badhex

Replaced my MaxVision 24mm SWA with a much better APM 24mm UFF for max FOV in 1.25" format. Unfortunately meant my Barlow had to go in sideways, and the pluck foam not looking too great these days!

Excellent! Glad you've managed to get up and running. The ZS73 is a fantastic little scope and punches well above its weight for the size. It's also surprisingly good for planetary views - the image is small but very crisp and detailed. You're going to have lots of fun with this scope 🙂

Managed a quick session last week to try out my new APM 24mm UFF. It performed excellently even in a budget scope (Celestron Travelscope) giving 17x and max FOV for a 1.25" EP, so I had loads of fun sweeping around, attempting various doubles and even managed the Ring! Full wordy report linked below, but in short targets were: M13 Izar (no split) M3 Epsilon Lyrae (split first pair) Zeta Lyrae (split) Delta Lyrae and friends Sheliak (split) Ring averted HD 175635 M13

Hello all, Took advantage of "one-night-only" break in the clouds last week whilst I was temporarily in Bortle 5 skies to try out my new APM UFF 24mm in combination with the trusty Celestron Travelscope 70 and AZT6 giving me 17x and max FOV for a 1.25" EP. I also brought a Celestron 25mm Plössl with for comparison, but after using it once I switched back to the far superior APM and didn't bother again 🙂 I still don't get on that well with the AZT6 but it was workable, and some of the issues are certainly due to the inability to balance the travelscope. The travelscope itself is optically very capable and pairs well with the APM 24mm, with surprisingly good contrast between the background and stars. Mechanically the scope leaves a lot to be desired (mainly the focuser) when compared with premium scopes but it works well once focus locked. First up, M13 was placed such that I was facing away from any local LP. After a few mins of searching, which was fun in and of itself with this EP, I found the target and was surprised how visible it still was even at only 17x. I have spent many an hour observing M13 over the years however, and it could just be a practiced eye (for this target at least). In the mood for another faint fuzzy I decided to search out M3, which I have never observed before. On the way I stopped at Izar, but magnification was too low to split it, as it only looked like a barely out of shape star. After some eyeballing, long distance star hopping and panning around I found M3, and within seconds caught a very bright satellite racing through the FOV and almost through M3 itself. Very similar view to M13 in size and structure, with two bright stars forming a triangle with the object, a bit like M13 but a different configuration. After lingering a while to tease out a bit more detail, I saw that Lyra had now risen above the hedges and trees, and thought I might try for M57 as a bit of a challenge. I was somewhat astounded by the starfield in and around Lyra itself. Perhaps I have not used a low power EP in that area much, but for whatever reason the whole area really sparkled, so I ended up spending quite a while around there taking in the starfield and splitting some doubles. I split Epsilon Lyrae's first pair, but no joy on the others at this low power. I then moved onto Zeta Lyrae which was an easy split, then Delta Lyrae and friends who looked magnificent and numerous. Sheliak was also an easy split, and I also found another interesting bright double which I looked up called HD 175635. Finally I came to look for the Ring. At 17x I was not holding out hope that it would be visible but to my surprise after a few minutes it caught it out of the corner of my eye, and realised I could just make out the tiny blob with averted vision only. It seemed quite soft with a light green hue, and I'm not sure whether the coatings on the new EP were causing that but usually if I've picked up any colour at all with the Ring it has not been green. Happy with an hour's decent observing and now tired, I took another quick peek at M13 before calling it a night. All in all a lovely session and a good test of the new 24mm UFF. I did at points pick up some reflections/glare when a bright star was just outside the field of view, but I'm not sure if that is the EP, the diagonal or the Travelscope which has numerous shiny surfaces inside, or a combination of the three. I can't wait to try it in a better scope!

I know they are classic showpiece objects but another vote here for the Ring and M13 as objects I just keep going back to. I first observed both through a 12" dob under reasonably dark skies at about 320x and they were both astonishing, particularly M13. I've never seen it in such detail since. I also often go back to the Pleiades as well, as it is a good option for any scope/EP combo that can show wider views.

Have been favouring my TS102 F7 ED since getting in December last year, but my ZS73 will come into its own during various travels later this year 🙂 I do also need to spend a bit of time with my C5 when the planets are back properly, I feel I've perhaps never given it a fair chance.

Well I'm sure there will be many people watching the 'for sale' section very closely soon! 😁

Arguably thought Stu, as you've *already* bought the TOE you have already afforded both 🙂

Perhaps it's not a bad thing I'd plumped for the APM already otherwise I might now be trying to chase down a Tak Erfle!

