Hi Astro,
Thank for the link. The difference is in price between tt and pt is not huge as compared to ss and ds and what aperture you want.
I am looking at:
- ls50/pt/ds - leaning towards this scope
- ls60/pt/ss
- ls80/ss
The majority of thr time will be visual only.
Appreciate your help in working out what is best for me. I generally buy to keep for a long time, dont tend to sell stuff.
Will try to get out to see through some solar scopes.
Thanks,
Mel
Quote:
Originally Posted by astro744
Hi Mel,
See discussion on Pressure Tuned vs Tilt Tuned at http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/47...r-tilt-tuning/
and http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/48...ssure-vs-tilt/
Not sure which is better although PT seems to get the nod with a few exceptions. I have TT and it works well for me but mine is Coronado with full size etalon (pre-Meade).
On double stacking note you can always add a second filter later albeit a some considerable cost but it seems this cost is already added if you buy DS up front. Note the LS60 was sold with a 50mm DS filter effectively reducing your 60mm single stack scope to 50mm when using DS. This option lowers the DS cost but now a full size 60mm DS filter is available.
Please clarify if you are considering 50mm DS scope vs 60mm SS scope or is it 50mm DS scope vs 80mm SS scope as your last two replies indicate. A big difference in cost between 50mm DS and 80mm SS but if this is your choice then I think aperture always wins and you can always add an internal DS module to the 80mm later (at some cost though). Lunt don't seem to have a separate 80mm separate filter.
What do you want to do with your solar 'scope?
Casual visual only with the occasional photo or video?
Frequent visual and photo study of the Sun?
If the former then the LS50 PT or TT, SS or DS will provide for many hours of enjoyment over many years provided it is looked after with care. If the latter then greater aperture will give greater resolving power and if you go SS initially you can always add a DS filter even years later.
I too highly recommend you look through a solar telescope if at all possible first even say a PST so you can see what the minimum aperture with broadest band pass will show and see if you like what you see.
Whatever you choose enjoy! |