Jonzky
super member
Reged: 05/10/08
Posts: 175
Loc: London
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Sorry for yet an other thread but I have a quick question,
What would all of you recommend for a for a beginner with no previous experience in solar observing. A Lunt - LS35THa or a PST. Also is the focussing issue with a webcam be an issue with the Lunt?
Thanks,
Jon
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My Scopes:
CPC 1100 WOW
130 SLT (Broken)
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Brought to you from the light polluted London
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Don W
Postmaster
Reged: 05/19/03
Posts: 14621
Loc: Wisconsin, USA
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In my humble opinion, I would be a bit hesitant to purchase from Meade at this point. The Lunt is a newer product and the company seems to be interested in taking care of customer problems. I have owned 2 pre-Meade PSTs and was impressed with them. The same people now make the Lunt products.
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Don Wyman
Obsession 18" f/4.5 #1166
W/Argo Navis DSC and Torus Primary
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marktownley
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/19/08
Posts: 2264
Loc: West Midlands, UK
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Hi Jon.
If you can, why not visit the Widescreen Centre in London - they have both products in so (if the sun is out) you could do a side by side comparison. Could be the way to solve your dilemma.
Mark 
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Jonzky
super member
Reged: 05/10/08
Posts: 175
Loc: London
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Thanks,
Mark, weird enough I was considering to pop in there on sunday and compare them (I doubt that I could visit there for a few weeks now) and I was also on their website about to put the PST through until I saw your replies. Ill wait, but I am now leaning to the Lunt (because of the lower bandpass).
Thanks,
Jon
--------------------
My Scopes:
CPC 1100 WOW
130 SLT (Broken)
---------------------------------------------------
Brought to you from the light polluted London
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stephenramsden
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1324
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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maybe try reading some reviews?
www.solarscopereviews.com
--------------------
Stephen W. Ramsden
Atlanta, GA--USA
NASA SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADOR
www.solarastrophotography.com
www.SolarScopeReviews.com
www.stephenramsden.com
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Ralph Marantino
Postmaster
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 6330
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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Taking a chance with Meade 
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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: 1861
Loc: Virginia
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Let me preface by saying that I have no vested interest whatsoever in Meade/Coronado or Lunt. I owned a PST in the distant past (and was quite happy with it) and all my current H-alpha gear is not from either of these manufacturers.
Lunt looks to be making a nice range of higher end scopes and filters that a lot of folks here use and like and it sounds like their customer service is top-notch. But at the entry end of the market (i.e PST and Lunt 35) the field seems to tighten up a bit. I've read about problems and limitations with the newbie offerings from both brands but it seems like the Coronado stuff is taking a lot of hits lately even by a lot of people who use to rave about Coronado and their PSTs!
I know few are particularly happy about the Meade takeover (very old news) but fact of the matter is that Meade inherited the rusty PST problem from the good folks in Arizona and, moreover, hasn't the rust thing been "taken care of" on new production PSTs? Is the QC really bad at Meade/Coronado now or are we just hearing anecdotal complaints (because complaints get voiced and satisfaction doesn't as much)?
I'm really just curious at this point. What made a "functioning" PST such a dog all of a sudden. Again, my own experience with a PST was great but am I really doing a disservice by recommending to someone like the OP that they consider a PST? Not trolling here - just looking for the straight scoop. I've been keeping away from the solar forum for a while "like sunspots on the 2009 solar surface", LOL - so maybe I missed something? 
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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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stephenramsden
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1324
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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Doug,
If I could step in here and say that it has been my experience in this hobby and in every other hobby I have taken up that if you buy the cheapest product from any manufacturer you are going to have complaints about it.
Some people have to feel like they are getting something on the cheap. Those people are going to have to buy something better or vastly modify their existing product if they decide to investigate the hobby any further.
Either scope is certainly suitable for someone to get a taste of Halpha. I think that neither is available from anyone right away so if it were a family member or a friend that was set on the entry level model, I would tell them to buy the first one that they came accross, LUNT or CORONADO.
I know that my buddy has 2 complete double stacked sets of 50mm LUNT filters/B1200's with adaptors sitting on his shelf in his store here in Atlanta that no one has bought yet after 3 weeks because people find it harder to pull the trigger at the higher price.
If it were me, of course I would recommend a real mechanically sound Halpha setup like the LUNT 60DS, LS50 double stacked filter set, or the Coronado 90mm but it is just hard for people to realize that this hobby is expensive and they are not going to get the views or the pictures they see on here from Pete Lawrence or the other masters without spending the money to get a quality product.
