221 replies to this topic

[gabebalazs]

Yes, essentially.  I was looking at my experience using a 100-400 with lots of glass elements, compared to what I've been seeing with the Svbony 102ED with the FR/FF.  It seemed to me that the images were brighter, faster, with the scope vice the lens.  I also think the refractor design is inherently better for DSO AP in a number of small ways.  Enough to ditch the lens and spend money on a refractor that doesn't offer much improvement in resolution etc?  I don't know but my gut feeling is, if I'm going to spend more money, I would rather move up than laterally if that makes sense.

 

The way I was looking at this, was to find a simple way for my nephew (13y/o) to enter DSO AP.  The scope I had onhand that would work, was too big for him to handle.  So the Svbony doublet made sense to me.  Now, if my aim was to improve upon the results from either the Svbony doublet or Canon lens, I think I would be looking at 70-80mm triplets that are designed specifically for DSO AP.  As it stands, the Svbony is a great scope and is useful to me as a visual "almost" GnG, so it was a no-brainer to get one.  The rotating focuser is something I was skeptical of at first, but it proved itself as very useful and I'm glad to have it now.

I agree.

As for the rotating focuser, that's actually one of my favorite features on that scope (without even owning one:) ). I am very used to the similar mechanism on my Sigma 150-600. Loosening the tripod collar allows for smooth rotation around the axis. So easy to adjust for the best composition. 

Edited by gabebalazs, 08 March 2022 - 05:38 PM.

[Herchel]

I also own the 102ED version. You can see my moon pic on my IG account. Visually the view of the Moon was orders of magnitude better than my slightly out of focus iphone 11 pic and my iphone does suffer from CA on bright contrast objects like light filtered the between leaves etc. Visually I did not see any CA or color fringing.

👍very nice picture

[gabebalazs]

Someone is selling an open box 102ED on ebay for $449 if anyone is interested.

[skyjim]

I would not go with a 102 F10 Achro  over this scope, not even close a comparison, you will not even come close to the detail this scope delivers. The differences will show up on lunar on the terminator or Jupiter on a lunar transit on the planets surface, the achro just doesn't cut it! 

[whooshbang]

Thanks for all your wonderful comments regarding this scope. I have pulled the trigger on second hand one, it's barely used and comes with reducer/flattener.

 

Looking forward getting first light with it.

 

I have a nice 2" diagonal which adapts down to receive OVL Nirvana 16mm & Celestron Plossl 25mm 1.25" eyepieces that i currently own.

 

I'd welcome your comments on suitable or optimal eyepieces for this particular instrument. I realise this is subjective and understand the rules of "useful" magnification but i'm interested to hear your night sky targets and go-to eyepieces. If that's not too far off topic.

 

I'm pretty much wanting to observe anything that's knocking about, so a good solid eyepiece for planets and a nice one for galaxies and nebula.

 

Also, with the reducer fitted to the optical train will the eyepieces work and will it improve the view? or is it just used for astrophotography purposes?

 

Your experiences with this would be most welcome. I am just getting back into observation after more than 20 years, the technology and glass has advanced somewhat.

 

Many thanks to you all.

[Jim in PA]

Thanks for all your wonderful comments regarding this scope. I have pulled the trigger on second hand one, it's barely used and comes with reducer/flattener.

 

Looking forward getting first light with it.

 

I have a nice 2" diagonal which adapts down to receive OVL Nirvana 16mm & Celestron Plossl 25mm 1.25" eyepieces that i currently own.

 

I'd welcome your comments on suitable or optimal eyepieces for this particular instrument. I realise this is subjective and understand the rules of "useful" magnification but i'm interested to hear your night sky targets and go-to eyepieces. If that's not too far off topic.

 

I'm pretty much wanting to observe anything that's knocking about, so a good solid eyepiece for planets and a nice one for galaxies and nebula.

 

Also, with the reducer fitted to the optical train will the eyepieces work and will it improve the view? or is it just used for astrophotography purposes?

 

Your experiences with this would be most welcome. I am just getting back into observation after more than 20 years, the technology and glass has advanced somewhat.

