2307 replies to this topic

[John R.]

That is the one. But as Jon said, a one meter refractor is a bit long for that mount, even if it is an ok-ish AZ mount. I have the same problem mounting my Towa 339. At 1200mm it is about 50 inches long set up to observe with diagonal and it’s long dew shield. Not heavy, only about 6.5 lbs. but a lot of leverage. 
However it does look like it has rings and a vixen style dovetail, so that is a plus. 
Now that I have completed the dob mount for my Meade 8 in. F6 it is time to try the Towa on the original Meade EQ mount. Just have to get its bulk 3 feet higher. Got to find some cheap sources for iron pipe. 
 

Edit; This is the mount that came with my Celestron Omni 102 f6.5,

 

 

It is not adequate for the Omni, but works well with short tube 70’s and 80’s. Main problem with it is that the OTA has to be balanced carefully for the altitude slow motion to work as the only coupling is thick sticky grease between the ring gear and plate. 
 

It would appear that the Solomark AZ mount has some locking knobs on the axis, much like the Spectrum AZ mount. 

Edited by John R., 04 October 2024 - 05:27 PM.

[AstroPhotog]

Good luck with your project John.

[RichA]

And just want to mention a cheapo I picked up recently, a Meade 90mm F/8.8 -- this guy:

 

https://www.kosmos.c...0AT-TC_2007.pdf

 

Although mine is blue, not silver.

 

So far, pretty impressed with it. Optically it seems pretty good, although the mount is very iffy. I just checked if the controller worked by slewing the scope a bit, but didn't test the actual go-to aspect. Mount/tripod is sort of okay-ish, kind of... at least I can use it...but it tends to get the shakes.

 

I do think it has the only eyepiece tray I ever liked, probably because it's built-in and somewhat roomy, vs a metal thing in the center that just seems to get in the way.

 

I actually picked it up for the tripod, not the scope.. didn't need more scopes... as it's an oddball bucket design that works with Astroscans (someone recommended I specifically look for this model and one day I saw it on my FB marketplace).  The little eyepiece case is also kind of neat.

 

Price was right, at $30... minus eyepieces I sold off, so final price of -$5. Affordable!

Those all-plastic goto mounts are too fragile.  One wrong move, gears are trashed.  Plus, stability is the other major problem.  Any refractor with a near 1000mm focal length NEEDS a decent mount.

[Anony]

Those all-plastic goto mounts are too fragile.  One wrong move, gears are trashed.  Plus, stability is the other major problem.  Any refractor with a near 1000mm focal length NEEDS a decent mount.

Well, yes, ideally it had a better mount. But it is what it is...

 

Scope is optically decent. Mount/tripod isn't great, but the controller alone is usually worth more than what these scopes sell for. And I've been using it manually just fine so far. Not perfect and a little shaky, but I've used worse.

 

And at the right price, the mount could burst into flames, and you'll still be ahead. Just something to keep an eye out for on the used markets, for folks into that sort of thing. If cheap enough and the goto breaks, so be it... just use it manually.

Edited by Anony, 04 October 2024 - 06:04 PM.

[Maranatha]

Hey UIR friends. Wanted to share a CN post someone made about the atlas comet. They took a great pic that maybe you missed, it was taken from Easter Island. Pretty cool.

 

https://www.cloudyni...how/?p=13723094

[John R.]

This morning, at 2:30 my eyes came open and after 30 minutes of trying to go back to sleep, gave up and got up. Clouds the previous evening had me bag any stargazing ideas, and the weather called for rain early in today. 
But…..I’m up already, might as well check outside. 
CLEAR! With a few wispy high clouds. Obviously the break between systems. 
So, in my jammies, with a coat and hat I decided to head out with Goldilocks. 
Jupiter rode high and was very steady at 91x with a 5.5mm. After 15-20 minutes there I switched over to M42, now well clear of the trees. Even 60mm at 20x with a 25mm plossl, if I got the focus just right at least 3 stars in the trap where easy, popping in a 15mm for 33x was the best view, with a clean separation of the 4 main components. 
Next swung up to M45. Can a 60mm show any nebulously associated with that group? Because I could swear with averted vision I could detect some. 
By now it is 4:00 and the next front is rapidly approaching with it’s associated clouds. Head back to bed and finally slept until about 8:00 with the predicted rain coming in an hour later. 
 

