Evostar 120 with Baader semi Apo 2" filter, how good

[nightfisher]

Just pondering this, as you know i am looking for a 120ED on the used market could be a long wait, this has me wondering how well an Evostar 120 F8.8 would perform if it had a Baader semi Apo 2" filter with 2" dialectric diagonal, this would cost about £360 instead of £600 plus, this scope will only be used for Luna and planets and just a little deep sky like M42, how much difference will this filter make

[John]

Not really close to an ED120 Jules IMHO. The apo filter reduces the CA down by perhaps by 50%-70% plus you get a slight colour cast to the image wheras the ED120 shows virtually no CA at all with, and this is the crucial bit, all the visual wavelengths of light being brought to focus very close to the same place. The filter, as it's name implies, removes some of that light.

I also reckon the ED objectives have a better figure on them than the Evostars so handle higher magnification with more aplomb.

I'm not rubbishing the Evostar / Omni 120's but there is a reason that you can get them for around £150 and the ED120's cost around £500+

 

Edited December 20, 2016 by John

[Moonshane]

What John said.  I was never happy with a frac until I bought an ED

[Chris]

As you are a lunar planetary man I'd leave the achro's alone unless you're looking ar around f13 and above. 

If you weren't to go for an ED120, I'd rather see you with an ED100 than a 120 f/8.3 Achro (biased I know!  )

[Alien 13]

I think that my 90 mm Mak would get better Lunar views than a fast 120 mm achro.

Alan

Edited December 20, 2016 by Alien 13

[Dude_with_the_tube]

for planetary Jules go for ED,as Chris said,achro has to be over F13 to really be CA free,but then you get the mounting issues.Filters will not help.

Btw,there is a nice ExSC triplet for sale on ABS right now,same price bracket as 120ED,but ExSc as a triplet will be even better corrected.If the owner is desperate to sell,you might be able to negotiate the price? I have no association with it.

[CraigT82]

There's a Lyra 102mm f11 on ABS at the min for £200. Bargain planetary lunar scope 

[Chris]

Just now, CraigT82 said:

There's a Lyra 102mm f11 on ABS at the min for £200. Bargain planetary lunar scope 

That is a good price! Although I have a feeling Jules has been there and got the T-shirt.

[John]

4 minutes ago, Dude_with_the_tube said:

...but ExSc as a triplet will be even better corrected...

Not necessarily.

 

[nightfisher]

Guys, thank you for all the replies, i think we have concluded the Baader filter although good, is not going to bring an Evostar close enough to the Ed spec, so we can put this one to bed and keep looking for an ED....any one travelling up from Biggleswade as there is a 120ED on there but not keen on a 7 hour round trip.................Stu you can calm down for a while

This is the beauty of forums, you can have an idea and get response to it pretty quick thus saving a potential mistake

[xtreemchaos]

hi jules, how about a AR127L F9.5, cheap as chips, and if well adjusted hardly any Ca, mine don't show any more Ca than my ed80, have a look at my flicker moon pics 90% are with the 127. charl

[Moonshane]

I wouldn't touch another triplet. For visual anyway and I'll never be a  imager as far as I can tell.

[Chris]

10 minutes ago, Dude_with_the_tube said:

for planetary Jules go for ED,as Chris said,achro has to be over F13 to really be CA free,but then you get the mounting issues.Filters will not help.

Btw,there is a nice ExSC triplet for sale on ABS right now,same price bracket as 120ED,but ExSc as a triplet will be even better corrected.If the owner is desperate to sell,you might be able to negotiate the price? I have no association with it.

I thought about suggesting this scope, I know the owner through buying and selling and know he's a top man. The only reason I didn't suggest it is because he lives about a 9-10 hour round trip away from Jules. 

I've often drooled over the ExSci ED100 f/7 triplet, but I know the cool down will be more than a doublet. 

I think there is a bit of overlap both ways with ED's and triplets in terms of correction.

