Daniel Mounsey
Vendor - Woodland Hils
Reged: 06/12/02
Posts: 3200
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Just thought I'd share some constructive thoughts on a comparison I just conducted with my friend June. The first dedicated Lunt scope we tested about a month ago had been damaged during shipping and prevented us from doing a proper evaluation. I now have a new unit for testing. I called my buddy June and said Man, you gotta come see this. First off, both of these scopes are nicely made. The Lunt was a 50mm filter system including a B600 while attached to a Vixen 80mmED refractor. The Coronado is just 40mm using a BF10 in conjunction with Coronado's own optical system. The Lunt has a slight aperture advantage and it also has no central obstruction to contend with like the SM40. From a physical standpoint, the SM40 is quite small compared to the Lunt, making the SM40 more portable but remember that the size of LUNT will also depend on what kind of adapter plate you use. This means the Lunt could potentially be quite portable depending on the scope you use it with.
June and I used various magnifications on both scopes side by side but regardless, the LUNT consistently prevailed. One of the things that really surprised me about the Lunt was the contrast and the image was extremely sharp. The back ground was literally black with no red, light scatter around the limb. This surprised me because I usually see it this way when the systems are double stacked in comparison and this was just a single stack. With that said, I think that good refractive optics play an important part here as well but I think the Lunt system also made it that much better. June completely agreed and he has a very critical eye.
The SM40 performed pretty well in comparison but the image was slightly softer by about 15% in my visual estimation when compared to the LUNT and it was also obviously dimmer (40mm vs. 50mm/no obstruction). There were also two beautiful prominence features at about a 3 o'clock position that were more clear in the LUNT system and we could discern tiny spicules along the limb. The surface detail was more obvious in the LUNT and it looked like a furry tarantula. I have an SM60 and I'll compare that next for fun and we'll see what happens. I will also attempt to set up another SM40 with a Televue Pronto and see what happens but for this comparison, the Lunt won hands down.
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Daniel Mounsey
Vendor - Woodland Hils
Reged: 06/12/02
Posts: 3200
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another pic
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Daniel Mounsey
Vendor - Woodland Hils
Reged: 06/12/02
Posts: 3200
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I'll try and post the SM60 on Monday and compare the two.
Clear Skies!
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Mark Strollo
member
Reged: 03/20/06
Posts: 35
Loc: Waterford, CT
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Thank you Dan.
A lot of us were waiting for something like this.
Looking forward to Monday's post.
Mark
LS60T50DSFT1200 on order
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Mark
Lunt LS60THaDS BP1200/FT
100/800 refractor
10 in F5 Dob
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Ralph Marantino
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Thanks a million
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Lunt H-alpha LS100THa/B3400
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Astronomical League
DSPST,PST & 70mm Coronado Cal K telescope.2.2A
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TeleView Genisis SDF with 1000 Oaks Glass filter
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colinsk
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Reged: 01/17/08
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Thank you for the report!
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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soreneck
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/01/06
Posts: 920
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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Thank you very much for your thorough and informative post! I have been lurking in the Solar forum for months now, and have been waiting for just such a lucid, straightforward review. (I have pre-ordered a pair of Lunt 50mm double-stacked front filters and BF600.)
I'm also interested to hear your comparison with the SM60.
Thanks again,
Adam
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Adam
WO 110 FLT / WO 66 Triplet
QHY9 / Modified Canon 450D
SkyWatcher EQ-6 Pro
Backyard (urban) roll-off observatory
One small but fearless dog (observing companion)
my astrophotos on flickr
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Jim Rosenstock
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Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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MANY thanks for the first light review and scope comparison!
I sure prefer actual observing reports to speculation. Hope there will be many more to come!
Sunny skies,
Jim
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Daniel Mounsey
Vendor - Woodland Hils
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Posts: 3200
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Hey thanks alot guys, I'm glad I could help. I think it will be important to keep as open a mind as possible and offer costructive feedback on both scopes. I have the SM60 setup with the Televue Pronto already. All I have to do is pull them both out again and they're ready to go. I'll take picture of both scopes side by side and see what happens. I don't have a 75 Lunt in my hands yet but it will certainly be interesting to compare them all. Hope this helps.
