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Posts Made By: Tim LeVane

April 11, 2006 05:41 PM Forum: Refractors

Red Dot finder VS 9 X 50

Posted By Tim LeVane
Last night I decided to mount an Orion EZ finder 2 on my ED80mm vixen. I had picked the finder up last year but never used it untill last night.

After about 45 min of use and getting everything lined up, I decided that my 9 X 50 is going back in the box. I was surprised how easy the Orion finder was to use and how much faster it was for me. In addtion to being faster for me it does cut some weight off the scope which I consider a minor bouns. I did remount the 9 X 50 for another 30 min just to be sure that I liked the Ez better.

Now my question is this: how do folks like the red dot style of finders on longer tube scopes?

April 13, 2006 09:03 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

alt az mount for E3 tripod?

Posted By Tim LeVane
I have an extra E3 metal tripod sans mount and was wondering what the best option might be for an alt az style mount for it.I want to keep the cost down and it would be for 3 or 4 inch refractor scopes only.

April 17, 2006 07:02 PM Forum: Mounts

Why are Alt-Az mounts so expensive?

Posted By Tim LeVane
I really like my porta mount,but why does it have to cost 450.00?most of the other alt az mounts seem to be about in the same range or higher. after using the mount for awhile and looking at it on a daily basis, I realize theres not much there. its seems to me that this mount and a lot of the others should really cost more like 2 to 3 hundred.

April 18, 2006 09:09 PM Forum: Refractors

which 1.25 diagonal?

Posted By Tim LeVane
I need to pick up a 1.25 for a vixen 4 f/10 achro. Should I just go for the 80.00 one from Orion or go all out and get a W.O,Stellarvue or *gasp* T.V?

May 10, 2006 02:41 AM Forum: Eyepieces

which expanse ?

Posted By Tim LeVane
I picked up the orion 15mm expanse last month and really enjoy it. I am trying to decide between the 9mm and the 6 mm now. I had read some where that performance wise that the 9mm was a bit better? I am planing to pick up some of the Stratus 5mm or 3.5 later. any thoughts?

May 13, 2006 06:39 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Barlows on 80mm?

Posted By Tim LeVane
I own the Orion Shorty Plus Barlow and I dont find it to be all that useful on my vixen ed80sf. I have been getting better/brighter views by just switching Eps. Is this common with smaller scopes? I used the barlow alot with the 6inch newt and it really seemed to make a differance there. I am thinking of just selling the barlow now and getting yet another Ep that will get used.

May 18, 2006 12:10 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Repainting tube rings

Posted By Tim LeVane
I have a set of older vixen/orion tube 90mm rings with a baked black finsh.

I can buy new white rings for anound 70.00 or I could paint these white? what would be the best paint brand? and would this work ok?
I know this is more of a silly thing but I Like white rings better

June 18, 2006 06:14 AM Forum: Refractors

William Optics Ez touch mount?

Posted By Tim LeVane
I am thinking of this as my next mount purchase, How do these perform at higher powers? they dont have slow motion controls so has anyone who used it find this to be a problem or is it so smooth that hand tracking say on planets is easy?

January 29, 2007 01:46 AM Forum: Reflectors

Vixen 135R Newt

Posted By Tim LeVane
Hi all, I am once again pondering the purchase of a newt. I have really enjoyed the vixen refractors I have owned. My only question is about the sliding focuser unit and how it compares with the standard types on most newts. I have done a few web searches and have not been able to find any reviews or information.

February 20, 2007 05:01 AM Forum: Eyepieces

Eyepiece suggestions help

Posted By Tim LeVane
Hi all! I finally bought myself another Newt, the vixen R135 F/5.3. My current Eyepieces are the orion expanse line and one orion highlight Plossl 32mm. The Plossl works great but the expanse Ep's not so well. Should I just go with the orion highlights plossls, the orion Stratus line, or some Tele vue plossls? or something else I haven't though of yet?

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