I was looking at getting a nice refractor to piggyback ontop of my 12 inch LX200 scope for wide field visuals and imaging with my Mallincam video system which has a small chip.
as they seem good value at the moment.I was looking at the Stellarvues as well like the raptor 90 as I don't want too much weight ontop of the LX200 scope but probally don't want to spend the dollars on the Stellarvue so was looking at these from W.optics online store with free shipping.
I also have a 3D counter weight system installed so this will help.
I noticed a few members have aslo ordered scopes from the W.optics online store, did the scopes arrive as ordered and whats te best way to send funds too them?
Also, the W.optics scope comes with an L-bracket, what accessories do I need to get and from where so I can mount this ontop of my LX200 scope?
Matt there are lots of options to mount the refractor though do watch the weight and you will need a counter weight kit to balance the thing. ADM sell some good stuff but if you are using it as a guide scope as well you will need to make it very ridgid due to flexure causing problems. I have not used the WO online shop but those that have have given very positive feedback.
As long as you balance the system reasonably well (doesn't need to be perfect from my experience with my LX200) and you set the motor speed of the LX200 down you should be fine. I often mounted my Megrez 80 on my 12" LX200 years ago, but haven't for a little while now.
I would recommend googling for Megrez 88 reviews. I have heard some average reports of their optical quality. I ended up going with the Megrez 90 APO but that's quite a big scope to put on the LX200. Megrez 80 is a better size and probably better optical quality than the Megrez 88.
As long as you balance the system reasonably well (doesn't need to be perfect from my experience with my LX200) and you set the motor speed of the LX200 down you should be fine. I often mounted my Megrez 80 on my 12" LX200 years ago, but haven't for a little while now.
I would recommend googling for Megrez 88 reviews. I have heard some average reports of their optical quality. I ended up going with the Megrez 90 APO but that's quite a big scope to put on the LX200. Megrez 80 is a better size and probably better optical quality than the Megrez 88.
My 2c worth.
Roger.
Thanks guys, I might take a little longer, do a little more thinking/research and spend alittle more. Those Stellarvue 90mm C/Fibre triplet raptors that weigh only 6lbs do look nice. I have a 3D weight system installed so this will help with balance.
Rogers right about getting the thing perfectly balanced, never managed it myself but close enough is good enough. You definately need the weights to offset the refractor. The biggest refractor I have tried to carry is an 80mm so don't know how a bigger one would go but I always get a little nervous even with the 80. Usually use a WO ZS 66 which is super lite and only adds a little to the load. Might try slowing the motors as mine always tracks better on the climb. No doubt the pier will help settle it when I finally find time to concrete it into the ground.
I've got a set of the ADM mini-dovetails and guide rails for both the 10" and 12" LX200. Seems better than the others I've tried.
Haven't gone beyond an ED80pro on top, but no problems if balanced OK.
I used to have an ED80 on my 10" LX200. Equipment needed was a 3D counterweight system, Losmandy piggyback dovetail, guide rings (DR 125 in that case).
If you went Losmandy, you would need:
Losmandy DM12 piggyback dovetail
Losmandy DR 125 guide rings, or 2x DA adapters to use with clamshell tube rings.
in addition to your current counterweights.
Watch the weight limit, as I believe that the 12" LX200 has the same drive system as the 10", so it would have less reserve capacity as far as piggybacking is concerned.
If you get the Megrez 88, order the custom WO tube rings with it, as you can't seem to order them separately. They have a different diameter than all the other models.
When ordering from the WO online store, you can pay by two different methods using your credit card. One will bill you in AUD, the other in Taiwan dollars, and in my case the Taiwan option usually ends up costing me less in exchange rates.
I used to have an ED80 on my 10" LX200. Equipment needed was a 3D counterweight system, Losmandy piggyback dovetail, guide rings (DR 125 in that case).
If you went Losmandy, you would need:
Losmandy DM12 piggyback dovetail
Losmandy DR 125 guide rings, or 2x DA adapters to use with clamshell tube rings.
in addition to your current counterweights.
Watch the weight limit, as I believe that the 12" LX200 has the same drive system as the 10", so it would have less reserve capacity as far as piggybacking is concerned.
If you get the Megrez 88, order the custom WO tube rings with it, as you can't seem to order them separately. They have a different diameter than all the other models.
When ordering from the WO online store, you can pay by two different methods using your credit card. One will bill you in AUD, the other in Taiwan dollars, and in my case the Taiwan option usually ends up costing me less in exchange rates.
Regards,
Eric
Thanks Eric, for the details. I went into see Peter at Sirus optics and they also sell the mounting accessories for what I want. I am just waiting for an e-mail from Stellarvue on their 90mm C/F Raptor as these only weigh 6lbs with rings, which is alot lighter than most 80mm scopes.