[nightfisher]

7 minutes ago, xtreemchaos said:

hi jules, how about a AR127L F9.5, cheap as chips, and if well adjusted hardly any Ca, mine don't show any more Ca than my ed80, have a look at my flicker moon pics 90% are with the 127. charl

I sort of like the look of the new Bresser 127 but its a long thing and as said still looking for a 120ED

[Chris]

4 minutes ago, Moonshane said:

I wouldn't touch another triplet. For visual anyway and I'll never be a  imager as far as I can tell.

I've owned just the one triplet int he past, it was an Ascension 80mm exactly the same as the Meade. I thought it was very well corrected but really really heavy for an 80mm frac! 

 

[nightfisher]

without wanting to sound ungrateful please stop suggesting triplets, wont be happening and i have been getting emails from people on ukabs offering up there triplets

[Timebandit]

Hi. Don't have to listen to me. But everyone seems to have great reports and respect for the 120ed and there is a reason for it. As very are very good scopes for planetary and lunar and capable on Dso. I am more than happy with the sharp crystal clear view I get through mine. I think if you buy anything else then you will be going in circles and coming back to this forum in a few months wishing you had held out for the 120ed.  

IMO if it's a one scope  you are after ,hang  out for a good 120ed they do come up second hand at reasonable prices and are great bang for buck fracs

Hope the above helps☺     

Edited December 20, 2016 by Timebandit

[Fozzie]

10 minutes ago, nightfisher said:

...any one travelling up from Biggleswade as there is a 120ED on there but not keen on a 7 hour round trip.................

Ive just got back from Peterborough that's only 40mins from Biggleswade... I'll be going there every week until mid Feb..... I don't mind bringing something back if the seller could get it to south Peterborough!!!! Option there for you!

[Fozzie]

3 minutes ago, nightfisher said:

without wanting to sound ungrateful please stop suggesting triplets, wont be happening and i have been getting emails from people on ukabs offering up there triplets

First world problems as my good lady would say.

[nightfisher]

Just now, Fozzie said:

Ive just got back from Peterborough that's only 40mins from Biggleswade... I'll be going there every week until mid Feb..... I don't mind bringing something back if the seller could get it to south Peterborough!!!! Option there for you!

TBH i think its to far, remember i drive all week and hate it, but if buying one of these it would be better to get it closer to home as it would need a good inspection due to high price of these things

[Fozzie]

2 minutes ago, nightfisher said:

TBH i think its to far, remember i drive all week and hate it, but if buying one of these it would be better to get it closer to home as it would need a good inspection due to high price of these things

That's a fair point... On the inspection... offers open though... If you need it!

[Stu]

29 minutes ago, nightfisher said:

Guys, thank you for all the replies, i think we have concluded the Baader filter although good, is not going to bring an Evostar close enough to the Ed spec, so we can put this one to bed and keep looking for an ED....any one travelling up from Biggleswade as there is a 120ED on there but not keen on a 7 hour round trip.................Stu you can calm down for a while

This is the beauty of forums, you can have an idea and get response to it pretty quick thus saving a potential mistake

I've driven further than that to pick up a scope before, if you want it........  

[spaceboy]

Were not all as dedicated as you though Stu I did a 7 hr round trip once and despite it turning out well worth it I couldn't do it again so understand where Jules is coming from.

Although! If it was to be for that one scope never to need another..........

[Chris]

Ok, I'm going to say it. My gut feeling, and this might be stating the obvious, but I think the root of the problem is that Jules is having great reservation about spending £600 on a single scope in case he looks at it sitting there during cloudy misty nights and just sees the 600 quid tied up not getting used. 

Hence the suggestions of cheaper alternatives! 

Am I right?

The only problem being the kit swapping and going round in circles, nearly getting the ED120, then trying something else. I think it takes one to know one 

Signed - Chris, kit swapper extraordinaire! 

[swamp thing]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

I've driven further than that to pick up a scope before, if you want it........  

I've driven further than that for dark skies