I see quite a few people here who use Coronado scopes or components like PSTs or their etalons or SMIIs or their etalons and blocking filters. Except for Stephen Ramsden I don’t see anyone here using a SolarMax III. I am curious how they compare with the SMII. Both etalons ( if DS )are front mounted full aperture and the helical focuser has been replaced with a two-speed rack and pinion. The scope also has a very attractive anodized brass finish. The III is also nighttime capable with the etalons and blocking filter removed. Unlike the Lunt modular line the Coronado SMIII is a standard achromat not an ED apochromat.
James
Coronado SolarMax III ?
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Coronado SolarMax III ?
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
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Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
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Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
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Re: Coronado SolarMax III ?
I’d be interested in this too James. I always presumed that the SMIII etalons weren’t any different to those of the SMII apart from the shiny new casing - it was more a mechanical upgrade to fix the focuser and move to external filters only.
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Re: Coronado SolarMax III ?
The SolarMax III is probably the prettiest solar telescope on the market. But I wonder if it's performance matches it's looks. The upgrade focuser is certainly a plus over the helical focuser of the SMII.
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
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Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
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Re: Coronado SolarMax III ?
I think the majority of people here who have pre series III Coronado stuff do so because they've had it for a while and are happy with it.
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
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Re: Coronado SolarMax III ?
Probably so. Maybe a newbie then would be more likely to have a SMIII or a new Lunt modular scope.marktownley wrote: ↑Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:04 am I think the majority of people here who have pre series III Coronado stuff do so because they've had it for a while and are happy with it.
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
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Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
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Re: Coronado SolarMax III ?
I have a SolarMax III and upgraded to it after owning a PST. I didn't like the focus on the PST and liked the rack and pinion on the SMIII. The visual views are excellent with this scope. For photography though, I struggle with it having a band across the center of the disk when using it double stacked so I have been removing one for my most recent shots. I'm still pretty new at solar photography so I've got a lot to learn with this telescope. Here is one of my latest shots (28-Nov-2020) using the SMIII (single stack), Astro IIDC, and a Grasshopper camera.
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Re: Coronado SolarMax III ?
This is because you have too much tilt on the etalon. Nice pic btw.
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
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Re: Coronado SolarMax III ?
Thank you!marktownley wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:13 pmThis is because you have too much tilt on the etalon. Nice pic btw.
As far as too much tilt, I'll try again and tone it down on both.
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Re: Coronado SolarMax III ?
Very nice picture! The detail is there and I love the colors you chose.
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
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