yep. That's what started this whole thing off for me. The setup for which I was *just about* willing to pay £539 jumped to £679. Although now I'm very glad I didn't buy it! (Evostar 120 on EQ5 mount.) I think it would have been a bit of an albatross to handle in the park at night.

Other than the Altairs, can you recommend any good 4" f/7 ed doublets? I might be able to pick up a mount secondhand. Would an AZ5 suffice?

Well hey – that's the goal! (For me. Not much of a photographer yet. I just want to blow my own mind in a healthy way) Ah, I see – quite clever. Worth considering! Though I'm terrible at making anything. I watched the 17 minute video – really great. And what a surprise, he opts for a f7 ed 4" refractor lol. Argh, maybe I will need to save up ........ It does seem like pretty much the perfect option for me. ..... for now though, I'm taking Tiny Clanger's advice and heading out with a pair of binoculars and a little star guide to find my way around. It's not like I can actually buy any of these things new anyway right now, not until the ships reach the distant shores of Albion. 🚢

OK – so I have to admit here that I don't understand what you mean. Are you saying by putting some kind of mask over the front of the aperture, it reduces the amount of light – which makes the viewing better on planets? (I'm guessing you mean it reduces the CA that people have said makes the 120 a poor planetary viewer) If that's right – how does one make a mask?

Gulp. I'd do it if I was 100% sure I'd love it and it was the right scope. (My life costs in the pandemic have basically dropped to zero.) As a beginner, though, I feel I'm in just a few steps past my depth spending £900 on something I haven't even touched, let alone looked through ... Hmmm

Though it definitely says Optical Tube Length: 100cm / I metre Maybe I'll contact Altair and get them to clarify

Ah Ah! Yes, of course I'd prefer one – that's great advice. It's definitely a bit outside my budget – which was £500 to get started – but this whole thread began when FLO kicked up the price of the Evostar 120 I was eyeing to £679 and I began to wonder what else I could get for that price that was better ... ... which sent me down the rabbit hole of getting good advice from human beings, rather than from shops – which has helped immeasurably. Of course the ED Doublet is £500 before any extras at all – and I gather I'd need a few, no? Plus the cost of a mount (AZ5?) Starting to get up there...