Unitron Altaz new lease of life with SW72ED.

[mikeDnight]

Some time back i bought an old Unitron Altazimuth mount from a splendid fellow on SGL. The mount has laid around for quite a while until the right scope came along that would complement it and bring it to life again. Then a couple of days ago i recieved a phone call from yet another splendid fellow on SGL, offering me first chance at a SW 72mm Evostar ED at a giveaway price.  

Last night was my first session using the Unitron mount and first light through the scope, and what a joy it was on both counts. The mount, which used sprung loaded tangent arms was as solid a can be, with no tremor what so ever. I'd mounted the Unitron head on a wooden Vixen tripod, which was donated to the cause by the same splendid SGL fellow who sold me the scope. I've never really rated tangent arms as a way of driving a telescope, but after last night I've changed my mind. 

There are numerous reviews on U-tube and elsewhere discussing the SW72ED as an imaging instrument, but little about it as a visual scope. The Moon last night was past full and high in the sky around midnight, so I carried the 72 with mount outside intending to look at the terminator. Orion caught my eye several degrees below the Moon, so before I completely destroyed my night vision looking at the Moon I aimed the scope at Orions sword. If i said the view was spectacular, you'd probably think I'm exaggerating just a tad, after all how spectacular can a puny 72mm scope be? Well to me the view was really quite spectacular, with the pin sharp star images and a field of view that swallowed the entire sword with M42 being the cherry on the cake. At the start I was using a 2" 26mm Hilux eyepiece, but the eyepiece that really brought the show to life was a 12.5mm Morpheus. I swept up to M45 but the sword was such a joy that I didn't want to stop admiring it, so I drifted back to it again and again after looking around the sky at various star fields. The experience rekindled the magic I felt when I first started out in the hobby over 40 years ago. Back then I'd set myself up with a 60mm refractor and a pair of 12X60mm binoculars with which I learned my way around the Messier objects and star fields. 

Looking at the Moon there was a small amount of CA around the limb but the view was crisp with razr sharp detail, and far better than my old 60mm Prinz Astrel 500, for which I paid a whopping £110 in 1980. The 72ED is a far more capable and serious scope, which in real terms probably doesn't cost any more than the 60mm 40 years ago. Anyone wanting a lightweight  grab & go scope could do a lot worse than buying one of these mighty atoms.  The thing I dislike about the 72mm is the screw on lens cap which has a very fine thread and is difficult to screw on in the dark without cross threading. Other than that the scope is a pure joy to use. 

 

[paulastro]

1 hour ago, mikeDnight said:

Some time back i bought an old Unitron Altazimuth mount from a splendid fellow on SGL. The mount has laid around for quite a while until the right scope came along that would complement it and bring it to life again. Then a couple of days ago i recieved a phone call from yet another splendid fellow on SGL, offering me first chance at a SW 72mm Evostar ED at a giveaway price.  

Last night was my first session using the Unitron mount and first light through the scope, and what a joy it was on both counts. The mount, which used sprung loaded tangent arms was as solid a can be, with no tremor what so ever. I'd mounted the Unitron head on a wooden Vixen tripod, which was donated to the cause by the same splendid SGL fellow who sold me the scope. I've never really rated tangent arms as a way of driving a telescope, but after last night I've changed my mind. 

There are numerous reviews on U-tube and elsewhere discussing the SW72ED as an imaging instrument, but little about it as a visual scope. The Moon last night was past full and high in the sky around midnight, so I carried the 72 with mount outside intending to look at the terminator. Orion caught my eye several degrees below the Moon, so before I completely destroyed my night vision looking at the Moon I aimed the scope at Orions sword. If i said the view was spectacular, you'd probably think I'm exaggerating just a tad, after all how spectacular can a puny 72mm scope be? Well to me the view was really quite spectacular, with the pin sharp star images and a field of view that swallowed the entire sword with M42 being the cherry on the cake. At the start I was using a 2" 26mm Hilux eyepiece, but the eyepiece that really brought the show to life was a 12.5mm Morpheus. I swept up to M45 but the sword was such a joy that I didn't want to stop admiring it, so I drifted back to it again and again after looking around the sky at various star fields. The experience rekindled the magic I felt when I first started out in the hobby over 40 years ago. Back then I'd set myself up with a 60mm refractor and a pair of 12X60mm binoculars with which I learned my way around the Messier objects and star fields. 

Looking at the Moon there was a small amount of CA around the limb but the view was crisp with razr sharp detail, and far better than my old 60mm Prinz Astrel 500, for which I paid a whopping £110 in 1980. The 72ED is a far more capable and serious scope, which in real terms probably doesn't cost any more than the 60mm 40 years ago. Anyone wanting a lightweight  grab & go scope could do a lot worse than buying one of these mighty atoms.  The thing I dislike about the 72mm is the screw on lens cap which has a very fine thread and is difficult to screw on in the dark without cross threading. Other than that the scope is a pure joy to use. 

 

Fabulous report Mike, I'm delighted your setup is doing the business.  From one splendid SGL fellow to another 😊.

