So the 65phq I got had trouble with the focuser, so that went back. Finished up with the FOT86 and really pleased with the first images I've been able to get (just 3hrs on the first night)
I just had this same decision floating around my head. I settled on the 65PHQ and think its pretty awesome (having not had it outside yet), but overall build and its specs for what I want to do - its perfect.
After having the 65PHQ a few weeks - I'll report that mine also had a focuser issue, but for me, the issue is a moot point as I use a EAF, so it doesn't affect me at all.
Optically - this is potentially the best scope I've ever owned for imaging (and anyone who knows me, knows I've had a LOT of scopes...)
Overall build is very solid, and its focuser handles my ST8300 + FW with no issues at all, the inner tube is quite dark, very well baffled and I can't see any reflective/glossy components anywhere on the scopes interior.
For me - the number one factor was that I could simply screw on the 3 adapter rings that it comes with, screw my camera on to the end, and get it focused - no backfocus calculation, no spacers and shims all over the place to get it right... I've done that a number of times over the years and had nothing but dramas, 1mm too short, 1mm too long, both of those scenarios resulting in, at best, abnormal star performance in the corners and at worst, aberations that were unresolvable in images.
This thing, from the first sub, has produced absolute pinpoint stars from the center to the corners (albeit, I'm shooting a 4/3" sensor, but given how incredibly good the results are at 4/3, I can't imagine the jump to APS-C would cause an issue.
It's claimed to support full frame, but I'd be surprised if it does this without any issues.
Vignetting wise, it has a hint in the corners of 4/3", but its barely noticable unless I point it south towards my prevailing light polution, and flats completely remove it it anyway...
Overall, especially given the deal I got on mine, I give it a solid 10/10 with the caveat that, if I wasn't using an EAF, I might have been a little annoyed...
Alex, try taking some flats and calibrating your images with those. All fast scopes suffer with vignetting to a greater or lesser extent, but it’s easily resolved.
Alex, try taking some flats and calibrating your images with those. All fast scopes suffer with vignetting to a greater or lesser extent, but it’s easily resolved.
Yeah mate, I shoot flats every session and as I said in my post, the flats 100% remove any vignetting to a point where it is non existent.
On mine, the flat section on the shaft for the fine focuser was too narrow and the grub screw couldn't lock down to it properly. As a result, fine focus was not possible.
The day I got it, I fitted an EAF to the coarse adjustment knob, so i will never use the fine focus, so i didn't consider it worth worrying about.
I paired my FOT86 with RedCat51 and I would say 80% of my imaging is now with the FOT86 as although not as 'sharp' as the WO definitely gives me the reach I want ... I tend to use it with my osc 183mc and an Opto Extreme to help control star size/blowout though even in my bortle 3.5 ... you can see a lot of results from it on my FB photo page here (just scroll down) - https://www.facebook.com/garyphayesphotography/
