What refractor to get

[wookie1965]

47 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Focusers?

That’s the best part of the Bresser 102 / 1000 frac I linked to. A proper high quality CNC rack and pinion focuser with the option to add the dual speed knob. There is a lesson here for Skywatcher. Time to notice what the competition is doing and to put a good focuser on even a budget scope. 

John I should of said on my Meade I apologise I was reading the AR5 and AR6 my Meade is nearly exactly like a AR5. I have told Neil H the Bresser is the best one especially with that focuser.

Edited September 8, 2020 by wookie1965

[johninderby]

A good focuser makes even a budget scope much nicer to use. 👍🏻

 

[Neil H]

Thanks guys looks like the besser is winning . Without robbing a bank what diagonal should i look at 

[johninderby]

While a 1.25” likethis would be good.

https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/revelation-quartz-dielectric-diagonal-1.25.html#SID=566

The two inch version would of course allow using two inch eyepieces.

https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/revelation-quartz-dielectric-diagonal-sct.html#SID=566

Revelation drags are very good buys for a quality diagonal.

EDIT:

Everyone seems to be out of stock of the Revelation 1.25” so this ia a good alternative.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/diagonals/stellamira-1-25-90-di-electric-diagonal.html

Edited September 8, 2020 by johninderby

[wookie1965]

There is this one on ABS https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=165608

[johninderby]

Unfortunately the Skywatcher diagonal isn’t the greatest, not terrible but there are better choices out there. Worth about 50 quid posted. The Revelation is a better quality one.

Edited September 8, 2020 by johninderby

[wookie1965]

3 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Unfortunately the Skywatcher diagonal isn’t the greatest, not terrible but there are betterchoicrs out there. Worth about 50 quid posted. The Revelation is a better quality one.

Oh yes the revelation is far superior I have said you dont need one straight away you can use the scope with the one on and keep a look out on the second hand market for a good one to come up with a decent price.

[johninderby]

Second hand Revelation 2” diags go for about 70 quid posted so worth waiting for. Also like the WO diag which is a similar price used. 

One will come up within a week or two usually. 

Edited September 8, 2020 by johninderby

[johninderby]

Perhaps worth putting in a bid on this. 🤔

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APM-2inch-dielectric-star-diagonal/124328078890?hash=item1cf287ee2a:g:4aIAAOSwZFNfVfn2

[Neil H]

Thanks guys thats me sorted besser 102L with duel speed focuser knob upgrade and a good diagonal 

[John]

As a slightly alternative point of view, I've owned a couple of the GSO / Revelation diagonals and the Skywatcher ones and the William Optics ones and found their performance pretty much the same. I currently have one of the 1.25" Skywatcher 1.25" dielectrics and have compared it directly with a Tele Vue Everbright 1.25" and my Baader T2 Zeiss prism in my Tak refractor and found the Skywatcher performed quite nicely. I paid £35 delivered for it so I'm quite happy with it.

Just another "data point" of course

 

 

 

[Neil H]

2 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Perhaps worth putting in a bid on this. 🤔

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APM-2inch-dielectric-star-diagonal/124328078890?hash=item1cf287ee2a:g:4aIAAOSwZFNfVfn2

What does dieletric mean ?

[johninderby]

Just a protective coating on the mirror and while it doesn’t itself mean a better mirror it is only used on a guality mirror.so dielectric has become synonymous with a quality duagonal.

Edited September 8, 2020 by johninderby

[johninderby]

I too have found the SW 1.25” dielectric to be very good but the 2” not as good. Saw a comparison test and apparently the mirror in the two inch isn’t as smooth as it could be with a bit less contrast. I did try one and did find it not as good as a WO or Revelation.

Did see one of the SW 2” go for £39.00 posted recently and at that price would consider it.

Edited September 8, 2020 by johninderby

[DaveL59]

I noticed this one on the bay today
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bresser-messier-telescope-AR127L-1200mm/333714596134?hash=item4db2f0a126:g:bW8AAOSwMYRfV3O3

Not sure how it'd balance compared to the F15 John pictured but in case it's of interest...

[johninderby]

The eBay seller ia asking nearly full retail price for buy it now. Only 15 quid less than buying from Harrison Telescopes incl delivery.

Depends what price it is bid up to. 🤔

https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/bresser-messier-ar-127l-1200-hex-focus-optical-tube-assembly-4827120.html#SID=1683

Edited September 8, 2020 by johninderby

[John]

24 minutes ago, DaveL59 said:

I noticed this one on the bay today
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bresser-messier-telescope-AR127L-1200mm/333714596134?hash=item4db2f0a126:g:bW8AAOSwMYRfV3O3

Not sure how it'd balance compared to the F15 John pictured but in case it's of interest...

I used to own one of those. An earlier version with a different colour scheme. It was a very good scope I felt. Minimal CA, well corrected and really gave a "big refractor" feel. They are long scopes that need a sturdy mount but the HEQ5 that Neil has would handle it well enough.

That one is over priced though, as has been said.

 

[johninderby]

Will be keeping an eye on the eBay one. Who knows it might go cheap. 🤔

[DaveL59]

ahh my bad, didn't check the list price for that one. Seems many are being up-priced in these times, quite a few TAL newts at high pricing too. Sign of the times and reflecting shortages maybe?

[johninderby]

It is in stock at Harrison thpugh. so still possible to get one in a few days. 

I have noticed some astro items being sold at nearly the new price. 

[Neil H]

Guys i am still worried its going to hit the tripod legs the VX8L  is 1200mm and i cant look over head as it gets stuck on a leg  

Can the besser 5.9 102s be used for visual its short so wont hit the legs or do you think the 102L 100mm as its thinner will miss the legs 

Sorry for the stupid question 

[johninderby]

It all depends on your mount. Perhaps a pillar extender like this would give you the clearance?

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/skywatcher-eq5heq5-extension-tube.html

The shorter  102 is still a good scope but will have more CA but a wider fov.

 

[Neil H]

John what CA ?

[johninderby]

CA (chromatic aberation) or false colur becomes more of a problem the shorter the focal length with a achromat which is more important for lunar / planetary observing as you will be using higher magnifications.  Not such a problem with DSOs at lower magnification. 

 

[Neil H]

Thanks John . So if my 8 inchs just hits the tripod leg its about 5mm of the ota do you think the 102l as its thinner would miss its 200mm shorter than the vx8l