My TS71 SDQ arrived today, thanks to UPS once again; I ordered it last weekend, TS shipped on Monday their time (Tuesday here) and it cleared customs at Botany late yesterday, then overnighted to my place, everyone did their job. I had a call from UPS rep in Botany on Wednesday, who asked some questions then I paid the inbound charges over the phone ($230 I think it was, comprised of GST, clearance charge, etc).
I have attached the first photos. This is a new scope that TS has just released. What is pretty clear to me is that this is probably not a scope built by the same people that build the TS Triplet APOs ( you know the TS80, TS115, TS130, etc), which I believe are all built by Kunming United Optics. If anyone has an idea, let me know.
From the photos you can see many of the little things that say it comes from somewhere else, or it's a new direction for Kunming.
It is a heavy little thing, being a Quad, but is is pretty well balanced compared to a Triplet. I tried out my dovetail for my ZWO guidescope and it fits perfectly on top of the rings, but I need to enlarge the guidescope ring holes abit so I can bolt through into the scope ring holes. Pretty happy it fits, saves me making another carbon fibre top plate.
One of the photos shows the optional rear fairing M63-M48 adaptor, which I purchased as well, with my old M48 Nikon adaptor ring attached. Initially I will be testing with the Nikon D5300.
With the Moon in the way for now I may do some visual trials for first light.
More to come.
So it is made by Jaixing Rui Xing Optical Instrument Company Ltd.
Webpage is dated the 20th of March 2019. Translate by 'Google Translate' as there is no English page.
I noticed you had to pay gst to come into oz. did you also have to pay gst in the country of origin?
No. When buying in the EU, and shipping outside the EU, the EU VAT is not charged. The supplier gets a VAT exemption from the government on export sales.
Hi Glen
You must be happy.
I looked at your image but although I am only using a small phone screen I cant see any problems in the corner.
Looks like the perfect set up...not too big but rather powerful in acquisition.
I am so glad you got your run last night.
I played around here with the heq5 and left the better aligned eq6 have the night off ...and guessed pa somehow but the trees have grown so much since last time out here I have even less sky than 9 months ago.Still stayed up till 2 am playing around☺ I could not even get Omega Centuri which I could before. I think I will dismantle the cube and set it up at tabby.
the details are on the Astrobin technical page. You can click on the boxed image to go to a full screen view. As always with jpg conversions for Astrobin, some of the fine detail is lost in translation from the post-processing TIFF version.
This image is primarily a field size test for now, and I am happy with that result. I have to investigate what appears to be some tilt in the lower left corner of the image.
Looks to be quite good. As you say bottom left is most likely camera tilt.
Is it a screw adapter for the camera or an 2 inch eyepiece holder type connection?
Looks to be quite good. As you say bottom left is most likely camera tilt.
Is it a screw adapter for the camera or an 2 inch eyepiece holder type connection?
Greg.
Greg, the adapter is an M63 to M48 screw type. The back of the focuser (the 2" clamp adaptor) unscrew and the camera adaptor screws directly on to the focuser tube via the M63 thread. It is a very solid assembly.
There is a focuser tube rotation lock, and i suspect that might something to check next time. It was located 180 degree opposite that corner of the camera. The Nikon 48mm adaptor also has an adjustment ring with three recessed grub screws, it is possible that this could be the culprit.
BTW, the focal point for the Nikon D5300 was just past the 35 mark on the focuser bezel. I always write that sort of reference in my notebook so i can go directly to the focal point for my various cameras. I used a Bathinov mask to establish the focal point. And yes I check it each session, it just helps to be in the neighborhood so to speak.
the details are on the Astrobin technical page. You can click on the boxed image to go to a full screen view. As always with jpg conversions for Astrobin, some of the fine detail is lost in translation from the post-processing TIFF version.
This image is primarily a field size test for now, and I am happy with that result. I have to investigate what appears to be some tilt in the lower left corner of the image.
Quote:
Originally Posted by glend
Greg, the adapter is an M63 to M48 screw type. The back of the focuser (the 2" clamp adaptor) unscrew and the camera adaptor screws directly on to the focuser tube via the M63 thread. It is a very solid assembly.
There is a focuser tube rotation lock, and i suspect that might something to check next time. It was located 180 degree opposite that corner of the camera. The Nikon 48mm adaptor also has an adjustment ring with three recessed grub screws, it is possible that this could be the culprit.
Right. The faster the scope the more sensitive it is to this sort of thing.
That's a nice big flat field Glenn. Looks like a goer!!
Tilt schmilt ...
So for that shot you haven't needed a field flattener?
No Chris, its' a Quad APO so the flattener it is built into the scope. Importantly the spacing is precisely setup for the front objective, and you never have to mess around with that. Just adjust the focuser to focus your camera.
The M8/M20 is the better image. Its either tracking errors or some coma there on the Rho image. Probably coma as the stars are slightly angled away from centre so unlikely its tilt.
Odd as the M8/20 image seems to have round stars to the corners.
The stars are white as well so ISO800 must have been too much.
DSLRs really need to be watched for blowing out the stars. I think its because of ISO. In a dedicated CCD camera there is no ISO setting or gain (its set at the factory and its usually a small number).
ISO 800 doesn't sound that much but the white stars with no colour says it is.
Something to watch on your exposure. Perhaps ISO400 may be better and boost in post. Some cameras are ISOless (same noise if shot at lower ISO and boosted in post compared with using a higher ISO). Sony sensors generally are. Canon's not so much. Nikon sometimes uses Sony sensors.