I just acquired one of these telescopes and am very impressed with it after trying it out on the moon and other objects. However, I have one question. Does it cover a full frame sensor with the matching adjustable 1X field flattener?
I don't think it does, but honestly I am not sure. There are some great websites to calculate that kind of stuff. for example telescopius.com/calculator.
Hey, thanks for this. I got my Z61 and Flat61A used and i was struggling with adjusting the flattener. I had the same experience as you with the cap popping off too - fortunately into my lap but it was quite a surprise.
All very helpful information. I never knew about the William Optics flattener, as I've always used an Orion 8893 field flattener, which connects into the 1.25” adapter instead of having to unscrew the 2" portion. Also, I love the idea of the dry-gel packets for removing moisture, especially after four or five hours of imaging outside.
Talespinner35, thank you for the comment. Yeah, I read that moisture is the enemy of this type of glass. Thought it sounded like a good idea to seal it in a bag with the packets. Have a great day!
Thanks for your video as it did answer some questions I have. At the moment, I've been looking for a refractor for deep sky imaging and have pretty much decided to purchase the William Optics ZenithStar 61II Doublet Refracting Telescope along with the William Optics Flat61A Adjustable Field Flattener for ZenithStar 61A. Apparently, since you purchase your ZenithStar 61, they now have a version 2 of it, thus the ZenithStar 61II model name. I'm not sure of all the changes in the new model, but it looks apparent to me, I see two visual ones to start with. First off, the focuser is now "Rack and Pinion Focuser 50.8 mm (2-inch), 1:10 Dual Speeds, with 75 mm Travel Length." Second, I see, "210 mm Dovetail Plate" for the mounting. A bit more research, and I'll probably pick both of those items up. Thanks again for your video.
NOWitsOKto, thanks for the kind words. I wish you luck in your imaging journey! For me the ZenithStar 61 was a stepping stone to help me learn, but then I realized it is a very impressive piece of equipment and should not be considered only for beginning. The wide FOV helped me find targets when using the skyguider pro (non-goto). Thanks again and good luck!
@@universalobservations3299 thanks. In my vision, the WO scope would be one of probably two scopes. I'm finding messing around with Stellarium to be interesting. Think it's also good to get acquainted with the program. Time to watch another video, as I'd like to get a decent tripod/mount that will support the lighter weight kit and something a bit heavier.
amazing video I'm glad to see someone properly reviewing budget scopes, I wanted to ask whether this would be a good choice compared to a Astrophotography Newtown for the same price. Also , what about the guide star 61 telescope
Parekh, Thank you for checking out my videos. I wish I had more information to compare to other scopes, but sorry, I don't. I can tell you this is a great beginner scope, I have really learned a lot with it. The images in my videos don't do it justice.
Anita, glad you found it useful. The Z61 was exactly what I needed to learn the basics (and some more advanced) techniques used in this hobby. Good luck with what ever you choose!
@@universalobservations3299 thanks! This will be my first telescope, I'm very excited. Keep your channel going, you're providing lots of help for beginners like me!
Anita, Thank you for the comments! I recommend a stable tripod and/or mount. I also can't stress enough how important polar alignment is, assuming you will be doing astrophotography.
Hi, thank you! At First Light Optics 🇬🇧 now the Guidestar 61 is only £300 ('save £100'). So it's a deal 😊 What do you think, can we attach a focuser for the Guidestar 61, so it could be a Zenithstar 61 (for £580 new)?
Thanks for the comment. According to the First Light Optics site both scopes "the same high-quality FPL53 ED doublet lens as the Zenithstar 61" but I am always skeptical about adding 3rd party equipment to save a few dollars (or pounds). Personally I find it better to save a little and get the complete product from one company. I am not saying it wouldn't work, but sometimes it will cost you more money and a lot of frustration. Good luck!
Good information. I would like to see the result difference you had by using this scope versus what you were using. That would help some decision making. Also, the fact that there is so few bits of information out there from William Optics in the first place makes this video invaluable. I have been finding very little actual details how everything works and what connects to what. William Optics and any scope maker for that matter can do a lot better in that area in my opinion.
Thanks! I have a video planned about the steps I took and the images that came at each step. You found the reason I started this channel. If I had questions, I'm sure others do too.
