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Posts Made By: Rod Kaufman

July 28, 2018 10:14 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

to mew or not to mew

Posted By Rod Kaufman
Why not consider the Sky Watcher 180mm Mak?
Here's a comparo with a Mew:
https://translate.google.com/translate?depth=1&hl=en&rev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=de&sp=nmt4&u=http://r2.astro-foren.com/index.php/de/12-beitraege/04-zweispiegel-systeme-astrofotografie/789-d069b-vergleich-180-mewlon-dall-kirkham-und-180-skywatcher-maksutov&xid=25657,15700021,15700124,15700149,15700168,15700186,15700191,15700201,15700205
Loos like the Sky Watcher slightly edges it out in this sample.

January 5, 2020 04:47 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

PVC2000 Paracorr question

Posted By Rod Kaufman
Originally Posted by James DellaPenna
Posted this under TeleVue forum but no replies.
Does the PVC2000 Visual Paracorr come with a 2.00/1.25" adapter?  I seem to have a spare adapter in my eyepiece case and wondering if that's what it goes to.  I've been using the adapter that comes with my scope and cannot remember if the Paracorr came with one.  It's important if I change scopes and need to sell the Paracorr.  Thanks.
IF this is the 2" paracorr that predates the current one, ie the older model that is useful to about F4.5 or so (as opposed to the current one that corrects coma to down to around F3) then yes it comes with a 1.25" adapter but I haven't seen it referred to as the PVC2000. 

April 16, 2020 11:05 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Heater / controller vs dew shield.

Posted By Rod Kaufman
Something like this:
https://telescopes.net/store/astrozap-flexi-heat-celestron-9-25-sct-cpc-dew-shield.html

June 9, 2020 10:25 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Which f/6.3 focal reducer?

Posted By Rod Kaufman
Originally Posted by James DellaPenna
I'm in the process of acquiring a CPC 1100 and will want an f/6.3 reducer, both for regular viewing and binoviewing.
The most popular brand seems to be the Celestron 94175 reducer.  Unfortunately, it costs about 50% more than the apparent equivalent in Meade, Antares, etc.  Is it really 50% better or is this higher price simply something Celestron has always been able to get away with?  Opinions, please.
I have the Celestron version and it appears it's about $50.00 more than what I paid quite a few years ago. I see the meade is also a four element design but less expensive. I'd go with the meade. I think they're essentially the same. Still, there's a relevant thread you may want to consider:
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/317063-celestron-f63-vs-meade-f63-focal-reducers-corrector/

March 1, 2021 09:43 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Bushnell Voyager 8inch Dobsonian. Thoughts?

Posted By Rod Kaufman
Here's a CN thread on it: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/573259-8-dobs-with-3-central-obstruction-advice/
If it indeed has a 3" secondary, that's a lot more of obstruction that isn't needed. New Zhumell 8" dobs were going for $499.00 on Amazon so $350.00 is not bad but I'd offer less, perhaps $300.00. Scopes have gone up a a lot in value because of product shortages due to the pandemic. They'll probably drop quite a bit in the future as the pandemic eases and folks go back to their usual activities. I'd also expect prices to decline if tariffs are eased on imports from China.

April 2, 2021 12:04 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Solar scopes

Posted By Rod Kaufman
Originally Posted by James Lynch
 Does anyone have experience with large ha scopes compared to expensive solar filters? I've owned a Lunt 60mm ha scope and compared it to the Quark ha eyepiece but want to sell them both a spend even more money... PS don't tell my wife! Jim
My solar scope experience is limited but I'd prefer a dedicated solar scope versus filters. Just my 2 cents...

April 5, 2021 01:38 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Dovetail

Posted By Rod Kaufman
Originally Posted by Robert Cuoccio
Hi friends I acquired an 8" Edge with a CGE dovetail unfortunately i need a CG-5 dovetail for my evolution. so i got one but the mounting holes don't line up straight so can i mount the bar askew will that effect the tracking. And if needed should i drill and tap a new hole on the scope. Thanks
I'd contact the technical department at Celestron and ask for advice before proceeding on your own. With a proper tool, you can tap the bar but don't mess with the scope itself.

April 8, 2021 07:12 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Retrofitting an old truss fob to be go-to.

Posted By Rod Kaufman
Originally Posted by James Braddy
I have a 14.5" night sky truss dob, with a sky commander, and an equatorial platform, was in my 30's when I bought it, now I'm in my late fifties, and it's not as light or portable as it used to be, and neither am I. 
Getting it up on the equatorial platform and all aligned isn't as easy as it used to be. I know technology has progressed, was wondering what would be involved in retrofitting it to be a Go-to, in terms of both the options and cost.
Here ya go:

https://www.astrosystems.biz/drive.htm

Check with astrosystems to determine if it's compatible with your dob.

April 17, 2021 12:48 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

CG-5 with Lunt/APM 100 ED Binos for AP?

Posted By Rod Kaufman
Originally Posted by mike selz
About 10 years ago I got pretty into AP with my Celestron CGE and Meade 127mm triplet refactor and 80mm stellarve doublet, I live in bortle 4 skies but with a LIght pollution filter and patience I’ve been able to get 5-10 minute subs to stack using a canon DSLR rebel 1000.

since then life hit and I had a job where I had to get up early but these days I’m having more time at night and got a binocular scope, 100 ED lunt on a sturdy tripod and I’m quickly getting addicted again, I’m close to the florida Everglades, 15 min drive  where my SQM reader tells me I’m in bortle 6 skies and WOW the difference. Another 30 minutes out in the middle of the Everglades is bortle 7+ and Milky Way is beautiful overhead.

Anyways, I was thinking to use a simple CG-5 mount with the Lunt binoscope, using the 2nd ocular as a guider, and investing in a Nikon 5300 (24MP) for ultra wide views since the bino is only 550mm FL. It’s been many years since I’ve done some good AP work.  Can I use my tablet rather than laptop when connecting  the RS 232 cord? (I think that’s what it’s called) I’m sure tech has changed a bit over the last 10-15 years. Thoughts/ideas? Thanks so much!!
Mike
I don't mean to be critical but it seems you've reversed the bortle sky ratings. Here's the actual classifications: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/light-pollution-and-astronomy-the-bortle-dark-sky-scale/
I'm a visual observer so I can't answer your imaging questions. Perhaps someone else can...

May 3, 2021 03:23 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

What have I got here?

Posted By Rod Kaufman
I'm sorry, I only do eyepieces in the eyepiece forum! grin
Seriously though, unless someone actually has one of these now and could positively ID it, I doubt anyone could otherwise be sure of what either one happens to be. 
If you had some numbers on focal length and/or AFOV, it might help in narrowing it down.  Just looking at the photos, I'm guessing the smaller one could be a symmetrical eyepiece while the bigger one might be a plossl although the former might be a 16mmn erfle/konig and the latter could be a 28mm ortho as I've seen early designs along those lines. 

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