I bought my MN190 4 years ago, and it was my first scope for imaging, after doing visual with a refractor and a SCT. Your review covers well all the reasons I wanted the MN190. I am still puzzled why more people do not use it. I got mine used with the moonlight focuser already installed, so it was super simple to set up and use and quite. affordable (especially compared to a refractor!). The weight issue is funny to me. If you get a refractor that has a 1000mm focal length in most cases it will be about the same weight as the MN. The only real disadvantage is wind, which I have experienced. You did not mention the other big issue for the MN190, which is its propensity to gather dew in wet climates since the corrector plate is right in front end of scope. This is easily solved with a dew strap, but just another thing to keep in mind. I highly recommend for astrophotography. I use with a Ioptron CEM40 mount without issue.
I have the original version of this scope bought back in 2009 it is an excellent scope and I still use it to this day. Nice review and I hope you have many more happy years from it.
Great review! Actually I find the design of the scope with glass at both ends helps with the balance. My EQ6 Pro (Rowan belt converted) handles it well.
Great review. I have the Orion version of this scope. I'm still a relative beginner at astrophotography but I appreciate the capabilities of this Mak-Newt more and more all the time. I run mine on a Celestron CGX mount.
RoRo, This was a GREAT review. You do an amazing job. You really do. I think you sold me on this scope. You brought up every point I was concerned about and you made the decison for me to buy it a lot easier. Thank You so much sir! Joe D
Thanks for a great review Rowan, you really transfer an honest and knowledgeable vibe. After months of looking at SCT's/Newtonians I really just discovered this scope today and yours is the first review I watch. Based on that I have already decided to get it 😊👍 I only have one slight hesitation where I hope you can help me. I plan to use it primarily with a ZWO585MC Pro camera, a filter drawer, off-axis guider (with an ASI120mm mini)+ZWO EAF. Will my S-W EQ6R Pro be sufficient for mainly DSO photography? Ps, like you I have W-O Redcat 51 for wide field 👍
Glad you found the review helpful. I’ll be very honest and say that it does near the limits of (at least my) eq6. I have the 6R Pro too and so long as it wasn’t windy I was able to get good results with the combo, but if there was more than a breeze it struggled to keep the weight/inertia from this scope under control. If you’re able to shield the scope from the wind then you should have good success though. Saying that, it’s been a long time now since I’ve used that combo and PHD2 may be better at helping to control the two. I also was using a guide scope instead of OAG at the time so that should help you further.
@AstroWithRoRo Thank you for a quick and helpful reply! Sorry to bother you with a follow-up question. I am not familiar with the PHD2, but it seems to be some sort of guiding tool. I use the ASIAIR Plus of recent model and trust this is good for system control (I am a bit of a noob, learning the basics from the comfort of my balcony, kyckily perfectly directed for targets like Andromeda). My question is (after seeing another film showing the focuser to be really poor), if you would/could recommend a suitable and reasonably priced after market focuser (ideally turn-key installation)? Many thanks in advance from "up over" (Sweden).
The ASIAIR uses PDH2 to do guiding, so you'll be fine with that. I recommend the Moonlite Newtonian cr2 focuser with the 190MN adapter. I have another friend with this scope & that focuser and both of them are very good. Hand hold a lot of weight before flexing and it's very smooth to focus.
It looks like a nice configuration the Maksutov-Newtonian. Good eyepiece position for observing in different positions. I'm not enjoying getting on my knees to observe zenith objects so this may be the way to go. Thanks for a great video.
@RoRo- Your video on the 190MN helped convince me to buy one. It's been great so far, but the focuser sucks rocks. I just got the Moonlite and the mounting plate for that scope. Any tips, lessons learned, etc before I do this install? I'm going to avoid removing any of the optics if I can. Also, the small ring drawn on the secondary mirror - do I want to align that to the center of the focuser or ignore it? I am finding conflicting answers online. Some are saying yes, some are saying it should be offset from the center of the focuser and to only align the full illuminated secondary circle and primary center spot to the center of the focuser. I know not to move the secondary or the main optical elements at all. Thanks!
