New addition to the family.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Picked up today from Fedex (couldn't wait for their local delivery) is the new addition to my astro gear.

My first ever Apo! :D Williams Optics FLT110 Flourite Triplet Apo.

Originally I was going to get the Tak 106ED, but at around 7k (with accessories) I could not justify it, so I have settled on the FLT110 instead, which came with a field flattener for little over a third of the cost of the Tak.

Sadly, I will have to wait until next year for a new mount (the EQ6 GT). Until then I will use an alt/az mount that I have spare.

Cheers Peter

[Larryp]

Nice scope!

[Stardrifter_WA]

Thanks Laurie. If it performs as good as it looks, I will be very happy. :)

Cheers Peter

[MortonH]

Very nice. That's probably WO's best scope.

[Stardrifter_WA]

It saw "first light" tonight and I only have one word to describe it......Sweet!

Really sharp images of the moon and Jupiter, using a Televue 10mm Radian eyepiece. However, I didn't think it performed as well with Ethos eyepieces on bright objects, too bright. Hmm, see a couple of Delos may be on the horizon.

A new mount is also now a high priority, as the alt az mount I used is just terrible. Worst mount I have ever bought. Just have to wait another 12 weeks before I can buy a mount. :(

Cheers Peter

[Kunama]

Beautiful scope, it was on my shopping list as well until my wife took my credit cards off me.
No point having such a nice scope without a smooth mount though.

[LewisM]

Fluorite reigns supreme :D My Vixen Fl102 blows my socks off. It's almost the only scope I need. (for the rest, I have a Vixen R200SS)

[Stardrifter_WA]

I have no problem with the wife and credit cards, just got rid of the wife instead. :D:P:lol:

[Octane]

Congralations, Peter. Williams Optics makes beautiful scopes. I used to have one of their 80mm ZenithStars.

The FSQ-106ED would have been beautiful, but, I think the 110 is probably a bit more versatile with a longer focal length.

Enjoy. :)

H

[cohiba]

I have a Nice G11 for sale that would suit that

[Stardrifter_WA]

Thanks Robert, but I have already decided on the mount I want, just have to wait until February, as, at the moment, the back account says no.

Cheers Peter

[FlashDrive]

Awesome Peter .... 110mm of ' optical goodness ' .... sweet alright ..!! :astron:

Flash ..!! :2thumbs:

[brian nordstrom]

:thumbsup: Oh yea ! I love my Tak Flourite's as well Lewis ( the best ) .
On your beautiful 110mm Fl triplet ,,, YUMMY ! . Good Onya Peter .
You will enjoy this .
Brian.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Thanks Colin. It is terrible having a great new scope and no decent mount. Oh well, can't have everything......at least, not all at once :P

I took a closer look at the new SW EQ6 GT alt/eq mount and I really like it, it has some rather clever design features.

Mmmm, wonder if my kids will give me a couple of grand for Xmas :question: Yeah, like that is ever going to happen :lol: More like, the other way around. :D

Oh well, just have to wait until Feb :sadeyes:

[Stardrifter_WA]

Is February here yet? :lol:

[FlashDrive]

Almost ...just around the corner :D

Flash..!! ;)

[brian nordstrom]

:shrug: Gotta get thru Christmas first , mate :lol: .
Brian.

[MortonH]

Can't tell from your signature what the terrible alt-az mount is. I use a Skytee 2 on LXD75 tripod with my Stellarvue 110ED and it's smooth as.

Morton

[Stardrifter_WA]

Morton, it isn't listed in my signature :D

It is the Sky View Alt AZ mount. Even with the two JMI motors, it's only redeeming features are that it was cheap and easy to set up. It just can't take too much weight, but then it isn't meant to either. Furthermore, the JMI motors have a slight lag time before they move, which is a little annoying.

But Morton, I tend to be a little fussy about such things, so take that with a grain of salt :)

Just have to get through until Feb. I can wait, even if impatiently. Mind you, I don't actually have a choice :lol:

Cheers Peter

[MortonH]

I can imagine that mount would be frustrating with the 110mm.

Hope you get what you're after in Feb and look forward to hearing about it.

[MortonH]

I can imagine that mount would be frustrating with the 110mm.

Hope you get what you're after in Feb and look forward to hearing about it.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Hi Flash,

Have sent PM re your question. Hope you get my reply, as lately, some PM's I have sent haven't gone through.

Cheers Peter

[Stardrifter_WA]

Hi All :hi:

Finally, after almost a month, I got to give my Williams Optics FLT110 a proper workout tonight and in addition to that I got to try out my Delos 4.5 and 6mm eyepieces which I very recently received. I had really sharp images of Jupiter with the 4.5mm and watched the shadow of a Io move across the face of Jupiter.

The Delos eyepieces are amazing. Using only a alt/az mount I was able to easily find and centre the object within the 4.5mm eyepiece with just using the laser and not the finder.

Also saw a rather bright meteor as well, so all in all, a good night.......up until the cloud rolled in again around midnight.

I am really happy with my new FLT110 and can now see why apo's are so valued. Hmmm, can I see a 6" apo on the horizon :question: Probably not; the bank account says no!

Cheers Peter :)

[ourkind]

Hi Peter, just curious what the LCD screen is for on your APO? my guess is focus metre? Nice looking scope! I need to get out to a star party to look through some of these beauties..

[Stardrifter_WA]

Hi Carlos,

It is a Digital Display Gauge for focusing.

Cheers Peter