I am curious, it seems like on 90% of youtubers, no one actually looks through a telescope anymore. Everyone seems to only drag out a table, laptop, DSLR, and gadget after gadget. So, can you actually look through these things and see anything? Or do you just always have to have a camera attached. Thanks for any info.
DustyCowdog, I agree! I can explain my situation, I can't speak for others. I am relatively new to the hobby of astrophotography, only 6 months or so. I have been a photographer for almost 40 years. I got into this mainly to take pictures, not for visual astronomy. I have some eyepieces, but have never used them. So, while others do visual astronomy, you might never know as there was never a photo taken. The next part of this, it has been almost constantly cloudy where I live since I purchased my scope. Not joking, it's getting really frustrating. I can't wait for the days when I will be able to image and post videos about the different DSOs! If you haven't found Chuck's Astrophotography channel ua-cam.com/channels/Cllh0nUmlREEvoskaq9b3A.html and AstroBackyard ua-cam.com/channels/n3npsPixgoi_xLdCg9J-LQ.html I highly recommend them!
@@universalobservations3299 -- Thanks much for the info! I see all these cool telescopes but have no idea about what the view would be like just viewing through the scope with various eyepieces. The search continues 😃. Cheers!
@DustyCowdog, have you researched local "star parties"? I have never attended one, but there are a lot of great people that would be happy to get you excited about astronomy and/or astrophotography. Good luck!
im planing on buying the scope but im on a very slim budget ...is the field flattener a must have or just a good adition ?...so are the stars fine without it too ?
ASTRO BRC. If you are just starting out (or on a slim budget), I would try without the flattener. I was able to afford the flattener and have never used the scope without it. I will say that the scope itself is great, it helped me learn a lot. I really like the field of view. When starting out, it helps if you don't have a "goto" mount or if you are positioning manually. BTW, a red dot finder is a big help and relatively inexpensive too. If money is tight, get the scope without the flattener, then get it later to make your images just a little bit better. You will likely find the stars at the edges are the issue and you can crop a little tighter if you desire.
Thanks! You can find the first two images (Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy) on my site, here www.universalobservations.com/william-optics-zenithstar-61-first-light Please note you can click on the photos to expand them! More videos and photos coming soon. It is been cloudy and/or very cold for almost 3 months here. Thanks for asking.
Thank you for this helpful review. I saw that in order to use guiding on this refractor, you need to buy a ring with handle bar, remove the first L bracket and place it there. But then the bottom support for your refractor is just the small square of the ring, and it looks not very steady compared to the initial L bracket. Do you know if there is a way to use guiding on this refractor and keep steady support for the mount, without having to by the new ZS61 II which comes with a dovetail plate + ring + handlebar and weight 2,2 kg instead of 1,5 kg for the ZS61 ?
Julien, there are a lot of different ways to do guiding with this scope. I was limited by trying to keep things light and compact as I was using the iOptron Skyguider pro as my mount. If you have a bigger (higher capacity) mount you could do all kinds of things. The mounting foot that comes with the scope is pretty good. If you are going to do guiding I would recommend purchasing SharpCap just for the polar alignment feature. It REALLY helps.
@@universalobservations3299 I have the same question as @julianperret - the Mark 1 version of this scope (which you show in the video) has no place to add a guidescope. The Mark 2 has a completely different mount ring that accepts the same dovetail base as the Redcat. I was going to add a guidescope and realised I had no clue how to fit a dovetail shoe. I thought I had been sold a pup, but inspection of various videos shows I have the same earlier/inferior mounting system.
Really useful video for anyone considering this scope. I do like the incorporated focus mask with the new range of WO scopes, but yes you certainly don't want to pump the sliding dew shield like a shotgun over concrete, else you'll get some nasty dents on that lovely anodised objective cap! Well pointed out :) Love your channel name by the way, worth a sub for that alone :D
Keith, most of the (better) scopes don't come with eyepieces, nor do they come with T-ring adapters to mount a camera. You get the choice of what you want to use without incurring the cost of what you don't want. For example, I have eyepieces, and wouldn't want to pay for eyepieces that the manufacturer supplied with the scope. And, you get to choose your own based on quality, budget, etc. BTW, with this scope you can use 2 inch or 1.25 inch. Hope that helps.