Very good comentary to the 190 Mak.I changed the mirror to 46 mm So it is Now 28%Obstruction.I use the Mak online visually. Maximal could be an obstruction of 23%,because the hole in the Glas is only 36mm,but for this the whole Telescope must be longer It is a super telescope..
Dear Roro, thank you for sharing your experience and excellent review! I have a problem with understanding what Moonlite focuser configuration I should get for the MN1190 scope. Could you please list all the parts you used from the scope body up to the camera including all brackets, spacers, focuser model etc? Thank you very much!
I really appreciated the thoroughness of your review. I'm considering replacing my fiddly f/4 because of constant collimation needs and I've never been happy with either of my field flatteners.
I personally considered the f4 but considering how much complexity it adds, I just went with a regular f4.8 newtonian. Getting something like the skywatcher 0.9x corrector, it reduces it to about f4.3 which is not too different from the f4
Hi RoRo, Did you ever actually use a full-frame camera with this telescope? Can you post your results? SkyWatcher says it's only corrected to APS-C so I'd like to see the stars at the corners of a full-frame camera.
Great to see someone singing praises of the MN190, when there are so many critics who have never tried it, “it’s to heavy, an eq6 Mount won’t support it, it will need collimating (oh horror) and it’s got a strange name, wind ... most of reason you mentioned. Got mine last October very limited use because of problems to get new mount followed by almost unrelenting night time clouds. But finally using it. It’s great, love it. It is a beast - good exercise getting on and off mount Definitely not best choice for first scope, learning curve with this could put newbies off Astro.but great 2nd scope!!!! Thanks for great review !!!
Melissa!! Remember when we watched the movie walk with me? When we said we wanted to find a guy to build us a telescope? When I asked Brad if he would build me a telescope? Paul was the guy that built both of us a telescope!! Mom approves. She says you are stuck with him. 😇🤣
Unfortunately Mak Newts generally can’t use reducers unless they’re specifically designed for them which is hard. Since the optics are already fully corrected any reducer will usually over correct and cause coma and/or chromatic aberrations.
Great review! do you have dovetails on both side? can you tell more about mounting secondary dovetail: which screws you was used. is it 1/4 unc? which nuts been used
I bought my MN190/1000 from First Light Optics in 2020. At first, I used my EQ5, but that appeared to be too weak for the Mak-Newt. So, a year or so later on, I bought a second-hand Celestron CGEM mount and replaced the Vixen dovetail on the Mak-Newt for a Losmandy plate, so that the Mak-Newt could fit snugly onto the CGEM. That ensured a safe clamping and less wobble. My exposures of Jupiter and Saturn became more user-friendly since then. Just be aware of the meridian flip that the CGEM sometimes induces, while I'm not counting on it! The EQ5 never did that, obviously, as it only has non-software motor-drivers.
Hey RoRo, i am looking to buy my first telescope. I was hoping for a “do all scope” and thinking along the lines of a EDge Hd. I mainly will be visual, and maybe a photo or two later on… I’m so conflicted with all the different type as of scopes,!!! 🤣 This looks like the perfect scope for me! This really sits in the “middle” doesn’t it?? Cheers, Phil
I own this scope since about 1.5 years now. It's a dream of a telescope. However, do not underestimate its weight! You will need a proper mount for this. I first used it on my Sky-Watcher EQ5, which was kind of okay, but not very good. I then bought a second-hand Celestron CGEM mount. Much better for this telescope, although I had to take measures to get it fitted, as the Celestron only accepts Losmandy style brackets. I bought a converter that fits to the Vixen dovetail of the Mak-Newt and makes it fit the Losmandy seat on the CGEM. Perfect! The Sky-Watcher 190MN will not disappoint you. I can get astonishing images from Jupiter and Saturn, using a 3x Barlow and a ZWO ASI 120MC clone. Deep sky is also possible of course, but the 1000 mm focal length inhibit targeting too large an object in the nightly skies, unless you want to mosaic-stitch it afterwards.
