Lunt 80mm Ha scope immediate observations

[frolinmod]

I want Paul doing QA on all my future equipment purchases.

[MikeyB (Michael)]

The question is, whether the problems that Paul has found arose as a result of transit stresses or from deficiencies in factory quality control inspection and supplier checking. If the former, Lunt need to improve their product packaging; if the latter, Lunt and local suppliers need to improve their QA procedures.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Either way there's a probability of failure......

[Paul Haese]

New scope is almost here. I should see it in the next couple of days. Cloud and rain already predicted. LOL. Maybe next week.

[Paul Haese]

On its way here via TNT. Tested at Bintel and it got their thumbs up. Expected arrival on 25th. Looking forward to it.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Sounds like great news. I sincerely hope it lives up to expectations.

[Paul Haese]

Ken I am very hopeful that this one will be great and all that I have heard about. Looks like some nice new active regions are coming around just in time.

[Paul Haese]

Update

Finally got a good scope. See images here.

The scope gives a great view visually and view looks very nice when capturing data.

I want to once again make a special thank you for Michael and the team at Bintel. They have been great in sorting this issue for me and no doubt it has cost them in more ways than one. If you want good service in Australia you can't go wrong with dealing with them.

[Poita (Peter)]

Fantastic news, it will be good to give the new camera a run on it.

[Paul Haese]

Currently processing some data with the new camera at a 2x barlow in average seeing and a slightly better tuning of the etalon. Looks very nice, I will post up the results once processing has finished. The files on the new camera are huge and take forever to process out. Six panel mosaic and each panel is a 15.8 mb image once stacking has taken place. Each one takes an hour to align and stack. Next step a faster laptop.

[Lothar]

Hello Paul,
I am considering a Lunt 80mm.
Reading your past Lunt trials is interesting.
Could you please give an update on how the latest scope went.
Does anyone know if Lunt etalong quality is still so dodgy?
How has the Crayford focuser been holding up? It really pains me to think they make a >$AU5K scope with a poor quality focuser.
Regards,
Lothar.

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by Lothar

Hello Paul,
I am considering a Lunt 80mm.
Reading your past Lunt trials is interesting.
Could you please give an update on how the latest scope went.
Does anyone know if Lunt etalong quality is still so dodgy?
How has the Crayford focuser been holding up? It really pains me to think they make a >$AU5K scope with a poor quality focuser.
Regards,
Lothar.

Hi Lothar,

The scope was replaced twice and I eventually got a good one. I have never had any trouble since. Bintel gave good service and Lunt whilst a bit hard to get going on the service front, it did come through in the end.

[rjl (Richard)]

Hi Paul
Am also looking at buying an 80 mm. Wondering who I should ask to speak to at Bintel regarding the current status of LUNT QC. I'm over in NZ and returning scopes etc would be quite a hurdle.
Thanks
Richard

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by rjl

Hi Paul
Am also looking at buying an 80 mm. Wondering who I should ask to speak to at Bintel regarding the current status of LUNT QC. I'm over in NZ and returning scopes etc would be quite a hurdle.
Thanks
Richard

Richard both Michael and Don in Sydney should be able to help you.

[rjl (Richard)]

Thanks Paul