138 replies to this topic

[anjin_nav]

I wanted a scope with at least 1000mm, so after a lot of saving and a lot more research, I finally bought the Askar 130PHQ. I ran it on my iOptron HEM44EC mount from my Bortle 10 backyard with no filters all night, no filters.

 

My camera is the ASI2600MC Duo. I note it for two reasons. The first is I acknowledge I'm running an APS sensor in a full-frame light circle. Still the stars are incredibly round (FWHMx = 2.63, FWHMy = 2.58) corner to corner, with good color. The second is that because I didn't need to fine-tune backfocus, the stars in my guiding sensor were also round. This was a problem with my old-doublet, since the guide sensor sits at the top of the imaging circle, and if the backfocus (and tilt!) isn't just right, the guide stars are elongated and throw off guiding. No such issue here.

 

Regardless, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and here's the shot:

[Rasfahan]

Hello.
I received my 130.
I did a test and a few photos,
I got a lot of problems: astigmatism, sthrel 0.6((coma?
What to do in this case?

A seller in China writes to the manufacturer. No answer yet.

 

thanks

Just saw this. What‘s killing the Strehl isn‘t coma. That‘s strangely removed from the analysis, otherwise it would be even worse. The Strehl is killed by astigmatism which may be because of elements with wrong spacing/decentering and is also visible in your shot. This could be due to a transport defect and maybe can be fixed by the shop you bought it from. Anyway, return the scope.

[ShortLobster]

Hello.
I received my 130.
I did a test and a few photos,
I got a lot of problems: astigmatism, sthrel 0.6((coma?
What to do in this case?

A seller in China writes to the manufacturer. No answer yet.

 

thanks


 

Were you able to get this resolved?

[starrycanuck]

… My camera is the ASI2600MC Duo. I note it for two reasons. The first is I acknowledge I'm running an APS sensor in a full-frame light circle. Still the stars are incredibly round (FWHMx = 2.63, FWHMy = 2.58) corner to corner, with good color.

…

Congrats on the scope!

since your ApS-C frame is centred on the full frame image  circle, your stars should be round. It is along the edges of the image circle where some degradation would be expected.

[Vittas]

Were you able to get this resolved?

sold it

[Oort Cloud]

I've had it out there for two months. I live on the Gulf Coast and we've had monsoon like rains and wind. Absolutely no issues so far.

My EQ6-r has been outside under a cover for 2 years on the northeast coast of the US. Not sure I would trust optics out there long-term, but the mount has held up very well. Some dirt does manage to get under the cover, but it still guides under 0.5" RMS most nights.

[lpgc]

HELP! 

 

I had my ZWOFF-130 out for 1stlight last night and I could not get it to focus with either an ASI120MM guide camera or an Askar 2" diagonal with a Baader Hyperion

2" zoom eyepiece.

 

I suspect that I did not have the correct back focus offset as as I just using the 2" adapter plate on the focuser ... any suggestions on how to achieve focus?

 

pretty disappointing 1st light night

 

T.I.A

 

- Larry

[Cbaxter]

HELP!

I had my ZWOFF-130 out for 1stlight last night and I could not get it to focus with either an ASI120MM guide camera or an Askar 2" diagonal with a Baader Hyperion
2" zoom eyepiece.

I suspect that I did not have the correct back focus offset as as I just using the 2" adapter plate on the focuser ... any suggestions on how to achieve focus?

pretty disappointing 1st light night

T.I.A

- Larry

It will be helpful if post a picture of the camera train and or explain what adapters and spacers you have on it. If you attached the visualback and could not get it to focus with just a diagonal and eyepiece, something may be wrong. Some of the new modified Petzval style scopes on the market don't have enough working space to support a 2" diagonal but those usually state so in the specifications that they only work for visual with a 1.25" diagonal. I don't think the PHQ (ZWO FF) series are in that category though.

Edited by Cbaxter, 28 April 2024 - 02:26 PM.

[Obs30]

Works for me. Here some pictures of my set-up.

https://www.cloudyni...phq/?p=12846784

[JSTAR0057]

This may have been addressed, but ZWO ships directly using DHL, which is very expensive.

I bought items from them directly last year from the USA and never paid any import or shipping charges. It took a few weeks to get here and was shipped via container ship. 

Expect to pay a large sum of money buying direct.

[Obs30]

Just enjoyed visual observing of the Sun with the FF130 and an 1¼” Herschel prism/wedge. Crisp views. Highly enjoyable performance.

[Ar3s701]

Anyone using the 0.7x reducer for the 130PHQ? I'm  finally getting around to testing it and wanted to know what backspacing people are using for it? All the reviews I read and Nico's insights lead me to believe that 56 - 58mm backspacing was ideal so I have a bunch of fine tuning rings to try and find the right spacing.

 

Also, has anyone had an FF130 or 130PHQ with the degrees marked out on the rotator? I'm on my 3rd 130PHQ (first 2 had issues) and only the first one had those markings.

[Ar3s701]

Question to anyone else using this scope. Do you prefer using it at its native focal length or do you prefer using it with a reducer?

[HDEO]

Mine does not have the degree markings on the rotator. I bought it with the reducer included but I have not used it.