Awesome video! I'm considering this scope as my next OTA purchase and it seems to tick all of the boxes. I just can't yet decide should I go for a longer focal length, since I currently have a 150/750 newt
Its certainly a great scope, that is quite similar to your current one though from a focal length perspective. It should give you a good increase in planetary/lunar details though with the larger aperture if that's something you're into.
I enjoyed your review, it helped me with my decision to buy this scope. Hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions. Where did you get your focuser? It is a moonlight, which one exactly? Did you have to drill holes in your scope to mount it? The stock one just isn't very sturdy, especially when holding a camera and filter wheel. Thanks Jim...
I got the focuser from First Light Optics it's the "MoonLite CR2 Dual-Speed Crayford for Newtonians" + the 190NM installation kit for Newtonians. No need to drill anything, works with the existing focuser holes. :)
Thanks for this review. This telescope has piqued my interest, though I don't think it's in my immediate future. Did you say you were going to review a Mak-Cass too? Hopefully you will get around to it. I am thinking about purchasing a Mak for lunar and planetary, but not sure I want to jump in the deep end yet.
Hello Rohan, thanks for your great review. You’ve just about convinced me to replace my carbon fibre RC08. I do have an EQ6 on a pier. I have a Moonlight on the RC and I wonder if I can transfer that to the MN without too much aggro?
I ruled OUT Newtonian telescopes early in my search because of size and awkward eyepiece placement (and spider vanes). Standard Cassegrain are too slow. This is a perfect balance.
I have crafted a homebrew dew shield. It's simply a cut up yoga mat with some velcro to secure it in a tube & black velvet lining on the inside. I will try to create a video short about it soon.
I haven't used that camera myself but I believe it is a great match for this scope from a pixel size perspective. You will have quite a narrow field of view due to the small sensor size, but if you're ok with that then I'd say yes it's a good match. :)
The whole f/ratio race is a bit weird to me. The aperture defines how much light gets into the tube, all the f/ratio than does is to tell you how much magnification you get. For visual, it might have some place, but with an f/4 scope the subject is just going to be smaller. If you want that, you can also downsample the images or use bigger pixels...
I created a custom dew shield for it using a cut up yoga mat and some felt I glued to the inside to reduce reflections which has worked great. I do have a backup dew heat strip for extra humid nights but haven’t really needed to use it yet. I will try and make a quick video on it for you.
I wonder, if you sat this Mak-Newt side by side with an 8-inch SCT and shot the same target, with the same camera and accessories, would there really be any difference between them? If so, why?
I have a Celestron c9.25" SCT and a Mak-Newt. The MN190 is much easier to use and more consistent for astrophotography of DSO targets, which is mostly what I do. The SCT is great for planetary and with a good reducer is similar to MN190 for DSO targets, but the SCT always has softer images, requires a bit more steady skies, and requires more post processing to get clean images. The MN190 comes out pretty sharp contrasty and clean with minimal processing. In this case both these scopes are about same weight, though the SCT is a little easier to carry. I will probably continue to use both, the SCT for small galaxies and planetary nebula at f10 and the MN190 for everything else.
Great review, I agree with all you said. I'm also thinking about upgrading my focuser - did you do this by yourself? I read a lot it's better not to touch it :) Could you also point me to the focuser you have, thanks!
I did it on my own. You'll need to be comfortable with collimation to attempt it as you'll need to centre the new focuser over the secondary and then collimate it again to make sure you lined it all up correctly. It's not too difficult though, just screw the old out and screw the new in. I got the MoonLite CR2 Dual-Speed Crayford for Newtonians & 190MN MoonLite Installation kit from First Light Optics.
always wondered what are the differences between maskutov newtonians and just regular newtonians with a corrector in the focuser. The cost difference is quite large
Yeah it's a different style of correction. One corrects the light as it enters the tube, the other as it exits. You can get a better correction this way as they match the corrector plate with the mirrors, but costs more and is heavier.
I purchased mine off First light Optics. You need two items. The MoonLite CR2 Dual-Speed Crayford for Newtonians which is the focuser and the MoonLite Installation kit for Newtonian focusers - Aperture: 190MN which is the adapter plate for the 190MN.
