Feb 11 Sun and some new astro goodies

[Thefatkitty]

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing good

I ordered a Televue 2.5X 1.25 Powermate and the T-Ring adaptor for it to attach to my Canon camera from B&H Photo Video on Wednesday; I went to pick them up today at the UPS depot. It was actually cheaper for me to order from them even though it's US based. Plus there was no wait time. I've been saving my pennies for this for almost a year now...

I intend to use it first with my W/O 60mm for a portable Solar white-light setup. It will take that scope from f/5.9 to f/11 ish. I will use it all first on the Moon; that will give me a "focus point" so to speak. Focus on the Moon, and next day you're good to go for the Sun. So much easier to focus on a lunar crater than a spot on the Sun, and both object are parfocal with each other.

Of course, the day clouded up after I took the Solar shots and it doesn't look promising for the next while...

I dropped Sarah off at her friend's place, then went and got that. When I got home, it was clear out and only -4C (28F). Time for some solar. I used my usual arsenal; my C80-HD/CG4 mount with its Baader film, Solar Continuum and UR/IR cut filters along with my Canon EOS550D.

This pre-owned scope and mount I bought 7 years ago is the best $200 I've spent ever! And it's been locked into focus for my camera for the same amount of time; this is all I use it for. I do love my C80's though; I have an orange-tube Vixen I use for visual.

An active Sun today; no less than 10 spots on the disc and probably more labelled tomorrow.

Full size image here



Fun day. I have to finish building the mount for my 60mm, probably tomorrow.

Portability and rock solid is what I want from this and am getting it This was the concept; a pipe mount on an old Nexstar 102 tripod. Being me, this has advanced from this to something where I'm going over ebvery little nuance. So far so good.

And that's been my day, hopefully you enjoyed yours!

All the best,

[Bigzmey]

Congrats Mark! The powermate was definitely worth saving $$.

[Thefatkitty]

Congrats Mark! The powermate was definitely worth saving $$.

Thanks Andrey, and I agree! I could have bought a barlow even by Televue for cheaper, but when you have "standards", nothing less will do. I would have kicked myself for buying less!

I'm hoping to use it for visual as well. I can only imagine for now the views with my scopes!

[Thefatkitty]

Well, that was a bust. I just tried this Powermate with both my 60mm at f/5.9 and my 80mm at f/11.4 on the Moon. And here I thought this would be a good thing...

What a piece of crap this is. I can't get focus with either my camera or a diagonal/lens through either scope with this thing. It's a non-changing blur of white, from focuser racked in to out. Talk about frustration and a waste of hard-earned money.

Hopefully I can return it and get a cheap barlow. Televue is now to me just Tele-Poo

[Butterfly Maiden]

That is a real shame Mark. I can understand your frustration.

The time and effort to collect the equipment and set it up, only to discover it to be useless is not good

Hopefully you can get a refund quickly.

[Greenman]

Hmm, could it be backfocus?

https://televue.com/televueopticstalk/2 ... ack-focus/

[Lady Fraktor]

Are you saying you cannot get it to focus with a diagonal/ eyepiece either?
Try viewing straight through at a object with just the barlow and a eyepiece.
Everything looks good with the barlow?

[Makuser]

Hello Mark. Congratulations on the new Televue 2.5X 1.25 Powermate and it is my favorite Barlow lens. And another fine solar image in white light and I always enjoy your annotated version. Thanks for sharing this capture with us on here Mark and I also enjoyed the photos of your astronomy instruments.