194 replies to this topic

[Elusivephotons]

It's time for this thread as I can't be the only one jealous of the discussion in the SVX180 and SVX102 owners threads, haha.

 

I've lumped together the 130 & 140 versions of these scopes as they are very similar.  (as well as included the Raptor Editions)

 

I'm the second owner of a SVX130T-R as of a few months ago and it is exceeding my expectations so far.  I do primarily astrophotography with a little bit of visual on the side.  (usually planets/moon)

 

Unfortunately the relentless smoke in Canada has been making a real mess of the skies so I haven't had a ton of time using it so far.  I will say that the fit, finish, & quality of this telescope far exceed any I've previously owned.  My experience is limited to Chinese refractors though, not high end equivalents.

 

I've used the SFFX2 flattener and it works really well with my IMX571 camera.  I've also used the SFFR 0.72 reducer and it is a touch more picky with backfocus and tilt.  I've never had to play with tilt on any previous setup so it took a bit of research & trial and error to work it out.  I must say, it is very very nice having tilt adjustment on the reducer itself so I can still move the camera to other scopes and not transfer this tilt adjustment over.  (even though it is very small and I'm being super picky about my corner stars)  I believe this slight tilt is a result of how the reducer is assembled on the telescope side/connection but I'm not 100% sure.

 

As far as the focuser goes, I have the 3.5" Feathertouch and it is an absolute BEAST.  (in a good way)  I added the Optec ThirdSync FT40 autofocuser so that I can quickly switch between manual and auto use for visual/photography.  This is super handy as I don't like using autofocusers for visual work.

 

I was also unsure of how Stellarvue treats second or third hand owners of their telescopes so I inquired about this before I purchased this telescope from the seller.  Vic responded almost immediately and assured me that it would be supported even though there was no 'warranty'.  I've had a few questions since I've taken possession of this refractor so I've sent a few emails to Stellarvue and received very prompt responses from support and even Vic himself.  So this has left me very impressed and glad to be part of the Stellarvue 'family'.

 

Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to do any visual work through this telescope yet but I will report back after I do.

 

I don't plan to flood this thread with pictures I've taken through it, but you can find them on my website if you want to.

 

I look forward to more owners sharing their pictures and stories of these marvelous instruments.

 

 

 

 

[Sctom]

Thank you for starting this thread. Your 130 Raptor is nice.  Since getting my first used one several years ago, I have been a Stellarvue fan.  Top quality through and through.   Images that are so sharp. Just sold my (also used) SVA130 EDT as my SVX140T should arrive late next week.  After learning to image on a new SVX90T, I am looking towards more aperture again.
  With only a few hours every week available to image, and having to travel to our club’s open and dark site, the SVX140 is the biggest scope that I want to carry, and is also under f7, another must as I only image now.  This will make my 7th Stellarvue and the 2nd new one.  No more SCT’s, newtonians, dobs, etc.  Sold them all. Just my two SV’s for “real” scopes, and couldn’t be happier.  Plus 2 toys.

How do you like your Paramount? Is guiding usually limited by the seeing?  I am using only AM5’s to keep the weight down.  But then hang 28 lbs (two 1gallon jugs filled with pebbles) just above the ground to prevent tipover for the 130 and 140.  Guiding is usually good, .30 to .60 total most nights, well below my resolution for both scopes.  And no counterweight for the 90. Still learning all the ins and outs of imaging. Still a near total greenhorn with PixInsight.  It is a very fun, but sometimes frustrating, journey.

[TelescopeGreg]

Add my thanks for the thread.  I have an SVA130-EDT, also its second owner, and love it.  I think the scope also has the 3.5" FeatherTouch focuser...  How does one tell which model it is?  (i.e. where does one measure the 3.5 inches?)  It replaced a Celestron 8" f/5 Newtonian that was driving me nuts with its collimation issues, flexure, and "furry" stars.

 

Interesting comments about the reducer / flattener and the fussy adjustments; something to consider.  I have that on my "wish list", but have held off buying it because the added weight would likely push my mount over the proverbial edge.  Right now I'm simply imaging with the scope at its native 910mm focal length, and living with the slightly misshapen stars around the edges.  Once the images are reduced for posting, the shape mostly disappears.

 

As an upgrade to the mount I was assuming I'd need something like the iOptron CEM-70, but that would require rebuilding pretty much everything about my system's setup, from the trolley on up.  The ZWO AM-5 looks like it might be enough, and would fit the current tripod and trolley.  For now, the mighty AVX is holding its own, if only barely.

