Trying to decide if I need a new refractor - Skywatcher 120

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I currently have both a Skywatcher ED100 and a Celestron XLT120, I know that lowjiber (John) went from his XLT120 to the ED100. I find the ED100 to be a bit dark and like the faster FPS with the XLT120, although the ED100 does give good results at about 5 FPS vs the 15+ with the 120. At the same time would I gain a noticeable difference between the XLT120 and the SW ED120, The ED120 should have better glass.

Here are two versions of the same shot from the XLT120. The first is what I normally get the second I added a final step in PS with Topaz Labs AI Denoise. I wonder how much better the SW ED120 would be if at all. I know images are subjective, but which one do you like better?

[notFritzArgelander]

The first image looks "more natural" but I cannot see any evidence of over sharpening in the second. So I find the 2nd very intriguing.

What was the extra step might I ask? I usually recoil from over sharpened images but I like this one.

As for whether you need a new refractor, the answer to that is always "Yes!"

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I read about Topaz Labs AI Denoise and AI Sharpen. I use them with my bird photography and they work wonders at getting rid of noise and sharpening.

For this image after I finished processing I dropped it into TL AI Denoise which has sliders to remove noise and sharpen. I gave it about 40% sharpening and 70% noise reduction. I am really impressed with the results both for birds and for solar.

The picture below was taken with my Canon 5D mark IV and Sigma 150-600mm lens

[notFritzArgelander]

Yep. I'm convinced. The Topaz Labs AI Sharpen is a fine tool!

You still need a new refractor though!

[Bigzmey]

The short answer is yes!

I am not convinced that SW ED120 would be sharper than XLT120 for your purpose. Less CA obviously, but is CA relevant for solar?

[notFritzArgelander]

The short answer is yes!

I am not convinced that SW ED120 would be sharper than XLT120 for your purpose. Less CA obviously, but is CA relevant for solar?

No but the point of improvement for solar would be stray light control, smoothness of figure and baffling. Both the XLT120 and SW ED120 are Synta products, right? So that might not be an improvement depending on details like the baffling in the OTA and scratch / dig specifications.

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

CA is not relevant to solar. Seeing what I can get with the XLT120 and AI Denoise I don't think the $1800 for ED120 would be worth it. I could get about $450 for the ED100 and maybe $200 for the XLT120 the little XLT120AZ I like and would put on my deck for going out from my bedroom if I wake up to see what is up.
So the SW would cost me $1,150 in thinking about it I don't think it is worth it.

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

what thing I will test, I think the ED100 900mm f/9 is better on proms than the XLT120 1000mm f/8.3 while the XLT120 seems better on the surface

[Bigzmey]

The short answer is yes!

I am not convinced that SW ED120 would be sharper than XLT120 for your purpose. Less CA obviously, but is CA relevant for solar?

No but the point of improvement for solar would be stray light control, smoothness of figure and baffling. Both the XLT120 and SW ED120 are Synta products, right? So that might not be an improvement depending on details like the baffling in the OTA and scratch / dig specifications.

That was my line of thoughts. In terms of fit and finishes they are about the same. In both cells are fixed. XLT120 is F8.3, 120ED is F7.5.

[Lady Fraktor]

Skywatcher being the Synta house brand it may have slightly better finish than the outsourced Celestron but for dedicated solar the difference would be meaningless.

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

Skywatcher being the Synta house brand it may have slightly better finish than the outsourced Celestron but for dedicated solar the difference would be meaningless.

I agree, on further consideration for pure solar the two would be so close as to not hard to tell apart. I also often have poor seeing due to the factory 600 feet to the south of me. I also seem to get good results with AI Denoise, hard to tell it has been sharpened at least in my test so far