nightfisher

well said that man....and late happy xmas

I like the size of the 127, it sits on the EQ5 with no bother, i really prefer a scope to be overmounted, this was one of the problems with the ED120 i felt the mount was not quite as sturdy as i like, at this time due mainly to light pollution i decided to concentrate more on what i can do, rather than what i would like to do so now i am visual on planets and visual and imaging on Luna. ref the 150 pro, i have owned 2 of these and they are "stunning scopes" but for my type of imaging the focal length it way to long

I have little interest in getting any more scopes, however as a few members will be aware, i am extremely fond of the TAL100rs, and if the right scope came up for sale at the right price i would more than likely snap it up

This indeed true on both counts, my 127 skymax is giving Stirling performance as and when the weather slips up and actually plays nice (not often at all) For the record the ED120 i had was optically and mechanically perfect, it just was not the scope for me

A very quick set up to try and grab a couple of Luna frames

I think i got the last AR90s as i went on the site a week or so after buying mine and spotted it was missing, i have used it once with a very poor condition white light filter and it did well, but it was bought more for widefield which it should excel

Thanks Chris, back on topic the AR90s is not a Bresser based scope, it is a revamped Starsky 90, and based on the old Starsky 90 i had many years ago the optics were VERY sharp for a massed produced humble achro, coupled with sliding dew shield and a rather nice single speed metal Crayford 2" focuser, this scope has a quality that comes as a nice surprise at the price, might get some pics of it in action on the star discovery at the weekend, if the local micro climate decides to agree with weather forcast

Dont need a kickstart need clear skies that dont fall on a work night, Sunday eve i waited for the Moon to clear the roof top, but i had to be in bed for 9pm due to getting up at 04.45, so it did not happen, unfortunately i have to give priority to getting a good nights sleep as a day on the road driving a 26 ton truck when your dog tired is not nice and not safe

I would post a pic of my one and only frac, but it has not been out since buying it about 4 months ago, the Opticstar AR90

Nice one, i better up my game and get some data on the camera`s

I also owned an Antares 105 F15 (spirit of unitron), borderline ZERO CA, a total thing of beauty, BUT even an HEQ5 struggled to handle it to my liking, and it was just way to long...........to be able to own a scope like that again i would want an obsy with a bespoke mount to get the scope up high enough to be happy at the ep If i were to look at another large scope it would be a Maksutov over a frac, just think how easy a 7" F15 Mak is to mount compared to a 7" F15 frac

I think, and TBH sort of guessing a 150 F15 well corrected achro would MAYBE beat a say, 140 F7 ED APO and one would think the 150 F15 should be cheaper to produce, but it would come back to all the problems previously mentioned like trying to sort a mount for the big achro, a few years back TAL unveiled a 200RS, but it did not seem to go into full production, that would have been a dream scope, maybe i tell a lie re the big TAL, they list a 200 1800mm f/l apo

Im sure your friend will get used to it, they are a cracking good scope when used to their abilities, i dont always use the goto mount, i still have an EQ5 with dual motors for just Lunar or Solar imaging

Seeing as this 127 is now my main scope, and will be for the very foreseeable future, i have invested in a Revelation 1.25 dialectric diagonal, though i do wonder if this will out perform the nice Circle T prism. Also i have a rather nice Solar filter en route for the Mak, i dont mind spending a bit on sensible accessories/upgrades as this scope is working very well indeed for me, will post pics when all bits have arrived

I think it was lockie with a bresser 90.......i have been very tempted to try the Bresser 102 out of curiosity. In the 4" achro i still say the TAL 100 RS MK1 (purple lens and 2" R anP focuser) is about the best achro but a Carton 4" F13 would beat it but just not available any more

The 127 Skymax is a very capable scope, i have never heard of it being sold with 2" diagonal, though skywatcher do list it on the international website, this scope was designed to work well with 1.25 EP`s

I have had my Blue peter sticky tape and glue out again, i was not happy with the "blue dewshield" for the 127 Maksutov, so here is the MK2, in Carbon fibre

How about the beer being called "The maksutov cocktail"

As this is a thread close to my heart, dont we just love the maksutov telescope, here is my 127 on the star discovery

I think once i have used the 127 in anger a few times, i might sell the little 102 Mak and put the funds toward a small achro for a bit of widefield viewing

Piero, i am so pleased for you that you have this lovely Tak, i look forward to reading your ongoing reports.........

I think it might need a flock lining, I have a roll some where

Last job done on the 127 skymax, she is all ready for action and at last the skies are getting darker a bit sooner. Here is my home made foam dew shield, this is craft foam bought from the Range and its about 2mm thick, this is a laminate of 2 sheets, bonded together with UHU POR (safe on foam)

Looking very good, i have been toying with getting a pier made for my star discovery i contacted a local firm a few years back and he quoted a very reasonable price, think i might have to speak to him again

Piero, i could not help with the questions about the Tak but look forward to hearing how it performs for you