[Nicola Fletcher]

Looks like a beautiful classic setup Mike!

[Franklin]

Those Unitron alt-az mounts are very well made and super smooth. I had a 75mm Unitron refractor on one back in the 80's. Why did I sell it!😪

The scope was f/13 or maybe f/15, I can't quite remember, but whatever it was it was long. The problem I had was reaching those slo-mo knobs on the mount. so I wrote a letter (anybody remember those?) to Henry Wildey and he very kindly made some long cables that fitted on the mount knobs with a grub screw. They worked great and cost about £7 I think.

Edited November 21, 2021 by Franklin
update

[mikeDnight]

10 minutes ago, Franklin said:

Those Unitron alt-az mounts are very well made and super smooth. I had a 75mm Unitron refractor on one back in the 80's. Why did I sell it!😪

Wow! I'd have sold my granny for a 75mm Unitron back then, and I really loved my granny. I don't suppose you have any pic's of that scope floating about?

[John]

That's the best looking tangent arm alt-az that I've seen for a long time

 

[Franklin]

11 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

I don't suppose you have any pic's of that scope floating about?

Afraid not Mike. But it came in a wooden box and had 5 eyepieces and the Unitron turret to hold them and wait for it, I paid £125 for it from a guy in Doncaster who was selling it in the Freeads paper. I was about 18 at the time and did not know what I had. It got replaced with a Vixen SP102 about a year later. I do remember it being a very nice scope.

Unitron Moden140, found this online.

Edited November 21, 2021 by Franklin
spelling

[Franklin]

3 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

The thing I dislike about the 72mm is the screw on lens cap which has a very fine thread and is difficult to screw on in the dark without cross threading.

I found that on mine as well. And also the black paint came off the threads which left them shiny and I also feared the flecks would end up on the glass. In the end I would pull the dew shield off the scope before unscrewing the cap and then replace back to front to avoid the shiny bits when observing.

[mikeDnight]

2 hours ago, Franklin said:

Afraid not Mike. But it came in a wooden box and had 5 eyepieces and the Unitron turret to hold them and wait for it, I paid £125 for it from a guy in Doncaster who was selling it in the Freeads paper. I was about 18 at the time and did not know what I had. It got replaced with a Vixen SP102 about a year later. I do remember it being a very nice scope.

Unitron Moden140, found this online.

Imagine as a teenager finding that in your stocking on Christmas morning. Thanks for finding the image. 😊

Edited November 21, 2021 by mikeDnight

[markse68]

lovely looking vintage mount that Mike

[JeremyS]

6 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

Some time back i bought an old Unitron Altazimuth mount from a splendid fellow on SGL. The mount has laid around for quite a while until the right scope came along that would complement it and bring it to life again. Then a couple of days ago i recieved a phone call from yet another splendid fellow on SGL, offering me first chance at a SW 72mm Evostar ED at a giveaway price.  

Last night was my first session using the Unitron mount and first light through the scope, and what a joy it was on both counts. The mount, which used sprung loaded tangent arms was as solid a can be, with no tremor what so ever. I'd mounted the Unitron head on a wooden Vixen tripod, which was donated to the cause by the same splendid SGL fellow who sold me the scope. I've never really rated tangent arms as a way of driving a telescope, but after last night I've changed my mind. 

There are numerous reviews on U-tube and elsewhere discussing the SW72ED as an imaging instrument, but little about it as a visual scope. The Moon last night was past full and high in the sky around midnight, so I carried the 72 with mount outside intending to look at the terminator. Orion caught my eye several degrees below the Moon, so before I completely destroyed my night vision looking at the Moon I aimed the scope at Orions sword. If i said the view was spectacular, you'd probably think I'm exaggerating just a tad, after all how spectacular can a puny 72mm scope be? Well to me the view was really quite spectacular, with the pin sharp star images and a field of view that swallowed the entire sword with M42 being the cherry on the cake. At the start I was using a 2" 26mm Hilux eyepiece, but the eyepiece that really brought the show to life was a 12.5mm Morpheus. I swept up to M45 but the sword was such a joy that I didn't want to stop admiring it, so I drifted back to it again and again after looking around the sky at various star fields. The experience rekindled the magic I felt when I first started out in the hobby over 40 years ago. Back then I'd set myself up with a 60mm refractor and a pair of 12X60mm binoculars with which I learned my way around the Messier objects and star fields. 

Looking at the Moon there was a small amount of CA around the limb but the view was crisp with razr sharp detail, and far better than my old 60mm Prinz Astrel 500, for which I paid a whopping £110 in 1980. The 72ED is a far more capable and serious scope, which in real terms probably doesn't cost any more than the 60mm 40 years ago. Anyone wanting a lightweight  grab & go scope could do a lot worse than buying one of these mighty atoms.  The thing I dislike about the 72mm is the screw on lens cap which has a very fine thread and is difficult to screw on in the dark without cross threading. Other than that the scope is a pure joy to use. 