Goldilocks; out with one hand, my aluminum lawn chair off the porch in the other hand, coming back in is just as easy. Never need a finder, finder studs long removed to make for a very sleek tube. Always start with a 25mm plossl with a 15mm and 5.5mm in a pocket. Sometimes, if the seeing permitted I will include a 4mm for 125x 

Edited by John R., 09 October 2024 - 12:22 AM.

[Polyphemos]

Hi all, the svbony sv510 dedicated solar scope is currently $19.99 at Amazon - https://www.amazon.c...s/dp/B0CM6FDYR2

 

Cheers

Hard to go wrong at that price, so I ordered one. If the filter is any good I’ll keep it solar; if not I’ll remove it and have a spotting scope for the car.

[AstroPhotog]

Oops, sorry Jim I deleted the post a moment ago while going to add info. Don't ask me why...

 

Watched a video showing the bag and finder that seem worth the price even if the tripod is wobbly.

 

 

Edit: Failed to notice / mention an additional 10% coupon that made the Svbony SV510 w/ backpack $17.99

https://www.amazon.c...s/dp/B0CM6FDYR2

Edited by AstroPhotog, 24 October 2024 - 01:20 AM.

[Polyphemos]

Oops, sorry Jim I deleted the post a moment ago while going to add info. Don't ask me why...

 

Watched a video showing the bag and finder that seem worth the price even if the tripod is wobbly.

 

 

Edit: Failed to notice / mention an additional 10% coupon that made the Svbony SV510 w/ backpack $18

Lol, it happens!

 

Your info and link are quoted in my post so anyone interested in a 60mm f/6.6 solar/Astro/spotting scope for less than $20 shipped can find it. Funny thing is that I told my wife the price on this scope would plummet after the excitement from the solar eclipse wore off and that it got low enough I’d get one. The thing is you’d have to catch the drop and act fast and that never would have happened for me if I hadn’t seen your post, so thanks!

[AstroPhotog]

You're welcome! And I hear that about eclipse stuff dropping - the sv510 is still pushing upwards of $100 elsewhere. Crazy.

 

I just happened on it by chance tonight and after a losing battle finally gave in and ordered one just for the backpack. Hope you got the extra $2 off via the coupon. :-)

 

Here's a vid - https://www.youtube....h?v=PKNxnB1vM_I

Edited by AstroPhotog, 24 October 2024 - 01:36 AM.

[scout]

If the filter is any good I’ll keep it solar; if not I’ll remove it and have a spotting scope for the car.

The description says it's a permanent, non-removable solar filter.

[Polyphemos]

The description says it's a permanent, non-removable solar filter.

Nothing is permanent or non-removable

[John R.]

Nothing is permanent or non-removable

The glad cry of the inveterate tinkerer. And I agree. And at that price I will get one for the rare times the sun appears in a Pacific Northwest winter. 
 

For decades now I have a 2x4 inch filter picked up at a welding supplier. The view through it is a pale green and completely safe if I just want to take a peek with my eyes. 
Edit; Just watched the video. Surprised he didn’t know it is a 60mm Svbony 501P with a cheap solar film under the lens cell retaining ring. You can see in the video the three foil tabs for the air spaced 400mm objective. 

Edited by John R., 24 October 2024 - 10:32 AM.

[AstroPhotog]

Nothing is permanent or non-removable

Ain't that the truth. Just like the 10% coupon that was there last night. c'est la vie

 

The glad cry of the inveterate tinkerer. And I agree. And at that price I will get one for the rare times the sun appears in a Pacific Northwest winter. 
 

For decades now I have a 2x4 inch filter picked up at a welding supplier. The view through it is a pale green and completely safe if I just want to take a peek with my eyes. 
Edit; Just watched the video. Surprised he didn’t know it is a 60mm Svbony 501P with a cheap solar film under the lens cell retaining ring. You can see in the video the three foil tabs for the air spaced 400mm objective. 

Ditto John, the comment about lenses around 12:00 in the video was odd to me, but thankfully it was coupled with him revealing the film is not permanently attached.  With respect to Martha, "that's a good thing". Cheers!