Kind of glad someone with much more knowledge and experience than me has found the same quandary. Nothing really seems to be the killer EP. Part of my reasoning for the APM was the large eye lens, as well as possibly apparently enormous curvature on the 24mm Panoptic (rectilinear distortion IIRC but I'm not an expert at the specific terminology). Hoping the APM was the right choice!

Fingers crossed! Yes, I'm surprised there doesn't seem to be more competition in the max field 1.25" class (if there is such a thing).

Thanks, will do! Looking forward to first light 🙂

Ordered and delivered within 24hrs!

That was quick! APM 24mm 68° UFF to replace my MaxVision 24mm 68° SWA. Ordered yesterday from Widescreen Centre and arrived today, very well packed in no-frills packaging. Whilst the fancy packaging of the ultra premium EPs is very nice, ultimately I'll take a premium EP in less fancy packaging if it knocks a few quid off.

Thinking about it, presumably you have to keep the eyecup screwed fully down then?

Back in the UK for a bit so time to stock up on small bits and bobs from FLO. An astro essentials EQ6-R Pro ⅜" tripod adaptor, a super short baader eyepiece holder, 2x dessicant caps and the smaller ADM saddle for the AZ-GTi (with the new style cover plate).

Definitely. I don't have the MaxVision with me right now for a direct comparison and I only have access to a tiny Celestron Travelscope, but I'm hoping it will work out nicely even in that, if the weather allows! It should give me 3.96 deg of TFOV at 17x and the skies here should be dark enough for decent contrast hopefully.

I really like it actually. It's pretty good in both my ZS73 and TS102 F7, very lightweight as you said and it's had more use than the Panoptic 41mm for a number of reasons, mostly that the Panoptic is too big to travel with and I often can't be bothered to take it out with me. It's also so big that the (any!) scope needs completely rebalancing just for that one EP. On the other hand, the TS is about the same size and weight as most of my other A-team EPs.

Well, the irony is that I'm normally based in Germany so availability of APM stuff should be easy, but at the very moment I have decided to try and pick one up I'm actually in the UK for some weeks, so the APMs are a bit thin on the ground! I'm not really a fan of the green Altair version, and the Celestron is inexplicably and significantly more expensive than the APM, but after some searching I've managed to get the APM at a decent price. I actually very nearly snagged the Celestron version from a UK supplier at an even better price than the APM, but it turned out to be an old stock price (and, was no longer in stock anyway).

Well, I think it's decided - I'm going to replace the MaxVision 24mm SWA. This thread got me thinking about what I enjoy in my current 'A-team' of newer EPs which have over the last couple of years replaced others I own; as well as better build quality and optical performance, invariably the answer is the large eye lens of the Morpheus and Pentax XW etc. Those additions have made the view through the MaxVision 24mm feel very tight despite technically showing the max field for a 1.25", so after some discussion on alternatives in another thread, I'm going to get an APM 24mm UFF to replace the MaxVision, as it's pretty much the only contender with a large eye lens, and generally gets good feedback (unless you're a glasses wearer, due to the recessed eye lens).

Don't worry Olli, that's what the thread's for 🙂 I could have missed it earlier in the thread, but might be worth detailing step by step what you are doing from the start, and at what point you start to run into problems. If you have a photo of your setup that would also help?

Thanks for the link! Will keep that one bookmarked. As well as your helpful input I've been reading up a bit on the few EPs in the max 1.25" field category and on overall performance it sounds like there's not huge amounts in it, each having their pros and cons; "swings and roundabouts" as us Brits would say. The biggest attraction for me of the APM and cousins is the large eye lens, and I can probably forgive the possibly indistinct fieldstop in trade. Of the few in that class it's also one of the least expensive which is another plus!

One more thing: in the course of my investigations, I came across this article from S@N in 2019, which covers "six of the best" 2" diagonals, two or three of which appear to be clones (Skywatcher, Omegon, perhaps the WO Durabright) and zero mention of clear aperture, only a note that the first two of the those three seem to be less contrasty which would possibly make sense. Poor show. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/reviews/six-of-the-best-2-inch-dielectric-diagonals-99-200/

Thanks wookie, this matches my findings as well. Seems that these (synta?) designs are to be avoided for those who want the full aperture of their largest EPs!

Yes, seems there are a few brands using this GSO design which is good news. Looks like I'll be able to pick one up from TS for about €145 which is certainly more reasonable than the Baader at 2-3 times that. I do like the clicklock, though. Oh BTW, the quartz version of this is also available from TS, and is about €15 more expensive.