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Zhengyi
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Reged: 12/28/04
Posts: 60
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Thanks so much. I've been waiting for a review like this for a long time >.< I can't wait to hear the next report.
Thanks again and may the clear skies be with you =)
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TMB 115/805 LW / GP-DX
William Optics 80mm SD / Alt-Az 3
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Daniel
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/16/05
Posts: 908
Loc: Roscoe,IL
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I am curious... now that people are on board with Lunt... will the value of a pst go down due to the demand and all the talk about how much better they perform side by side, or will this just up the ante' on the makers of pst's to make a better model that is more affordable?
I doubt that will happen but wishful thinking.
I never really did compare the two's cost differences in about the same type... size,ap. ect. I figure right now the lunt's are typically a little more costly right now.
Off to check the prices!
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Looking for a big ol Dobsonian..12-16"
ETX 70mm,F5
Bushnell 7-21x40 bino's
Barska 20x80mm Binos
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NickH
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At last...
Thank you, very good comparison and review
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Sol
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Loc: Powys, Wales, UK
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Yes, great reading a detailed review at last and good to hear that contrast and sharpness quality is high with the Lunt. Looking forward to your other comparison reviews. Thanks, Mark
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Visit the Sunnymeade Astro Solar Blog
http://sunnymeadeastro.blogspot.com/
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Bill Cowles
Pooh-Bah
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Posts: 1042
Loc: Utah
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Alright! 
Bill
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Lunt LS60TS50DS/B1200/FT (on order)
TV Gensis/Solarmax 60 filter
PST DS/Herschel Wedge/C4-R
C6-R /Atlas Goto/Moonlite CF2
12" LightBridge/Round Table
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10" Discovery /Celestron SE-4
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Jim Rosenstock
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Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 3711
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
I am curious... now that people are on board with Lunt... will the value of a pst go down due to the demand and all the talk about how much better they perform side by side, or will this just up the ante' on the makers of pst's to make a better model that is more affordable?
Well, the basic Lunt 50mm filter alone is $700, and their basic 60mm dedicated Solar scope is $900, while the basic PST's regular price is $600, on sale now for $500.
So the Lunt "entry-level" is definitely at a higher price point than the PST; we have certainly assumed (hoped, prayed) that the Lunt's performance would be noticeably better.
Some think the current Coronado sale is in direct anticipation of Lunt's emergence on the market. But I don't expect to see PST performance or pricing changing significantly. Many people are very, very happy with their PSTs, and, at the $500 price point, it's the ONLY choice.
Sunny skies,
Jim
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Daniel
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/16/05
Posts: 908
Loc: Roscoe,IL
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""Many people are very, very happy with their PSTs, and, at the $500 price point, it's the ONLY choice.""
YES THATS TRUE!!!!!!
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Looking for a big ol Dobsonian..12-16"
ETX 70mm,F5
Bushnell 7-21x40 bino's
Barska 20x80mm Binos
Meade Video Eyepiece
Canon A-E1 SLR,Canon EOS ElanII
Edited by Daniel (07/14/08 08:06 AM)
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Ralph Marantino
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Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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I would certainly be happy for life with my 1300 dollar DSPST if I could not afford anything bigger I get a lot out of it.
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Lunt H-alpha LS100THa/B3400
Rockland Astronomy Club
Member BAA Solar Section
Central Appalachian Astronomy Club
Astronomical League
DSPST,PST & 70mm Coronado Cal K telescope.2.2A
Zeiss 2 inch prism diagonal&Zeiss Zoom EP
2inch APM Herschel Wedge in a 94mm F7 Brandon
14.5 inch f4.2 Starmaster Dob(Zambuto mirror)
TeleView Genisis SDF with 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Zeiss 63mm f13.5 refractor 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Itty Bitty Solar Radio Telescope.