The PST, especially the double stacked PST is going to give hours of enjoyment and show you visually a taste of what is up there but it is what it is...a starter setup for Halpha.
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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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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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Stephen couldnt have said it any better.
the current wait time for a Lunt LS35 is about 4 months last I checked. A Coronado PST seems to be about the same unless a company has them in stock. Orion Telescopes actually has PSTs in stock currently, at least thats what the web site says.
The PST or Lunt 35 are two amazing telescopes and are made to allow people to experience the world of H-Alpha viewing. Many people are very content with a PST while others such as Stephen have been bitten by the solar bug and go for the best of the best (Coronado 90 or Lunt 100).
If I had a choice right now between a PST and a Lunt and there was no wait I would go with the Lunt. I dont feel comportable buying Meade equipment, the guys at Lunt really know what they are doing when it comes to this type of equipment, after all they did use to be Coronado.
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Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1861
Loc: Virginia
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Hi Stephen,
I pretty much agree with everything you have said. I too would urge something better than the cheapest but obviously, as you know, some folks simply can't afford it. Fact is though, some of the masters you mention like Pete have gotten some pretty extraordinary images out of PSTs, for example . Experience and knowledge can trump a lot of limitations in equipment that would cripple others (probably including me).
But I'm with you though in general, buy right (or at least try your best to do so) from the start and you likely save lots of money and disappointment over the long run.
Doug
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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: 1861
Loc: Virginia
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Quote:
Many people are very content with a PST while others such as Stephen have been bitten by the solar bug and go for the best of the best (Coronado 90 or Lunt 100).
Fair enough these are very nice filters and I agree Stephen has great taste in solar gear  but I do have to put my usual plug in for Solarscope if you are going to use that particular descriptor 
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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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molniyabeer
Confused and Asleep
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 2558
Loc: Central Coast, California
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FWIW, my PST (bought in 2005) rusted and was repaired two years ago. I've had great success with it and really have no complaints with the optics or mechanics of it. I have not used the Lunt 35, so can't make a recommendation between them, however.
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Steve
16" Meade LightBridge (Beowulf)
10" Hardin DSH, StarMax 127mm Mak, PST H-a
Oberwerk 11 x 70 binocs, Tasco 10 x 50 binocs
Santa Maria Clear Sky Clock
Figueroa Mt Clear Sky Clock
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pennyandchris
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 646
Loc: Horsham, England
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I had an old PST with rust, and it still gave good views (and images). Shortly after I sold it I bought a newer (Meade) Ha PST. The Meade version definitely seems to give a 'different' view/image, but without a side by side comparison under the same conditions I'd be loathe to say better or worse.
I've no complaints with the newer Ha PST though, and until I win the lottery it provides all the solar viewing I want/need.
I also have a CaK PST which is challenging to use visually, so will be on its way soon.
Not tried a Lunt because they weren't available when I bought my PSTs.
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Orion UK OMC140 Mak Cass
TeleVue Ranger
Coronado Ha and CaK PSTs
Meade LXD75 mount
Ambermile alt-az mount on wooden surveyors tripod
Manfrotto 074 photo tripod with 501 head
+ various binocs
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bandazar
member
Reged: 10/19/05
Posts: 66
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If I had the money.. lunt 160, on a nexstar 6se...
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stephenramsden
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1324
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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Yes,
I would love to own or at least review a solarscope but as of yet after 3 attempts I have gotten no contact back from them. So, I mistakingky leave them out sometimes.
My apologies.
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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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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 3720
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
the current wait time for a Lunt LS35 is about 4 months last I checked.
Are they actually shipping any Lunt 35s, right now?? Or is four months a projection for when they will resume production??
It seems the 35mm has had a couple of false starts. Right now, the Lunt web page doesn't show a dedicated 35mm H-a scope at all. Rather, the Lunt 35 is listed as an external filter, for use on a user-supplied telescope. And, it's significantly more expensive.
I haven't seen a post here from a Lunt rep in some time....wondering what the real scoop is.
Until I see hard evidence that Lunt 35mm dedicated H-a scopes are actually being shipped, I'm forced to conclude that, at the sub-$1K "entry level", the PST is still the only game in town.
Jim
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bobthruspace
member
Reged: 04/02/04
Posts: 24
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PST,for the price it will make you HAPPY!!! Owner since 2004.I use it everyday the sun is out.