If you use this as just a viewing scope for the night sky will you be able to view the dso milkyway and stars with it or is it useless for dso with prism and eye pieces?
Usman Mughal, thanks for watching! The ZenithStar 61 is not only for astrophotography, but I have only used it for that purpose. It comes with a "Roto lock" adapter that will allow 1.25" eyepieces and the roto lock can be removed to accept 2" eyepieces. You can also use a "diagonal" that will give you a 90 degree bend making it so you don't have to bend over so much. Having said all of that, I only ever use it for astrophotography. I bought a set of eye pieces and a Barlow lens (which increases the effective focal length or "magnification"), but I have never used them. I live in such a light polluted area I don't think I would be able to view anything worth while.
Universal Observations i live in light polluted area aswell but when i go abroad to like kashmir in pakistan or rural northern areas ive seen the milkyway with bare eyes and even photographed andromeda so was wondering if i was to opt with either this or the Orion starblast 62mm refractor which seems like a very good buy will i be able to view dso with them ?
I have only had 1 opportunity to use the scope/skyguider pro since I purchased 2 months ago. The weather has been awful here. What I can tell you is, I was able to expose for 45 to 60 seconds with no trails. I didn't try for longer. Even at ISO 400 with the light pollution here, that is about the longest I can go. I just bought a CLS filter and will be trying that on the next clear night. It seemed to be able to handle the weight even when it wasn't properly balanced. If you look at the setup I was using here www.universalobservations.com/william-optics-zenithstar-61-first-light I really needed another counter weight. I had to improvise for more weight with a large C-clamp. I feel the Skyguider Pro handled the weight and I could have exposed much longer without trails. Also, I really did an accurate polar alignment and fine tuned it before starting every batch. Thanks for watching and the comment!
@@universalobservations3299 Thanks for your reply. I think with the Canon 6D you can easily go up to ISO1600 and still have good noise peformance. Why did you choose such a low ISO? Currently I also shoot with a Canon6D and a small leightweight tamron28-300 lens. I get about 2 minutes per subs but on the older skytracker pro (whole setup, camera+lens, weighing about 1317g). Your setup should weigh about 2300g (camera+Z61) if I calculated correctly and 2mins exposure time per sub should be no problem on the skyguider pro with counterweight. I would like to upgrade my setup with a scope. The SkyGuider Pro with either the Zenithstar 61 or the Redcat 51. But I haven't decided yet. Actually I prefer the longer focal length of the Z61 over the Redcat with 250mm, but at the same time I would like to know if the Redcat really can produce sharper and better quality images than the Z61. But so far what I have seen with the Redcat 51 is that its images are really really sharp so I may be able to crop the images strongly without much quality loss.
@caste2510 Oh yes, definitely the Canon 6D will go to ISO 1600 without much noise. I am in a very light polluted area (Bortle class 6) and decided to go to ISO 400 as my subs were getting over exposed any higher. This was the balance between ISO and time as I tried to get a reasonably long exposure. I just purchased a CLS filter but haven't had a chance to try it out. I am assuming it will let me have a longer exposure. Once it gets warmer here and a less clouds I have a darker sight (Bortle class 4) that I plan to image from. Just trying to get some of the kinks worked out of the process. One of the next videos I am thinking of doing is my progression from a simple DSLR and lens on a tripod (no tracker), to a better tripod, and the skyguider pro, then eventually a better camera, skyguider pro, and Zenithstar 61 and the improvements in the images as I stepped my way up the astrophotography equipment path.
@@universalobservations3299 sounds good, I am interested in seeing your videos. I am lucky to live in a region with a fairly dark sky and when I want to go to an even darker place, it's a 30 mins drive up to the mountain. From there I took most of my astrophotos. I am thinking of uploading my deep sky images to astrobin which I took with just my tamron28-300 camera lens.
DioGo so I actually just figured this out. I purchased a 2 inch m48 extender tubes and it worked perfect and I have enough back focus. The problem here isn’t connecting the camera to scope but it’s getting enough back focus. Which t ring do you have? M42 or m48?