@@AstroWithRoRo fantastic review, I also have the scope and love it. Just curious, do you know if you’re able to fit a ZWO EAF on the moonlight focuser? Thanks and clear skies
why do you have such a large spacer between the focuser and tube? I have a moonlite for my 190mn, and I dont have that spacer. Is that to allow visual observing?
I'm currently looking for an 8" newt for imaging. This telescope looks impressive but I'm not convinced it'll deliver much over a Skywatcher 200 or 250 quattro at half the prioe.
How much of an upgrade is this telescope compared to a SW 200/1000 newtonian? Mostly wondering about image quality. Would use it for both visual observations and astrophotography aswell.
I haven't used the 200P myself so hard for me to say. You are losing a very small amount of aperture but gaining a completely flat field and a bit of weight from the extra glass.
I haven’t been able to finish my video review of it yet as we’ve been stuck in lockdown. Need a bit more time with it under better skies to finish the video. Hope to have it completed as soon as Sydney is out of lockdown.
@@AstroWithRoRo ah fair enough mate, keep well! we haven't had it quite as bad as you guys but gettin sick of the lockdown here in Auckland too , awful weather hasn't helped :|
Unfortunately not. SW has said that it would be very difficult to create a reducer for this so I don't believe one will be coming out any time soon, if at all.
I used to own one when I lived in the uk. They were very popular in uk when they came out. Not so much here in Australia. Most have criticised the cool down times, I’ve heard it reiterated several times, mainly from people that have never used one. Personally I use an F4 Quattro these days. I do agree though they are very capable scopes
Dobs are great for planetary/lunar astrophotography. They struggle with deep space objects due to the alt/az style mount. This limits your exposure time greatly due to field rotation. You can get around this by using many many short exposures or buying a camera rotator but that all adds to the cost.
Things might have changed in the 30+ years since I was last into telescopes but at least back then the front piece of glass is actually a lens with only one side, the inside, configured to complex curve shape.
That is the Schmidt plate, but Maksutov and Houghton used different designs. The corrector lens of Maksutov-Cassegrains and Maksutov-Newtonians even needs to have two curved surfaces to reduce chromatic aberration.
Which telescope is best.... 1.Sky-Watcher Quattro 300P Imaging Newtonian Telescope Vs 2. Sky-Watcher Starlux 190MN Astronomical Telescope Please give me answer sir....
I bought my MN190 4 years ago, and it was my first scope for imaging, after doing visual with a refractor and a SCT. Your review covers well all the reasons I wanted the MN190. I am still puzzled why more people do not use it. I got mine used with the moonlight focuser already installed, so it was super simple to set up and use and quite. affordable (especially compared to a refractor!). The weight issue is funny to me. If you get a refractor that has a 1000mm focal length in most cases it will be about the same weight as the MN. The only real disadvantage is wind, which I have experienced. You did not mention the other big issue for the MN190, which is its propensity to gather dew in wet climates since the corrector plate is right in front end of scope. This is easily solved with a dew strap, but just another thing to keep in mind. I highly recommend for astrophotography. I use with a Ioptron CEM40 mount without issue.
I have the original version of this scope bought back in 2009 it is an excellent scope and I still use it to this day. Nice review and I hope you have many more happy years from it.
Great to hear it's holding up so well James! Hope you get many more wonderful nights out with it!
Great review! Actually I find the design of the scope with glass at both ends helps with the balance. My EQ6 Pro (Rowan belt converted) handles it well.
After first seeing your video two years ago, I finally found a reasonably priced one just recently. Absolutely love this scope !
Great review. I have the Orion version of this scope. I'm still a relative beginner at astrophotography but I appreciate the capabilities of this Mak-Newt more and more all the time. I run mine on a Celestron CGX mount.
RoRo,
This was a GREAT review. You do an amazing job. You really do.
I think you sold me on this scope.
You brought up every point I was concerned about and you made the decison for me to buy it a lot easier.
Thank You so much sir!
Joe D
Thanks for a great review Rowan, you really transfer an honest and knowledgeable vibe.