LHRIES Lite Solar Spectrometer
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Daniel Mounsey
Vendor - Woodland Hils
Reged: 06/12/02
Posts: 3200
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OK, I just got finished comparing the Coronado SM60/10 single stack attached to a Televue 70mm Pronto against the Lunt50 and I'll try and provide a photo later. I'm a bit pressed on time at this moment and wanted to at least follow through.
Regardless of magnification settings, the SM60 prevailed this time. The surface structure and prominence detail was noticeably more obvious in the SM60. The sharpness looked equal in both scopes. With that said, it sounds to me like both companies are doing a good job and the differences in aperture could be the difference with these filters and the Lunts are certainly a great deal from a cost standpoint. The Lunt still did very well and I think it's good that both companies have a good product. Sorry this is so short.
Clear skies! 
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astrosurf
Vendor
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Hi Daniel
Great first light review and will im sure put a lot of folks minds at rest as to product quality.
Your results are bang in line with dawes theory and the aperture of the instruments tested. Interesting that the 80mm EDSF seems a good match also for the 50mm filter system. That has to be one of the most popular scope types on the planet.
Thanks again for a simple concise review 
Richard Best
www.bestastroimages.co.uk
UK
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http://www.startelescopes.co.uk/
STAR TELESCOPES
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Edited by astrosurf (07/15/08 01:40 AM)
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NickH
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Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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Indeed. Very good and concise insight Daniel, thanks for posting.
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 3711
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
Hi Daniel
Great first light review and will im sure put a lot of folks minds at rest as to product quality.
Indeed! Thanks again!
Quote:
Your results are bang in line with dawes theory and the aperture of the instruments tested.
In other words, aperture rules, yet again.
Sunny skies,
Jim
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NickH
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hmm.. well yes and no..
I have as many know, a somewhat "tweaked" PST at 0.7A, and to be honest, the SV50 is better, and it has 30mm less "aperture" I think on a like for like (e.g. front mounted vs front mounted) it is not only aperture, but flatness, FSR all the things which go in to a good filter which count. The lack of any possible image/contrast or diffraction artefacts, caused by using any obstructions on the etalon itself in the Solarscope design has so far won me over.., so far..
I had an SM40 for a while, and the Solarscope 50 and 60 absolutely beat that hands down, so if the Lunt 50 is anything like that, it should too..
Edited by NickH (07/15/08 07:13 AM)
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astrosurf
Vendor
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what about this shot Nick captured with a PST etalon behind a Synta 90mm by Maxim Usatov
http://www.bcsatellite.net/bao/sun15may.jpg
has to be a world class image and no Solarscope in sight.
"I had an SM40 for a while, and the Solarscope 50 and 60" Seems again aperture rules without even considering the cost issue. Sure from a technical point Solarscope are lovely on paper if you have a cheque big enough but Max has torn up the rule book as others will im sure. Dodi Dierrick's images also showed what can be done.
rich best
www.bestastroimages.co.uk
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http://www.startelescopes.co.uk/
STAR TELESCOPES
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
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Loc: CA
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What those pictures don't show is the difficulty in stiching images together around the sweetspot created when making these scopes.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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astrosurf
Vendor
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Indeed this is a single frame I believe. However that said what mosaic ever shows the difficulty in stitching mosaics together.
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http://www.startelescopes.co.uk/
STAR TELESCOPES
01273 812926
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NickH
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Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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The key difference (and I have an 80mm PST too) is the sweet spot and the small etalon on the PST. Sure, I can get images which will make people say "holy cow..." with the PST80 (posted some a few months back, which made the mags, and people did say "holy cow"....), but they took work to produce, quite a bit of work, mainly in eliminating the sweet spot/balance differences across the images (ended up cropping and compositing more frames to reduce it). It's also a much finer balance getting the scope focal length etc right (Max's setup is an F10 rig, I guess I should really just plum for that with my PST mod...after seeing the 102mm CaK in action yesterday at F9, it's a no brainer to see that blew the stock PST CaK out of the water)
The key difference with the Solarscopes is that I can push them to F64 (533X magnification I belive with the SV50) and still get clear images (maybe oversampled, but tack sharp), and compositing is easy, for both whole disc and hi resolution shots. It's compact, lightweight and feels very good.