DioGo I recommend whichever is the sturdiest and the one you go to the most. Here’s what I just bought for m48 t ring Astromania Astronomical... www.amazon.com/dp/B072M7CSLH?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I ordered it directly from William Optics. When I ordered it, it looked like no one else had it in stock and the WO site showed that it would ship in about a week. So I ordered directly from WO. It shipped directly from Taiwan and arrived in about 9 days. This was over Christmas too. Happy with the delivery time, especially over the Holidays. Packaging is great! Hope this helps.
Universal Observations it helps a lot friend thanks for taking the time, I already have a dubsonian telescope but I really want to try one of this, i don’t have any idea how it works or if I need more than the telescope and the camera, I am doing s9me research on internet that’s why I found you, wish me luck, by the way really nice video keep up the good work . Have a nice day .
Wizard Z, this is a quality scope, with quality optics. I use it as my primary, wide field scope with a smaller guider scope attached. But, I guess you could use it as a guide scope. For example I also have an Explore Scientific ED 127, and have considered using the William Optics ZenithStart 61 as a guide scope, but that is not really it's intended design.
@Issac 17, thanks for watching! The ZenithStar 61 is not only for astrophotography, but I have only used it for that purpose. It comes with a "Roto lock" adapter that will allow 1.25" eyepieces and the roto lock can be removed to accept 2" eyepieces. You can also use a "diagonal" that will give you a 90 degree bend making it so you don't have to bend over so much. Having said all of that, I only ever use it for astrophotography. I bought a set of eye pieces and a Barlow lens (which increases the effective focal length or "magnification"), but I have never used them. I live in such a light polluted area I don't think I would be able to view anything worth while. I think if you are looking for a way to view planets, there are much better telescopes for doing this. You might want to ask on the Cloudy Nights forum. After your question I did some research and I couldn't find a single picture of a planet online using the William Optics ZenithStar 61. You could also search for a local "star party" in your area where others might show you what is possible. Good luck in your search!
Ayub, Thanks for watching! I am not sure I understand your question, so I will do my best to answer. I think you are asking if you can attach a filter to the field flattener. My answer, "I think so". I recently purchased a 2 inch (I think these typically have 48 mm threads) CLS filter to go between my William Optic Canon mount and the field flattener. I attached it to the Canon mount and when I tried to screw it onto the flattener, there weren't enough threads on the filter to attach to the flattener. I purchased a very inexpensive filter. I assume a better filter would have more threads to attach. I think the one I got was meant to be on the very end of a camera lens and not in the "image train" of an astrophotography setup. I am thinking of trying to remove the small ring that holds the filter in place and then screw it onto my flattener. But, I may just spend some extra money and get a better filter. I hope that was the question you were asking and I hope I answered it.
@@universalobservations3299 The field flattener should have 1 or 2 M48 extension tube installed on it to achieve right distance for DSLR, the first one (between camera side one and main lens body) can be unscrew, then you can install M48 thread 2" filter inside the field flattener.
Makes me laugh when photographers try to say there is limited information available about telescopes. Astronomers know where to look and there is a huge amount of info on astro imaging on their websites. Don’t talk crap about not being able to find something. So annoying. Astronomers who get into imaging do fine. Photographers who try to portray themselves as experts on astronomy equipment talk such nonsense. Clueless.
Wow, nice information video; please keep them coming!
Thank you sir!
I just acquired one of these telescopes and am very impressed with it after trying it out on the moon and other objects. However, I have one question. Does it cover a full frame sensor with the matching adjustable 1X field flattener?
I don't think it does, but honestly I am not sure. There are some great websites to calculate that kind of stuff. for example telescopius.com/calculator.
Hey, thanks for this. I got my Z61 and Flat61A used and i was struggling with adjusting the flattener. I had the same experience as you with the cap popping off too - fortunately into my lap but it was quite a surprise.
Bill, Glad it helped. The Z61 really helped me learn a lot. Clear skies!
All very helpful information. I never knew about the William Optics flattener, as I've always used an Orion 8893 field flattener, which connects into the 1.25” adapter instead of having to unscrew the 2" portion. Also, I love the idea of the dry-gel packets for removing moisture, especially after four or five hours of imaging outside.
