Lunt 40mm can bé a good solar telescope?
thanks.
thanks.
Lunt 40mm
I just ordered one yesterday. If nobody else can share an experience, I’ll share once I get the scope and Seattle has sun.
So, March.
So, March.
A quick search on google or YouTube can be a good resource for some reviews and experiences of the scope.
Lunt 40 review this one for example by Dylan O'Donnell.
I don't own it myself, I have a Coronado 40/400. But it looks like a good scope. With a far better focuser than the Coronado.
Lunt 40 review this one for example by Dylan O'Donnell.
I don't own it myself, I have a Coronado 40/400. But it looks like a good scope. With a far better focuser than the Coronado.
I just received a 50mm scope a few weeks back. Once I got the hang of tuning the etalon and the helical focuser, it was awesome. I found using a black cloth to cover my head, I was able to see much better through the eyepiece. I hope you experience the same results. Looking forward to hear about your results.
Supportive
I got mine and tried it the one day we had sun. The results were quite good; this was with a generic 2x barlow . My biggest annoyance was actually the barlow and not the telescope.
A little advice, Do not judge an h-alpha telescope based on photos you see posted by users manipulating the images.
Pictures are very good at misrepresentation and using the example by posted by James Malone. His image is inverted and by no means represents anything you will see at the eyepiece. It is also very offband from the actual h-alpha core of 656.28nm.
The prominences are very poorly captured in his example which is not a good sign from a performance perspective; and this could be from tuning or the scope not performing well.
There are two possible scenarios for an h-alpha scope used for imaging. It could be incredible performance wise, and an inexperienced user may have a handicap in capturing/ processing which would render the telescope images useless for decision making purposes.
Or the user may be highly skilled at imaging and processing with know how in hiding flaws of a very poor performing h-alpha telescope with flats and drastic changes in sharpening and stacking and post processing light/gamma/histogram levels.
Unless one posts a single frame image, right from the capture program without enhancement there is a factor of trickery. A good example is posting a screen shot of the capture program with real time view of the image showing all capture settings.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50080168991_18ff649587_k.jpg <--- great performance of a calcium scope.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48577017462_135b9e9bd9_k.jpg <--- extremely poor performance of an h-alpha scope.
I own a Lunt 80mm and love the scope. Like mentioned, it can be tricky to judge a scope just by someone else's photos. Even a screenshot of a live view may not cut it. Being off on focusing, tuned slightly off band, atmosphere conditions that day, or any number of things can change how it looks. You may have great seeing one day with the best views you've ever seen and the next day the winds change and views are crap. My best advice would be to check one out in person first if possible. Then order from a reputable company that will allow you to return or exchange if there is something wrong. Before I bought mine, I actually went to the local Science Center and they had 3 models out for guests to look through. The view through the Lunt was the best IMO at the time, so I went with that one.
Helpful Engaging Supportive
It is also very offband from the actual h-alpha core of 656.28nm
If I may beg some advice,
I have a Lunt 40mm and, despite watching numerous tutorials and reading everything I can get my hands on, I still can't tell when I'm actually on band.
Also, I notice that as I tune a bright area moves across the face of the sun, but I have a hard time centering it (presuming that it is the sweet spot and should be centered).
I also suspect that centering the sun in the camera's field of view does not produce the best image.
What did you see that led you to say that Malone's image was off band?
When tuning should a bright area move across the sun?
Am I correct that the best (sharpest) spot for the sun may not be dead center?
Well Written Respectful Engaging
I just ordered one of these as well. Can't wait to try it.
Well Written
Jason dain:
I just ordered one of these as well. Can't wait to try it.
Eager to hear your experiences and any tips or tricks you develop.
Did you get the SolarQuest mount, too? Its a gem. Battery powered I can set up mount, scope, and laptop in less than five minutes, focus and tune, and begin capturing images.
But...as my post above indicates, I still very much feeling my way. I've read everything of Cloudy Nights abut solar and Facebook about the Lunt 40, but frankly remain somewhat baffled despite managing to detect an exoplanet and produce some decent DSO images at night. Solar is a whole new ball game.
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure the scope is set up right. But a poor craftsman blames his tools and I'm not that guy, so I'm still trying to learn.
No, I already have two Skywatcher EQ6R mounts and a Skyguider pro tracker so I'll just use those. I've done some reading and watched some videos but frankly I'll be wading in blindfolded for the most part. I will pass on any tricks I pick up as I go.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Well Written
Hi,
But the Lunt 40mm …. Worth?
Regards,
Pp.
But the Lunt 40mm …. Worth?
Regards,
Pp.
Hi,
But the Lunt 40mm .... Worth?
Regards,
Pp.
Too early to tell. I've learned a lot but not enough. Until I know what I'm doing I can't judge.
FWIW, I enjoy the scope immensely. I am still developing an eye to tune it properly, but it’s great (for me) for the price. Why? It got me doing something I did not do before.
@James Malone , would you be willing to share any raw video collected with the scope so I can practice some editing? This will just be for personal use. Thanks
Well Written Respectful
Yeah, I will see if I have some left. If I do, I can put it online. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until the sun blesses Seattle with it’s presence again.
Hi, is there an update weather the Lunt 40 is worth for visual ? Also worth if you have a Coronado pst? with my pst I use 20 mm and 15 mm plossl eyepiece - going higher is not good for my model. Would like to know more about the Lunt thanks. ( you also can answer another time)
Hi, can somebody tell some more about the Lunt 40?
André coutinho:
Hi, is there an update if the Lunt 40 is worth for visual ? Also worth if you have a Coronado pst? with my pst I use 20 mm and 15 mm plossl eyepiece - going higher is not good for my model. Would like to know more about the Lunt thanks. ( you also can answer another time)
I have gotten my Lunt LS 40 with the Lunt 7.2 mm – 21.5mm Zoom Telescope Eyepiece. I can see some pretty good surface detail and prominences. I only had one session with bad seeing so can't say how well it works but it wasn't too bad. I'm more of a photography person and tried that too and it worked pretty well.
This was my first image from the other day. Best 50 percent of 2000 images taken with asi290mm camera with bad seeing. I was using 3ms exposures at gain 0.
I think its worth it, just got mine and tried imaging yesterday, its quite sharp when focussed well, I used focus edge detection in Sharpcap. I have a 2 x 2" Powermate but unfortunately, by the time I mount it, I can't get the scope to focus so I am assuming my back focus is well off. For me, this scope is just some fun and a chance to do some imaging during the day, very enjoyable.
Nice! What camera did you use? I'm hoping to get this level of detail with mine with better tuning, focus and seeing. This looks like a color camera right?
Engaging
Hi, I have no doubts anymore (!) that this new Lunt 40 would blow a new pst on the marked away, ( much better light transmission and image quality) both visually and imaging- maybe even slightly better then an older pst such as the " made in USA " and pre Meade model? (slighly better light transmission and better focuser?) This is all information I have collected in favor of the Lunt . I assume there will be still small differences between each model, but not big differences…oh yea, And some models may have that red glow sometimes in view, due to small inaccuracies in the etalon. Good luck! Lunt 40 👍
Jason dain:
Nice! What camera did you use? I'm hoping to get this level of detail with mine with better tuning, focus and seeing. This looks like a color camera right?
Hi Jason,
I used a mono camera, the 290-MM planetary camera which I really enjoy using. Hoping for a little sun today to give the Lunt 40mm a go with a 2x Powermate :-)
Cheers,
Bill.