Now..so far, I have only been able to compare against the SolarMax 40, briefly an SM90, and the other Solarscopes. I want to try a Daystar, I want to try a Solar Spectrum (former is now in hand..), and obviously want to try the Lunt scopes (again, also in hand now...thankfully), as from a standpoint of "just want the best solar kit I can get", I have to try all the options and then decide. The 200mm Lunt CaK option makes me just dribble with delight at the thought of being able to image proms in CaK at that resolution, and active regions should just be mindblowing.
Max, I and Dodi (to name but three) have pushed the envelope with these modded scopes I guess, and I think we are all happy with the results (I bought the AR6 after seeing Dodi's 150mm images, as it's the same focal length/type of scope he was using), but for me, I keep coming back to the SV50 (so far)...
Looking forward to seeing the Lunt 50/60 and 75mm scopes, in all guises (CaK and H-A) very soon though...
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astrosurf
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Hi Nick
"Max, I and Dodi (to name but three) have pushed the envelope" nothing like bigging up yourself I guess 
That said and dont take it personally I believe f64 and 533x magnification is empty magnification. I have seen images at f40 and those at f60+ and I dont see anything in the higher resolution image that isnt in the former.
"the sweet spot" You mention is a direct result of the objective on the PST. However as far as im aware there is no flattening lens in the Solarscope 50mm? Correct me if im wrong.
The fact is one could nearly buy a Takahashi TSA102 or even FSQ ED106, PST OR LS60Tha BF600 and Baader Herschel Wedge for the cost of a solarscope SV50. You cannot argue the utter ability that package would yield.
rich
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http://www.startelescopes.co.uk/
STAR TELESCOPES
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astrosurf
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"Lunt scopes (again, also in hand now...thankfully)"
Hey have you got yours yet, can we see some images?
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http://www.startelescopes.co.uk/
STAR TELESCOPES
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Edited by astrosurf (07/17/08 03:46 AM)
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NickH
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Not got it yet...hopefuly soon (CaK model first)
Not personally at all..Max and others have said that the F64 is also "overkill", probably I will drop back to F36, as it's more tricky in average seeing at higher. The fact was though, that it could reach focus which for a 50mm scope, I guess shows the quality of the optical path.
As soon as the Lunt's arrive, rest assured, I will post images up,though I hope/think that Markus is making sure people who have paid for them, get them on time.. Eclipse is only a few weeks off now, and people paid good money for their products.
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NickH
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Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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Quote:
Hi Nick
"Max, I and Dodi (to name but three) have pushed the envelope" nothing like bigging up yourself I guess
rich
I would respond to that, but think you're so much better at digging yourself in to very deep holes...just let you carry on..
Edited by NickH (07/17/08 04:30 AM)
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Ralph Marantino
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Just before the impact of Comet Jupiter-Levy 9 I spent a day at the Hubble Space Telescope Institute at Johns Hopkins and they let me loose on a "dumb terminal" to access any raw Hubble image that I desired after playing with the raw images I could make them into anything that I wanted to see,so for me an eyeball review beats a digital image anyday.
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Lunt H-alpha LS100THa/B3400
Rockland Astronomy Club
Member BAA Solar Section
Central Appalachian Astronomy Club
Astronomical League
DSPST,PST & 70mm Coronado Cal K telescope.2.2A
Zeiss 2 inch prism diagonal&Zeiss Zoom EP
2inch APM Herschel Wedge in a 94mm F7 Brandon
14.5 inch f4.2 Starmaster Dob(Zambuto mirror)
TeleView Genisis SDF with 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Zeiss 63mm f13.5 refractor 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Itty Bitty Solar Radio Telescope.
LHRIES Lite Solar Spectrometer
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NickH
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 3717
Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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Ralph
i have to be honest and say I agree with you for Solar H-A(CaK...different ballgame, almost impossible to see much for some people)..
Having looked through a few Solar H-A scopes, the eyeball impact of the SF100 and SF70 were staggering (the 100 in particular). I am hoping that future instruments I get to review give me as much wow.., as my pockets are itching to be opened (next year when my daughter's nursery fees drop massively, pre school time), then the pennies should be back in order..
