SHOW US YOUR NEWTS........

[Whistlin Bob]

Here are my two babies- the mighty 130pds (and @Anthony1979- properly collimated and fitted with a coma corrector it's a giant killer of a scope). Then there's my 200p- bought from another member on this site and all about function not form. I have sorted the cabling out a bit since this was taken. 😬 Both shown with an image they've given me.

[uhb1966]

1 hour ago, Robindonne said:

Ah nice.  Another quattro owner!   Maybe mine is a mondaymorning version but i kind of hate that Stock focuser.  They upgraded it at one time at least and I probably have the old version.  It looks and feels like a hollow toy compared to the focuser on my other scopes. Had to take it apart to at least move in and out in a straight line.  The focustube on the inside looks like its cut with a grinder by a drunk tubecutter😑. The finefocus knob on yours looks different so maybe its a other/better version.   Im not sure with what i have to upgrade.   Asked some prices for starlight focusers but Im not sure if i want to spend 700,- to get a 500,- item work a little bit better.   Did you really notice a big difference after the eaf was installed or was the focuser working well even before the eaf?    And of course do you own more scopes/focusers to make a good comparison?

@Robindonne well, the focus was doing ok but not perfect before. it did have a bit of slack, both in move out but also overall, but it was better than those on other SW units. I also have a TS Quadruplet with an even better stock focuser. However, mine seems very similar to https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p3700_TS-Optics-MONORAIL-2--Newton-Auszug-mit-Mikro-Untersetzung.html as it also has this "rail" - about 169EUR.

HOWEVER: the adding of the ZWO EAF had multiple positive effects: (1) most important-absolutely no slack. The stepper motor avoids any slack. (2) Very precise adjusting as the stepper turns the adjustment way of about 2" into more than 14.000 single step positions, which can be directly positioned - (3) if you find that your perfect focus is at position 13450 when the scope is fully cooled down, you can directly tell the focuser to move to that position the next night - absolute repeatability  IF you control the focuser via EQASCOM or similar (4) moves up to 5kg of equipment (5) no need to loosen & tighten a screw at focus-the stepper motor holds everything tight at the precise position. Should have bought that much earlier, paid around 300EUR with temp sensor and remote controller. 

Bottom line: I'd rather buy a good motor focuser like ZWO first, and only if things don't improve would buy another focuser.

Only downside: the ZWO absolutely needs a 12V supply for the stepper motor, and no more hand positioning, only hand controller or computerized movement - thats the downside of it's removal of slack.

Best, U.

 

 

[Robindonne]

Ok.  Never thought about that, about the stiffness of the motor and blocking the focuser by itself instead of turning the screws.  Yes I recognized most of the focuser as the same as mine.  Only the finetune knob seems different.   Good advice to start with adding the focusmotor first before upgrading the whole unit.  Thx for letting me keep some hundreds in my pocket🙏🏼.

 

you cant see the finefocus on the pic but is not a flat head one.  More like a small Flat cone.  

Edited June 16, 2020 by Robindonne

[Anthony1979]

3 hours ago, Whistlin Bob said:

Here are my two babies- the mighty 130pds (and @Anthony1979- properly collimated and fitted with a coma corrector it's a giant killer of a scope). Then there's my 200p- bought from another member on this site and all about function not form. I have sorted the cabling out a bit since this was taken. 😬 Both shown with an image they've given me.

What coma corrector do you use... Plus i use a dlsr for my images if i ever get out to use it

[Whistlin Bob]

3 hours ago, Anthony1979 said:

What coma corrector do you use...

I'm using the SW 0.9x. It has performed very well for me and has me imaging at f4.5 which is pretty good*. I went from DSLR to mono at Christmas, but the DSLR performed well on this scope. In the pictures that's a Canon 550d with a cooling box on it.

* I have started getting reflections on very bright stars since I switched to the mono camera. Culprit not yet identified, but the cc is one of the suspects! (as it is no longer covered by a filter).

Edited June 17, 2020 by Whistlin Bob
Full disclosure!

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

Job done 100% complete!

Black knurled thumbscrews replacing the secondary collimation grub screws. 30mm would've been ideal but the closest available size was 35mm. Still, they're easy to adjust, won't interfere with light transmission, and don't stick out past the rim. A lot cheaper than Bob's Knobs if you're on a tight budget or simply reject the idea of paying £20+ for three screws!

 

... and to keep things neat, the tube ring accessory bolt holes were blanked off.

Edited June 17, 2020 by ScouseSpaceCadet

[Stub Mandrel]

My 3D printed (mostly) 6" f6 Newt.

