Guide rings & scopesuff.com ring sets

[rogerg (Roger)]

Has anyone had any experience with these cheap scope rings?

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_rings.htm

I have previously considered them but have been unsure. They appear like standard cheap rings, clamped tight shut and with 3 holes drilled in them with nylon screws.

I wonder if they would be good enough for a light guide scope ?

I have previously chosen not to buy guide rings because of my uncertainty of the quality of these, and the expense and weight of the Losmandy ones together with a rail to sit them on.

I notice Bintel are now selling something that looks exactly the same as the ScopeStuff ones. I wonder if they are the same too.

Any other preferred options priced somewhere between ScopeStuff and Losmandy ?

Roger.

[beren]

http://www.astro.premcom.com/ADM/ a few blokes here have stuff from here, I have losmandy rings etc ...excellent gear {through OPT} also this fella might be able to help http://www.kendauzat.net/

[Harpspitfire]

scopestuffs rings are about the same as orion and skywatcher

[rogerg (Roger)]

Beren,

Thanks for the link! ... they look ideal - stronger than the scopestuff ones and just as affordable. Paritcularly, these:

http://www.astro.premcom.com/ADM/ADM...ducts/R100.htm

Can anyone recommend what is best for a 70mm guide scope (outside diameter about 80mm). 100 or 125mm rings?

Thanks,
Roger.

[Striker (Tony)]

If the overall diameter is 80mm then go for the 100mm as the 125mm may run out of screw depth to get much adjustmant at all.
I had a 80mm diameter on 125mm and their was virtualy no adjustmant at all because the ring screws were adjusted to full length just to reach the OTA.

Go the 100mm..they will be perfect.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Well, I have ordered the 100mm ring set from Anthony ( http://www.astro.premcom.com/ADM/ADM...ducts/R100.htm ), and am looking forward to trying them out.

Hopefully they'll work out well, they're quite affordable compared to the Losmandy ones. I might end up getting a 125mm set for my Megrez 80 to mount onto my LX200.

Thanks all.

Roger.

[rogerg (Roger)]

OK, so I have the rings now (see attached). They're very good for the price I think. Much better than the scopestuff ones look for only $10 more. Certainly no problem with rigidity or anything.

It's going to take some getting used to using a 6 point ring system though, something I hadn't realised. I've only ever used a small finder scope 6 point ring system before. Adjusting these last night a bit I realised how tricky it can be to keep them tensioned enough to hold the scope from sliding down and out the bottom, but losening them enough to move the scope around in direction. Hmm.

It's almost like the scope needs little shoes/sockets that the 3 pins of each ring would poke in to, to give it some movement without the risk of it coming free.

I'm hoping they don't end up a pain to use in the dark.

Roger.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Nice looking rings Roger. You'll soon get used to them. The Losmandy Rings are the same and the 6 point system is great if you really need to go searching for a star.

[Striker (Tony)]

I personaly have had a set of the the ADM and even though there not as good as the losmandy they are not far behind and very well priced.

Looks nice Roger but I would try to stretch the rings out a bit to make that guide scope more secure.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Originally Posted by Striker

Looks nice Roger but I would try to stretch the rings out a bit to make that guide scope more secure.

Yeah, I was thinking about that. It would definitely be nicer to have them more spaced out. I was debating what I'd actually do about it, think I'll get a second aluminium plate made up to extend them out. Probably won't happen quickly though. Might use a piece of wood in the meantime.

Roger.

[JohnG (John)]

Hi Roger

This what your looking for, Scope Pads.

http://www.us-astro.com/

Cheers

JohnG