cajen2

Nope, it's an ant! Don't ask me why it's there, though!

My initial session findings now in the review section.👍 @bosun21 please note.

Preliminary Build quality: the EP is heavy in the hand (but not too heavy!) and solid, with a hard rubber non-slip grip over a metal barrel. The eyecup is fold-down rubber, but even with it retracted, there are 2-3 mm between the lens and the top of the barrel, reducing eye relief to a still-healthy 17mm or so. Scopes used: Skywatcher Heritage Flextube 150p dob - F/5 and StellaLyra 200 dob - F/6. The EP gives 42x mag in the SW and 67x in the SL. There was no clear difference in image quality in the two scopes, only image size, so the following results apply to both. Observing conditions Mixture of clear sky and quite high-level cloud, making it difficult to focus on one target before it was covered. In the clear patches, transparency was good and seeing average. About 5°C and no dew. Other EPs to compare Pentax XW 14mm, Vixen 30mm NPL Targets 1. The moon - waxing crescent. The SL gave a pin-sharp view of the mountains and craters at the terminator and, switching to the Pentax, there was no difference in image quality, just size (the Pentax gives 86x mag) - an impressive result for an EP nearly £100 cheaper than the Pentax. The Earthshine was clear and there were no aberrations of the moon's shape or edge of field problems. 2. Orion. In view of the periodic cloud, I decided to concentrate on the familiar. M42 was clear, with a small but obvious Trapezium (four stars) and good nebulosity, even at only 67x. On-axis images were again as sharp as in the Pentax, but the latter did have a better edge-of-field clarity (slight but obvious). 3. I tried a couple of relatively easy double stars: Mintaka and Alnitak. The companion stars were obvious in both, showing that they didn't need high mags if the EP is good enough. 4. I tried Sirius to see if the SL would be disturbed by a small bright image, but no problems were seen. The cloud came over again, so I had to curtail the session. Conclusions 1. Images on axis were comparable with an EP £100 more expensive and nearly as good off axis with no EOF aberrations (including EOF brightening! 😄). 2. The Pentax gave an easier eye position. I had to concentrate to get the FOV right in the SL and small eye or head movements could disturb this. The Pentax was more forgiving. Th same was true of achieving focus. Eye relief itself was quite adequate. The StellaLyra acquitted itself very well when pitted against an extremely good opponent. It makes a highly recommended intermediate step between the more budget ranges such as BT Starguiders and Pentaxes, Televues and the like. I'll edit this if future sessions show up anything else. Do forgive the long-winded post!

Where are you lucky people getting your clear skies from? It's been unrelieved cloud for three nights here.

The radius what?? 🤣

I hope you're not suggesting that I'm not a 'reputable member'! 😡

Well, you never know......😁🤣

Yes, they're rubbish! 😁 A Televue Plossl and a Nagler. Check out FLO'S new prices.👍

First dibs please if you decide to offload the LVWs or SLV! Might be interested in the NPLs as well for my forthcoming binoviewer project, though I really need something with a longer f/l and eye relief.

I can see LVWs, SLVs and NPLs.....

List, please!

The question was posed on Wednesday! By his own admission, he's not familiar with the 68° range anyway.

I did ask Don whether the EOFB was apparent in everyone's EP (post #6). There was no answer......

Hehe, same problem as me, then. All I can see when I look at my EP case is 'holes' in the focal lengths! I promise to try and be scrupulously honest and unbiased.

Will do, Neil! 😄👍

One more question, Steve. Will the 2" 80° be ok with or without the 35mm extension? The 2" supplied Superview needs pulling out slightly to achieve focus.

The other 'hole' in my collection might well be filled by a 9mm 80°.

Ah, good spot, Steve. What I really need is a 4.5mil! That would give 267x mag for, as you say, planet / lunar imaging on good nights. However, this isn't substantially much different from the 240x I get from my Pentax XW 5mil and would still give me a rather small exit pupil of 0.75mm.

A few goodies today. From left to right: Explore Scientific 2x Focal extender. I ordered this in November! Should prove superior to the cheap Svbony Barlow I had as a stopgap. New StellaLyra 68° 18mm EP. Taking a punt on this as an intermediate step in both focal length and price with my other EPs. Review to come when it stops raining! Hurricane lens/mirror blower.

Good thinking!

Nice one. How are you going to fix them on? I'd be very nervous of drilling holes so near to the mirror! 😱 Glue?

You must be telepathic! I was considering an 80° for the other hole in my collection (except it'd be a 4mm). No danger of Louis' worries....anyone who knows me understands that if I think something is awful, I'll say so! So I'll gladly accept your offer.👍

Indeed, so it'll be compared with a couple of much cheaper EPs and a couple of much more expensive ones. This should give me a good perspective of quality v. price.

If you're expecting something like the converted mobility scooter, wheelbarrow handles, etc - well, sorry, not this thread! I had a problem with my StellaLyra 8"dob: it needed storing under the stairs on a wooden floor. It was quite easy to slide into and out of the space but needed some effort and could scratch the floor. I tried sliding it on a mat but, inevitably, either the mat slid and the scope didn't or vice versa. A couple of days ago in B&Q, I saw a small, low slatted wooden trolley on castors for, I think, £6. It looked about the right size for the dob base so I bought it. The scope was ok on the trolley but all three feet on the base wouldn't fit, leaving it slightly tilted. So I got a piece of 6mm hardboard from the garage, cut it to size and screwed it to the trolley. The scope now slides into and out of the space smoothly and easily. Not a difficult bit of work for anyone but me - I'm the world's worst DIYer! 😛 Trolley as bought: With hardboard: And scope: I'm childishly pleased with this! 🥳

You'll certainly find my review unbiased, if not necessarily well informed! 😛 Edit: it'll be compared with Pentax XWs, a BST Starguider and a Vixen NPL