 

Many thanks to you all.

Congrats on your new scope WB!

 

The FF/FR is a good thing to have onhand, but I personally only use it for wide field AP.  If you were thinking about dabbling in AP, now that you have the reducer all you need is a second-hand DSLR and you're off to the races. I use this adapter between the FR/FF and the camera:

 

https://agenaastro.c...cn-eos-m48.html

 

Note the FF/FR uses M48 threads, so a a standard T-adapter with M42 threads won't work.  The ones with the M48 threads are generally called "wide" adapters.  The reason I point this out?  I ordered the wrong one initially 

 

Have fun, you're going to love this scope!  Jim

 

[Jim in PA]

I keep the focal reducer in the same case with my camera bodies and kit lenses:

 

 

You can see the WO wide T-adapter just stays permanently attached to the reducer/flattener.

 

You can shoot a lot of astro targets with an unmodded camera.  I like having both a Ha modded and an unmodded camera, both the same body (T3i/600D).  Not only for astro, but I like to do some nature and birding as well so it makes sense for me to just keep it all together in the same case...Ready for day and night targets and both bodies being the same makes it easy.  I've been using the SV503 4" ED for both terrestrial and astro photography.  I originally got it for one of my great nephews but he doesn't have a long attention span so I think I use it more than he does

 

 

 

 

[whooshbang]

Thanks Jim,

 

That's good advice about the M48 T Adapter. I got to be honest, i am not yet considering this scope for astrophotography, it's a little heavy for my star tracker. I have a little Askar for some widefield stuff i intend to try in the coming months. Good to hear this scope holds up to terrestrial use. I may take it into work and set it up on the roof.... you can see the London skyline about 15 miles away so a good test for the optics (clear day permitting of course).

 

Can't wait to use it.

 

Thanks again for your advice.

[Mihai]

https://www.teleskop...-P-focuser.html

Is this the same refractor?

[whooshbang]

https://www.teleskop...-P-focuser.html

Is this the same refractor?

I would say yes. Specs look the same.

[Jim in PA]

https://www.teleskop...-P-focuser.html

Is this the same refractor?

It has the Japanese Ohara S-FPL-51 ED glass like the SVbony, but it doesn't have the SVbony's rotating focuser.  Looks like a different focuser altogether.  I would say it compares more closely to the AT102ED, although the AT has Chinese (FK-61) glass. 

 

I asked the question earlier in the thread, what was the difference in the glass between Ohara S-FPL-51 and Chinese FK-61?  Consensus seemed to be "nothing really".  One was made by a company in Japan, one in China, but pretty much to comparable specs and capability.   Either will have good color correction and is a definite and noticeable step up from a standard achro.

 

The TS Optics 102ED looks like a really nice scope for the money.  

[~RA~]

 [\] I'd welcome your comments on suitable or optimal eyepieces for this particular instrument. I realise this is subjective and understand the rules of "useful" magnification but i'm interested to hear your night sky targets and go-to eyepieces. If that's not too far off topic. [\]

I'd like to second the request for input on suitable optics. I purchased this scope and am so far very happy with it, and am considering eyepiece upgrades. From around post #43 in this thread, we've seen several instances of users not being able to achieve focus, and it would be great to have a record, especially of combos to avoid (diagonals, modifiers, EPs, etc).

 

I tried to start a thread specifically dedicated to the topic, but never could gain any traction:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ecommendations/

 

If the OP doesn't mind, maybe we should go ahead and keep all comments here, but otherwise I invite input in the other thread.

 

Currently I own a 2" diagonal, but no 2" EPs, so I'm interested in learning what works and what doesn't. So far I just use the 1.25" adapter in the focuser with a 1.25" diagonal or Herschel wedge. 

 

I can use Antares binoviewers w/ 1.85 Barlow on the nose and the included twin 30mm EPs, in either the wedge or standard diagonal, with about 23mm of back-focus to spare.

 

The views are very pleasing.

