Sun_125534_lapl6_ap1886ImPPG2ps.jpg So I tried out the Solarmax 90 DS etalon with the Lunt 1200 blocking filter and was quite pleased with the results. The above is with minimal processing and below is a little more aggressive. I feel that the tuning is very uniform and there's not much of a gradie...

Thanks again Mark! Good to hear I won’t need a new blocking filter. I’ve read the SM2 manual and it seems like when they sell the etalon with a blocking filter it is the same as the DS etalon with richview tuning. I’ll report back on how it works out. I’m guessing I won’t need any tilt?

Before I try this out, can I use a Lunt blocking filter with a Solarmax II external etalon? I want to use the DS etalon from my SM II 90 mm on my Explore Scientific 102 mm f/7 with my Lunt B1200, if possible.

I just saw this thread. I’m interested in double stacking the Lunt Calcium filters. So from the pictures it looks like the filter is in the nose piece of the diagonal and the blocking filter is in the eyepiece holder , am I correct? Is there a way to stack 2 nose pieces together or do I need to do s...

I think I’m getting it right. The Lunt number is the size of the filter. The reflective filter in front is a Derf to protect the Ca filter. In order to double stack it I would need another Lunt Ca filter only to tilt behind the one with the Derf. I searched for a skybender but only came up with a di...

Do you know if the Lunt filter can be removed from its module and stacked with another Ca K module with blocking filter? And if one gets a 600 model will it be acceptable for DS?

If you believe the ad on EBay the Omega has a bandwidth of 2A. Since I have the filter I might just try tilting it.

Hi Mark
I’m using an ES 102 f/7 . I’ve been experimenting with some masks to get it to f/9-10.

Hi Marty As far as auto focus goes have you tried nfocus-nstep by Rigel? I have a plain dc motor for all my gso, ES and Lunt focusers. He even has one for the Coronado helical focuser at least until I upgrade to a moonlite. I have been thinking of double stacking my Lunt Ca K filter with another Lun...

Very nice and simple design. You have inspired an idea I have. I want to motorize the "Richview" tuner on my Solarmax 90 DS etalon. Where do you find the parts like the motor, pulley and drive belt for your project? Thanks for the inspiration.

An electronic focuser I presume? That would be neat. I love the binoviewer too. I gotta get one of those! You Definitely gotta get binos! It’s like 3D viewing. I’m going to try out the motor focuser when I do imaging once I get the tuning down. I think it’s only a temporary solution. The draw tubes...

I contacted Leon at Rigel (nstep motor focus) and he had made one of these for a client. It should help with focusing for imaging. Now I need a motorized etalon adjuster. Has anyone done something for that?

In time I will replace both of mine with either Moonlite or FeatherTouch focusers. I understand Coronado using the helical focusers to keep the price down but I would have preferred even a cheap rack-and-pinion focuser over the helical. You have to fiddle around too much with them to get a precise ...

My advice would be to get the Feather touch over the Moonlite. Both are great and i've got over two decades experience of using both, but with time the bearings fail on the Moonlites which is a PITA, Moonlite replace them, but they don't all fail at the same time. How long before the bearings faile...

Thanks for the pictures Mark! I googled it and Moon Lite had a nice video on replacing the focuser. They also include an internal adapter for the 30mm blocking filter which seems interesting and the price is a few bucks cheaper than a FT. I also found that Rigel makes a motorized device for the heli...

I recently acquired a new Solarmax II DS 90 with 30 mm blocking filter. I have yet to try it out but am curious on how to change the helical focuser to a Feather Touch. I'm sure someone here has done it. Does anyone have pictures they could post on the procedure? I removed the allen screws from the ...

Thanks James for the link. I’m sure eventually Meade will come to their senses and sell the etalons separately. I also heard that the double stack SM 2 etalon will fit the 3.

Hi all I'm contemplating buying a 90 mm Solarmax scope at NEAF this April. I'm leaning towards the SM3 with its external etalons. The thing is right now I can only afford the single stack model. Right now the few double stacked SM2's are on sale and you can pick one up for approximately the same pri...

Point taken!
Thanks Mark.

Yes, will work in theory. But only as effective as stacking Lunt Lunt or Coronado Coronado. Regardless of permutation, the etalon with that needs the most tilt needs to be the outer etalon in the system. I'm a little confused, most of my solar has been with a Quark. I just recently purchased a Pres...

Hi All I’m thinking of double stacking my LS60 pt, but don’t want to shell out $1500 for the Lunt 60mm DS filter. Has anyone tried to use the solarmax 2 DS filter instead? Seems like a cheaper option even with a precise parts adapter. Please let me know if this will work or am I better off sticking ...

Very nice captures Phil. Hopefully this recent activity will keep up for a while.

Nice images Phil! I definitely see a difference in contrast with the DS images, especially the filaments and plage.

Nice FD! Really like the details on the small filaments and proms.

Nice Prom Phil!

Very nice capture!

And really nice observatory!