Talespinner35, thank you for the comment. Yeah, I read that moisture is the enemy of this type of glass. Thought it sounded like a good idea to seal it in a bag with the packets. Have a great day!
Muchas gracias por tu video, muy instructivo!. Saludos desde Argentina.
Thanks for your video as it did answer some questions I have.
At the moment, I've been looking for a refractor for deep sky imaging and have pretty much decided to purchase the William Optics ZenithStar 61II Doublet Refracting Telescope along with the William Optics Flat61A Adjustable Field Flattener for ZenithStar 61A.
Apparently, since you purchase your ZenithStar 61, they now have a version 2 of it, thus the ZenithStar 61II model name.
I'm not sure of all the changes in the new model, but it looks apparent to me, I see two visual ones to start with.
First off, the focuser is now "Rack and Pinion Focuser 50.8 mm (2-inch), 1:10 Dual Speeds, with 75 mm Travel Length."
Second, I see, "210 mm Dovetail Plate" for the mounting.
A bit more research, and I'll probably pick both of those items up.
Thanks again for your video.
NOWitsOKto, thanks for the kind words. I wish you luck in your imaging journey! For me the ZenithStar 61 was a stepping stone to help me learn, but then I realized it is a very impressive piece of equipment and should not be considered only for beginning. The wide FOV helped me find targets when using the skyguider pro (non-goto). Thanks again and good luck!
@@universalobservations3299 thanks.
In my vision, the WO scope would be one of probably two scopes.
I'm finding messing around with Stellarium to be interesting. Think it's also good to get acquainted with the program.
Time to watch another video, as I'd like to get a decent tripod/mount that will support the lighter weight kit and something a bit heavier.
amazing video I'm glad to see someone properly reviewing budget scopes, I wanted to ask whether this would be a good choice compared to a Astrophotography Newtown for the same price. Also , what about the guide star 61 telescope
Parekh, Thank you for checking out my videos. I wish I had more information to compare to other scopes, but sorry, I don't. I can tell you this is a great beginner scope, I have really learned a lot with it. The images in my videos don't do it justice.
I've been looking at the ZS61 to buy but haven't seen a lot of info online...this really helps out thank you!
Anita, glad you found it useful. The Z61 was exactly what I needed to learn the basics (and some more advanced) techniques used in this hobby. Good luck with what ever you choose!
@@universalobservations3299 thanks! This will be my first telescope, I'm very excited. Keep your channel going, you're providing lots of help for beginners like me!
Anita, Thank you for the comments! I recommend a stable tripod and/or mount. I also can't stress enough how important polar alignment is, assuming you will be doing astrophotography.
Hi, thank you!
At First Light Optics 🇬🇧 now the Guidestar 61 is only £300 ('save £100'). So it's a deal 😊
What do you think, can we attach a focuser for the Guidestar 61, so it could be a Zenithstar 61 (for £580 new)?
Thanks for the comment. According to the First Light Optics site both scopes "the same high-quality FPL53 ED doublet lens as the Zenithstar 61" but I am always skeptical about adding 3rd party equipment to save a few dollars (or pounds). Personally I find it better to save a little and get the complete product from one company. I am not saying it wouldn't work, but sometimes it will cost you more money and a lot of frustration. Good luck!
@@universalobservations3299
Exactly what I thought.
Thank you for your vids! 👍
Good information. I would like to see the result difference you had by using this scope versus what you were using. That would help some decision making. Also, the fact that there is so few bits of information out there from William Optics in the first place makes this video invaluable. I have been finding very little actual details how everything works and what connects to what. William Optics and any scope maker for that matter can do a lot better in that area in my opinion.
Thanks! I have a video planned about the steps I took and the images that came at each step.
You found the reason I started this channel. If I had questions, I'm sure others do too.
I am curious, it seems like on 90% of youtubers, no one actually looks through a telescope anymore. Everyone seems to only drag out a table, laptop, DSLR, and gadget after gadget. So, can you actually look through these things and see anything? Or do you just always have to have a camera attached. Thanks for any info.
DustyCowdog, I agree! I can explain my situation, I can't speak for others. I am relatively new to the hobby of astrophotography, only 6 months or so. I have been a photographer for almost 40 years. I got into this mainly to take pictures, not for visual astronomy. I have some eyepieces, but have never used them. So, while others do visual astronomy, you might never know as there was never a photo taken.