Thanks for the info everyone.
The Megrez 88 is not a bad scope, however being both a doublet, with a very fast f/ ratio, it does not have the best colour correction around.. I am not sure of what is required to get a good image with the mallincam, but if its colour, the Megrez 88 might not be the best option.. It would still provide nice wide field views.. just might show blue/violet halos around brighter stars...
Have you considered the smaller scopes, like the WO Zenithstar 70ED, or the Zenithstar 66 SD? These scopes are very light weight, have nice optics, provide a wide field of view and are cheaper than the Megrez 88, Clearly, they have a smaller aperture... but with a mallincam, I dare say it wont make a lot of difference, you'll still get a great image out of the little baby-apo..
The Megrez 88 is not a bad scope, however being both a doublet, with a very fast f/ ratio, it does not have the best colour correction around.. I am not sure of what is required to get a good image with the mallincam, but if its colour, the Megrez 88 might not be the best option.. It would still provide nice wide field views.. just might show blue/violet halos around brighter stars...
Have you considered the smaller scopes, like the WO Zenithstar 70ED, or the Zenithstar 66 SD? These scopes are very light weight, have nice optics, provide a wide field of view and are cheaper than the Megrez 88, Clearly, they have a smaller aperture... but with a mallincam, I dare say it wont make a lot of difference, you'll still get a great image out of the little baby-apo..
Tks Alex,
With the Mallincam fast optics it likes, a friend gets fantastic images with his using a Stellarvue 90 STV, but as these cameras are aimed more so at viewing pleasure than dedicated imaging they are more forgiving on optics as the resolution is no where near the long exposure guided images that appear here and else where but it was not designed for that purpose, so I cheaper ED type refractor will be probally all I will need but I still don't want rubbish , just mid quality but the Stellarvue is probally mid range I think? I still want excellent visual views as well, when looking through my friends 90 STV its a cracker.
I went into Sirus optics today and had alook at the 80mm orion black diamond what do you think these are like?
They also had w/optics as well so probally will go for around 80mm aperature unless I splash out on the 90 Raptor C/fibre as these are similar weights I think.
I was told that the orion, W/optics all use the same Fpl53 glass from china but are they what you would consider mid range?
I will be mainly using the Mallincam video for wide field viewing but down the track might get a QHY8 or Orion starshoot for longer imaging when I get bored with the Mallincam if ever.
Ahh, so much to learn, its never ever going to be a boring hobby.
The Orion/Skywatcher 80mm ED scopes are all very good, and cheaper than the WO M88. The SV scopes are brilliant too.. What I've heard is that they are all hand tested, and the final QA test is done by the owner of the company, ensuring great quality out of the box..
The type of glass in a refractor is made out to be the absolute be all and end all of quality optics... The glass helps, but it is definitely not the only factor... Figuring, designing, spacing and mating of the lenses mean far far more than the glass... FPL53 is touted these days by nearly every "APO" manufacturer as if that is what creates a good refractor.. Sadly, its not that simple.. My friend in the USA has an FPL51 130mm triplet and a FPL53 130mm triplet, the FPL51 scope was made by Astro-Physics, the other was from Explore Scientific... Clearly, the Astrophysics scopes views destroyed the views from the ES scope, colour correction was much better from the FPL51 lens, despite Orion/Skywatcher/William Optics saying FPL53 ensures perfect colour correction...
Its all in the marketing..
of the scopes you've mentioned, the Orion 80mm and the SV 90 would be my pick.. the SV being option number 1...
The Orion/Skywatcher 80mm ED scopes are all very good, and cheaper than the WO M88. The SV scopes are brilliant too.. What I've heard is that they are all hand tested, and the final QA test is done by the owner of the company, ensuring great quality out of the box..
The type of glass in a refractor is made out to be the absolute be all and end all of quality optics... The glass helps, but it is definitely not the only factor... Figuring, designing, spacing and mating of the lenses mean far far more than the glass... FPL53 is touted these days by nearly every "APO" manufacturer as if that is what creates a good refractor.. Sadly, its not that simple.. My friend in the USA has an FPL51 130mm triplet and a FPL53 130mm triplet, the FPL51 scope was made by Astro-Physics, the other was from Explore Scientific... Clearly, the Astrophysics scopes views destroyed the views from the ES scope, colour correction was much better from the FPL51 lens, despite Orion/Skywatcher/William Optics saying FPL53 ensures perfect colour correction...
Its all in the marketing..
of the scopes you've mentioned, the Orion 80mm and the SV 90 would be my pick.. the SV being option number 1...
Tks for the replies,
I like the look of the Orion and it price is good for me. I like the way the focuser also swivels.
Looks like this will be the go for what I need for now seems everyone thinks they are excellent value for the quality.
.
