TheSkySearchers

I found a new old stock SV70T. I’m considering whether to buy it. It’s a triplet and I can get a decent price here in Canada. 5.5 lbs with rings. Documented optic. F6 without reducer and f4.9 with it.

Would like to hear from those here before buying. Does anyone have any practical experience with these scopes? The reducer flattener is also available. Comparing to a FCD100 ES 80mm or an AT80EDT.

Thanks, any advice is most welcome. Sorry for the brevity - I’m typing this out on my phone.

Cheers

I would pick SV over ES or AT any day. Don't get me wrong ES and AT make good scopes, but as with any mass produced scopes it is a bit of lottery.

SV on the other hand hand-configures every triplet, so high Strehl is guaranteed.

Thanks andrey!

Good for you Ian! Looks like you are getting things ready!

Really looking forward to your progress.

Best of luck on your scope choice!

Jim

I'm with Andrey. SV will eat ES's lunch any day of the week. I can't speak for the AT scopes, but I've got both SV and ES. The quality, fit and finish, down to the smallest screw, is a cut above ES.

I love my ES scopes. They do the job and get things done. The SV, though, it's my...my precious.

Hm, I see where this is going.

I kind of figured as much. From what I can see on astrobin and here, the SV scopes are *damned* good. I don't know anyone with this precise model... was just seeking any obvious red flags.

<sotto voce>

We covets it, don't we?

The SV70 has a very loyal following, it should not be hard to find reviews of it.
But honestly, if it is a Stellarvue you will not be disappointed with one.

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2020 5:12 am The SV70 has a very loyal following, it should not be hard to find reviews of it.
But honestly, if it is a Stellarvue you will not be disappointed with one.

Thanks Gabrielle, I have found them. Yes, and 95% are positive, ...overtly so. Just wanted to hear from the TSS crowd whom I can count on.

Thanks!

I love my Stellarvue so much I want my ashes placed inside it and then shot into space so can view with it forever!
Is that too positive of a review?

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2020 5:21 am I love my Stellarvue so much I want my ashes placed inside it and then shot into space so can view with it forever!
Is that too positive of a review?

That's what I'll do with my SV ED 80 "merely a doublet". Unless my grandson becomes an awfully proficient and skilled observer and earns my forgoing it by death.

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2020 5:21 am I love my Stellarvue so much I want my ashes placed inside it and then shot into space so can view with it forever!
Is that too positive of a review?

reminds me of johnny depp shooting hunter s thompson out of a canon

I just want to say that I really like my ES ED102. It fits my needs. When I purchased it, the SV scopes were much higher in price and the ES fit my budget.
No, it doesn’t have a Strehl of 0.995. Its 0.95 Strehl is definitely not the weak link in my imaging (I am!).

Thanks,
Jim

You started with and ES 80 mm, right Jim?

Kanadalainen wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2020 5:06 pm You started with and ES 80 mm, right Jim?

Hi Ian,

I think that there are a few folks here that did start with the ES 80, but I have had the ED102 for about two years now and I really like it. I wish that I had an ES 80 too!

Thanks,
Jim

Ah, mon ami, wish I could help you out here buddy, but me and my low-Sthrel achro's will just wait for your decision...

Awwww, heck, go for it. You know you want it. Also you have an awesome dark sky site. You probably have approval from the CFO as well, so dive in, I personally can't wait to hear about your adventures in AP!

Actually Ian, I just checked, and from my place to yours is 1968km's, and according to Google Maps, I can be there in just over 21 hours. Don't make me come up there....

Buy it............

Ian, I have an ES ED80 as well. It is a very capable imaging scope. I have not used it visually yet (gasp!). As Jim [mention]Juno16[/mention] noted, it does cost quite a bit less vs. a new Stellarvue.

It does need a field flattener though. I've yet to purchase one but hope to soon.

I have modified mine somewhat, removed the stock dovetail "foot" and replaced that with a longer bar and rings to help balance in declination with extension tubes and a CMOS cam hanging off the back end. I have also installed my ZWO EAF auto-focuser onto this scope, so that adds more weight to the back end.

As a nod to Mark [mention]Thefatkitty[/mention] I have had more fun with my C80s. Just something about those scopes. They look bada$$ and they are sheer joy to navigate the sky with.

Another ES80mm APO owner here. Between the two main FFs, the Hotech SCA FF and Astro-Tech AT2FF (I own both), I found that the AT2FF is the better FF. Just in case you need an FF for an ES APO.

Cheers,
JT-FF

I couldn't stop typing FF!

Thanks all - some great advice.

I put down a down payment on an SV70T scope and matching focal reducer/flattener earlier today. I'm going to sell a few things to make room.

Congratulations Ian! I am sure that you will be happy with your new scope!

Looking forward already to some wide field images!

Thanks,
Jim

Congrats Ian, you gonna love it!