Replace a PST DS
Replace a PST DS
I bought a PST double stack to verify if I would be interested in Solar viewing, and it turns out I am.
Now I am thinking I'd like to upgrade to a Lunt 60 PT DS with BF1200. I am 95% interested in visual, and rarely interested in imaging, although I like looking at others' images. (I do image the Moon and planets with a ZWO ASI120MC, and that's about enough for me, imaging-wise, for the present.) Looking at the solar images of others helps a bit in deciding what to get, but I also realize from my own imaging that I can stack and process Saturn and get it to look way better than I will ever see it, so the images help, but I know my "results may vary."
The reason I want to replace the PST is the distracting focus knob, and rather profound sweet spot issues when double stacked. I can adjust the first etalon and get a pretty good image to look at. Add the 2nd etalon, adjust tilt, swear softly, adjust it again, then adjust the "rich field" of the 2nd etalon, murmur again, adjust the first etalon, then the tilt and 2nd etalon, then the first etalon, and then the image is pretty good, although I do have sweet spot issues. I compensate by using the slow motions and getting various regions of interest into the sweet spot.
All that said, I'd like to not have so many sweet spot issues, and a good focuser and a sharper image would be nice, too. I also want to keep things pretty much at the "grab and go level." (I have a CPC 800, and that's enough for my heavy lifting and astronomy.)
I am attracted to Stephen's recommendation of the LS 80 PT, but the increased cost, especially if I decide to double stack later (and I probably would) is a bit scary for me. Also, with floaters, astigmatism and mild cataracts, some detail is already washed out no matter what scope I get.
I checked with Lunt today, and right now there is about a 4 month waiting list if I order the LS 60 DS. So it would arrive in time for cold winter weather in Ohio and lots of lake effect clouds! So, I'm going to think it over a bit more.
Meanwhile, any suggestions to help me with my PST, or what I can expect with the LS 60 DS or the LS 80 single, compared to what I see now, would be of interest to me!
Thanks,
Ted in Ohio
Now I am thinking I'd like to upgrade to a Lunt 60 PT DS with BF1200. I am 95% interested in visual, and rarely interested in imaging, although I like looking at others' images. (I do image the Moon and planets with a ZWO ASI120MC, and that's about enough for me, imaging-wise, for the present.) Looking at the solar images of others helps a bit in deciding what to get, but I also realize from my own imaging that I can stack and process Saturn and get it to look way better than I will ever see it, so the images help, but I know my "results may vary."
The reason I want to replace the PST is the distracting focus knob, and rather profound sweet spot issues when double stacked. I can adjust the first etalon and get a pretty good image to look at. Add the 2nd etalon, adjust tilt, swear softly, adjust it again, then adjust the "rich field" of the 2nd etalon, murmur again, adjust the first etalon, then the tilt and 2nd etalon, then the first etalon, and then the image is pretty good, although I do have sweet spot issues. I compensate by using the slow motions and getting various regions of interest into the sweet spot.
All that said, I'd like to not have so many sweet spot issues, and a good focuser and a sharper image would be nice, too. I also want to keep things pretty much at the "grab and go level." (I have a CPC 800, and that's enough for my heavy lifting and astronomy.)
I am attracted to Stephen's recommendation of the LS 80 PT, but the increased cost, especially if I decide to double stack later (and I probably would) is a bit scary for me. Also, with floaters, astigmatism and mild cataracts, some detail is already washed out no matter what scope I get.
I checked with Lunt today, and right now there is about a 4 month waiting list if I order the LS 60 DS. So it would arrive in time for cold winter weather in Ohio and lots of lake effect clouds! So, I'm going to think it over a bit more.
Meanwhile, any suggestions to help me with my PST, or what I can expect with the LS 60 DS or the LS 80 single, compared to what I see now, would be of interest to me!
Thanks,
Ted in Ohio
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Re: Replace a PST DS
The Camera Bug, owned by CBSAP supporter Tim Nix in Atlanta-404-873-4513
has a brand new Lunt LS80 arriving next week. I can flat guarantee you that you will be happier with a single etalon LS80 than a doublestacked LS60 and you would be waiting for about 6 days.
You might call our friends at Woodland Hills or OPT to see if they have an LS60 in stock. I would definitely go pressure tuned and B1200 on either scope.
has a brand new Lunt LS80 arriving next week. I can flat guarantee you that you will be happier with a single etalon LS80 than a doublestacked LS60 and you would be waiting for about 6 days.
You might call our friends at Woodland Hills or OPT to see if they have an LS60 in stock. I would definitely go pressure tuned and B1200 on either scope.
Stephen W. Ramsden
Atlanta, GA USA
Founder/Director Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
http://www.solarastronomy.org
Atlanta, GA USA
Founder/Director Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
http://www.solarastronomy.org
- Bill Edelen
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Re: Replace a PST DS
Having a DS60 and an LS80 ,I agree with Stephen.The 80 sowes good serface detail without double stacking. Satisfaction guaranteed......
