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mikiek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 1265
Loc: SE Texas
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I've been considering solar observing and joining the ranks of you sun lovers (visual only). It looks like Lunt is the brand to go with and I see several options
I have a real nice 80mm refractor that I don't use much anymore so adding the 75mm etalon seemed like a good idea. However, for the cost of that plus the blocking filter I can get the Lunt LS60 with $$ left over.
Would it be worth considering the 50mm etalon for use on an 80mm scope? Is that even possible?
On the Lunt site I see something called LS60 Double Pass. Is that the same as double stacked? I don't think so but I couldn't tell. If they are different is one a lot better than the other?
I also see several blocking filters - B600, B1200, B1800. What does one provide over the others? I realize the numbers relate to focal length but what does that do for me?
I know I can use my existing EP collection (see signature), but what would I typically use with with the LS60?
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___________________________________________________________
May there always be starlight on the path - R.Burnham
___________________________________________________________
Celestron CPC 1100
TV NP-101(riding the CPC)
SV-80S
Radian 3mm,5mm,8mm,12mm
Panoptic 22mm,27mm,35mm,41mm
Nagler 3-6 zoom,T4 17mm,T5 31mm
Ethos 8mm,13mm, 21mm
Everbrite Diagonal 2", Powermate 2X
FeatherTouch Crayford, Microfocuser
Telrad Finder, SV 9x50 RACI
Kendrick Dew System
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4207
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
I have a real nice 80mm refractor that I don't use much anymore so adding the 75mm etalon seemed like a good idea. However, for the cost of that plus the blocking filter I can get the Lunt LS60 with $$ left over.
Yep. Cost goes up quickly with the etalon's aperture. And the Lunt 60 scope uses an internal 35mm etalon, instead of a larger external filter. That's why you can get a dedicated 60mm H-alpha scope for less than just a 75mm filter.
Quote:
Would it be worth considering the 50mm etalon for use on an 80mm scope? Is that even possible?
Very possible, and very much worth considering. Especially if you have a nice refractor languishing in the closet. You might even consider DOUBLE-stacking 50mm filters on it! 
Lunt can certainly supply an adapter for your 80mm scope.
Quote:
On the Lunt site I see something called LS60 Double Pass. Is that the same as double stacked? I don't think so but I couldn't tell. If they are different is one a lot better than the other?
The "double pass" was an innovation where the image is reflected twice through the same etalon, effectively accomplishing double-stacking with a single etalon. There were some problems and it never went to production, and was replaced with the current Lunt 60mm internal-etalon scope double-stacked with an external 50mm filter (what they call the "LS60THaDS50" and I call the "Lunt 60/50" ).
Quote:
I also see several blocking filters - B600, B1200, B1800. What does one provide over the others? I realize the numbers relate to focal length but what does that do for me?
The bigger the BF, the higher the cost, unsurprisingly. Most users will want to see (and/or image) the full disc of the Sun, and choose a blocking filter accordingly. The B600 is supposed to show a full Solar disc for scopes up to 600mm focal length, the B1200 for scopes up to 1200mm FL, etc. Now, if you're doing photography, or want more "wiggle room" with an undriven scope, you'll want a larger BF, probably.
Quote:
I know I can use my existing EP collection (see signature), but what would I typically use with with the LS60?
I use a 12mm, 9mm, and 6.5mm. with mine. Most of the time, the seeing limits me to the first two.
Sunny skies,
Jim
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Waduino
sage
Reged: 10/24/08
Posts: 254
Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario
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Looks like the question I got great answers to a few days back. See if this link works, if not, search Lunt TV85 in this forum.
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2858592/page/2/view/collapsed
Wad.
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Obsession 12.5"
Televue 85 with a bunch of TV EPs
Vixen Porta mount, iOptron Mini-Tower
84 Messiers, 7 planets, 11 moons since Nov 2008
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Ralph Marantino
Postmaster
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 6350
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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Whatever you get put it on yopur Televue 101 use the best optics that you have the 22 Pasn and the radians are fine for Solar I have been using my 1991 TV Genisis SDF for Solar since 1991 with many different setupd Daystar,and Coronado.
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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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mikiek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 1265
Loc: SE Texas
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Thanks Wad - the link worked OK. Did you end up going with a solar scope or filters?