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Ralph Marantino
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I know that as bright as the Sun is I still have apature fever I hope the 200mm Lunt justifys the cost and wait. 
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Lunt H-alpha LS100THa/B3400
Rockland Astronomy Club
Member BAA Solar Section
Central Appalachian Astronomy Club
Astronomical League
DSPST,PST & 70mm Coronado Cal K telescope.2.2A
Zeiss 2 inch prism diagonal&Zeiss Zoom EP
2inch APM Herschel Wedge in a 94mm F7 Brandon
14.5 inch f4.2 Starmaster Dob(Zambuto mirror)
TeleView Genisis SDF with 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Zeiss 63mm f13.5 refractor 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Itty Bitty Solar Radio Telescope.
LHRIES Lite Solar Spectrometer
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NickH
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Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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I am sure it will.. I'd love to see it in action.
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colinsk
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Loc: CA
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Quote:
"the sweet spot" You mention is a direct result of the objective on the PST. However as far as im aware there is no flattening lens in the Solarscope 50mm? Correct me if im wrong.
rich
The sweet spot has to do with how large the objective (90mm) is in comparison to the PST etalon (20mm) and the difficulty in matching the focal length of the objective to the collimating lens in the PST etalon. The collimating lens and reconverging lens in the PST are singlets.
The SV50 is full aperture with no lenses at all and is front mounted.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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NickH
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Much like the Low end Lunt scopes. The more expensive 200mm version utilises a similar approach to this
Hence stitching larger panel images together is more tricky, as the sweet spot is unavoidable on the PST. What I tend to do is balance in CS2, and composite in iMerge. I;ve done large solar panel shots with the PST (standard) and modded, modded I found marginally mroe difficult due to the change as Colin says in focal length.. but not impossible
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colinsk
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Mark Wagner mentioned that the sweetspot was a result of the collimation optics and the telecentric is better. I have read papers from observatories arguing both sides of the argument. One day I'll have to take the time to follow the math in those articles and see what I can figure out.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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NickH
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Edited for TOS...
Edited by NickH (07/17/08 11:26 AM)
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Ralph Marantino
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tosk!tosk! for shame on you.  
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Lunt H-alpha LS100THa/B3400
Rockland Astronomy Club
Member BAA Solar Section
Central Appalachian Astronomy Club
Astronomical League
DSPST,PST & 70mm Coronado Cal K telescope.2.2A
Zeiss 2 inch prism diagonal&Zeiss Zoom EP
2inch APM Herschel Wedge in a 94mm F7 Brandon
14.5 inch f4.2 Starmaster Dob(Zambuto mirror)
TeleView Genisis SDF with 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Zeiss 63mm f13.5 refractor 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Itty Bitty Solar Radio Telescope.
LHRIES Lite Solar Spectrometer
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NickH
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Reged: 05/09/06
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Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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Fact is that CN is a US based website, and as such (and in accordance with the TOS and "family" nature, I have to abide by their rules. US society is far more litigious than here in the UK, and discussions relating to scope modification for solar use, could get them sued were someone to lose their sight
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PeteLawrence
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Quote:
US society is far more litigious than here in the UK
Are you allowed to say that? 
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Best regards,
Pete Lawrence
http://www.digitalsky.org.uk
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NickH
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Well since all the "no win no fee" adverts got dropped by the UK daytime channels...and the fact that Radio 4 have said it many times...I guess it's okay
 
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Doug D.
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Quote:
The SV50 is full aperture with no lenses at all and is front mounted.
Not entirely accurate, i.e., the achromatic doublet is housed in the filter assembly that is threaded onto the tube in a single stacked SV50. The tube has the blocking filter installed but no lens. It is definitely full aperture in any event.
The "SF50" is the same filter without the lens for attaching to the front of a refractor. A double stacked SV50 has the inner (proximal) etalon with doublet attached to tube with distal etalon without doublet but with ERF. Makes it a bit tricky to doublestack a single stack SV50, requiring Ken to move things around a bit (i.e., can't just add another SF50 to the SV50 etalon ).