[Elusivephotons]

Thank you for starting this thread. Your 130 Raptor is nice.  Since getting my first used one several years ago, I have been a Stellarvue fan.  Top quality through and through.   Images that are so sharp. Just sold my (also used) SVA130 EDT as my SVX140T should arrive late next week.  After learning to image on a new SVX90T, I am looking towards more aperture again.
  With only a few hours every week available to image, and having to travel to our club’s open and dark site, the SVX140 is the biggest scope that I want to carry, and is also under f7, another must as I only image now.  This will make my 7th Stellarvue and the 2nd new one.  No more SCT’s, newtonians, dobs, etc.  Sold them all. Just my two SV’s for “real” scopes, and couldn’t be happier.  Plus 2 toys.

How do you like your Paramount? Is guiding usually limited by the seeing?  I am using only AM5’s to keep the weight down.  But then hang 28 lbs (two 1gallon jugs filled with pebbles) just above the ground to prevent tipover for the 130 and 140.  Guiding is usually good, .30 to .60 total most nights, well below my resolution for both scopes.  And no counterweight for the 90. Still learning all the ins and outs of imaging. Still a near total greenhorn with PixInsight.  It is a very fun, but sometimes frustrating, journey.

You bet!  That's awesome!  I'm sure you'll love the SVX140T, my original plan was to get one of those but I got a good deal on this SVX130T that I couldn't pass up.  Totally understandable about transporting the 140, I wouldn't want to go any larger either.  Loaded with MiniPC/Guider/Camera/Filterwheel/Autofocuser, the weight really starts adding up.  I setup and tear down when using mine and I don't think I'd managed with the SVX152 for example..  my life is busy enough that it needs to be easy or it just doesn't get done.

 

I like the Paramount, it works great once dialed in.  I don't have the best of skies so seeing is usually my limiting factor for all things astro related.  On good nights I've been getting a steady 0.3" - 0.4" RMS lately after some changes I made to my guiding routine, on bad nights it is a bit higher but not 'horrible'.
 

[Spaceman 56]

Just sold my (also used) SVA130 EDT as my SVX140T should arrive late next week.  .

 

Still learning all the ins and outs of imaging.

 

Still a near total greenhorn with PixInsight.  It is a very fun, but sometimes frustrating, journey.

I think your new SVX-140T will be a stunning imaging scope Sctom.  

 

the ins and outs of imaging certainly takes some time.   a year or 2 at least.

 

as for Pixinsite, dont expect to have that down quickly.

 

best wishes and good luck.  Spaceman

 

PS. I bought a iOptron CEM-120 and that big refractor is coming.....

Edited by Spaceman 56, 16 October 2023 - 01:34 AM.

[SilverLitz]

Here is my SVX130T in the foreground on the AP Mach2 with 28# of CWs, and in the background the MUCH larger/heavier, vintage SV152 (TMB-LZOS) on the AP1100 with 48# of CWs.  The SVX130T is ~ 20# lighter and much easier to move/mount than the SV152.  This photo does not show the degree that the SV152 is larger, as the SV152 is about twice as far from the camera.  Both have 3.5" FT focusers and my FF and FR/FR for the SVX130T work great with the SV152.  I find Stellarview to be very high quality both optically and mechanically, and Vic to be incredibly good to work with.

 

The SVX130T with FR/FF and the ASI183mm-Pro gives almost the same FoV as the SV152 with FF and the QHY268M.  The SV152 is of higher resolution at 0.64"/px vs. SVX130T at 0.74"/px, and the increase resolution shows up in the images as well.  Both OTAs (especially the SV152) out resolve the ability of the sensor to show, resulting in clearly defined, but square small stars.

 

 

Stellarview APOs with Astro-Physics mounts is a great combination!   I am definitely spoiled with these, though I have NOT be spoiled with the weather this year.

[Mike Sandy]

Seems like brand and model specific threads are popping up all over.  Okay - so here is a photo of my SVX130T with my SVX80T riding on top.  These are currently dedicated to imaging in Bortle 6-7 skies, and I am more than happy with their mechanical and optical quality and performance.  I've been running an ASI2600MC with the FF on the 130mm, and an ASI2600MM with a .8X reducer/flattener on the 80mm.

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[Kolenka]

Add me to the “Putting a SV ~5in refractor on a Mach2” club I guess. 

 

We just entered Seattle’s wet season so I haven’t gotten much time to play with the combo yet, but the SVX140T is just about the largest refractor I’d want, on just about the largest mount I’d want. I’m still playing with all the features and still reorienting myself with astrophotography on GEMs after spending years only using camera lenses on simple tracker mounts. But everything so far is promising, despite having to setup and tear down in the back yard every night and having zero visibility to the south unless I setup in the front driveway and deal with the street lights. 

 

Honestly, the biggest issue I’m running into is our cat. She seems to get upset that she can’t come outside and see what I’m messing with. Tends to get in the way as I’m setting up or tearing down. 

 

But I am starting to get some early promising data. It’s only 3.5 hours with an OSC in Bortle 6-7, but I’m liking what the 140T can do at approximately f/5 with the reducer.

