Back after a long lay off.

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Pragmatist
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Back after a long lay off.

Post by Pragmatist »

Crikey how time flies. I am now after another solar scope after regretting selling my Lunt 60. I have been looking at the Solarmax Coronado mk3 70mm...well 60mm but you know what i mean in double stack or the Lunt 80mm. Any thoughts? That Coronado looks beautiful but at the end of the day the view is what's important. Purely for visual observing.

Matty


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Welcome Back!

I have two Coronados. A SMII60 and SMII90. I am well satisfied with both. The 60 is good but is limited more to low power full disc views. The 90 is much better and gives really nice high resolution contrasty views at higher magnifications. The SMIII 70 would be a good choice but so would be the Lunt 80. Personally I would probably choose the Lunt first because of aperture and the pressure tuner. I considered the Lunt 80 myself but found A Coronado SMII 90 ( Actually has a 102mm objective ) on sell for almost 2 grand off! That was a no-brainer and the scope has turned out to be a real performer. I will post today's observation shortly which uses it.

Personally I don't believe you would lose with either Coronado or Lunt. Either way you will get some great views. I just wish I had personal experience with Lunt!

James


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
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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by Pragmatist »

Thanks,
I think I’m leaning towards the double stacked Lunt 80mm.
It’s a shame the Coronado is advertised at 70mm until you read further and notice the Etalon is 60mm.


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

I am not quite sure why Coronado does this. With the 70mm SolarMax III I would guess because it is a multi-purpose scope, the all external etalon system can be removed making it truly able to operate as a 70mm scope for WL or using a CaK filter and of course for nighttime use. Only in Ha is it limited to 60mm. Now the SM II is harder to figure out. When in single stack the 60 is actually a 70 and the 90 is a 102 since the primary etalons are internal. Only when the double-stack front etalon is used is it stopped down to 60 and 90 millimeter apertures. Most Lunt scopes now use removable etalon modules which are internal so they measure their aperture by the scopes objective lenses.

You might consider a SMII 90 if you can find one at a good price. Most people here however do praise the performance of the Lunt 80. I was looking into getting a Lunt 100 DS a little while back. The Coronado SMII90 DS was far cheaper on the sale I got and made the decision easier. quite a few imagers/observers here use Coronado 90 etalons on their scopes or have SolarMax 90 instruments of their own. With you in the UK you might consider SolarScope too. They are highly praised.

James


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

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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by Carbon60 »

Hi Matty,

My tried, tested and proven Double Stacked Lunt 60 PT feather touch scope is for sale if by any chance you're interested. Drop me a private message if you are. Cheaper than a new DS Lunt 80 :)

Image20200625_Ha_FD by Stuart Green, on Flickr

Stu.


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

My only comment as a Lunt HA 60mm+DS., as well as their CAL-K scope owner, is that perhaps from your previous experiences, if it worked-well, then only improvements for viewing or imaging (or both) would be the answer.

Obviously looking through the fabulous published images on SolarChat over the past times, could a guide to whether a better acquisition of whichever make/type, might persuade you in a different direction than Lunt.

I hope you get the best out of whichever.
Clear Skies

Terry


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by marktownley »

Stuarts DS60 is an excellent performer, and would recommend this any day over the Coronado 70 (60). If you're planning on spending in the realms of a DS80 I would recommend talking to Rupert at Astrograph and exploring a range of options based on what equipment you have already and what you expect from a solarscope.


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by Pragmatist »

After much deliberation I think I am going to go with a single stacked Lunt 100. My preferential viewing are prominences and spicules. I love the sunspots but it’s the limb activity which interests me the most. I think the 100 will give me what I need.


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

The Lunt 100 SS should do very well. My Coronado 90 ( 102 in SS ) does excellent on limb/prominence detail. Just ask Mark Townley. He has one too!


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

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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by Pragmatist »

Thanks James.


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by Derek Klepp »

Welcome back Matty. I was going to suggest the Lunt 100.I am just dusting mine off after a long layoff.It really is alovely scope for visual especially for proms.I have also found Lunt very good in there back up too.
Derek


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by Pragmatist »

Thanks Derek. How manageable is the 100? It looks quite a large scope. What sort of mount do you use? Mine will be for visual only.


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by marktownley »

DeepSolar64 wrote: Sat Jul 04, 2020 9:54 pm The Lunt 100 SS should do very well. My Coronado 90 ( 102 in SS ) does excellent on limb/prominence detail. Just ask Mark Townley. He has one too!
The Coronado 90 is most definitely 90mm clear aperture in single stack mode, i've just got a ruler out and measured it!

The 90 is great though, I agree.


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by Pragmatist »

Those SolarMax iii scopes are amazing looking things. Also in the mix now is the single stack Coronado mkiii 90 but I’m guessing it’s a hefty bugger.


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Re: Back after a long lay off.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

marktownley wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:09 pm
DeepSolar64 wrote: Sat Jul 04, 2020 9:54 pm The Lunt 100 SS should do very well. My Coronado 90 ( 102 in SS ) does excellent on limb/prominence detail. Just ask Mark Townley. He has one too!
The Coronado 90 is most definitely 90mm clear aperture in single stack mode, i've just got a ruler out and measured it!

The 90 is great though, I agree.
Really, whatever I had read was wrong then. I never measured it myself. Not that it really matters to me. It works really well. I just measured my SMII60. It looks like it has a 70mm objective with a 60mm front etalon. Why in the heck would Coronado use a smaller etalon over the objective of the SMII60 and SMIII 70 and use one the same size as the objective on the 90? They should have then used 70mm etalons on the SMII and III 70s!! I just measured my SMII90 objective and as Mark said. 90mm. I stand corrected...

A millimeter ruler would have been useful here too.

Confused now I am... :?

Yes the Coronado 90 is hefty. 23 pounds. It's beefy!


James

P.S. At least with Lunt you know what size your scope is!


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

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