Re: Replace a PST DS
Thanks for feedback. I do think the 80 is a better design for double stacking, but I am hesitating because I wanted to be sure that if I get the single 80, I'll be happy for at least a year, and won't be wishing I had my DS PST back. I'll have to sell it to justify getting the 80, can't afford two solar scopes.
Last I looked (yesterday), OPT had an 80 PT BF1200 in stock, but no DS 60 in stock. I'll check again.
I also called Lunt yesterday afternoon and after my conversation there was (almost) convinced that the LS 80 was the way to go. Now I'm more convinced!
Best regards,
Ted
Last I looked (yesterday), OPT had an 80 PT BF1200 in stock, but no DS 60 in stock. I'll check again.
I also called Lunt yesterday afternoon and after my conversation there was (almost) convinced that the LS 80 was the way to go. Now I'm more convinced!
Best regards,
Ted
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Re: Replace a PST DS
Buy a LS80T PT ! This is the best overall compromise among all dedicated solar telescopes.
LS60T PT is not so good as LS80T PT.
You will be happy with this telescope more than one year. You will be happy for years to come.
LS60T PT is not so good as LS80T PT.
You will be happy with this telescope more than one year. You will be happy for years to come.
"Solar H alpha activity is the most dynamic and compelling thing you can see in a telescope, so spend accordingly." (c) Bob Yoesle.
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Re: Replace a PST DS
Thanks, all,
I purchased the LS80 PT at OPT, and it should be here in about a week.
- Ted
I purchased the LS80 PT at OPT, and it should be here in about a week.
- Ted
- Valery
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Re: Replace a PST DS
Congratulate! Waiting for your reports (include imaging).ISOC wrote:Thanks, all,
I purchased the LS80 PT at OPT, and it should be here in about a week.
- Ted
Valery.
"Solar H alpha activity is the most dynamic and compelling thing you can see in a telescope, so spend accordingly." (c) Bob Yoesle.
Largest full size 185 - 356mm Dielectric Energy Rejection Filters (D-ERF) by ARIES Instruments.
Largest full size 185 - 356mm Dielectric Energy Rejection Filters (D-ERF) by ARIES Instruments.
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Re: Replace a PST DS
Hi Ted
welcome to that wonderful site . Have fun in the sun with your new toy
welcome to that wonderful site . Have fun in the sun with your new toy
Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE
from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch
from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa
from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch
from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa
Re: Replace a PST DS
LS 80 PT arrived today. Took a while to get it to work well on my temporary mount, but for temporary it's OK. It is the heavy duty Celestron Alt Az with slow motions $98, which I had purchased for the PST. I'm looking to get an equatorial that is just a bit more hefty, but I'll shop at Cloudy Nights for a while to see if I can get something used, as the Alt Az is just satisfactory, which is better than un-satisfactory.
As far as the telescope, it is very nice, and I got what I have been wanting, a sharper image and I don't have to hunt around to get what I want in the sweet spot, while losing something else.
Only issue I had was related to the focuser, which was too loose when looking at high elevations, so the focuser would not work. I called Lunt and got advice on how to use a supplied Allen wrench to adjust the tension and now it's fine.
- Ted
As far as the telescope, it is very nice, and I got what I have been wanting, a sharper image and I don't have to hunt around to get what I want in the sweet spot, while losing something else.
Only issue I had was related to the focuser, which was too loose when looking at high elevations, so the focuser would not work. I called Lunt and got advice on how to use a supplied Allen wrench to adjust the tension and now it's fine.
- Ted
- Bill Edelen
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Re: Replace a PST DS
I don't have a mono camera, so I tried my ZWO ASI120MC, just to see if I could get an image, and I did.
So here they are. It's a start.
So here they are. It's a start.
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Re: Replace a PST DS
Hi Ted
thats a fine start
thats a fine start
Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE
from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch
from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa
from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch
from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa
Re: Replace a PST DS
Still working on various techniques on sunny days. Still using the ZWO ASI 120 MC.
I tried it with a Barlow 2 days ago and this is what I got.
- Ted
I tried it with a Barlow 2 days ago and this is what I got.
- Ted
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Re: Replace a PST DS
Good results! Glad you're having fun with your new scope
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
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Re: Replace a PST DS
Hi Ted
good progress. What exposure time can you reach?
good progress. What exposure time can you reach?
Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE
from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch
from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa
from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch
from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa
Re: Replace a PST DS
It was 1200 frames, and the frame rate was about 30 or so, I think. So it was about a minute of image capture time.
Sorry I can't be more specific, but I deleted the image capture files, and when I just now looked in the Recycle Bin, they aren't there, so I don't know where they went.
- Ted
Sorry I can't be more specific, but I deleted the image capture files, and when I just now looked in the Recycle Bin, they aren't there, so I don't know where they went.
- Ted
- Bill Edelen
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Re: Replace a PST DS
A minute of capture seems to long. I think most limit to 30 second or less. IMO
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Re: Replace a PST DS
Congrats on the new scope Ted...I love my LS80T, sure you will too. The initial pics are looking good too.
Brian
Brian
Brian Colville
Maple Ridge Observatory
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Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums
10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM
2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
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Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums
10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM
2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM