SolarChat!

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:06 am**

: luntchimd.jpg (154.06 KiB) Viewed 7870 times

take lunt 60 and unscrew front 60mm lens assembly
then insert a 75 mm by 250 mm plano convex lens 20mm closer to etalon

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:07 am**

: inserted.jpg (163.73 KiB) Viewed 7869 times

push down to proper place

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:09 am**

: luntchfin.jpg (156.95 KiB) Viewed 7869 times

place 75 ERF in front to prevent extra heat and tone down brightness

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:11 am**

: lunt75.jpg (165.54 KiB) Viewed 7869 times

here is some pics of result --plz excuse pollen dust on lens - its that time of year

image of sun is slighty smaller - but brighter and can use barlow

not sure of gain in doing this - but i could so I did

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:13 am**

new image size

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 4:09 am**

Hi John

a wild mod. Seems to work

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 6:08 am**

Cool stuff!

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:14 am**

Hi John,interesting mod,also noticed the shoelace tied to the BF,which I figure is tied off to the focusing tube to stop the BF from sliding out(something so simple)Good idea.

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 11:58 am**

Hi GUS

eagle eyes

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 12:31 pm**

Hi Walter, having a Lunt scope myself I know how easily the BF can slip out of the focuser tube,but never considered any fix for it until I noticed johns solution(and so simple).

GUS

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 4:40 pm**

GUS some times less is more

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 10:05 pm**

: string1.jpg (161.59 KiB) Viewed 7827 times

funny i show how to convert 60mm to 75mm scope for 240$
and everyone is thrilled over a 25 cent shoelace
so..
here is shoelace mod

Posted: **Mon Jun 02, 2014 10:07 pm**

: string2.jpg (179.67 KiB) Viewed 7827 times

and here is test

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 3:18 am**

Hi John

thanks for the close up of the shoelace

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 5:41 am**

Hi John,I was actually zooming in on the solar finder (another neat and simple solution),when I noticed the shoe lace. I usually scan around mod photos to get ideas ,and sometimes you come across something, and think to your self why didn"t I think of it, and yes Walter sometimes less is more.
On another note, how does the mod work visually,and where did you get the lens from.
Thanks
GUS

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:51 am**

Sun finder made from aluminum
stock
but my cool idea at back
there is a small cut and polished diamond
that glint when light hits it

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:53 am**

I got lens from Edmund

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:39 am**

HI John,LOL,but seriously how does it compare visually to the 60mm lens.

Thanks GUS.

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:45 am**

highfnum wrote:Sun finder made from aluminum
stock
but my cool idea at back
there is a small cut and polished diamond
that glint when light hits it

Hi John

a very interesting idea with the diamond. What size of diamond do you need?

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:14 pm**

1/10 carat or less
smaller in this case is better more accurate locator
round cut and polished not rough
NYC is big diamond district
you can get for 5 to ten dollars
smaller is more accurate

Big diamonds are for the women!

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:16 pm**

One hard thing is mounting
try not to get glue in front of diamond
will make dull and defeat purpose

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 2:23 pm**

Hi John

thank you very much. I'll get one and will report. Maybe you have come up with a wonderful new solarsearcher idea

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 4:42 pm**

Also notice
distance to fron those is short
smaller image more accurate

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 4:48 pm**

Hi John

I will remember

Posted: **Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:47 pm**

Walter
diamond is 1mm to two millimeter diameter
1mm is 0.01 carats
real small

Not 1/10

Posted: **Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:07 am**

Hi John

thanks a lot for the size information

Posted: **Fri Jun 06, 2014 10:27 pm**

: lunt75ss.jpg (106.51 KiB) Viewed 6731 times

some more test first with .60 reducer

Posted: **Fri Jun 06, 2014 10:29 pm**

with TV 2.5 barlow

shows pretty good resolution

Posted: **Fri Jun 06, 2014 10:29 pm**

orig B+W

Posted: **Sat Jun 07, 2014 5:17 am**

Nice shots with the mod!

