bosun21

Why did you sell both of them?

DPD dropped off a new Takahashi diagonal I ordered. I’ll be putting it on my new refractor.

There’s none these around for sale atm.

They definitely don’t produce items like this anymore. Where did you come across this?

Agreed, 👍, also the 17.5mm stands out for me. It took Baader several years of R&D after all the other sizes were released. They didn’t rush the development and that shows in the end product.

The equinox is the older version of this scope. Thanks 👍

I am not a fan of the CA i get with the Achromatic 120. I bought the semi apo filter and that certainly helps but casts a yellowish tint. There are local clubs but I am no longer able to drive due to health reasons. I don’t reckon I could dip my toes into astrophotography with any seriousness using the 120.

Thanks all, I am not really interested in the diagonal or the Kellner eyepiece, although I could find a use for the 9x50 finder. I have a brand new dual speed Crayford focuser on my Evostar 120 that i could swap over to the 100ED if needed. I would most definitely use the aluminum case if I chose the 100ED. I am totally visual at the moment but I am considering dipping my toes into the dark arts of astrophotography.

I am going to be ordering my new scope in the morning and I have settled on the Starfield 102. However the Skywatcher 100ED kit has caught my eye. Both are FPL53 glass and the same aperture. The 100ED comes with a 2” dielectric and the matched 0.85 F/R plus the aluminum case. This has thrown me a last minute curveball. Any last advice folks?

Very nice 👍. Please let me know how you find it, as I’m contemplating buying one for myself. PS: I’ve just seen I’m not the first to ask for a report. lol.

Which make of OIII filter were you using?

Thanks Don, that was an extremely thorough and detailed review of the APM zoom. You certainly left no stone unturned.

I have just seen the Explore Scientific essentials 102ED triplet. Does anyone know anything about these? They are £985. I’m ordering my scope on Monday and it’s still the Starfield that’s the firm favorite.

I have both the AZ4 and the EQ5 pro go to sitting waiting for my new 102. I’ll be putting it on the EQ5 pro though.

Welcome to the lounge Peter 👋

These two Vixen EP’s were bought from the bay. The seller said that they needed a clean,(questionable) so this is the result of the said dust removal

Another visit from the postman today. A 2X Vixen barlow and a 17mm plossl. I already have a Celestron Ultima (Japan) 2x, so I’ll decide which one to keep and sell the other. I bought the Plossl with the plan of a future binoviewer pair.🤔

I already have an Evostar 120/1000 mounted on a brand new EQ5 pro go to mount. I am intending in simply swapping the scopes over

I’m going to mount the more than likely Starfield 102 on a new EQ5 pro go to mount which i already have for visual

The Baader contrast booster is great for observing Jupiter. I have tried several filters including variable moon filters and the Baader contrast booster wins out.

I was looking at this scope as well, however another £300 pounds over the Starfield 102 for visual astronomy is stretching it a little for me.

You can still go for all the tight doubles you want, just place them in or near the centre field. The coma is only a problem for visual at the edges.

Postman delivered yesterday another RACI. This time from a fellow SGL member @Astro_Dad

It was actually @Mr Spock who drew my attention to the Starfield 102 in an older post where he was using high magnification on doubles with no obvious CA. It’s almost double the price of the 102 with FPL51 glass, but it’s the age old saying of you get what you pay for.

I am pretty sure that I’m looking at the same telescope. It was between the 102mm Starfield, which has O’Hara FPL53 and Lanthanum f7 £900 ,or an Altair Starwave 102ED , f7 FPL51 at £495. Due to the considerable difference in price I just wanted to check that the FPL53 was worth it. I am really impressed with the fact that you found no CA to speak of. I’ve put one in my cart at FLO. Thanks all Ian