The next part of this, it has been almost constantly cloudy where I live since I purchased my scope. Not joking, it's getting really frustrating. I can't wait for the days when I will be able to image and post videos about the different DSOs!
If you haven't found Chuck's Astrophotography channel ua-cam.com/channels/Cllh0nUmlREEvoskaq9b3A.html and AstroBackyard ua-cam.com/channels/n3npsPixgoi_xLdCg9J-LQ.html I highly recommend them!
@@universalobservations3299 -- Thanks much for the info! I see all these cool telescopes but have no idea about what the view would be like just viewing through the scope with various eyepieces. The search continues 😃. Cheers!
@DustyCowdog, have you researched local "star parties"? I have never attended one, but there are a lot of great people that would be happy to get you excited about astronomy and/or astrophotography. Good luck!
@@universalobservations3299 -- I did think about that and now I'm going to go find one... Sounds fun. Cheers!
Great video, thanks. I'm looking to pick one up.
Thank you. Looking forward to posting more soon. I am really happy with it so far
Very good thanks for posting the video.
Tom, Thanks for the comment.. Clear Skies!
im planing on buying the scope but im on a very slim budget ...is the field flattener a must have or just a good adition ?...so are the stars fine without it too ?
ASTRO BRC. If you are just starting out (or on a slim budget), I would try without the flattener. I was able to afford the flattener and have never used the scope without it. I will say that the scope itself is great, it helped me learn a lot. I really like the field of view. When starting out, it helps if you don't have a "goto" mount or if you are positioning manually. BTW, a red dot finder is a big help and relatively inexpensive too. If money is tight, get the scope without the flattener, then get it later to make your images just a little bit better. You will likely find the stars at the edges are the issue and you can crop a little tighter if you desire.
@@universalobservations3299 thank you for the reply 👌 i have now decided to do just that
thanks for the great video. do you have any examples of images you've captured?
Thanks! You can find the first two images (Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy) on my site, here www.universalobservations.com/william-optics-zenithstar-61-first-light Please note you can click on the photos to expand them! More videos and photos coming soon. It is been cloudy and/or very cold for almost 3 months here. Thanks for asking.
Thank you for this helpful review. I saw that in order to use guiding on this refractor, you need to buy a ring with handle bar, remove the first L bracket and place it there. But then the bottom support for your refractor is just the small square of the ring, and it looks not very steady compared to the initial L bracket. Do you know if there is a way to use guiding on this refractor and keep steady support for the mount, without having to by the new ZS61 II which comes with a dovetail plate + ring + handlebar and weight 2,2 kg instead of 1,5 kg for the ZS61 ?
Julien, there are a lot of different ways to do guiding with this scope. I was limited by trying to keep things light and compact as I was using the iOptron Skyguider pro as my mount. If you have a bigger (higher capacity) mount you could do all kinds of things. The mounting foot that comes with the scope is pretty good. If you are going to do guiding I would recommend purchasing SharpCap just for the polar alignment feature. It REALLY helps.
@@universalobservations3299 I have the same question as @julianperret - the Mark 1 version of this scope (which you show in the video) has no place to add a guidescope. The Mark 2 has a completely different mount ring that accepts the same dovetail base as the Redcat. I was going to add a guidescope and realised I had no clue how to fit a dovetail shoe. I thought I had been sold a pup, but inspection of various videos shows I have the same earlier/inferior mounting system.
Really useful video for anyone considering this scope. I do like the incorporated focus mask with the new range of WO scopes, but yes you certainly don't want to pump the sliding dew shield like a shotgun over concrete, else you'll get some nasty dents on that lovely anodised objective cap! Well pointed out :) Love your channel name by the way, worth a sub for that alone :D
Thanks! I lucked out when I thought of the name and the web domain, twitter, etc. were available. Thanks for the sub!
Do these things come with eyepieces? Or is this specifically for camera mounting?
