Helios refractor upgrade mission continues

[Manxstar]

Just had a bit of a spend managed to try the new gear out last night on the moon.

After buying new HEQ5 mount and pillar extension for my telescope this summer decided to finish the upgrade with a accidental shopping spree at First Light Optics.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=cultimabarlow&cat=70

Was very impressed with this barlow.The Ultima is very well made and a very good image was produced with all my eyepieces, very glad I bought this, will get a lot of use.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=WOsyntaFocuser

Again very impressed with this. The Williams Optics focuser was very easy to fit onto my refractor despite me being usually useless at anything involving a screwdriver. Excellent quality, well finished and a joy to use. Very easy to focus with, only problem is that is shorter then my old synta focuser so have to use diagonal but not a major issue for such a great upgrade for my refractor

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=WOdielectric125

Another Williams Optics product, the diagonal is very well made, great quality again and just great to look at let alone use. Again used it last night and gave me superb views of the moon, another great buy.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=Ms5000sp

Have just recieved this ep from Meade so not used yet, but the quality is superb, and have to admit was taken aback by the size of it

may have to rebalance the refractor when I attach this to it. Has made me hungry for more Meade ep in the 5000 range if they are all as good as this ep

Finally, as the synta finderscope bracket would not fit onto my new focuser bought the Williams finder bracket, http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=WOfinderBracket. Althought the quality of this product is again excellent, found it far too fiddly compared to my old Synta bracket with that very handy spring. This took me a while to get the finderscope postioned right, but as it attached to the Williams focuser I can forgive it, as the two do look great together

So thats my version of the Hubble upgrade mission for this winter, just have to hope for many clear nights now

Already have thanked First Optics in Astrolounge, but once again thanks for the great service :salute:

[PaulG]

Snip......

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=WOdielectric125

Another Williams Optics product, the diagonal is very well made, great quality again and just great to look at let alone use.

Snip......

I agree the WO diagonal is just too nice to use. I have one and have been unable so far to bring myself to mark the nose of the diagonal with the pinch screws on my 127Mak.

Sad i know but true.

Paul

[Manxstar]

Hi Paul, yes the quality of the Williams products are very good indeed, and have to admit to being very nervous now on dark nights in case I drop any of them!!!Really looking forward to a night of good seeing so I can try out the Meade 26mm 5000 ep though, it is a stunner

[thing]

Snip......

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=WOdielectric125

Another Williams Optics product, the diagonal is very well made, great quality again and just great to look at let alone use.

Snip......

I agree the WO diagonal is just too nice to use. I have one and have been unable so far to bring myself to mark the nose of the diagonal with the pinch screws on my 127Mak.

Sad i know but true.

Paul

Strange that. I have a Swan 33 mil 2" eyepiece, it's my only 2" and I keep the 2" eyepiece adapter permanently on it so I don't mark the barrel taking it on and off. Sad really isn't it.

[Manxstar]

Not sad at all!!!I treat mind with kid gloves, after years of dreaming of having such equipment, now I have it want to keep it as pristine as possible