Man! From the lens back to the focuser assembly this is my Astro-Tech 66ED... Probably made by the same firm but MUCH improved! If I could put that rack and pinion on mine I would do it in a heart beat... mine is the friction crayford! Mine only has 6cm travel and I see yours has 9. Mine also will not take a 2" eyepiece as they put a 2"x24 small SCT thread on the end of the tube which the eyepiece holder screws onto. So I had to get a SCT to M42 adapter so I could screw my camera to it. I just got a camera with the 533 sensor and have been trying it on my AT 66 and things look very promising especially because of the field of view it has at 2°16m square!
Mike from NiteZpeed here...For the money it really packs a Punch....Cons aside it looks like a great alternative to a Radian or even a Redcat...even with the addons. Its still cheaper... Great review....I've been thinking of a WO but now seeing this I might go this direction....
I actually own the identical ALTAIR ASTRO LIGHTWAVE 66/400ED version of this scope, and love it. The doublet optics do a great job with colour correction, and the FPL-51 glass is great. One could even argue, that using a doublet Objective with FPL-51 gives nicer looking stars, because they have more colour than the strict colour correction of a triplet Objective with FPL-53? Interesting thought. Great review my friend!👍
Very similar scope to my WO ZS66SD albeit with a better R&P focusser. I did manage to find a set of small rings that will fit. Note that the foot is reversible for better balance!
Enjoyed that, once again. Good to see you & to see this reviewed. My little niggle will all telescopes sold with nicely executed cases, is that I just wish the case was designed with enough room for a camera to be left on, with some pre- cut sections. I end up buying other cases so I can leave a camera on.
Nearly identical to the Astro-tech AT72ED. Other than 66mm vs 72mm it appears to be the same scope. The AT used FK61 glass, which is essentially the same as FPL51. I sold that scope a few years ago and they are no longer available. A sale i regret, lol. I may have to buy one of these just for fun. Nice review.
finder scope shoe - couldn't agree more - why skimp on such an inexpensive part - be it visual or photographic you would need a finder or guide scope on there. ditto with the extra vixen plate - I'm sure FLO could recommend the correct parts to be able to use it on a mount rather than star tracker though that EQ6 is probably overkill for that small scope. Looks a good price and correctly placed below something like the william optics Z61 with it FPL53 glass which is more expensive. Good to meet you at the international astronomy show today - hope you did not spend to much :-)
Looks pretty decent for the money but I do agree about the finder shoe I think it should be included or as you say give you the option. I'm not a fan of those L foots either a short dovetail with some rings & risers would improve things considerably plus make the rotator a bit more functional. However for the price & build quality it looks like a cracking little scope although if I owned one it would be pimped up a bit.
There's plenty of scopes at that focal length or less that have rings or the clamshell ring fitted much better design, I guess for the price you cannot grumble to much though.
I'm interested in buying my first telescope for my stock DSLR and SWSA GTi and this is one of the ones I'm considering. I'm also looking at the StellaMira 80mm f/6.25. I keep going back and forth between several and I'm nowhere nearer deciding :)) Thanks for the review, I've now moved the two StellaMira scopes at the top of the pile.
Great review, definitely liking the idea of a fast widefield scope, totally with you on the lack of a findershoe, It's not going to add too much to the RRP, but saves the end user having to find one that fits securely!
Another great video there ( very informative 👍). You mentioned about the 0.6 X reducer being an option for this scope. I tried it with my Skywatcher 72 ED and Sony A5000 camera and it did not achieve focus and so needed to be returned to FLO ( who are amazing). I have since purchased a ZWO585MC camera, and may re- order it to see if it works on that configuration. Keep the great videos coming 😁.
I just picked one up from FLO. Open box, review unit. Was prolly the one you had in your hand lol. Im looking forward to checking it out. I wanted something to put on my SW GTi. I think this will fit nicely. The small saddle will prolly be a perfect match for the shoe.
I've just picked up the other open box one from FLO. It's just arrived, looks like an amazing bit of kit. The build quality is terrific, I'm hoping the optics will prove to be likewise. This great review helped me make my mind up.
@@AstroDays mad props to FLO, mine arrived yesterday. I did a quick setup and paired it with an ASI183MC-PRO. Optics look good for its class. A decent less costly grab and go tube. A couple gripes that I don't know were given enough attention in the review, but the focus lock gets obscured when you mount a larger Vixen plate. I thought then to rotate so that the focuser was on the top side (giving access to the lock), but then the thumb screw hits the shoe. My solution here was to pull out the thumb screw and put in a grub screw to secure it. And then my dovetail mount for guide scope had its holes in the wrong direction (up and down not side to side), so still needed yet another mount. But half the fun is getting a new tube all set up. Enjoy the tube and clear skies.