Keith, most of the (better) scopes don't come with eyepieces, nor do they come with T-ring adapters to mount a camera. You get the choice of what you want to use without incurring the cost of what you don't want. For example, I have eyepieces, and wouldn't want to pay for eyepieces that the manufacturer supplied with the scope. And, you get to choose your own based on quality, budget, etc. BTW, with this scope you can use 2 inch or 1.25 inch. Hope that helps.
This was really useful. Thank you.
Thank you so much. I appreciate the feedback!
If you use this as just a viewing scope for the night sky will you be able to view the dso milkyway and stars with it or is it useless for dso with prism and eye pieces?
Usman Mughal, thanks for watching! The ZenithStar 61 is not only for astrophotography, but I have only used it for that purpose. It comes with a "Roto lock" adapter that will allow 1.25" eyepieces and the roto lock can be removed to accept 2" eyepieces. You can also use a "diagonal" that will give you a 90 degree bend making it so you don't have to bend over so much. Having said all of that, I only ever use it for astrophotography. I bought a set of eye pieces and a Barlow lens (which increases the effective focal length or "magnification"), but I have never used them. I live in such a light polluted area I don't think I would be able to view anything worth while.
Universal Observations i live in light polluted area aswell but when i go abroad to like kashmir in pakistan or rural northern areas ive seen the milkyway with bare eyes and even photographed andromeda so was wondering if i was to opt with either this or the Orion starblast 62mm refractor which seems like a very good buy will i be able to view dso with them ?
Just a heads-up. At 8:54 it says, "Please don't microwave."
St8kout, thanks, good catch! I wasn't sure when I made the video. Appreciate the feedback.
Could you show how a 2" filter screws into the Flattener 61A? Thanks for the video!
Jay, thanks for watching and the question. Sure! I will get a new video up soon!
@@universalobservations3299 All good -- I just found a video showing that very thing. Thanks though! Clear skies!!
@@bigkidworking can you link that video? thank you!
What is the focal length of this scope?
360 mm 👍
Great video
Thanks. If you have any questions or want more information just ask!
How long can you expose on the skyguider pro with this setup and the Canon 6D? Can the skyguider pro handle the weight?
I have only had 1 opportunity to use the scope/skyguider pro since I purchased 2 months ago. The weather has been awful here. What I can tell you is, I was able to expose for 45 to 60 seconds with no trails. I didn't try for longer. Even at ISO 400 with the light pollution here, that is about the longest I can go. I just bought a CLS filter and will be trying that on the next clear night. It seemed to be able to handle the weight even when it wasn't properly balanced. If you look at the setup I was using here www.universalobservations.com/william-optics-zenithstar-61-first-light I really needed another counter weight. I had to improvise for more weight with a large C-clamp. I feel the Skyguider Pro handled the weight and I could have exposed much longer without trails. Also, I really did an accurate polar alignment and fine tuned it before starting every batch. Thanks for watching and the comment!
@@universalobservations3299 Thanks for your reply. I think with the Canon 6D you can easily go up to ISO1600 and still have good noise peformance. Why did you choose such a low ISO? Currently I also shoot with a Canon6D and a small leightweight tamron28-300 lens. I get about 2 minutes per subs but on the older skytracker pro (whole setup, camera+lens, weighing about 1317g). Your setup should weigh about 2300g (camera+Z61) if I calculated correctly and 2mins exposure time per sub should be no problem on the skyguider pro with counterweight.
I would like to upgrade my setup with a scope. The SkyGuider Pro with either the Zenithstar 61 or the Redcat 51. But I haven't decided yet. Actually I prefer the longer focal length of the Z61 over the Redcat with 250mm, but at the same time I would like to know if the Redcat really can produce sharper and better quality images than the Z61. But so far what I have seen with the Redcat 51 is that its images are really really sharp so I may be able to crop the images strongly without much quality loss.
@caste2510 Oh yes, definitely the Canon 6D will go to ISO 1600 without much noise. I am in a very light polluted area (Bortle class 6) and decided to go to ISO 400 as my subs were getting over exposed any higher. This was the balance between ISO and time as I tried to get a reasonably long exposure. I just purchased a CLS filter but haven't had a chance to try it out. I am assuming it will let me have a longer exposure. Once it gets warmer here and a less clouds I have a darker sight (Bortle class 4) that I plan to image from. Just trying to get some of the kinks worked out of the process.