I think I'm leaning towards the filter - maybe double stacked. Unfortunately I just can't justify the 75mm. So my rig would be:
Stellarvue-80S
2 LS50F/HA etalons
Adaptor
BF600 - looks like the 600 comes with the etalons. Is it worth moving up to the 1200?
Anyone see any problems with that? From what I'm seeing this would be a superior setup to the LS60T (even a double stack). Right?
I'd also planned to piggyback this on my CPC1100 to utilize the tracking. It does have a solar tracking speed although I've never tried it before.
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___________________________________________________________
May there always be starlight on the path - R.Burnham
___________________________________________________________
Celestron CPC 1100
TV NP-101(riding the CPC)
SV-80S
Radian 3mm,5mm,8mm,12mm
Panoptic 22mm,27mm,35mm,41mm
Nagler 3-6 zoom,T4 17mm,T5 31mm
Ethos 8mm,13mm, 21mm
Everbrite Diagonal 2", Powermate 2X
FeatherTouch Crayford, Microfocuser
Telrad Finder, SV 9x50 RACI
Kendrick Dew System
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4207
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
BF600 - looks like the 600 comes with the etalons. Is it worth moving up to the 1200?
With a focal length of 480mm, your SV is well under the 600mm limit for getting full-disc visual views of the Sun with the B600 blocking filter.
If you think there's even a chance that you'll get into photography or binoviewing, get the B1200 filter....it's only about $150 more, a pretty small fraction of what you're paying already.
Cheers,
Jim
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stephenramsden
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1640
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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If you want my opinion i think it would be a fantastic setup. I would definitely get the BF1200 if you can.
I use some of my solar scopes pigybacked on my CPC 9.25 and my CGE 1400 and I can tell you that the solar tracking works great. The Sun is also stored as a Solar System object on either configuration! The ADM mini dovetail mounting system will work great for the scope too if you want to install it on the CPC1100 tube.
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Stephen W. Ramsden
Atlanta, GA--USA
NASA SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADOR
www.solarastrophotography.com
www.SolarScopeReviews.com
www.stephenramsden.com
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mikiek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 1265
Loc: SE Texas
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Quote:
Whatever you get put it on yopur Televue 101 use the best optics that you have the 22 Pasn and the radians are fine for Solar I have been using my 1991 TV Genisis SDF for Solar since 1991 with many different setupd Daystar,and Coronado.
This brings up another question. If I went with the 50mm etalon(s) on my 80mm refractor I am essentially stepping down the 80mm scope to 50mm. Right? If so, would it really matter if I used an 80mm, 101mm or even 120mm refractor? All scopes would be limited to the 50mm aperture of the etalon - right?
Sorry if this is a dumb one, but I've never seen one of the filter systems before. 
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___________________________________________________________
May there always be starlight on the path - R.Burnham
___________________________________________________________
Celestron CPC 1100
TV NP-101(riding the CPC)
SV-80S
Radian 3mm,5mm,8mm,12mm
Panoptic 22mm,27mm,35mm,41mm
Nagler 3-6 zoom,T4 17mm,T5 31mm
Ethos 8mm,13mm, 21mm
Everbrite Diagonal 2", Powermate 2X
FeatherTouch Crayford, Microfocuser
Telrad Finder, SV 9x50 RACI
Kendrick Dew System
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pjstoker
sage
Reged: 04/21/06
Posts: 454
Loc: So. Calif, USA
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Two things to consider. While the aperture will remain at 50mm the f/ratio will be slower with the larger aperture and presumably longer focal length scopes. This is really of little consequence if you plan to do just visual observing. However, what is important if you are doing visual observations is that you need to be able to reach the tuning knob on the filter(s) while looking through the eyepiece on the telescope. I don’t think you would be able to do this with the typical 120mm aperture scope.
Pat
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Patrick Stoker
http://home.earthlink.net/~pjstok/wp10_intro.htm
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mikiek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 1265
Loc: SE Texas
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Thanks Pat - that's the kind of thing a newb like me doesn't think of.
