TheSkySearchers

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has any experience or comments on this scope. I'm debating between it and a 10" Richey-Chretien for my next scope. The Sharpstar looks interesting, but first hand comments would be helpful(about it or a 10" RC, probably a truss model).
Thank you, and all comments are appreciated.

Scott

All I can give you is second-hand comments. I have a friend that has it, though to be honest, I'm not sure if his is the v1 or v2 model. I know he loves it though. He's even managed to fit a reducer on it to make it even faster! He uses MetaGuide for collimation and says it's fairly easy, even f3.5 with the reducer. This is the only pic I have of it from the last time we were out and he was setting it up on his A.P. mount.

Thank you for the information. Do you know what reducer he uses? That looks like a great dark sky site btw.

ScottFwashere wrote: ↑Wed Dec 14, 2022 8:05 pm Thank you for the information. Do you know what reducer he uses? That looks like a great dark sky site btw.

He just got back to me. He has the older V1 model BTW. He's using the Optec Leo focuser with an M68 adapter and the FRA 400/500 0.7x reducer.
He thinks the M68 spacer is 18mm. Spacing is critical he says because the Optic Leo focuser only has .35" of travel.

Apparently, there is a version 2.1 where they relocated the rotator between the focuser and the scope; Version 2.0 has it between the focuser and imaging train. I ordered the 2.0 version. Sharpstar replied to my query about the reason for the change, and they said that the rotator could be removed to increase the back focus if desired.

I've ordered the 2.0 version. It's stuck in customs; hopefully, I can get that sorted out soon.

Good luck Scott, can't wait to see some images from that beast.

That scope looks amazing, congratulations Scott, can't wait to hear your impressions.

With the terrible weather, I've only had one clear night to set up and use my SCA260V2. This image has limited data, only 50-60 minutes each of Hydrogen, Sulphur and Oxygen, but I'm impressed with the results with so little data. I used the included eyepiece for collimation, which seemed fine for the QHY163M sensor. For some reason, gremlins have invaded my Astro setup, and the focus routine won't work properly in SGP, but it does in NINA, but the plate solving doesn't work in NINA, and when I was taking calibration frames yesterday, my computer will no longer communicate with my mount.
lol, I'll post better images once I have a clear night to iron out my technical problems. It is a heavy beast, heavier than the C11 I had. Dew control will be interesting. I have a secondary heater to add once I get a chance because the dew shield won't be enough. I have ZWO OAG, Atik FW2 and QHY163M. Processed in PI and Capture One.

Now that you have had the scope for a bit, so you still prefer it over the C11? Also, have you had the light leak issue I have read about? Thanks for your time. I’m thinking of switching from my C11 as well.

What is the difference between V2.0 and V2.1. Thanks!

isonwin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 30, 2023 3:29 am What is the difference between V2.0 and V2.1. Thanks!

From the Agena Astro website: https://agenaastro.com/sharpstar-sca260 ... scope.html

Important note about v2 and v2.1 of this scope:

Sharpstar happened to release 2 variants of version 2 of this scope initially at the same time. They called them both version 2, but to differentiate between the two, we resorted to calling them v2 and v2.1, even though one wasn't newer than the other.
V2: The rotator sat after the focuser (as pictured above)
V2.1: The rotator sat between the telescope backplate and the focuser
Subsequently, Sharpstar stopped making the v2.1 variant, and v2 is the only one being offered going forward. This is the current/latest version.

I would still opt for the Astro-Tech 10" RC at nearly half the price for basically the same performance! Use the Astro Physics CCDT67 FR (rated at .7) and you get the f/ down to f/5.6. So now you have nearly matched FL's between the two OTA's.
https://www.astronomics.com/astro-tech- ... -tube.html