After months of looking at SCT's/Newtonians I really just discovered this scope today and yours is the first review I watch. Based on that I have already decided to get it 😊👍
I only have one slight hesitation where I hope you can help me. I plan to use it primarily with a ZWO585MC Pro camera, a filter drawer, off-axis guider (with an ASI120mm mini)+ZWO EAF. Will my S-W EQ6R Pro be sufficient for mainly DSO photography?
Ps, like you I have W-O Redcat 51 for wide field 👍
Glad you found the review helpful. I’ll be very honest and say that it does near the limits of (at least my) eq6. I have the 6R Pro too and so long as it wasn’t windy I was able to get good results with the combo, but if there was more than a breeze it struggled to keep the weight/inertia from this scope under control. If you’re able to shield the scope from the wind then you should have good success though. Saying that, it’s been a long time now since I’ve used that combo and PHD2 may be better at helping to control the two. I also was using a guide scope instead of OAG at the time so that should help you further.
@AstroWithRoRo Thank you for a quick and helpful reply! Sorry to bother you with a follow-up question.
I am not familiar with the PHD2, but it seems to be some sort of guiding tool. I use the ASIAIR Plus of recent model and trust this is good for system control (I am a bit of a noob, learning the basics from the comfort of my balcony, kyckily perfectly directed for targets like Andromeda).
My question is (after seeing another film showing the focuser to be really poor), if you would/could recommend a suitable and reasonably priced after market focuser (ideally turn-key installation)?
Many thanks in advance from "up over" (Sweden).
The ASIAIR uses PDH2 to do guiding, so you'll be fine with that. I recommend the Moonlite Newtonian cr2 focuser with the 190MN adapter. I have another friend with this scope & that focuser and both of them are very good. Hand hold a lot of weight before flexing and it's very smooth to focus.
@AstroWithRoRo Thankful! 🙏
It looks like a nice configuration the Maksutov-Newtonian. Good eyepiece position for observing in different positions. I'm not enjoying getting on my knees to observe zenith objects so this may be the way to go. Thanks for a great video.
Really great review, thank you so much! Very pleasant sound btw.
@RoRo-
Your video on the 190MN helped convince me to buy one. It's been great so far, but the focuser sucks rocks. I just got the Moonlite and the mounting plate for that scope. Any tips, lessons learned, etc before I do this install? I'm going to avoid removing any of the optics if I can. Also, the small ring drawn on the secondary mirror - do I want to align that to the center of the focuser or ignore it? I am finding conflicting answers online. Some are saying yes, some are saying it should be offset from the center of the focuser and to only align the full illuminated secondary circle and primary center spot to the center of the focuser. I know not to move the secondary or the main optical elements at all. Thanks!
Very good comentary to the 190 Mak.I changed the mirror to 46 mm
So it is Now 28%Obstruction.I use the
Mak online visually.
Maximal could be an obstruction of 23%,because the hole in the Glas is only 36mm,but for this the whole Telescope must be longer
It is a super telescope..
Dear Roro, thank you for sharing your experience and excellent review!
I have a problem with understanding what Moonlite focuser configuration I should get for the MN1190 scope. Could you please list all the parts you used from the scope body up to the camera including all brackets, spacers, focuser model etc? Thank you very much!
I really appreciated the thoroughness of your review. I'm considering replacing my fiddly f/4 because of constant collimation needs and I've never been happy with either of my field flatteners.
It should offer you a nice improvement in both of those aspects.
I personally considered the f4 but considering how much complexity it adds, I just went with a regular f4.8 newtonian. Getting something like the skywatcher 0.9x corrector, it reduces it to about f4.3 which is not too different from the f4
@@michal_king478 I seriously considered a f/5 8" this year but decided to wait till next year potentially upgrading to an Edge HD 8 instead. #moneyPit
Hi RoRo, Did you ever actually use a full-frame camera with this telescope? Can you post your results? SkyWatcher says it's only corrected to APS-C so I'd like to see the stars at the corners of a full-frame camera.