Skywatcher 72ED tube rings fit perfectly, but you will not be able to put the telescope in the box with them fitted as you will not be able to retract the dew shield
You could rotate the focuser assembly 180 degrees before attaching the scope to the mount. With the focuser knobs on the top, you could get much bigger angle of rotation. Or, is there anything in the construction of the scope to prevent this?
The Redcat 51 is indeed an amazing scope, but is rather expensive. If the 66ED could accommodate the 0.6 X reducer, then it would be of similar FL. Obviously, the Redcat would deal with aberration better than this scope, but I suppose it's a cost thing I guess.
@@dougiesmart1623 Yes you have to condider cost for sure. That's why I just picked up the sharpstar 66edph ii, it gives me 330mm and 275mm , which is getting pretty wide.
Do you know or can you find out what the glass type of the second lens is made of? One ED element is good, but if the second element is of questionable material, it might negate any benefit of the ED element. The reason I'm a bit fussy about the glass type is that I would like to play with the scope with a full spectrum modified apsc camera and experiment using IR and also near UV filters not only for astro, but for landscapes. I have to admit I want much more than I can afford! The red cat might be perfect, but I'm looking for something usable at a low price point which is why I'm asking. Thanks.
Cant say for sure, but other tubes in this class describe having and FPL-51/53 element and a LANTHANUM element. I suspect that is what we have here also. From Wiki: "Lanthanum(III) oxide (La2O3) improves the alkali resistance of glass, and is used in making special optical glasses, such as infrared-absorbing glass, as well as camera and telescope lenses, because of the high refractive index and low dispersion of rare-earth glasses...[]"
Question , im thinking of getting the 10" dobson , i know its not meant for deep space photography but if i want to take some nice pictures is it enough if i get the : MikrOkular Full HD eyepiece camera or do i need to buy the more expensive once called : Full HD eyepiece camera deep space or will regular moon and planetary camera be good enough , any ideas ?
Man! From the lens back to the focuser assembly this is my Astro-Tech 66ED... Probably made by the same firm but MUCH improved! If I could put that rack and pinion on mine I would do it in a heart beat... mine is the friction crayford! Mine only has 6cm travel and I see yours has 9. Mine also will not take a 2" eyepiece as they put a 2"x24 small SCT thread on the end of the tube which the eyepiece holder screws onto. So I had to get a SCT to M42 adapter so I could screw my camera to it. I just got a camera with the 533 sensor and have been trying it on my AT 66 and things look very promising especially because of the field of view it has at 2°16m square!
Mike from NiteZpeed here...For the money it really packs a Punch....Cons aside it looks like a great alternative to a Radian or even a Redcat...even with the addons. Its still cheaper... Great review....I've been thinking of a WO but now seeing this I might go this direction....
I actually own the identical ALTAIR ASTRO LIGHTWAVE 66/400ED version of this scope, and love it. The doublet optics do a great job with colour correction, and the FPL-51 glass is great. One could even argue, that using a doublet Objective with FPL-51 gives nicer looking stars, because they have more colour than the strict colour correction of a triplet Objective with FPL-53? Interesting thought. Great review my friend!👍
Very similar scope to my WO ZS66SD albeit with a better R&P focusser. I did manage to find a set of small rings that will fit. Note that the foot is reversible for better balance!
Enjoyed that, once again. Good to see you & to see this reviewed. My little niggle will all telescopes sold with nicely executed cases, is that I just wish the case was designed with enough room for a camera to be left on, with some pre- cut sections. I end up buying other cases so I can leave a camera on.
Nearly identical to the Astro-tech AT72ED. Other than 66mm vs 72mm it appears to be the same scope. The AT used FK61 glass, which is essentially the same as FPL51. I sold that scope a few years ago and they are no longer available. A sale i regret, lol. I may have to buy one of these just for fun. Nice review.
finder scope shoe - couldn't agree more - why skimp on such an inexpensive part - be it visual or photographic you would need a finder or guide scope on there.
ditto with the extra vixen plate - I'm sure FLO could recommend the correct parts to be able to use it on a mount rather than star tracker though that EQ6 is probably overkill for that small scope.
Looks a good price and correctly placed below something like the william optics Z61 with it FPL53 glass which is more expensive.
Good to meet you at the international astronomy show today - hope you did not spend to much :-)
Awesome review mate.
Found it really interesting honest and tones of usefull info.
Thanks for sharing.
Looks pretty decent for the money but I do agree about the finder shoe I think it should be included or as you say give you the option. I'm not a fan of those L foots either a short dovetail with some rings & risers would improve things considerably plus make the rotator a bit more functional. However for the price & build quality it looks like a cracking little scope although if I owned one it would be pimped up a bit.
How?
There's plenty of scopes at that focal length or less that have rings or the clamshell ring fitted much better design, I guess for the price you cannot grumble to much though.