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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You can order a Lunt LS35 right now as they are being produced. Lunt pulled them off their website until they could fix the shipping issues. The LS35s etalons were being damaged during shipping so they had to be sent back for repair and another safer way to ship. I believe the issues are just about solved but they dont want to publicly release it until this issues or fully fixed. But if you want a scope you can order one.
If it were me I would just save my money for the LS60 (thats what I did). They isnt a whole lot happening on the sun currently. We are lucky with the current sun spots. But a Lunt 60 would give you a very nice platform for both visual and imaging.
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Jonzky
super member
Reged: 05/10/08
Posts: 175
Loc: London
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For some reason the post I did two days ago did not register and I did not notice...... So. I placed my order for the LS35 two days ago to find out that the shop does not have it in stock. So now here is the problem, if I wait a few months for it to come in stock I know I will give in eventually and go for a LS60 instead..... Also, I do not understand. Is there a big visual difference between the LS60 and LS35?
Thanks for all of your advice,
Jon
--------------------
My Scopes:
CPC 1100 WOW
130 SLT (Broken)
---------------------------------------------------
Brought to you from the light polluted London
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Evokal
member
Reged: 02/12/09
Posts: 42
Loc: Manitou Springs, CO
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Jon,
I have not had an LS35 but I did own a PST before I bought the LS60 and I'm guessing that the two would be similar view-wise. In my opinion, the amount of prominence and surface resolution is much greater in the LS60 compared to the PST. In retrospect the PST was only able to give me an idea of what features on the sun look like. Thanks to the Lunt 60 I now know!  Don't get me wrong, the PST was an absolute joy to use, I did everyday, and would recommend it to anyone if that is thier budget (I'd assume that the view in the LS35 is just a touch better than the PST). Put this way, if I'd have known how great the difference was visually between the scopes back then I could have saved some $$. Hope that can help you make a choice! -Michael
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Michael Huwe
Lunt 60mm Doublestack w/ B1200 BF
"Might the sun be a metaphor of the compassion we can only reflect if we turn in that direction, revealing every flaw? I wonder this every time I see a full moon light up the night around me..." -Anonymous
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marktownley
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/19/08
Posts: 2264
Loc: West Midlands, UK
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Quote:
For some reason the post I did two days ago did not register and I did not notice...... So. I placed my order for the LS35 two days ago to find out that the shop does not have it in stock. So now here is the problem, if I wait a few months for it to come in stock I know I will give in eventually and go for a LS60 instead..... Also, I do not understand. Is there a big visual difference between the LS60 and LS35?
Thanks for all of your advice,
Jon
Hey jon,
Check out telescopehouse.com - they have a 10% off everything in stock sale till the 30th - a phone call could be in order here to see if they have any PSTs
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j3ffr0
sage
Reged: 07/06/08
Posts: 424
Loc: Virginia
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FWIW - I bought a PST about year ago and I'm pretty happy with it. At the time the choice was between that and the more expensive 60mm Lunt's which were not shipping yet.
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10" Dob, 127mm Mak, 120mm f5 achro, PST
35, 24 Panoptic; 16, 13, 9, 3-6 Nagler
15, 10, 7.5, 5, 3.8 Ultrascopic
20, 15, 9, 6 Expanse
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 3720
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
FWIW - I bought a PST about year ago and I'm pretty happy with it. At the time the choice was between that and the more expensive 60mm Lunt's which were not shipping yet.
And that's still the choice, except the 60mm Lunts are indeed shipping.
The Lunt 35 is no longer listed on the web site. It is NOT shipping, and to my knowledge, nobody authorized to speak for Lunt has provided an update in quite some time here.
So, the real "entry level" choice is between a PST and a Lunt 60. The Lunt 60 is significantly more expensive, and also significantly more scope...in aperture, resolution, and certainly overall build quality.
This is NOT to put down the PST, which has gotten more folks viewing the Sun in H-alpha than all other products combined!
Perhaps one day the Lunt 35 will be "ready for prime time", and production models will be shipping for near the price of a PST. That would be good--competition is always good.
But right now, there is NO competition at the PST price-point. For "entry level", you can enter at the PST-level, or at the significantly higher level (price- and peformance-wise) of the Lunt 60.
IMO, either choice will reward the purchaser. But, I've rarely regretted stretching to the higher-level choice when making an initial purchase. The rewards of ownership tend to far outlast the pain of purchase, in my experience.
Sunny skies,
Jim
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QUESTION AUTHORITY!
"errr....sez who??"