Great to see someone singing praises of the MN190, when there are so many critics who have never tried it, “it’s to heavy, an eq6 Mount won’t support it, it will need collimating (oh horror) and it’s got a strange name, wind ... most of reason you mentioned.
Got mine last October very limited use because of problems to get new mount followed by almost unrelenting night time clouds.
But finally using it.
It’s great, love it.
It is a beast - good exercise getting on and off mount
Definitely not best choice for first scope, learning curve with this could put newbies off Astro.but great 2nd scope!!!!
Thanks for great review !!!
100%! Great to hear that you're loving yours too!
does it really not fit the eq6?
The EQ6 does work with the MN190. With all accessories and cameras.
Melissa!! Remember when we watched the movie walk with me? When we said we wanted to find a guy to build us a telescope? When I asked Brad if he would build me a telescope? Paul was the guy that built both of us a telescope!! Mom approves. She says you are stuck with him. 😇🤣
Any idea if you can pair this with a reducer, like the Starizona Nexus to bring it to 750mm @f3.9 ?
Unfortunately Mak Newts generally can’t use reducers unless they’re specifically designed for them which is hard. Since the optics are already fully corrected any reducer will usually over correct and cause coma and/or chromatic aberrations.
Hey. Thanks for video. Where can I find the glass plate holding the reflective mirror?
Great review!
do you have dovetails on both side? can you tell more about mounting secondary dovetail: which screws you was used. is it 1/4 unc? which nuts been used
Thank you.
Hi RoRo…Please tell me exactly what Moonlite focuser model you bought and a did you install it yourself …do I need a laser for collimation?
Did you have any problem with connecting dslr camera and how did you do it.
Hello Roro I think to buy this telescope but I'm a little worried with my camera Zwo 533 you think is good idea. Thanks
I just bought one with an old style EQR-6 Pro mount. This mount had the gear system not the belt driven one which are current.
I bought my MN190/1000 from First Light Optics in 2020. At first, I used my EQ5, but that appeared to be too weak for the Mak-Newt. So, a year or so later on, I bought a second-hand Celestron CGEM mount and replaced the Vixen dovetail on the Mak-Newt for a Losmandy plate, so that the Mak-Newt could fit snugly onto the CGEM. That ensured a safe clamping and less wobble. My exposures of Jupiter and Saturn became more user-friendly since then. Just be aware of the meridian flip that the CGEM sometimes induces, while I'm not counting on it! The EQ5 never did that, obviously, as it only has non-software motor-drivers.
Hey RoRo, i am looking to buy my first telescope. I was hoping for a “do all scope” and thinking along the lines of a EDge Hd. I mainly will be visual, and maybe a photo or two later on… I’m so conflicted with all the different type as of scopes,!!! 🤣 This looks like the perfect scope for me! This really sits in the “middle” doesn’t it?? Cheers, Phil
I own this scope since about 1.5 years now. It's a dream of a telescope.
However, do not underestimate its weight! You will need a proper mount for this. I first used it on my Sky-Watcher EQ5, which was kind of okay, but not very good. I then bought a second-hand Celestron CGEM mount. Much better for this telescope, although I had to take measures to get it fitted, as the Celestron only accepts Losmandy style brackets. I bought a converter that fits to the Vixen dovetail of the Mak-Newt and makes it fit the Losmandy seat on the CGEM. Perfect!
The Sky-Watcher 190MN will not disappoint you. I can get astonishing images from Jupiter and Saturn, using a 3x Barlow and a ZWO ASI 120MC clone. Deep sky is also possible of course, but the 1000 mm focal length inhibit targeting too large an object in the nightly skies, unless you want to mosaic-stitch it afterwards.
Awesome video!
I'm considering this scope as my next OTA purchase and it seems to tick all of the boxes. I just can't yet decide should I go for a longer focal length, since I currently have a 150/750 newt
Its certainly a great scope, that is quite similar to your current one though from a focal length perspective. It should give you a good increase in planetary/lunar details though with the larger aperture if that's something you're into.
I enjoyed your review, it helped me with my decision to buy this scope. Hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions. Where did you get your focuser? It is a moonlight, which one exactly? Did you have to drill holes in your scope to mount it? The stock one just isn't very sturdy, especially when holding a camera and filter wheel. Thanks Jim...