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Hooville
AP 105EDF f/6 Traveler; AP 140 EDF StarFire f/7.5; TV 76 f/6.3 with Solarscope SF70 filter; Solarscope Solarview 50; Coronado CaK 70; Orion XT-10; Baader Mk V & ZAO II's; Half-Hitch Mk II; Astrotrac TT320X, pier & wedge; AP Mach1GTO; PGR Flea 2
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astrosurf
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"I would respond to that, but think you're so much better at digging yourself in to very deep holes...just let you carry on.. "
Come on Nick lighten up a little this is a hobby
Yes it was/still is my hobby. I hate the mention of legal litigation it really can only serve to spoil things.
Anyway re the solarscope is the a plan showing the layout design? Lunt do show this it would be interesting to see.
rich
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http://www.startelescopes.co.uk/
STAR TELESCOPES
01273 812926
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NickH
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The forthcoming reviews in Astronomy Now should clarify all people need to know about Solarscope.
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Ralph Marantino
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deleted by Ralph so he don't get spanked again. 
Edited by Ralph Marantino (07/17/08 03:23 PM)
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Ralph Marantino
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Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 6330
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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Quote:
Fact is that CN is a US based website, and as such (and in accordance with the TOS and "family" nature, I have to abide by their rules. US society is far more litigious than here in the UK, and discussions relating to scope modification for solar use, could get them sued were someone to lose their sight
One more comment about the US and Astro-pig is going to swim the pond and do a 1776 on you.
Edited by Erix (07/21/08 02:52 PM)
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NickH
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 3717
Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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LOL...
ROFL
Good year for beer I believe?
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astrosurf
Vendor
Reged: 02/13/08
Posts: 112
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Ralph
I couldnt agree more....... lets really stir up a hornets nest LOL
Nick are the reviews out in september? I have August 2008 and cant see anything. Ive looked through many Solarscopes and know just what they can do as well as some equally lovely Coronados and Daystars. Though its funny one thing often forgotten and seldom even considered is
"Personal ability"
Ive lost count the times ive heard people ask
"what equipment do I need to take images like these" The truth is not everyone no matter what equipment is guranteed to get stunning images no matter what name is on the scope.
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http://www.startelescopes.co.uk/
STAR TELESCOPES
01273 812926
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2150
Loc: CA
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It also should not be forgotten that your eye needs to be trained as well. I see Erika's drawings on the same day I have viewed and it is clear to me we were looking at the same object only she has more experience than I do. My favorite days are when I can observe, see her drawing and go back out and observe again. I always learn from the experience.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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NickH
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 3717
Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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The review timings are for the editorial team at AN. (I guess you missed my article on the Herschel's this month).
I agree, the coronado scopes in the hands of people like Larry, Greg et al produce some stunning results, Dave Tyler's Daystar astounds me.. Personal ability, well Pete showed what a PST unmodified was really capable of, and I hope in some small way I've helped show people what the Solarscopes are about (they had almost no coverage or reviews that I can recall)
I've seen Nik Syzmanek create miracles with 66mm Zenithstars, and seen people with C11's and 14's using state of the art cameras produce results which look like a kid with a Toucam.
Personal ability along with personal taste (some like certain colour balances, and processing tricks, others like other types) determine the imaging results, and sadly, sometimes the results don't do the product justice at all.
I, along with many saw the first Lunt images and thought "what is that?" opr "is that it", but then you hear the visual reports and they are good...
I just enjoy good kit, and seeing great imaging, and great kit put to good use.. be it a modded scope, a $14,000 140mm Coronado, or anything..
What Ralph has convinced me on is visual reports..the eye sees pretty much the same thing.. okay, some better tha others and some more "knowledgeable" than others will pick up stuff...but a good visiual report speaks volumes, especially if it is independent, honest and not biased towards trying to flog gear.. or ideally tainted either by someone's purchase (going right in their eyes or wrong)...what is needed is true objectivity...I aim for that, (having written a book on Coronado scopes and now using Solarscopes, I think I am just looking for the best solution..), and I hope others do too..
