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I decided I need some weight training and ordered a 12" F/4 PTO astrograph from OPT. It seems like a great deal for $800, it comes with rings but the Losmandy dovetail is extra. I will look around for a small step ladder and will figure out an easy way to mount it.
Why, you ask? I need a proper OTA for my G11S and don't want to wait all night, so F/4 is needed. I love my F/4.8 Mak-Newt but those don't come in large sizes. Having seen Kathy's and yobbo's great images, why look any further. Simple, effective and cheap.
I hope it arrives before New moon!
... Henk. Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
JayTee wrote: ↑Fri Oct 02, 2020 5:27 am
Yay, Henk.
That's a biggun. I hope that rather large sail does not cause your mount to go cruising across the backyard.
Congrats,
JT
Thanks JT.
At F/4 the size is not huge, just 45". So I think it's manageable. If it isn't, I'll sell it and get the 10" but my mount should be able to handle it. It fits in the back seat of my car, not quite a grab and go configuration but I look forward to making some Sierra trips.
I received another encouraging email from OPT to not give up waiting, lol. Status = "Order confirmed"... I'd better start looking into extension rings that I may possibly need for my CC, if that takes another 2 months to order!
... Henk. Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
Still waiting... 6 weeks later, the status is still the same as when I ordered. Patience is good.
On the coma corrector front, after Tom showed the problems he has with his Baader MPCC Mk III, I decided to get a Televue Paracorr 2. Including taxes it set me back $523. Then of course if you want to use it you need a $30 Televue 2.4" adapter for the DSLR, and for an astro camera another one for $60 or so. Then again it can turn a cheap Newt astrograph into an amazing imaging machine so I'll take it.
The Paracorr looks very fancy with a nice adapter on top. From the looks of it I thought it was a distance adjuster. No. It turns out that that is just for optical so you need to screw it off and add the adapter. The lenses are protruding so it has to be handled with care. Despite the price, this adapter is not recommended for pro DSLRs, just APS-C. Because of the vignetting. Well I hope that it fits and that I can adjust the distance without adding more adapters.
I have to say the other day I was getting scared of the actual size that you can't really see on the small picture. This thing is a monster not much smaller than my Z12 just a bit shorter! Mounting it each time won't be trivial. It may have tube flexure because of its weight. My newly fangled OnStep controller with its small stepper motors may have trouble. Can't wait to face all of this. Hopefully it arrives before Christmas.
... Henk. Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
After asking PTO last week about the expected delivery date they got back to me today and said it was going to be late December/early January. Well it is December now so let me just hang in there for a few more weeks. These are not normal times after all so 3 months waiting is not horrible.
And the price of my astrograph has gone up from $799 to $830, maybe I should have bought more! Could be a good growth stock. Or, in retrospect maybe I should have got that Skywatcher Quattro that was in stock for $380 more. Let's hope it gets here before Christmas. Well of course I doubt that...
... Henk. Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
Hope it shows up this month Henk. Should be a fun scope when it arrives.
-Michael Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50 Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl Camera: ZWO ASI 120 Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs Latitude: 48.7229° N
It has been 4 months now since ordering, I wonder if it is held up outside of LA: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ship- ... d=msedgntp . Hopefully it didn't fall overboard. I sent an email to OPT on Wednesday but haven't heard back yet. I have plenty of scopes to work with but the 12" would be nice for galaxy season.
... Henk. Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
When I saw a 12" F/4 GSO imaging Newt on Agena Astro in stock I ordered it and canceled my OPT order. Been waiting over 5 months now, got 3 inaccurate ETAs by phone, I'm tired of waiting. I got the shipping confirmation a few hours later so it can hopefully arrive this weekend.
... Henk. Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
BABOafrica wrote: ↑Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:46 am
You've been waiting a long time for that scope ... I thought living in the US would make it so much easier to get things quicker.
BABO
It arrives this afternoon! I ordered it yesterday morning.
I have no idea why the TPO scope took so long. I had never heard of the brand so maybe that has something to do with it. I asked OPT about the other order, the imaging gear. They said it would be here early April. Last time I called them, two weeks ago, they said it would be end February. I hope it's not going to drag on. I certainly don't like when they continually change their ETA every time I call.
... Henk. Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
SkyHiker wrote: ↑Fri Mar 05, 2021 2:16 pm
It arrives this afternoon! I ordered it yesterday morning.
I have no idea why the TPO scope took so long. I had never heard of the brand so maybe that has something to do with it. I asked OPT about the other order, the imaging gear. They said it would be here early April. Last time I called them, two weeks ago, they said it would be end February. I hope it's not going to drag on. I certainly don't like when they continually change their ETA every time I call.
Great ... You getting your new scope finally.
I'll be watching!!!
Joe
"In lumine tuo videbimus lumen."
Scopes: Stellarvue SV80 Raptor Carbon Fiber ED Doublet / Celestron SCT C8
Williams Optics 66mm APO / DIY 8" f/4 Newtonian astrograph / Nikon 180mm f/2.8
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-G / Celestron AVX / DIY mini-equatorial
Cameras: QHY163m / Fujifilm X-A1 (modded) / Fuji X-A2 (not modded) / Orion StarShoot Auto Guider
Filters: ZWO 7nm NB set / ZWO LRGB set / ZWO Dual Band / Astronomics UHC