I got the focuser from First Light Optics it's the "MoonLite CR2 Dual-Speed Crayford for Newtonians" + the 190NM installation kit for Newtonians. No need to drill anything, works with the existing focuser holes. :)
Thanks for this review. This telescope has piqued my interest, though I don't think it's in my immediate future. Did you say you were going to review a Mak-Cass too? Hopefully you will get around to it. I am thinking about purchasing a Mak for lunar and planetary, but not sure I want to jump in the deep end yet.
Great review RoRo! Can you give me the name or producer where I can buy that focuser upgrade?
Hello Rohan, thanks for your great review. You’ve just about convinced me to replace my carbon fibre RC08. I do have an EQ6 on a pier. I have a Moonlight on the RC and I wonder if I can transfer that to the MN without too much aggro?
I think you may need the MN adapter kit. I got mine from First Light Optics. The actual focuser is the standard 2" one though from MoonLite.
Well yes, I am definitely drooling.
great review, maybe u got leaning towards another scope.. thanks for putting this out there.. clear skies!!
I ruled OUT Newtonian telescopes early in my search because of size and awkward eyepiece placement (and spider vanes). Standard Cassegrain are too slow. This is a perfect balance.
Thank you for the review. How do you control dew? Would a heating strap do it alone? Is a shield needed?
I have crafted a homebrew dew shield. It's simply a cut up yoga mat with some velcro to secure it in a tube & black velvet lining on the inside. I will try to create a video short about it soon.
I would love my Newtonian if the star diffraction wasn't so prevalent. For that reason I have not done any astrophotography for years now.
Thanks for this..:d
Do you recommend zwo Asi 533 mc camera with this scope???
I haven't used that camera myself but I believe it is a great match for this scope from a pixel size perspective. You will have quite a narrow field of view due to the small sensor size, but if you're ok with that then I'd say yes it's a good match. :)
The whole f/ratio race is a bit weird to me. The aperture defines how much light gets into the tube, all the f/ratio than does is to tell you how much magnification you get. For visual, it might have some place, but with an f/4 scope the subject is just going to be smaller. If you want that, you can also downsample the images or use bigger pixels...
For example, look at the galaxy pictures from a RASA. Generally garbage in small objects because the focal length isn't there.
I've had a MN190 for a few years, it's a great scope. Enjoy!
Right on!
Hi RoRo, thanks for the review of the beautiful MN190. What about dew control for the telescope? Do you use a dew shield for astrophotography?
I created a custom dew shield for it using a cut up yoga mat and some felt I glued to the inside to reduce reflections which has worked great. I do have a backup dew heat strip for extra humid nights but haven’t really needed to use it yet. I will try and make a quick video on it for you.
I wonder, if you sat this Mak-Newt side by side with an 8-inch SCT and shot the same target, with the same camera and accessories, would there really be any difference between them? If so, why?
I actually have the C8 and plan on doing this exact test! Lockdown just ended so now as soon as we get some clear skies I will be trying this one out.
@@AstroWithRoRo - Excellent!! I'll look forward to seeing what you find! Wishing you clear skies sooner than later!
I have a Celestron c9.25" SCT and a Mak-Newt. The MN190 is much easier to use and more consistent for astrophotography of DSO targets, which is mostly what I do. The SCT is great for planetary and with a good reducer is similar to MN190 for DSO targets, but the SCT always has softer images, requires a bit more steady skies, and requires more post processing to get clean images. The MN190 comes out pretty sharp contrasty and clean with minimal processing. In this case both these scopes are about same weight, though the SCT is a little easier to carry. I will probably continue to use both, the SCT for small galaxies and planetary nebula at f10 and the MN190 for everything else.
Great review, I agree with all you said. I'm also thinking about upgrading my focuser - did you do this by yourself? I read a lot it's better not to touch it :) Could you also point me to the focuser you have, thanks!