 

 

[JOEinCO]

....I have an SVA130-EDT....I think the scope also has the 3.5" FeatherTouch focuser...How does one tell which model it is?  (i.e. where does one measure the 3.5 inches?)....

 

You measure the inside diameter of the focuser's drawtube. 

 

I believe the SVA130-EDT has a 3" Feather Touch.

[ScopeJunkie]

Hello all.

 

 I’m happy to say that I am a new Stellarvue telescope owner.  I’ve finally began construction on my home observatory and it will be completed by this spring, so I decided to upgrade my refractor (I do both visual and imaging).  I’ve had an EdgeHD 11 and Esprit 100 for years and love both instruments.  My goal was 2, top tier triplet apos.  One for wide field and one apo “light bucket” for dso’s and planetary imaging.  I’ve sold my Esprit 100 (thank you Cloudynights for your classifieds site) and I purchased the TMB APM 115 f/7 LZOS apo for wide field work.  For the “light bucket”, I chose a Stellarvue SVX140T.  Vic Maris himself spent half an hour on the phone with me helping me find a way to obtain my “forever telescope”.  I was VERY impressed with Vic.  He was genuinely friendly and knowledgeable.  He went way above and beyond when it came to my purchase.  He even hand picked the telescope/lens for me from his current inventory.

I have yet to receive delivery of either telescope, but the 115 will be delivered tomorrow and the 140 will be delivered sometime this month.

 I will post pictures and provide additional details once I receive them.

 

Chris

[ScopeJunkie]

My SVX140T ships out on Monday!  

[KTAZ]

Add my thanks for the thread.  I have an SVA130-EDT, also its second owner, and love it.  I think the scope also has the 3.5" FeatherTouch focuser...  How does one tell which model it is?  (i.e. where does one measure the 3.5 inches?)  It replaced a Celestron 8" f/5 Newtonian that was driving me nuts with its collimation issues, flexure, and "furry" stars.

 

Interesting comments about the reducer / flattener and the fussy adjustments; something to consider.  I have that on my "wish list", but have held off buying it because the added weight would likely push my mount over the proverbial edge.  Right now I'm simply imaging with the scope at its native 910mm focal length, and living with the slightly misshapen stars around the edges.  Once the images are reduced for posting, the shape mostly disappears.

 

As an upgrade to the mount I was assuming I'd need something like the iOptron CEM-70, but that would require rebuilding pretty much everything about my system's setup, from the trolley on up.  The ZWO AM-5 looks like it might be enough, and would fit the current tripod and trolley.  For now, the mighty AVX is holding its own, if only barely.

I highly recommend at least the CEM70 if not the CEM120.

Edited by KTAZ, 10 November 2023 - 04:31 PM.

[JMW]

I have owned the SVX130T for about 3.5 years. I also own in order of purchase: 

 

SV115T20 This is my 2nd refractor and first high quality refractor. I still own it and have enjoyed it for many visual and imaging sessions.

SVR90T I bought this for a grab and go. It stays setup on my FTQ mount and Gitzo 5541LS tripod.

SVR102T I bought this for a scope to dual mount with my C11 EdgeHD when at my home observatory on my AP 900GTO.

 

I bought the SVX130T because I wanted a larger imaging refractor with matching flattener/corrector and reducer/corrector. When I got it I set it up and a night with very steady session. It showed a perfect star test with matching pattern for inside and outside focus. I have imaged with the ASI6200MM with 5 position filter wheel the stars look great all the way to the edges of the frame. I also purchased the AP 1100GTO-AEL to go with the new refractor. The absolute encoders mean that I don't have to autoguide when using the SVX130T. 

 

When I wasn't imaging I brought the SVX130T to setup on the AZ100 mount along with a C11 EdgeHD. My wife was using the TEC140ED at the time. The views between the pair of scopes were excellent with the TEC!40ED showing a little more brightness.

 

I have been very happy with the SVX130T. I also enjoy the rest of my older Stellarvue scopes. I have been to the 2009, 2010, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Stellarvue DSSP events at Likely RV and Golf. I have meet many very nice people and had a great time. Some of the expert imagers provided great presentations over the years. I had a chance to observe through the SVX180T in June and it is a great refractor but bigger than I will ever own.

[ScopeJunkie]

Hello again everyone.  

 

CloudyNights is having some server/software issues with my account.  So as you can see, my username has changed back to the original one I signed up for cloudynights with in 2014.  In 2020, there was another problem with the servers or my account

(or something) and it wouldn’t let me log on under my old screen name (saganwannab) any more, thus ScopeJunkie was born. 
Apparently, he’s been resurrected though.  

 

For now…..