[Polyphemos]

Follow up on the $19.95 SvBony SV510 solar scope:

The scope/solar filter/20mm eyepiece combination works surprisingly well. Not Baader AstroSolar film or Herschel prism well, but it’s certainly serviceable and quite a bit better than I had expected it would be. I purchased the scope with the intention of gifting it to a youngster interested in astronomy, if it was good enough he’d learn something from it, and it’s certainly more than good enough for that, so off it goes to it’s next owner.

 

As for the mount, it’s complete garbage useful only as a means to hold the scope on display. Fortunately my young friend has a mount for the Omni AZ 102 that will work perfectly for the solar scope.

 

In summary, if you or someone you know could use a solar scope and you or they have a suitable light duty mount, it’s well worth the less than $20 cost.

 

Convenience link: https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title

[edsmx5]

Follow up on the $19.95 SvBony SV510 solar scope:
The scope/solar filter/20mm eyepiece combination works surprisingly well. Not Baader AstroSolar film or Herschel prism well, but it’s certainly serviceable and quite a bit better than I had expected it would be. I purchased the scope with the intention of gifting it to a youngster interested in astronomy, if it was good enough he’d learn something from it, and it’s certainly more than good enough for that, so off it goes to it’s next owner.

As for the mount, it’s complete garbage useful only as a means to hold the scope on display. Fortunately my young friend has a mount for the Omni AZ 102 that will work perfectly for the solar scope.

In summary, if you or someone you know could use a solar scope and you or they have a suitable light duty mount, it’s well worth the less than $20 cost.

Convenience link: https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title

I agree completely. I was pleasantly surprised by the scope, but the tripod is a joke

[TareqPhoto]

Follow up on the $19.95 SvBony SV510 solar scope:

The scope/solar filter/20mm eyepiece combination works surprisingly well. Not Baader AstroSolar film or Herschel prism well, but it’s certainly serviceable and quite a bit better than I had expected it would be. I purchased the scope with the intention of gifting it to a youngster interested in astronomy, if it was good enough he’d learn something from it, and it’s certainly more than good enough for that, so off it goes to it’s next owner.

 

As for the mount, it’s complete garbage useful only as a means to hold the scope on display. Fortunately my young friend has a mount for the Omni AZ 102 that will work perfectly for the solar scope.

 

In summary, if you or someone you know could use a solar scope and you or they have a suitable light duty mount, it’s well worth the less than $20 cost.

 

Convenience link: https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title

 

 

I agree completely. I was pleasantly surprised by the scope, but the tripod is a joke

Are you talking about visual or imaging? If imaging can you please post the result? Will it work with a Baader AstroSolar film or even the wedge?

 

What about if we change the focuser and the tripod?

[edsmx5]

Strictly visual here. Look, its a super lightweight simple scope: I think you're asking for trouble if you expect more than just pleasing views of the sun.
I think they grabbed a TON of these during the eclipse, and are trying to unload what they didn't sell. It works fine, if you accept it for what it is.

[TareqPhoto]

Strictly visual here. Look, its a super lightweight simple scope: I think you're asking for trouble if you expect more than just pleasing views of the sun.
I think they grabbed a TON of these during the eclipse, and are trying to unload what they didn't sell. It works fine, if you accept it for what it is.

Yes i know, i just said if it can be modified to accept more, like instead of their joke junky cheap solar filter i use a better solar filter which is also cheap but not bad quality, or using the wedge small one at least, and if i buy it that **** cheap then i am also allowed by myself to change the tripod, but i was talking about the scope itself, how good it is for visual and imaging, how much good it is for visual i expect, my ST80 is cheap scope and i used it for imaging and never for visual yet.

[edsmx5]

Yes i know, i just said if it can be modified to accept more, like instead of their joke junky cheap solar filter i use a better solar filter which is also cheap but not bad quality, or using the wedge small one at least, and if i buy it that **** cheap then i am also allowed by myself to change the tripod, but i was talking about the scope itself, how good it is for visual and imaging, how much good it is for visual i expect, my ST80 is cheap scope and i used it for imaging and never for visual yet.