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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It is very true, while Lunt does say the LS35 is avaliable they still do not have it listed nor have they told any vendors about updates so in that case its not ready yet. So right now the only choice woul dbe the PST or to save up a little more and jump to the Lunt 60 which is highly worth the investment.
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Jack Tripper
sage
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 349
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
This is NOT to put down the PST, which has gotten more folks viewing the Sun in H-alpha than all other products combined!
Excellent point Jim! Absolutely true in my case.
Getting back to topic, I bought a Lunt 60mm from APM America and it shipped immediately...no waiting.
The only thing is the price. $1048. And that doesn't include tripod, tube rings, finderscope, or eyepiece! (I added those slowly, as soon as funds permitted).
But when all was said and done, I was treated to an unforgettable and uplifting view of the sun.
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Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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Jonzky
super member
Reged: 05/10/08
Posts: 175
Loc: London
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Good points. Unless I can find a US website that will ship a Lunt 60 (That they have in stock) to the UK or a UK shop can give me a good price for the LS60 I will go for the PST.
Jon
--------------------
My Scopes:
CPC 1100 WOW
130 SLT (Broken)
---------------------------------------------------
Brought to you from the light polluted London
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snowdragonusa
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 1128
Loc: Denver, CO
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Had the oportunity to do a side-by-side with my Lunt60T and a PST last weekend.
I really really really really love my Lunt
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Adam
12" LX200R, AT80LE
Lunt 60mm Ha & CaK solar scopes
DMK41.AS, DSI Pro, DSI-C, LPI
Denver Astronomical Society
Brighton Astronomical Group
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Jack Tripper
sage
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 349
Loc: Canada
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Hey Adam! It was one of your old posts that made me go with a Lunt 60. Thanks for that! 
Looking back, it was the right move to buy the best scope I could afford, even though I was unable to enjoy it for a few weeks until I could afford the other accessories (tripod/mount, finderscope).
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Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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I love my Ls60, now I want a LS100. Some day...
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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 742
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Quote:
You can order a Lunt LS35 right now as they are being produced. Lunt pulled them off their website until they could fix the shipping issues. The LS35s etalons were being damaged during shipping so they had to be sent back for repair and another safer way to ship. I believe the issues are just about solved but they dont want to publicly release it until this issues or fully fixed. But if you want a scope you can order one.
If it were me I would just save my money for the LS60 (thats what I did). They isnt a whole lot happening on the sun currently. We are lucky with the current sun spots. But a Lunt 60 would give you a very nice platform for both visual and imaging.
"Shipping problems?"
Mind expanding on that.
It sounds like "the dog ate my homework".
Thanks
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Duane Frybarger
member
Reged: 02/12/07
Posts: 55
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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I'm sure it would be great to own a Lunt, however, my PST has served me very well over the last 3 1/2 years. I do a lot of solar sidewalk astronomy (in fact, I got started doing sidewalk astronomy the day I bought my PST!) and I have shown the Sun to somewhere between 1,500-2000 people through my scope. Once people know what to look for and have a sense of the size and scale of Solar features, it's rare for someone not to be really impressed with the view. I use a photo taken with another PST with callouts and an icon of the Earth for a sense of scale. I also now use a modified microscope reticle eyepiece to estimate the size of prominences to within a few thousand miles.
I did have a rust problem and the PST was gone for about three weeks. There is a very small image shift that occasionally happens when I turn the tuner. I haven't tried a webcam because I'm not into imaging.
If the best telescope is the one you use the most, my PST is far and away my best scope.
Clear, blue skies!
--------------------
Duane Frybarger
http://virtualcolony.com/blog/ - my sidewalk astronomy blog
PST
Orion ST80 w/ Lunt 50mm filter
Cometron 62mm Comet Catcher ($14.99 at Goodwill!)
Celestron ED80
Celestron 100ED
Celestron C5 SCT
Intes MN66
13" Coulter home built ball mount newtonian
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Jack Tripper
sage
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 349
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
...and I have shown the Sun to somewhere between 1,500-2000 people through my scope.
I wish I could have seen some of those reactions!
--------------------
Celestron CPC 1100
Denkmeier S2 Power Filter Switch Diagonal (.66x Reducer, 2x Barlow)
Ethos 17mm, Baader Scopos 30mm
Lunt 60mm Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Scope, Lunt Zoom
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2102
Loc: Arizona
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The PST is a great little scope, Id like to see a PST CaK someday. I really enjoyed using my friends while I waited for my Lunt 60 to get here.
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