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

That's flippin' smart Stub. The spider looks great. 👍

[Sky-searcher]

It is smart isn’t it. You must get a smile when using that Stub. Doesn’t even look home made, fantastic job!

[Stub Mandrel]

I've only had one chance to use it so far! It was quite nice but the tube wasn't flocked and the sky was a bit bright so I only saw a few brighter objects.

I want it to be my main visual scope, on the EQ3, while I'm imaging.

[inFINNity Deck]

Would love to hear how that curved spider performs.

Nicolàs

 

[Stub Mandrel]

On 18/06/2020 at 14:14, inFINNity Deck said:

Would love to hear how that curved spider performs.

Nicolàs

 

It doesn't make spikes, a star test suggests that it makes out of focus stars a bit triangular but I need to do a proper test on a bright star now I've flocked it as it may be caused by reflections off the white tube.

[Ricochet]

On 20/06/2020 at 17:35, Stub Mandrel said:

It doesn't make spikes, a star test suggests that it makes out of focus stars a bit triangular but I need to do a proper test on a bright star now I've flocked it as it may be caused by reflections off the white tube.

Triangular stars are usually caused by the primary mirror clips being too tight and pinching the mirror.

[Stub Mandrel]

2 hours ago, Ricochet said:

Triangular stars are usually caused by the primary mirror clips being too tight and pinching the mirror.

Yes, but it's glued at the neutral points, its also 3/4" x 6" mirror so a lot more rigid than say a 3/4 x 10"

[mikeDnight]

A nice little addition to the scope stable. I've yet to have first light with this 8" reflector, but the colimation looks good and the aluminizing is in top notch condition, so I'm hopeful.  Should be nice for fuzzy finding!

Edited August 24, 2020 by mikeDnight

[John]

I always think your observatory looks like a rather posh if small dining room in which someone has installed a very large telescope Mike !

 

[CraigT82]

28 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

A nice little addition to the scope stable. I've yet to have first light with this 8" reflector, but the colimation looks good and the aluminizing is in top notch condition, so I'm hopeful.  Should be nice for fuzzy finding!

 

Very nice, is that an 8" f6?  

[mikeDnight]

28 minutes ago, CraigT82 said:

Very nice, is that an 8" f6?  

I'm presuming it is Craig. When I bought it yesterday I just looked at its condition, and as it was being sold for only £150, I didn't consider the F ratio. A rookie mistake really, although I'd have bought it no matter the focal length considering the price and condition. I've just measured it and it is F6 or there abouts. Very scientific! I'll measure it accurately using a comb, torch and tapemeasure in the next day or two!

 

Edited August 20, 2020 by mikeDnight

[iPeace]

7 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

using a comb

You still have one? (Sorry).

[mikeDnight]

13 minutes ago, iPeace said:

You still have one? (Sorry).

I hope I can find a comb that comes with instructions. It's been a while!   

[JeremyS]

3 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

A nice little addition to the scope stable. I've yet to have first light with this 8" reflector, but the colimation looks good and the aluminizing is in top notch condition, so I'm hopeful.  Should be nice for fuzzy finding!

 

New shaving mirror, Mike?

🙂

 

[F15Rules]

4 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

A nice little addition to the scope stable. I've yet to have first light with this 8" reflector, but the colimation looks good and the aluminizing is in top notch condition, so I'm hopeful.  Should be nice for fuzzy finding!

 

Mike,

I thought for a minute this was a wind up from the refractor king! Have you been unwell recently??😁😂

Below is the nearest I'm likely to get to a Newt...🤭

[mikeDnight]

Have no fear, the 8" isn't a threat to Taky. I've just had first light through the 8", through thick cloud. Colimation is very good, I've only had to tweak it slightly and stars are concentric. It looks like quite a nice scope, so I'm pleased, especially as I can use it on a real mount and not as a Dob.  It was actually a joy to use slow motions on the GP to control movement. Im now looking forward to a starry night!

[JeremyS]

1 minute ago, mikeDnight said:

Have no fear, the 8" isn't a threat to Taky. I've just had first light through the 8", through thick cloud. Colimation is very good, I've only had to tweak it slightly and stars are concentric. It looks like quite a nice scope, so I'm pleased, especially as I can use it on a real mount and not as a Dob.  It was actually a joy to use slow motions on the GP to control movement. Im now looking forward to a starry night!

We’re not worried at all, Mike. You’ll soon get fed up with those diffraction spikes. They’ll make you DZzy.

🙂

 

[F15Rules]

54 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

We’re not worried at all, Mike. You’ll soon get fed up with those diffraction spikes. They’ll make you DZzy.

🙂

 

That's a bit spikefull Jeremy!🙃☺️

Dave