 

~ RA

[Tarantular]

Alright guys. I've also done it and ordered the Svbony 102mm ED just now direct from SVboby - USD $607 !!!  I feel like this would be a nice complement for DSO and some moon/planetary to my current 10 year old 5" MAK. Also, I think this SVBONY would be perfect to dip my toes into AP later on. I noticed from a lot of images online that the refractors are very sharp scopes compared to MAKs.

 

 

PS; Anybody know if this will be fine to use on a Vixen Porta II ? The Porta is a sideway mount.

Edited by Tarantular, 29 April 2022 - 06:12 PM.

[Jim in PA]

Alright guys. I've also done it and ordered the Svbony 102mm ED just now direct from SVboby - USD $607 !!!  I feel like this would be a nice complement for DSO and some moon/planetary to my current 10 year old 5" MAK. Also, I think this SVBONY would be perfect to dip my toes into AP later on. I noticed from a lot of images online that the refractors are very sharp scopes compared to MAKs.

 

 

PS; Anybody know if this will be fine to use on a Vixen Porta II ? The Porta is a sideway mount.

The Porta 2 will be a nice visual mount for this scope.  The scope is ~10 lbs. without finder.  $607 is a good deal for the scope, they're on sale!

 

EDIT:  Tarantular, just saw you intend moon/planetary with this scope/mount.  I'm always thinking low power as that's what I use it for myself when observing visually.  You may find the combo a bit bouncy in the eyepiece at high power but a light touch should help.

Edited by Jim in PA, 29 April 2022 - 06:52 PM.

[Jim in PA]

I'd like to second the request for input on suitable optics. I purchased this scope and am so far very happy with it, and am considering eyepiece upgrades. From around post #43 in this thread, we've seen several instances of users not being able to achieve focus, and it would be great to have a record, especially of combos to avoid (diagonals, modifiers, EPs, etc).

 

I tried to start a thread specifically dedicated to the topic, but never could gain any traction:

 

https://www.cloudyni...ecommendations/

 

If the OP doesn't mind, maybe we should go ahead and keep all comments here, but otherwise I invite input in the other thread.

 

Currently I own a 2" diagonal, but no 2" EPs, so I'm interested in learning what works and what doesn't. So far I just use the 1.25" adapter in the focuser with a 1.25" diagonal or Herschel wedge. 

 

I can use Antares binoviewers w/ 1.85 Barlow on the nose and the included twin 30mm EPs, in either the wedge or standard diagonal, with about 23mm of back-focus to spare.

 

The views are very pleasing.

 

~ RA

That was me that had the backfocus issue in post #43.  I was using an Orion 2" diagonal with the 1.25" adapter and 1.25" eyepieces when I had the issue.

 

It was an easy fix, I just use a 1.25" diagonal with 1.25" eyepieces.  No problem using a 2" diagonal with 2" eyepieces.

 

The Orion 2" diagonal and 1.25" adapter seemed to be the problem, as others with different diagonals did not have the issue.  Hope that helps. 

[Tarantular]

The Porta 2 will be a nice visual mount for this scope.  The scope is ~10 lbs. without finder.  $607 is a good deal for the scope, they're on sale!

 

EDIT:  Tarantular, just saw you intend moon/planetary with this scope/mount.  I'm always thinking low power as that's what I use it for myself when observing visually.  You may find the combo a bit bouncy in the eyepiece at high power but a light touch should help.

Thanks for the input. I have the long cables on my Porta which kind of eliminates the vibrations somewhat, I did a 440x magnification test on my MAK the other day and the Porta was great !

 

Kinda excited, this is going to be my first refractor.

[~RA~]

That was me that had the backfocus issue in post #43.  I was using an Orion 2" diagonal with the 1.25" adapter and 1.25" eyepieces when I had the issue.

 

It was an easy fix, I just use a 1.25" diagonal with 1.25" eyepieces.  No problem using a 2" diagonal with 2" eyepieces.

 

The Orion 2" diagonal and 1.25" adapter seemed to be the problem, as others with different diagonals did not have the issue.  Hope that helps. 

Thanks for the update.

