I had a quick look through this scope yesterday, and i got to say its magic it is very well made and well worth the wait cant wait to put a camera on it,unfortunatly the sun seems to have dissappeared for who knows how long...
here it is SUnday and the clouds will not let up - looks like it will rain anytime
Quote:
Originally Posted by Miaplacidus
I should know better, I guess, but can you use binoviewers with this Lunt?
probably?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wavelandscott
New gear looks great.
Can't wait to hear how well it works!
Congratulations...
when it is good weather and have a good deal of time I will geta report done
OK i dropped over the Lunt to Scott Alder this afternoon. he is on holidays at the moment and can really give this scope a test. I have looked through it with and without the etalon - simply stunning details. leaves a PST for dead. Damn fine value for money! with a 60mm coranado up near the 10K mark, this one is simply a bargain for the price. Those that ordered after me - there will still be a long wait - but hang in there it is worth it. The prominence at the 11o'clock mark on the sun currently was superb - i hope Scott is able to capture that? Tuning both etalons is interesting and produced fine/course detail and other features with different tweaking. This is so much fun!!
Scott is taking some DSLR shots now should have them later, but i will be interested in putting the DMK on it to see what can be streamed and staked - that will be a whole new ball game. Heaven forbid i will have to learn some planetary imaging techniques!
this example is from Scott Alder with my scope :
Hi
A stack of 3 images thru the Lunt solarscope using the method here, taken yesterday arvo just after Dave left the scope here http://www.allaboutastro.com/Article...agingtips.html
Only a quick process this morning, but though the Sun is VERY quiet in white light, theres plenty of action on the solar limb
Scott
LOL Scotty is having a field day - and teasing the hell out of me, look at what the bugger sent me just now:
"Dave
heres some Q guider images
processed with Registax
Some of the black spots is dust, I could not do a flatfield, but the scope rocks with the monochrome Q guider (which is HA modded as well, has clear glass over the sensor). About 30 low exposure and high exposure frames stacked. Taken this morning Will post on IIS"
well i beat you to it you smart person!!! this is going to be great!! Here i am stuck at work and he is on holidays having a heap of fun with the scope Onya Scott, now i will be getting the scope back soon
Hi all
Houghy has kindly let me his scope for testing.
First image is with my unmodded 450DSLR. I used this method
The 2nd image is with my monochrome Qguider, using shorter exposures for the photosphere, longer for the promininces
A few dust spots on Qguider image
Both Etalons fitted to the telescope.
Not bad eh
Scott
PS, when Dave wants it back, I wonder if he will believe me if I tell him the cat ate it lol!
Hi all
Houghy has kindly let me his scope for testing.
First image is with my unmodded 450DSLR. I used this method
The 2nd image is with my monochrome Qguider, using shorter exposures for the photosphere, longer for the promininces
A few dust spots on Qguider image
Both Etalons fitted to the telescope.
Not bad eh
Scott
PS, when Dave wants it back, I wonder if he will believe me if I tell him the cat ate it lol!
Somehow i think the cat would have a quick one way trip to the vet LOL you posted same time mr Alder
OK now this opens up a point i have not considered - what monochrome imager will i get to complement this scope? the images shown so far means by far the monochrome imager is king, though you can get some satisfaction from the dslr. any thoughts?
Paul,
Just read your comments _
"The band adjuster is there but it does not rely on a pivot point to center like the Coronado's. This means theoretically that contrast should be better overall."
I'm sure it must tilt the etalon somehow to get on/ off the band; the internal etalon is not much bigger than the one in a PST.
The SM60 is completely different in that it has a full aperture etalon up front. Obviously the double stack puts a second "full size" etalon in the train, but again this to must be "adjusted"
Can you explain your thoughts on the contrast issue?
For what it is I think the Lunt should give good views and certainly good bang per buck.
Hi all
Heres todays image. Seeing wasnt as good, the Sun was boiling, but the HA detail on the surface was still evident visually, and came through with the imaging as well. The proms seem to have faded a little overnight.
When tuning, one can see the tilting of the etalons by secondary reflections moving across, but these dont appear when correctly tuned. I think it is best to tune with 1 etalon, then fit the 2nd and tune that in. Trying to tune the first with the 2nd on is too confusing, although with the q guider fitted one can tune by prominence intensity and fine the sweet spot in both etalons.
Note, when first observing with the scope still cold, the tuning tends to change slightly as the scope warms up, thats to be expected and soon stabilizes.
monochrome images definately rule for HA solar work. Focus is a snap using realtime video from the camera on the laptop.
Scott
Hi all
Heres todays image. Seeing wasnt as good, the Sun was boiling, but the HA detail on the surface was still evident visually, and came through with the imaging as well. The proms seem to have faded a little overnight.
When tuning, one can see the tilting of the etalons by secondary reflections moving across, but these dont appear when correctly tuned. I think it is best to tune with 1 etalon, then fit the 2nd and tune that in. Trying to tune the first with the 2nd on is too confusing, although with the q guider fitted one can tune by prominence intensity and fine the sweet spot in both etalons.
Note, when first observing with the scope still cold, the tuning tends to change slightly as the scope warms up, thats to be expected and soon stabilizes.
monochrome images definately rule for HA solar work. Focus is a snap using realtime video from the camera on the laptop.
Scott
Thanks Scott, I look forward to getting this back later in the week. as per usual you are producing a result that is quite entertaining never would I have dreamt of having one of these, then the PST became affordable, now this little wonder .
Somehow must find out about how to take flats etc. I note the "circles" in the stacked images - wonder if that is to do with the tuning?
David,
You're correct. I'd need a mosaic of 6 to 9 shots to cover the solar surface with a FL 900mm.
The DMK41 might be the answer; but big bucks!
I like the DMK over the Canon in that I can stack the best images and get good resolution and frame rates....
David,
You're correct. I'd need a mosaic of 6 to 9 shots to cover the solar surface with a FL 900mm.
The DMK41 might be the answer; but big bucks!
I like the DMK over the Canon in that I can stack the best images and get good resolution and frame rates....
thanks for that - now suffering another cloudy day
question for David &/or Scott, or really to any anyone at all
i received my LS60THa last week - i did not get the double stack, just the scope. although visually its very impressive -proms & surface details quite clear, i am having difficulty focussing my DSLR, an unmodded 350D. its the usual problem with no enough in-travel on the focusser.
i tried a 2" extension tube but no success. ended up using a 2x barlow between the diagonal and the DSLR which gave the image below which i'm not happy with but thats probably more to do with my inexperience processing solar images. nevertheless, not a prom to be seen in any of my images despite them being there visually. focus was the best i could get looking through the camera view finder.
the upshot is: any advice taking photos with this gear would be very much appreciated. i'd love to be able to duplicate the DSLR photo you posted earlier.
this is going to be great!! Here i am stuck at work and he is on holidays having a heap of fun with the scope
Onya Scott, now i will be getting the scope back soon
.
