Coronado SM40 Etalon + Lunt B600?

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nicosolcy
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Coronado SM40 Etalon + Lunt B600?

Post by nicosolcy »

Hi folks,

Need some expert opinions on this. I have a Borg 50mm Achro which I plan to fit with an etalon and a blocking filter. It has been done before as I have been corresponding with a fellow enthusiast who has this precise setup.

However, his Solarmax Etalon is pre-Meade and I am concerned that current SM40 units may not play well with the B600 filter. I know that this begs the question "why not a BF5 or a BF10?" and the answer is simple: T2 connectivity on the B600.

So, I would appreciate it if anybody who has this setup (current SM40 + B600) can confirm if it works ok, if they have compared the B600 to the BF5 or BF10 or alternatively, if there is a way to fit the BF5 or BF10 with a T2 connection.


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Re: Coronado SM40 Etalon + Lunt B600?

Post by Solar B »

I think I recall reading that Lunt BFs were compatible with Coronado etalons but that Coronado BFs were not
compatible with Lunt etalons ... hope I've got that the right way round :)

I doubt there would be much difference between a pre Meade and a newer SM 40 apart from perhaps their actual bandwidth.

Brian


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Re: Coronado SM40 Etalon + Lunt B600?

Post by nicosolcy »

Thanks for the feedback Brian. Unfortunately user feedback of this combination is conflicting per this thread http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/49924 ... o-vs-lunt/.


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ZWO ASI183MM, SW SolarQuest Mount
Baader Solar Continuum 540.0nm (FWHM 7.5) / Altair G-Band 430.3nm (FWHM 2nm) / Antlia K-Line 393.3nm (FWHM 3nm)
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Re: Coronado SM40 Etalon + Lunt B600?

Post by marktownley »

The current SM40 and the Pre meade SM40 use the same RG630 glass for their ERf so will be fine.


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Re: Coronado SM40 Etalon + Lunt B600?

Post by nicosolcy »

Mark,

My dealer said that he had communicated in the past with Lunt about this and they were negative on compatibility. Which would be what I would expect initially since they would prefer to promote their own products as a package - but there may be a reason why they said so to which I am not privy to.

Then again, despite being a noob on this particular forum, I have been reading your posts for quite a while and your practical experience weights heavily here....

I'd love to use the B600 for the extra 1mm plus the fact that I can add a spare Baader click lock I have available - I just love those things :mrgreen:

First I need confirmation about the 52mm compatibility with the Borg (will know sometime this week) and then its decision time.

Key concern here is not safety as I can always throw in a UV/IR filter on a Borg / Coronado / Lunt Frankenscope just for safety's sake, but how compatible the two components are. Is the end visual impact affected? Is there a synergy if parts from the same manufacturer are used?

Ahhh... Questions that keep me up at night... :cat


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ZWO ASI183MM, SW SolarQuest Mount
Baader Solar Continuum 540.0nm (FWHM 7.5) / Altair G-Band 430.3nm (FWHM 2nm) / Antlia K-Line 393.3nm (FWHM 3nm)
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Re: Coronado SM40 Etalon + Lunt B600?

Post by nicosolcy »

Mark,

Another thought. Glass may be the same but coatings?


Nick
---------------------------------------------------------------
Photosphere Junkie!
Borg 77 EDII f.6.6 (510mm), APM Herschel Wedge (Baader ND1.8)
Lunt 40mm SS FTF
ZWO ASI183MM, SW SolarQuest Mount
Baader Solar Continuum 540.0nm (FWHM 7.5) / Altair G-Band 430.3nm (FWHM 2nm) / Antlia K-Line 393.3nm (FWHM 3nm)
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