--------------------
___________________________________________________________
May there always be starlight on the path - R.Burnham
___________________________________________________________
Celestron CPC 1100
TV NP-101(riding the CPC)
SV-80S
Radian 3mm,5mm,8mm,12mm
Panoptic 22mm,27mm,35mm,41mm
Nagler 3-6 zoom,T4 17mm,T5 31mm
Ethos 8mm,13mm, 21mm
Everbrite Diagonal 2", Powermate 2X
FeatherTouch Crayford, Microfocuser
Telrad Finder, SV 9x50 RACI
Kendrick Dew System
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4207
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
This brings up another question. If I went with the 50mm etalon(s) on my 80mm refractor I am essentially stepping down the 80mm scope to 50mm. Right? If so, would it really matter if I used an 80mm, 101mm or even 120mm refractor? All scopes would be limited to the 50mm aperture of the etalon - right?
Right.
And while I wouldn't want to put $1K+ worth of filters on a piece-of-junk 80mm short-tube, your SV 80 is certainly up to the task.
OTOH, if your NP-101 is already mounted on your CPC, and you're not using the stellarvue anymore anyway, why not sell the SV and put the $$ towards filters and adapters for the 101?? 
Just wondering; either way will work just fine....
Jim
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mikiek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 1265
Loc: SE Texas
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Quote:
And while I wouldn't want to put $1K+ worth of filters on a piece-of-junk 80mm short-tube, your SV 80 is certainly up to the task.
OTOH, if your NP-101 is already mounted on your CPC, and you're not using the stellarvue anymore anyway, why not sell the SV and put the $$ towards filters and adapters for the 101??
Just wondering; either way will work just fine....
Interesting idea Jim. I thought I have seen some posts here anout it being somewhat of a pain having a scope that does double duty as solar and nighttime. As a newb I have not seen a filter system before. Is there more to it than just screwing the adaptor into the scope and then etalons? Or is the adaptor + etalons all 1 unit? Isn't there some tuning involved? Would I lose my tuning if I took the filters off?
I just thought I could keep the 80mm as my dedicated solar scope - mount it to my CPC during the day, then slide it off and mount the 101 for nighttime.
--------------------
___________________________________________________________
May there always be starlight on the path - R.Burnham
___________________________________________________________
Celestron CPC 1100
TV NP-101(riding the CPC)
SV-80S
Radian 3mm,5mm,8mm,12mm
Panoptic 22mm,27mm,35mm,41mm
Nagler 3-6 zoom,T4 17mm,T5 31mm
Ethos 8mm,13mm, 21mm
Everbrite Diagonal 2", Powermate 2X
FeatherTouch Crayford, Microfocuser
Telrad Finder, SV 9x50 RACI
Kendrick Dew System
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2170
Loc: CA
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The etalons are heavy and fragile. It is nice to handle them as little as posible. I like a dedicated dayscope just for peace of mind. I can put my LS50F on the TV-76 but I only do it to compare the internal vs the external etalons. I am a bit of a optics geek when it comes to etalons and I am still learning more all the time.
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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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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4207
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
I just thought I could keep the 80mm as my dedicated solar scope - mount it to my CPC during the day, then slide it off and mount the 101 for nighttime.
Yep, that works. And, as Colin noted, it's definitely easier to have a dedicated Solar scope. Saves on handling the filters, and definitely makes grab'n'go quicker. So go for it. (I just thought you might convert that otherwise unused 80mm apo into extra $$ for purchasing your filter(s)....)
Cheers,
Jim
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Danno2006
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/25/06
Posts: 690
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Another thought - it would be much more difficult to tune the filters on the 101 versus the SV80. They would probably be out of reach or in an awkward position on the 101 while you are viewing throught the eyepiece.
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Tom and Beth
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 946
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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I've been able to tune mine on a TV-102, and on a 1 meter long refractor. Granted I need to be standing to the side of the scope so my arm reaches, but that only takes a few seconds.
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2170
Loc: CA
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I have seen some tricks to move the adjuster wheel closer to the EP. The most creative one was to use a Vegimite lid attached to a rod in homemade bearings to drive the adjuster wheel. The ridges in the lid are a good fit for the knurl on the Coronado filters.
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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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Jeff Young
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 4333
Loc: Ireland
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Solar can be much more dynamic than night-time viewing, but there's also only one target. So while my night-time viewing habit is 2 or 3 hours at a go, and perhaps an average of 1 session a week, my solar is more like 20 minutes a go and sometimes several sessions in a single day.
For those reasons, I like to keep my solar setup much more grab-n-go than my night-time. So I'd be inclined to keep the SV80 and get a very light mount for it. For purely visual you don't really need tracking, although it can be nice if you're going to sketch.
Cheers,
-- Jeff.
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Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-125 / AP1200GTO Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO
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