Edited by NickH (07/17/08 04:01 PM)
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Ralph Marantino
Postmaster
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 6330
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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Excellent commentary Nick..the Daystar that David uses is the one that I sold him a few years ago..it was rebuilt for me by D.Woods himself ...The advent of the Lunt company if nothing else has sure spiced up the Solar forum.Fun fun fun.
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Lunt H-alpha LS100THa/B3400
Rockland Astronomy Club
Member BAA Solar Section
Central Appalachian Astronomy Club
Astronomical League
DSPST,PST & 70mm Coronado Cal K telescope.2.2A
Zeiss 2 inch prism diagonal&Zeiss Zoom EP
2inch APM Herschel Wedge in a 94mm F7 Brandon
14.5 inch f4.2 Starmaster Dob(Zambuto mirror)
TeleView Genisis SDF with 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Zeiss 63mm f13.5 refractor 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Itty Bitty Solar Radio Telescope.
LHRIES Lite Solar Spectrometer
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NickH
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 3717
Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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Indeed it has Ralph...and now we have all scopes for all tastes and all budgets...
From the PST to the SF100 double stack (which Gene Turner and Jack Newton just bought...)
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Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1857
Loc: Virginia
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Quote:
From the PST to the SF100 double stack (which Gene Turner and Jack Newton just bought...)
I certainly trust the judgment and great taste in equipment those 2 have! I just wish I shared their ability to buy a DS SF100...
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Hooville
AP 105EDF f/6 Traveler; AP 140 EDF StarFire f/7.5; TV 76 f/6.3 with Solarscope SF70 filter; Solarscope Solarview 50; Coronado CaK 70; Orion XT-10; Baader Mk V & ZAO II's; Half-Hitch Mk II; Astrotrac TT320X, pier & wedge; AP Mach1GTO; PGR Flea 2
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Ralph Marantino
Postmaster
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 6330
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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I guess that Jack does not work for Meade anymore?? 
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Lunt H-alpha LS100THa/B3400
Rockland Astronomy Club
Member BAA Solar Section
Central Appalachian Astronomy Club
Astronomical League
DSPST,PST & 70mm Coronado Cal K telescope.2.2A
Zeiss 2 inch prism diagonal&Zeiss Zoom EP
2inch APM Herschel Wedge in a 94mm F7 Brandon
14.5 inch f4.2 Starmaster Dob(Zambuto mirror)
TeleView Genisis SDF with 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Zeiss 63mm f13.5 refractor 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Itty Bitty Solar Radio Telescope.
LHRIES Lite Solar Spectrometer
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Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1857
Loc: Virginia
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Solarscope has used an image taken by Jack Newton with an SV50 several years ago in what little promotional material they have out there - for example on their home page. Pretty impressive. .....errr, Jack's picture not the website, unfortunately
Jack still hawks the Meade RC - oops, I mean the Meade ACF series. At least he graced an ad in one of the recent Astro rags.
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Hooville
AP 105EDF f/6 Traveler; AP 140 EDF StarFire f/7.5; TV 76 f/6.3 with Solarscope SF70 filter; Solarscope Solarview 50; Coronado CaK 70; Orion XT-10; Baader Mk V & ZAO II's; Half-Hitch Mk II; Astrotrac TT320X, pier & wedge; AP Mach1GTO; PGR Flea 2
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Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1857
Loc: Virginia
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Quote:
Anyway re the solarscope is the a plan showing the layout design? Lunt do show this it would be interesting to see.
rich
Quote:
The forthcoming reviews in Astronomy Now should clarify all people need to know about Solarscope.
