I'm considering a Lunt 60mm B1200 single stack for imaging and some observing , above this the cost goes up dramatically
Is there anything else I should look at and is the double stack worth the extra investment ?
Hi Mark, the Lunt 60 is a great scope for visual and imaging. The doublestack is good for enhancing any surace detail, especially for visual but being in solar minimum it's probably not worth getting. A Coronado 60 would also be another option as would a Daystar quark, which can be used on your own scopes up to 150mm. I've had both Coronado and Lunt scopes, and at 60mm the views are similar, but the Lunts build quality is better and I prefer the pressure tuned units. A BF1200 would be more than enough for imaging. The pictures below were taken through my DS Lunt60 around 2014.
I generally agree with Gus...
My experience is with PST/ PST Mods/ SM60 with various telescopes and blocking filters.
Double stack is perfect for enhancing surface detail but an expensive option.
For narrow field observations, I have to say there’s not much to beat the Daystar Quark.
I have used PST Mods to give cost effective large aperture solar telescopes.
Hope this helps.
I generally agree with Gus...
My experience is with PST/ PST Mods/ SM60 with various telescopes and blocking filters.
Double stack is perfect for enhancing surface detail but an expensive option.
For narrow field observations, I have to say there’s not much to beat the Daystar Quark.
I have used PST Mods to give cost effective large aperture solar telescopes.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for that my only reservation with the Daystar is it's availability. Seems like I may look at just single stack
I've looked through a few Lunt 80 scopes and I also own an LS100, and like any other scope aperture wins, especially for visual. For imaging the LS60 is fine and it's also good visually, when there is something to see.
The Lunt 80mm is hard to go past in terms of bang for buck....that said, all of their pressure tuned etalons can suffer from "hot spots" that, particularly if imaging is your goal, can give uneven illumination to full disk images.
A front mounted etalon on the telescope of your choice will deliver the most consistent field illumination, but the rub is that is your most costly option.
I would not go under 60mm in aperture. 90mm is a "sweet spot" that balanced resolution/seeing/cost, unfortunately Lunt don't make a 90mm etalon...I covet their 100mm etalons...but only you can decide whether that or their 60mm will fit the bill.
P.S.
For correctness I should also point I am a Lunt Dealer, but use original Coronado (read pre-Meade) filters (made at the time by Andy Lunt's dad )
The Lunt 80mm is hard to go past in terms of bang for buck....that said, all of their pressure tuned etalons can suffer from "hot spots" that, particularly if imaging is your goal, can give uneven illumination to full disk images.
A front mounted etalon on the telescope of your choice will deliver the most consistent field illumination, but the rub is that is your most costly option.
I would not go under 60mm in aperture. 90mm is a "sweet spot" that balanced resolution/seeing/cost, unfortunately Lunt don't make a 90mm etalon...I covet their 100mm etalons...but only you can decide whether that or their 60mm will fit the bill.
P.S.
For correctness I should also point I am a Lunt Dealer, but use original Coronado (read pre-Meade) filters (made at the time by Andy Lunt's dad )
Thanks Peter comes down to cost and how much use I'll get
So probably be a toss up between the 60 or 80 Lunt as much as we all want the biggest and best .
Thanks Peter comes down to cost and how much use I'll get
So probably be a toss up between the 60 or 80 Lunt as much as we all want the biggest and best .
Johnny Walker had a great advert: "do you want to take home the Scotch you want to drink or the one you want to pay for?"
Been looking at the Daystar Quark a bit more closely and thinking that may be the way to go and its a lot less expensive than the equivalent Solar scope ?
There are some amateurs getting great results with the Quark, just check out the solar chat forum.
Won’t give you full disk imaging capabilities but close detail excellent.
Needs an >f6 scopes as a minimum.
I disagree with Peter, in that good views and imaging can be achieved with more cost effective 60mm solar scopes. Sure, a 90mm Coronado or 100mm Lunt would be great....but at a hellava price!!
There are some amateurs getting great results with the Quark, just check out the solar chat forum.
Won’t give you full disk imaging capabilities but close detail excellent.
Needs an >f6 scopes as a minimum.
I disagree with Peter, in that good views and imaging can be achieved with more cost effective 60mm solar scopes. Sure, a 90mm Coronado or 100mm Lunt would be great....but at a hellava price!!
I already have an 80 f5 and a 102 f7 thats what makes it attractive should get whole disk on the 80 from what i understand . Cost is a fraction of a dedicated scope and yes the prices of those bigger scopes for a first time are just insane .
So it's 40c and you're going to image the sun? What a trooper.
You bet mate I just pulled the trigger on a Daystar
and an asi290mm I don't even have to be outside now I can go inside with the ac running and image away happily in comfort
Well done!
A suggestion....some of the Quark users add a x0.5 reducer to the nose of the camera to give a wider field...may be worth considering.
(I have the HEQ5 out on the veranda, this carries the solar scope of choice, which is fitted with a SW focus motor. All the cables have been extended to allow operation from within the study a few meters indoors. I used to use a 80 lt. grey bin with gaffa taped lid/ dark sheet on a card table, next to the mount but got fed up with the background reflections from the laptop screen. Just perfect now!)
Well done!
A suggestion....some of the Quark users add a x0.5 reducer to the nose of the camera to give a wider field...may be worth considering.
(I have the HEQ5 out on the veranda, this carries the solar scope of choice, which is fitted with a SW focus motor. All the cables have been extended to allow operation from within the study a few meters indoors. I used to use a 80 lt. grey bin with gaffa taped lid/ dark sheet on a card table, next to the mount but got fed up with the background reflections from the laptop screen. Just perfect now!)
Thanks good idea with the reducer I'll look into that.
The Daystar was just too cheap not to consider in the end especially when I have 2 refractors with motorised focusers which would have been added expense
.....
I disagree with Peter, in that good views and imaging can be achieved with more cost effective 60mm solar scopes. Sure, a 90mm Coronado or 100mm Lunt would be great....but at a hellava price!!
Sure, 60mm is good, but why settle for being Mr. average?
I started with a Coronado 40mm, then 60mm, then 90mm then double stack 90mm. The 60mm was OK, but the 90mm was a revelation.
Peter,
I agree.... if your seeing conditions can support the larger aperture.
Send me a 100mm H alpha scope and I’d love to test in the conditions down here at St Leonards on the Bay.....I’m 21 meters above the sea, 500mtr away.
)
