269 replies to this topic

[Astronomy4You]

So this scope just popped up on my feed the other day and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about it? It looks like it might be a nice scope/lens to add to my imaging setup and at less than the cost of the WO Redcat for more aperture and a reducer to bring it to f/4.5.

 

https://www.365astro...-telescope.html

 

It looks like it ships in June, but I was wondering about sample shots from the testing of this.

 

 

[sg6]

Looks like a rebrand of the WO ZS 61, also the Astro Tech 60ED, I think Altair have one also. Someone has had SharpStar painted on the side.

 

Sure there is another one also out there.

 

Altair's is almost the same name:

https://www.altairas...-Telescope.html

 

Oops, read wrong details for what was here, deleted before I really caused confusion.

Edited by sg6, 01 May 2019 - 01:46 PM.

[santafe retiree]

aliexpress.com has several Shapstar scopes and accessories available including the one you are inquiring about -- type "sharpstar" in the search box at the top of the aliexpress homepage --

 

Cheers,

 

Tom

[junomike]

I always thought sharpstar was the maker for the other brands (WO, Stellarvue, etc)?

[Jason B]

Sharpstar is the manufacturer

[danielguo]

There two different 60mm-ish Chinese scopes. One is made by Sharpstar (f/5.5) and another was made by United Optics (f/6).

 

For reducing to f/4.5, while it may still work, a fast doublet can have more color errors especially if reduced. Therefore, you may need to expect having imperfect stars in the result.

[Astronomy4You]

Okay, so based on this at a native f/5.5 and a FR bringing it to 4.5, is this a worthwhile buy? I currently have an ES 127 Apo and an old Celestron 80ED that I use as a guide scope (both on my Losmandy G-11)

 

I'm looking for something to take to some dark skies for some unguided DSLR shooting (deep wide field) that is easier to get critical focus then my DSLR lenses. I'm also considering the WO redcat as an alternative to this class of scope. I'd be mounting it on either a Skywatcher AZ-GTi or EX IEXOS-100 as the mount.

[RichieNg]

I got my SharpStar 61EDPH in July (without the reducer) but don't have clear sky until Aug, will post few images for this little beautiful scope first light later.

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[RichieNg]

Lunar and Saturn (TV3x) with 61EDPH.

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[RichieNg]

DSO Object: Lagoon and Trifid Nebula
Date/Time: 22/Aug/2019
 

Gear setup
Imaging telescope/Lens: SharpStar 61EDPH F5.5
Field Flattener/Reducer: None
Mount: ZEQ25G

Imaging camera: Canon 1100D Mod
Guiding Camera/Scope: ASI120MC/32F4 130mm
Filter: Optolong CLS-CCD

Shooting data
Light Frame/Exposure: 30x60s iso800
Calibration Frame: Dark/Bias/Flat 10 each

 

Software
Guide software: PHD2, RMS error 2.9x
Imaging Software: APT
Post-Processing Software: DSs, StarTools

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[kel123]

DSO Object: Lagoon and Trifid Nebula
Date/Time: 22/Aug/2019

Gear setup
Imaging telescope/Lens: SharpStar 61EDPH F5.5
Field Flattener/Reducer: None
Mount: ZEQ25G
Imaging camera: Canon 1100D Mod
Guiding Camera/Scope: ASI120MC/32F4 130mm
Filter: Optolong CLS-CCD
Shooting data
Light Frame/Exposure: 30x60s iso800
Calibration Frame: Dark/Bias/Flat 10 each

Software
Guide software: PHD2, RMS error 2.9x
Imaging Software: APT
Post-Processing Software: DSs, StarTools

God job. Thanks for sharing. Any more pics?

[RichieNg]

Cloudy nights since then 

[GTom]

I was wondering if there is any risk ordering directly from China via Aliexpress? The 61edph plus reducer kit costs there about $480 incl shipping, far cheaper than the TS rebrand even taxes+duties added.

Edited by GTom, 15 December 2019 - 01:07 AM.

[HydrogenAlpha]

I was wondering if there is any risk ordering directly from China via Aliexpress? The 61edph plus reducer kit costs there about $480 incl shipping, far cheaper than the TS rebrand even taxes+duties added.

You can order directly from Sharpstar. Just email them and ask for a shipping quote. They are very responsive. It's cheaper to buy from aliexpress (shipping options are cheaper), but the shipping risk is higher (due to potentially inferior packaging and shipping). 

[RichieNg]

God job. Thanks for sharing. Any more pics?

Orion Nebula and HorseHead/Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) Mag 10 from yesterday night with 61EDPH + 2.5"FR at F4.5, pin point stars from edge to edge. Merry Christmas and Clear Skies. Cheers.