I did it on my own. You'll need to be comfortable with collimation to attempt it as you'll need to centre the new focuser over the secondary and then collimate it again to make sure you lined it all up correctly. It's not too difficult though, just screw the old out and screw the new in. I got the MoonLite CR2 Dual-Speed Crayford for Newtonians & 190MN MoonLite Installation kit from First Light Optics.
always wondered what are the differences between maskutov newtonians and just regular newtonians with a corrector in the focuser. The cost difference is quite large
Yeah it's a different style of correction. One corrects the light as it enters the tube, the other as it exits. You can get a better correction this way as they match the corrector plate with the mirrors, but costs more and is heavier.
The upgrade/ modification of your Moonlight focuser... What is the model, where can it be purchased???
I purchased mine off First light Optics. You need two items. The MoonLite CR2 Dual-Speed Crayford for Newtonians which is the focuser and the MoonLite Installation kit for Newtonian focusers - Aperture: 190MN which is the adapter plate for the 190MN.
@@AstroWithRoRo
Thank you for that bit of info, and for your time andveffort. CLEAR SKIES...
@@AstroWithRoRo fantastic review, I also have the scope and love it. Just curious, do you know if you’re able to fit a ZWO EAF on the moonlight focuser? Thanks and clear skies
why do you have such a large spacer between the focuser and tube? I have a moonlite for my 190mn, and I dont have that spacer. Is that to allow visual observing?
Yes for visual. I use this telescope at my public outreach sessions which are visual sessions and this helps me reach focus with eye pieces.
@@AstroWithRoRo I ended up using a 2 inch extension :)
I'm currently looking for an 8" newt for imaging. This telescope looks impressive but I'm not convinced it'll deliver much over a Skywatcher 200 or 250 quattro at half the prioe.
How much of an upgrade is this telescope compared to a SW 200/1000 newtonian? Mostly wondering about image quality. Would use it for both visual observations and astrophotography aswell.
I haven't used the 200P myself so hard for me to say. You are losing a very small amount of aperture but gaining a completely flat field and a bit of weight from the extra glass.
@@AstroWithRoRo Thank you!
hey bro what did you end up naming the mak-cas review as? couldnt find it but i may be searching wrong thing. great veiw of this btw
I haven’t been able to finish my video review of it yet as we’ve been stuck in lockdown. Need a bit more time with it under better skies to finish the video. Hope to have it completed as soon as Sydney is out of lockdown.
@@AstroWithRoRo ah fair enough mate, keep well! we haven't had it quite as bad as you guys but gettin sick of the lockdown here in Auckland too , awful weather hasn't helped :|
Can you use reducer with this setup?
Unfortunately not. SW has said that it would be very difficult to create a reducer for this so I don't believe one will be coming out any time soon, if at all.
If you want wider field of view, add a focal reducer.
There is no focal reducer for this telescope. Since it has fully corrected optics adding a focal reducer will create distorted stars.
I used to own one when I lived in the uk. They were very popular in uk when they came out. Not so much here in Australia. Most have criticised the cool down times, I’ve heard it reiterated several times, mainly from people that have never used one. Personally I use an F4 Quattro these days. I do agree though they are very capable scopes
This + 8mm delos sound A++
It's a beautiful combo for sure!
Is any astrophotography possible with a 10” dobsonian??
Dobs are great for planetary/lunar astrophotography. They struggle with deep space objects due to the alt/az style mount. This limits your exposure time greatly due to field rotation. You can get around this by using many many short exposures or buying a camera rotator but that all adds to the cost.
@@AstroWithRoRo Or buy an equatorial platform which also costs money.
Things might have changed in the 30+ years since I was last into telescopes but at least back then the front piece of glass is actually a lens with only one side, the inside, configured to complex curve shape.
That is the Schmidt plate, but Maksutov and Houghton used different designs. The corrector lens of Maksutov-Cassegrains and Maksutov-Newtonians even needs to have two curved surfaces to reduce chromatic aberration.
Which telescope is best....
1.Sky-Watcher Quattro 300P Imaging Newtonian Telescope
Vs
2. Sky-Watcher Starlux 190MN Astronomical Telescope
Please give me answer sir....