I'm interested in buying my first telescope for my stock DSLR and SWSA GTi and this is one of the ones I'm considering. I'm also looking at the StellaMira 80mm f/6.25. I keep going back and forth between several and I'm nowhere nearer deciding :)) Thanks for the review, I've now moved the two StellaMira scopes at the top of the pile.
Great review, definitely liking the idea of a fast widefield scope, totally with you on the lack of a findershoe, It's not going to add too much to the RRP, but saves the end user having to find one that fits securely!
Btw the L-foot is profiled to fit a Vixen mount clamp. I’ve got mine clamped using one as a guidescope for my RC 10”.
Love this channel, you've been a great help along the way.
Do you have any images captured with the 66ed.
Thanks
Another great video there ( very informative 👍). You mentioned about the 0.6 X reducer being an option for this scope. I tried it with my Skywatcher 72 ED and Sony A5000 camera and it did not achieve focus and so needed to be returned to FLO ( who are amazing). I have since purchased a ZWO585MC camera, and may re- order it to see if it works on that configuration. Keep the great videos coming 😁.
Will get one for grab and go definately sharper views than 90mm maks
Hahaha, I have bodged together much, much more questionable rigs to try to get an image. If it works, it works! Thanks for the review!
I just picked one up from FLO. Open box, review unit. Was prolly the one you had in your hand lol. Im looking forward to checking it out. I wanted something to put on my SW GTi. I think this will fit nicely. The small saddle will prolly be a perfect match for the shoe.
I've just picked up the other open box one from FLO. It's just arrived, looks like an amazing bit of kit. The build quality is terrific, I'm hoping the optics will prove to be likewise. This great review helped me make my mind up.
@@AstroDays mad props to FLO, mine arrived yesterday. I did a quick setup and paired it with an ASI183MC-PRO. Optics look good for its class. A decent less costly grab and go tube. A couple gripes that I don't know were given enough attention in the review, but the focus lock gets obscured when you mount a larger Vixen plate. I thought then to rotate so that the focuser was on the top side (giving access to the lock), but then the thumb screw hits the shoe. My solution here was to pull out the thumb screw and put in a grub screw to secure it. And then my dovetail mount for guide scope had its holes in the wrong direction (up and down not side to side), so still needed yet another mount. But half the fun is getting a new tube all set up. Enjoy the tube and clear skies.
Skywatcher 72ED tube rings fit perfectly, but you will not be able to put the telescope in the box with them fitted as you will not be able to retract the dew shield
You could rotate the focuser assembly 180 degrees before attaching the scope to the mount. With the focuser knobs on the top, you could get much bigger angle of rotation. Or, is there anything in the construction of the scope to prevent this?
Not sure 400mm would be considered short focal length, what with the redcat at 250mm and widespread use of the Rokinon 135mm and the likes
The Redcat 51 is indeed an amazing scope, but is rather expensive. If the 66ED could accommodate the 0.6 X reducer, then it would be of similar FL. Obviously, the Redcat would deal with aberration better than this scope, but I suppose it's a cost thing I guess.
@@dougiesmart1623 Yes you have to condider cost for sure. That's why I just picked up the sharpstar 66edph ii, it gives me 330mm and 275mm , which is getting pretty wide.
Do you know or can you find out what the glass type of the second lens is made of? One ED element is good, but if the second element is of questionable material, it might negate any benefit of the ED element. The reason I'm a bit fussy about the glass type is that I would like to play with the scope with a full spectrum modified apsc camera and experiment using IR and also near UV filters not only for astro, but for landscapes. I have to admit I want much more than I can afford! The red cat might be perfect, but I'm looking for something usable at a low price point which is why I'm asking. Thanks.
Cant say for sure, but other tubes in this class describe having and FPL-51/53 element and a LANTHANUM element. I suspect that is what we have here also.
From Wiki:
"Lanthanum(III) oxide (La2O3) improves the alkali resistance of glass, and is used in making special optical glasses, such as infrared-absorbing glass, as well as camera and telescope lenses, because of the high refractive index and low dispersion of rare-earth glasses...[]"
Question , im thinking of getting the 10" dobson , i know its not meant for deep space photography but if i want to take some nice pictures is it enough if i get the : MikrOkular Full HD eyepiece camera or do i need to buy the more expensive once called : Full HD eyepiece camera deep space or will regular moon and planetary camera be good enough , any ideas ?
Hi in your test were you using a field flattener? Thank you
Hey yes I was using a matched field flattener with the scope during my use and review
@@AstroFarsography just pulled the trigger on a pair of these with 0.8 reducers for a dual mono and osc setup.
@astroberg4774 nice mate, that sounds like it's covering all bases. Going to be a good rig once they all arrive!
Where is a photo from this scope?? It's the most important than findscope...