 

Chris

[Sctom]

Got my SVX 140T a few weeks ago. I absolutely love it. Vic spent a lot of time with me on the phone pre purchase to get the scope, and post purchase email to make sure I have the Stellarvue SFFX-1 flattener spacers correct. It was something I did not understand and he spent time educating me.  I thought I could use the same setup as on my SVX90T, but not exactly so. And Brea was very helpful with the shipping, etc.  Stellarvue is a great company.
It has been out three times and it is a great scope. I definitely would want nothing bigger to carry around, set up and tear down in the dark. I’m really only imaging now and I have a few hours of M33 and hope to get another couple hours before I start processing it.  But what I have seen is very very sharp and was complimented by an experienced club member. Another experienced imager called the scope “Research Grade”.  It is mounted on an AM5 with about 7 pounds of counterweights and 28 pounds hanging from the bottom of the tripod just to guarantee the whole thing doesn’t flip over.  That said tracking has been between .3 and .6 arc seconds, which is better than the .8 arc seconds per pixel of my imaging system and about the average seeing here.  I am no longer visual, but did take a peek through it at about 300x of Jupiter, and it was the sharpest view I ever had, including bigger scopes in the past.
All in all it is the perfect larger scope for very fine imaging.  A perfect big brother to my SVX90T imaging workhorse. When I can find a place to build an observatory and this is permanently mounted, life will be great.

Edited by Sctom, 11 November 2023 - 03:13 PM.

[Apogee]

I now have a SVA130EDT that I'm learning all kinds of new things with. This one is Sctom's old scope. Right now it sits on a 30 year old Losmandy G11, making it look like a supercharged version of the Meade 60mm I started out on in the 80's. This 130 has motivated me to pour a pier out in the field behind the house, I hope to make this happen by winter. 

[Sctom]

My first attempt with the SVX140T and ASI 2600 MC Duo.
20 x 300 seconds no filter + 24 x 300 seconds Antlia ALP-T Dual band HaOiii.  Stacked & drizzled in PI, finished off in ipad photos.  Easy peazy! Will learn PI more thoroughly over time.

 

uncompressed photo:

https://astrob.in/mttlzg/0/

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[ScopeJunkie]

Nicely done ScTom!  Stars at the corners of the fov seem nice and round.  I love the subtle variations in the star colors too.

[ScopeJunkie]

I know that optics/Zygo test reports included with new telescopes are not an absolute measure of a scope’s optical quality and they are, for a lot of people, just utilized by their owners for bragging rights.

 

Sooo…. I’m gonna brag now.

 

 I haven’t received my SV140T yet, but it was shipped today.  Vic @ Stellarvue emailed me an image of my telescope’s Zygo interferometer results.  I am thoroughly impressed by these numbers.  It shows a near perfect, flat, well figured lens.  The folks at Stellarvue know their stuff.

 

Chris

 

 

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Edited by saganwannab, 13 November 2023 - 05:00 PM.

[ScopeJunkie]

The SVX140T was delivered today!
 

Here’s a pic of it mounted on my 10Micron GM1000HPS and standing next to my classic Carton 60mm f/16.7.

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[Jon_Doh]

Congratulations!  That's fine looking refractor.  

[ScopeJunkie]

The people at Stellarvue really know how to protect their products during shipping!  The SVX140T was triple boxed and shipped inside a soft sided case that was cocooned in styrofoam.

 

I believe it could have been dropped off a roof and still been ok.  lol.

[ScopeJunkie]

Here’s another pic of my SVX140T after it’s been rigged for visual observing & balanced.  

Ignore the dslr mounted under the dew shield.  That’s part of my ultra-wide field imaging rig.  I just bought a new lens (Rokinon 135mm f/2) and wanted to see how it looked mounted on the scope.

 

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[ScopeJunkie]

… and here’s the SVX140T rigged for imaging at f/6.7.  This is my imaging train minus the Sesto Senso II auto focuser and the majority of the wiring/cables (which I’ll add on tomorrow).  The full spectrum modified (by Hap Griffin) dslr with the Rokinon 135mm f/2 should make a nice ultra wide imaging system to run while targeting smaller objects with the primary, 140mm scope.

 

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Edited by saganwannab, 25 November 2023 - 11:59 PM.

[Dean J.]

… and here’s the SVX140T rigged for imaging at f/6.7.  This is my imaging train minus the Sesto Senso II auto focuser and the majority of the wiring/cables (which I’ll add on tomorrow).  The full spectrum modified (by Hap Griffin) dslr with the Rokinon 135mm f/2 should make a nice ultra wide imaging system to run while targeting smaller objects with the primary, 140mm scope.

I'm more interested in those 90 degree giant binos in the background.   Are those 100mm APM binos?

 

Nice mount by the way...  I have an AP Mach2 and my guide scope and guide camera have been sitting here on the shelf unused for years.

Edited by Dean J., 26 November 2023 - 12:12 AM.