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Edited by RichieNg, 24 December 2019 - 02:41 AM.

[F.Meiresonne]

Orion Nebula and HorseHead/Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) Mag 10 from yesterday night with 61EDPH + 2.5"FR at F4.5, pin point stars from edge to edge. Merry Christmas and Clear Skies. Cheers.

There seems also no color in the stars ,no blue halo's?

 

Did you noticed some?afterall it is a doubletat awfully fast speeds ...

 

What was your exposure time ? Howmany lights?  Horsehead looks great...incredible what is possible in such small scopes...

 

Sorry for the many questions

Edited by F.Meiresonne, 26 December 2019 - 02:01 PM.

[RichieNg]

Quite happy with the first trial to put Orion nebula, HorseHead and Flame nebula in same frame with 61EDPH + 2.5"FR at F/4.5 under above average seeing (6/10).

 

[RichieNg]

There seems also no color in the stars ,no blue halo's?

 

Did you noticed some?afterall it is a doubletat awfully fast speeds ...

 

What was your exposure time ? Howmany lights?  Horsehead looks great...incredible what is possible in such small scopes...

 

Sorry for the many questions

Orion nebula shot with iso400 120s 16 subs, horsehead and flame nebula shot with iso800 180s 14 subs. 15 dark/flat/bias. 61EDPH is douplet without FPL-53 glass, don't have time to look into details yet but expecting some blue halo in focus under high magnification compare to triplet with FPL-53 glass. 

[F.Meiresonne]

I thought it was with FPL53 glas but a doublet no triplet.

 

But from you pictures i don't worrie. I have tried my 70 mm FPL-51 scope F/6 and there you quite striking blue halo's , those are absent in my FPL53 doublet  F/7 scope...it is quite a difference...CA don't bother me that much visually and my 70 mm scope pleases me very much for visual observing. For AP it is quite another thing...

 

A triplet should be still better but as said from your pictures the stars look pretty much like in my F/7 FPL53 scope. That is good enough for me

 

Very nice shots btw! Especially the combination of the horsehead together with the M42.

That is something you use that kind of scope for!

Edited by F.Meiresonne, 04 January 2020 - 04:13 AM.

[RichieNg]

61EDPH is the only scope in EDPH serioes come with douplet, the following scope 76EDPH and remaining will come with triplet but even 76EDPH was not advertise with Ohara FPL-53 glass in Sharpstar product description. I don't have good seeing to do star test for 61EDPH compare to my triplet or quadraplet FPL-53 glass, guess it should be in acceptable level, no CA at focus and little CA in focus and out focus.

[F.Meiresonne]

No that is true, but it is mentioned on the TS site in Germany. As for sharpstar website there is no mention of which glass type has been used.

But seeing from your pictures if it is no FPL53 then i think something similar is used.

 

Unless the scopes for TS were specifically made with that type of glass..which could explain the higher price for this item...

 

https://www.teleskop...ture-F-4-5.html

 

Personaly i don't care which type of glass is used , if the results are near the performance of my F/7 double i will be quite satisfied

[F.Meiresonne]

See the shot.

 

 

It is a bit enlarged but you can see it also directly on the picture coming from the camera , those typical so very blue halo's, with the 70 mm FPL51

 

This is not visible on a picture coming from my F/7 FPL53.

Those i am trying to avoid.

 

 

 

 

Edited by F.Meiresonne, 04 January 2020 - 07:46 AM.

[RichieNg]

No that is true, but it is mentioned on the TS site in Germany. As for sharpstar website there is no mention of which glass type has been used.

But seeing from your pictures if it is no FPL53 then i think something similar is used.

 

Unless the scopes for TS were specifically made with that type of glass..which could explain the higher price for this item...

 

https://www.teleskop...ture-F-4-5.html

 

Personaly i don't care which type of glass is used , if the results are near the performance of my F/7 double i will be quite satisfied

You are right, the result of CA correction is what matter.

[RichieNg]

See the shot.

 

 

It is a bit enlarged but you can see it also directly on the picture coming from the camera , those typical so very blue halo's, with the 70 mm FPL51

 

This is not visible on a picture coming from my F/7 FPL53.

Those i am trying to avoid.

 

 

 

 

M45_Halo.JPG

If can see the blue halo from picture directly, then it is very poor CA correction. 61EDPH even no blue halo under magnification in DSS. ED scope should have no CA on focus but little CA in focus and out focus. APO by definition should have no CA on focus, in focus and out focus.

Edited by RichieNg, 04 January 2020 - 11:06 PM.

[RichieNg]

But need to take seeing into consideration on that imaging night, Poor seeing not only can produce blue halo but also result in any star shape except round.

Edited by RichieNg, 04 January 2020 - 11:05 PM.