 

Last evening I tried my Lunt 1.25" 7-24 zoom in my unbranded 2" mirror diagonal with adapter. At 7mm it came to focus, but only within an RCH of fully racked in. I understand the adapter eats about 10mm of travel, but you're saying a 2" native 7mm shouldn't be a problem? (I'm still working through the finer points in understanding back focus and how to assess equipment light paths).

 

I'm not sure when I might start getting around to adding any 2" EPs to the system, but I like knowing what can work so I can keep my eyes open for opportunities.

 

~ RA

[whooshbang]

Thanks all,

 

I also tried my 2" explore scientific diagonal with a 16mm and 25mm 1.25" eyepiece and it came to focus no problem. the focus tube was racked out not very far at all.

[Jim in PA]

Thanks for the update.

 

Last evening I tried my Lunt 1.25" 7-24 zoom in my unbranded 2" mirror diagonal with adapter. At 7mm it came to focus, but only within an RCH of fully racked in. I understand the adapter eats about 10mm of travel, but you're saying a 2" native 7mm shouldn't be a problem? (I'm still working through the finer points in understanding back focus and how to assess equipment light paths).

 

I'm not sure when I might start getting around to adding any 2" EPs to the system, but I like knowing what can work so I can keep my eyes open for opportunities.

 

~ RA

No, not saying that.  A lot of this will be eyepiece dependent.  I'm a low-power, long eye-relief kinda guy.  My 2" eyepieces are GSO Superview 42mm and 30mm, all the rest I own are 1.25" eyepieces.  And for example, my 9mm XCel LX requires different backfocus than my 9mm Orion Expanse.  

 

So I'm not sure what's going to work and won't work, but what I do know is that all of my 1.25" eyepieces will come to focus when using my Orion 1.25" mirror and prism diagonals (I tried them all to make sure).  My long FL 2" eyepieces will come to focus in my Orion 2" diagonal.  I can't say if a 2" 7mm eyepiece would...or wouldn't... I don't have one to try...  CS, Jim

 

 

[~RA~]

Thanks Jim... I appreciate all the data points!

 

~ RA

[Tarantular]

I am planning to use my v503 102mm with a 1.25" Baader T2 Prism Diagonal so that there are no mirrors at all. Would that be OK ? Will it increase the focal length of the scope ? I read on the Baader website that the diagonal has 35mm optical length and glass path is 32mm, does that mean it would add ~35mm to the total focal length of the scope ? 

Edited by Tarantular, 03 May 2022 - 10:43 PM.

[whooshbang]

I am planning to use my v503 102mm with a 1.25" Baader T2 Prism Diagonal so that there are no mirrors at all. Would that be OK ? Will it increase the focal length of the scope ? I read on the Baader website that the diagonal has 35mm optical length and glass path is 32mm, does that mean it would add ~35mm to the total focal length of the scope ? 

I don't think it increases focal length. The focuser tube will be racked in to compensate the addition length any eyepiece may add.

[SteveG]

I am planning to use my v503 102mm with a 1.25" Baader T2 Prism Diagonal so that there are no mirrors at all. Would that be OK ? Will it increase the focal length of the scope ? I read on the Baader website that the diagonal has 35mm optical length and glass path is 32mm, does that mean it would add ~35mm to the total focal length of the scope ? 

No change to the focal length, just the focuser position. The only negative might be a little added chromatism from the prism. I personally prefer the prism views with refractors of f7.5 and above.

[Tarantular]

That's a good point. I forgot that short focal lengths and prisms produce some CA ... I'll test it out, if its bad, will get a mirror...

 

 

ps: Actually just ordered a dielectric mirror. Will leave the prism diagonal on my MAK since its working perfectly fine there.

Edited by Tarantular, 04 May 2022 - 05:04 PM.

[SteveG]

That's a good point. I forgot that short focal lengths and prisms produce some CA ... I'll test it out, if its bad, will get a mirror...

 

 

ps: Actually just ordered a dielectric mirror. Will leave the prism diagonal on my MAK since its working perfectly fine there.

Please try the prism when the planets come back. I was shocked at the improvement over my dielectric mirror diagonals.