 

I think I’m going to regret asking this Mike, but I see your new frac and the DZ in that pic, so what’s in your obsy at the moment? 😬

[mikeDnight]

50 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

I think I’m going to regret asking this Mike, but I see your new frac and the DZ in that pic, so what’s in your obsy at the moment? 😬

I never leave the the scope in the observatory. Observatories are the worst place to keep telescopes. I have two EQ mounts, one in the house on which the Tak stands,  (something to admire when its raining), and the other permanently mounted on a pier in the obs. I just carry the DZ out when I want to play in the obs, or mount it on a Teegul/Lapides altazimuth when playing away. 😊

 

[JeremyS]

13 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

I never leave the the scope in the observatory. Observatories are the worst place to keep telescopes. I have two EQ mounts, one in the house on which the Tak stands,  (something to admire when its raining), and the other permanently mounted on a pier in the obs. I just carry the DZ out when I want to play in the obs, or mount it on a Teegul/Lapides altazimuth when playing away. 😊

 

Phew that’s alright then Mike: situation normal 👍🏻
I thought you’d maybe got a set of shaving mirrors installed in the obsy again 😬

[Stu]

These little 72mm ED fracs are very capable so I’m sure you will have a lot of fun with it Mike. I had a TS 72mm which I enjoyed a lot, so portable.

The Unitron AltAz mounts are beautifully engineered, and very smooth. I have my Telementor on mine which is a bit on the heavy side for it but it still works very well at lower altitudes.

[mikeDnight]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

These little 72mm ED fracs are very capable so I’m sure you will have a lot of fun with it Mike. I had a TS 72mm which I enjoyed a lot, so portable.

The Unitron AltAz mounts are beautifully engineered, and very smooth. I have my Telementor on mine which is a bit on the heavy side for it but it still works very well at lower altitudes.

Your Telementor looks great on the Unitron mount Stu. It would look the part in the corner of a study. 😊

[Stu]

8 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

Your Telementor looks great on the Unitron mount Stu. It would look the part in the corner of a study. 😊

Splendid idea. Now why didn’t I think of that? 🤪🤣

[paulastro]

40 minutes ago, Stu said:

Splendid idea. Now why didn’t I think of that? 🤪🤣

Perhaps because you haven't got planning permission and you're not allowed to Stu? 😊

[Stu]

1 hour ago, paulastro said:

Perhaps because you haven't got planning permission and you're not allowed to Stu? 😊

Actually Paul, the picture is of my Telementor, on the Unitron AltAz, you guessed it……standing in the corner of my study! 🤣🤣🤣

It’s the only room In the house where I can do as I please and can tell my dear lady to mind her own business! 🤣. It’s a long way from being beautiful, the carpet needs to go, lampshade… 😱, and has two pieces of tatty furniture inherited from the previous owners, but it’s mine! 👍

It cost me a ‘Walk-in wardrobe’ but was worth it 😉

[paulastro]

54 minutes ago, Stu said:

Actually Paul, the picture is of my Telementor, on the Unitron AltAz, you guessed it……standing in the corner of my study! 🤣🤣🤣

It’s the only room In the house where I can do as I please and can tell my dear lady to mind her own business! 🤣. It’s a long way from being beautiful, the carpet needs to go, lampshade… 😱, and has two pieces of tatty furniture inherited from the previous owners, but it’s mine! 👍

It cost me a ‘Walk-in wardrobe’ but was worth it 😉

That's ok then Stu, I was concerned Mrs Stu might be taking advantage of your good nature 😊.

[callisto]

2 hours ago, Stu said:

Actually Paul, the picture is of my Telementor, on the Unitron AltAz, you guessed it……standing in the corner of my study! 🤣🤣🤣

It’s the only room In the house where I can do as I please and can tell my dear lady to mind her own business! 🤣. It’s a long way from being beautiful, the carpet needs to go, lampshade… 😱, and has two pieces of tatty furniture inherited from the previous owners, but it’s mine! 👍

It cost me a ‘Walk-in wardrobe’ but was worth it 😉

Snap!...I got the spare room when my daughter moved out, and it's all mine 😈

[F15Rules]

Hi Mike, that's a splendid setup, and as one splendid chap to another, a splendid mount on which to sit your splendid tripod and splendid scope.. in short, simply splendid!!😋🤭😂

Dave

[mikeDnight]

3 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Hi Mike, that's a splendid setup, and as one splendid chap to another, a splendid mount on which to sit your splendid tripod and splendid scope.. in short, simply splendid!!😋🤭😂

Dave

Thanks Dave. I think it was worth waiting until a worthy scope came along to sit atop of such a lovely classic mount. I would have liked a Unitron but beggars can't be choosers, and the 72mm is probably a better scope in reality. I'm happy you're happy that your mount has finally found a new lease of life. 😊

[mikeDnight]

I've just had another session with the 72mm but this time i used a Tak prism and an old but immaculate 35mm Ultima.  It's a patch made if not in heaven, then for heaven. Glorious peppered star fields to die for.  Turning to the Moon, I decided to use my Vixen High Resolution eyepieces. They were great, displaying razor sharp views even with the 1.6mm giving ~263X. Testement really to the scopes good optics. 😊