Its a classic Fabrey-Perot interferometer, no secrets and no patents - what else is there to know about the design or optical train? ...just done extremely well in a quality "package" by dedicated craftsman. Basically, anyone out there with the know-how, equipment and skill could pretty much copy the Solarscope design without infringing on anyone's patents (good luck with that though....!). Granted, the optical train of the Lunts and the spacer in the Coronados requires a bit more clarification (and protected by patents granted and pending). Not to say that I'm not looking forward to the review Nick
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Hooville
AP 105EDF f/6 Traveler; AP 140 EDF StarFire f/7.5; TV 76 f/6.3 with Solarscope SF70 filter; Solarscope Solarview 50; Coronado CaK 70; Orion XT-10; Baader Mk V & ZAO II's; Half-Hitch Mk II; Astrotrac TT320X, pier & wedge; AP Mach1GTO; PGR Flea 2
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2150
Loc: CA
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Quote:
Its a classic Fabrey-Perot interferometer, no secrets and no patents - what else is there to know about the design or optical train? ...just done extremely well in a quality "package" by dedicated craftsman.
While this is an expensive way to manufacture etalons it is hard to imagine a better way. The question becomes: Can a cheaper way be made that makes the same quality?
We each have to decide that on our own. I can't imagine getting a SV200! So at some point the technology breaks down and we go searching.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1857
Loc: Virginia
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Good point - that is where an innovator like Andy Lunt would come in, lets hope he is onto finding that way.
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Hooville
AP 105EDF f/6 Traveler; AP 140 EDF StarFire f/7.5; TV 76 f/6.3 with Solarscope SF70 filter; Solarscope Solarview 50; Coronado CaK 70; Orion XT-10; Baader Mk V & ZAO II's; Half-Hitch Mk II; Astrotrac TT320X, pier & wedge; AP Mach1GTO; PGR Flea 2
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NickH
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 3717
Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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Doug.
I agree and you are correct. There are few tricks which Ken uses, it is just a hand made, hand crafted (think good old days with swiss watchmaking or Faberge eggs).. products. I have seen them from literally raw glass through to finished scopes, seen the parts all laid out ready for assembly, and the work and effort that goes in to every single spacer on the etalon assembly. That for me is what made me personally realise that this was a craftsman built product.
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astrosurf
Vendor
Reged: 02/13/08
Posts: 112
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Amazing how this thread has gone completely off track from the initial review of a Lunt 50mm filter.
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http://www.startelescopes.co.uk/
STAR TELESCOPES
01273 812926
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NickH
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 3717
Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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I agree 100% Rich, let's get back to the point.
Any new images yet from the LS50/60 etc...
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Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1857
Loc: Virginia
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Quote:
I agree 100% Rich, let's get back to the point.
Any new images yet from the LS50/60 etc...
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Hooville
AP 105EDF f/6 Traveler; AP 140 EDF StarFire f/7.5; TV 76 f/6.3 with Solarscope SF70 filter; Solarscope Solarview 50; Coronado CaK 70; Orion XT-10; Baader Mk V & ZAO II's; Half-Hitch Mk II; Astrotrac TT320X, pier & wedge; AP Mach1GTO; PGR Flea 2
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NickH
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 3717
Loc: Wiltshire, UK (near StoneHenge...
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Wasn't meant to be funny...was a genuine request
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Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1857
Loc: Virginia
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...I supposed as much but I think the thread is progressing while we wait for more news. At least in the meantime the activity helps keeps the thread high in the solar forum rotation.
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Hooville
AP 105EDF f/6 Traveler; AP 140 EDF StarFire f/7.5; TV 76 f/6.3 with Solarscope SF70 filter; Solarscope Solarview 50; Coronado CaK 70; Orion XT-10; Baader Mk V & ZAO II's; Half-Hitch Mk II; Astrotrac TT320X, pier & wedge; AP Mach1GTO; PGR Flea 2
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2150
Loc: CA
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This thread has some great information!
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/luntsolar/message/1108
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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Lloyd13
journeyman
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 5
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G'Day There, My name is Lloyd, I'm glad you did a view on the LUNT scope, I have ordered a 60mm Double stack at .5 angstroms. I am glad to see that you gave your thumbs up to this scope. I wonder what kind of eyepieces should be used on this scope? I suppose I should try anything,I wonder if the Coronado"CEMAX" solar eyepieces would be good, and a zoom. Thanks verymuch for your view, great I thought..cyou..Lloyd..
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