Posted: **Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:54 pm**

THX

I like this mod
completely reverseable no change to Lunt scope it self

Posted: **Sun Jun 08, 2014 8:47 pm**

Great results from the modded scope!!!

Brian

Posted: **Sat Jun 14, 2014 12:25 pm**

Just what does this mod do? Also, where can I pick up that convex lens? Thanks.
Jim

Posted: **Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:46 pm**

I got mine at Edmund optics
I bet If I tried I could have found one for less money

Reason for Mod
My idea was to get more resolution 60mm vs 75 mm out of same scope
second slightly faster f ratio for brighter image so when I use Barlow I got more light to work with

and do it so it was reversible without changing original spec of scope

Posted: **Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:06 am**

i tried this mod with cheap 4 dollar lens to see if
results would equal 80 dollar lens

forget it

disk had poor detail

i got
one more
90 by 300 mm

ill get back

Posted: **Sat Jun 28, 2014 2:20 pm**

Hi John

good luck, we are expecting results asap

Posted: **Sun Jun 29, 2014 7:19 pm**

ok I did preliminary test with 90 X 300 mm lens
I used tape and foam rubber for now i cant promise lens was optically square
but initial l test look good

here is first shot

Posted: **Sun Jun 29, 2014 7:22 pm**

lens position is critical to get sharp image
Im to close to etalon as you can see
I had to add 2 tubes to get to focus

but I will build proper lens mount and fins its proper position (I hope

: 90l.jpg (244.35 KiB) Viewed 6657 times

Posted: **Sun Jun 29, 2014 9:49 pm**

Hi John

yes it is all about sharpness and contrast dealing with distances. Good luck

Posted: **Sun Jun 29, 2014 9:55 pm**

so far first mod is best - 75mm by 250
I guess the 80 dollar lens was worth the money

Posted: **Fri Jul 04, 2014 9:55 pm**

Hi John,
How does the lens setup perform visually?
Forrest

Posted: **Sat Jul 05, 2014 4:04 pm**

75mm (edmund) lens works just fine visually
a litter brighter

OK

i tried with 90mm lens and changed position
also cut lens down to 83mm
I also changed position
and got what I consider second best results
75mm is still sharper

but 30 dollar lens did OK see for yourself

Posted: **Sat Jul 05, 2014 4:05 pm**

one more shot

Posted: **Sat Jul 05, 2014 4:08 pm**

above shots - no barlow

I did need (1) 4 inch extension tube due to longer focus
so here is my final config for this mod is a get a better quality lens then ill flip it

: 90mms.jpg (177.61 KiB) Viewed 6622 times

Posted: **Sat Jul 05, 2014 4:10 pm**

one more thing notice my june 28 shot was much softer before final changes
position is critical
and quality of lens (DUH

)

Posted: **Sat Jul 05, 2014 4:19 pm**

to JIM
I used edmund part # 63495 Lens PCX 75 X 250 MGF2 CTD

the 90 I gotta find papers I know its 90 X 300

all millimeters

Posted: **Wed Nov 30, 2016 6:11 pm**

Seems like a good looking and cheap mod.
I will probably be purchasing a lunt ls50 shortly, so really curious, if this upgrade can also be applied. What lens size would be more appropriate, since, LS50 focal ratio is F/7, against 60's f/8.3

Posted: **Sat Dec 03, 2016 11:23 pm**

try to stay within original f num give 10 pct

Posted: **Mon Dec 05, 2016 11:44 am**

Thank you,
I'm a bit confused here, Lunt 60 has native f/8.3 and the convex lens you used is f/ 3.3
What's the logic behind calculating the right lens fot Lunt 50 then?

Please, bear with me, my optical knowledge is pretty vague.

Posted: **Mon Dec 05, 2016 12:33 pm**

Correct lunt has built in telecentric Barlow
Lunt native lens is very short also
If you unscrew it and test you see what I mean

SolarChat!

my little lunt60 mod

my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod

Re: my little lunt60 mod