Ok, my apologies, I had rotator cuff surgery this morning, maybe I'm a,bit cranky. You're way beyond me. I bought it as a cheap way to look at the sun, that was my only intention. I'm not sure if the filter can be removed/replaced, SVBONY advertises it as un removeable. The focuser is flimsy, and the OTA feels like it could bend if you look at it wrong.
I just think you would be throwing money w/out much improvement. Sorry if I came off as harsh, it just sounds like a lot of work with little gain.

[TareqPhoto]

Ok, my apologies, I had rotator cuff surgery this morning, maybe I'm a,bit cranky. You're way beyond me. I bought it as a cheap way to look at the sun, that was my only intention. I'm not sure if the filter can be removed/replaced, SVBONY advertises it as un removeable. The focuser is flimsy, and the OTA feels like it could bend if you look at it wrong.
I just think you would be throwing money w/out much improvement. Sorry if I came off as harsh, it just sounds like a lot of work with little gain.

It is ok, sometimes there is a good item surrounded by bad other items, the scope could be nice but the filter isn't, the tripod isn't, so we buy it as cheap as it is then we change things later, but if the scope itself isn't good enough then it doesn't matter if i change the tripod or the filter or even the focuser, it is about the optics really, and i know people are happy to go that cheap just to look at the sun and enjoy it, that is a matter, i can do that, but after all i also want to know that i can push that scope little more too if it is possible, if it isn't and the scope is already bad then i won't bother buying it or even getting it as free gift.

 

Recover soon, and enjoy at as much you can so clear skies for you  

[TareqPhoto]

Now i a want to know what does the "inexpensive" word means and also word "cheap", are they the same meaning? Are they subjective? Any example? So a scope that is $100 is inexpensive but a scope that is $300 is cheap but not inexpensive? I have range of scopes of different prices, how can i define it as "inexpensive"?!!! Some will see/consider $1000 as inexpensive too.

[edsmx5]

Now i a want to know what does the "inexpensive" word means and also word "cheap", are they the same meaning? Are they subjective? Any example? So a scope that is $100 is inexpensive but a scope that is $300 is cheap but not inexpensive? I have range of scopes of different prices, how can i define it as "inexpensive"?!!! Some will see/consider $1000 as inexpensive too.

My feeling? Inexpensive goes to cost; cheap speaks to quality. So to me, my sv48p 90mm is Inexpensive, but not cheap; I've paid good money for some photo tripods that were "cheap".
The 60mm solar scope is a bit of both. It is by far the "cheapest feeling" product I've gotten from SVBONY ( and I was very much surprised and taken aback by that).
I'm glad I got it, I probably never looked at the Sun if I hadn't, but I'm REAL glad that I didn't pay full price.
I'll be interested how your mods work out, should you decide to buy one and try.
Thanks for the thoughts, I gotta long road ahead . . .

Ed

[TareqPhoto]

My feeling? Inexpensive goes to cost; cheap speaks to quality. So to me, my sv48p 90mm is Inexpensive, but not cheap; I've paid good money for some photo tripods that were "cheap".
The 60mm solar scope is a bit of both. It is by far the "cheapest feeling" product I've gotten from SVBONY ( and I was very much surprised and taken aback by that).
I'm glad I got it, I probably never looked at the Sun if I hadn't, but I'm REAL glad that I didn't pay full price.
I'll be interested how your mods work out, should you decide to buy one and try.
Thanks for the thoughts, I gotta long road ahead . . .

Ed

Ah ok, that explains it well, thank you Ed.

 

Well, i did few mods to my ST80 before, maybe the mistake i did is to change the focuser, it is better, but i damaged it when i tried to connect it to an inexpensive autofocuser and the focuser isn't as before again, and i lost the stock focuser which is compatible to that inexpensive autofocuser, but i carried out, and i used a better dovetail that i didn't change since then, i no longer using its finder that came with it or the eyepieces, that is all the mods i can think about, i used that ST80 before as a DSO imaging scope, then i used it as a guide scope, now it is completely for solar imaging only, and i don't know what kind of mods i should do more, and you are right, it is isn't cheap, i like Skywatcher quality even with this lowest price scope.

[AstroPhotog]

fwiw - SpectrumOI is having a sale - https://spectrumoi.com/#home

 

Also, Astronomics is having sales on several items, along with with up to 25% off Takahashi - https://astronomics.com/

 

Some of the above appear to be UIRs in my limited experience. Cheers, and have a great Thanksgiving.