One of the next videos I am thinking of doing is my progression from a simple DSLR and lens on a tripod (no tracker), to a better tripod, and the skyguider pro, then eventually a better camera, skyguider pro, and Zenithstar 61 and the improvements in the images as I stepped my way up the astrophotography equipment path.
@@universalobservations3299 sounds good, I am interested in seeing your videos. I am lucky to live in a region with a fairly dark sky and when I want to go to an even darker place, it's a 30 mins drive up to the mountain. From there I took most of my astrophotos. I am thinking of uploading my deep sky images to astrobin which I took with just my tamron28-300 camera lens.
cheers really good info.
Stew, thanks for the comment!
Very Informative Well done
Thank you for the compliment! I think I have had 2 days of clear skies in the last 3 months.
@@universalobservations3299 I have had maybe 4 to 5 clear nights since nov 2018 .it;s been a very cold winter here also. northern Ontario Canada.
great info.. tks for sharing
Thanks. I am trying to post the details and questions I had.
nice video. what vixen plate are you using? thanks
Thanks! I am using the Astromania Deluxe Dovetail Plate 228 MM amzn.to/2GTwvgf
What is the easiest way to connect a DSLR to this telescope without the flat 61
I also need the answer to this question. Can you use a normal T-ring with a 2-inch T-tube and put it in the focuser like a 2-inch eyepiece?
DioGo so I actually just figured this out. I purchased a 2 inch m48 extender tubes and it worked perfect and I have enough back focus. The problem here isn’t connecting the camera to scope but it’s getting enough back focus. Which t ring do you have? M42 or m48?
@@seanspoerhase3878 I actually have two T-rings, one M42 and one M48. Do you recommend one over the other?
DioGo I recommend whichever is the sturdiest and the one you go to the most. Here’s what I just bought for m48 t ring Astromania Astronomical... www.amazon.com/dp/B072M7CSLH?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
@@seanspoerhase3878 That's great! Thank you!
Where did you get the scope?
I ordered it directly from William Optics. When I ordered it, it looked like no one else had it in stock and the WO site showed that it would ship in about a week. So I ordered directly from WO. It shipped directly from Taiwan and arrived in about 9 days. This was over Christmas too. Happy with the delivery time, especially over the Holidays. Packaging is great!
Hope this helps.
Universal Observations it helps a lot friend thanks for taking the time, I already have a dubsonian telescope but I really want to try one of this, i don’t have any idea how it works or if I need more than the telescope and the camera, I am doing s9me research on internet that’s why I found you, wish me luck, by the way really nice video keep up the good work . Have a nice day .
Are these guider scopes?
Wizard Z, this is a quality scope, with quality optics. I use it as my primary, wide field scope with a smaller guider scope attached. But, I guess you could use it as a guide scope. For example I also have an Explore Scientific ED 127, and have considered using the William Optics ZenithStart 61 as a guide scope, but that is not really it's intended design.
Is this only for astrophotography? Can I see the planets with this?
@Issac 17, thanks for watching! The ZenithStar 61 is not only for astrophotography, but I have only used it for that purpose. It comes with a "Roto lock" adapter that will allow 1.25" eyepieces and the roto lock can be removed to accept 2" eyepieces. You can also use a "diagonal" that will give you a 90 degree bend making it so you don't have to bend over so much. Having said all of that, I only ever use it for astrophotography. I bought a set of eye pieces and a Barlow lens (which increases the effective focal length or "magnification"), but I have never used them. I live in such a light polluted area I don't think I would be able to view anything worth while. I think if you are looking for a way to view planets, there are much better telescopes for doing this. You might want to ask on the Cloudy Nights forum. After your question I did some research and I couldn't find a single picture of a planet online using the William Optics ZenithStar 61. You could also search for a local "star party" in your area where others might show you what is possible. Good luck in your search!
Can we fix filter with field flattener?
Ayub, Thanks for watching! I am not sure I understand your question, so I will do my best to answer. I think you are asking if you can attach a filter to the field flattener. My answer, "I think so". I recently purchased a 2 inch (I think these typically have 48 mm threads) CLS filter to go between my William Optic Canon mount and the field flattener. I attached it to the Canon mount and when I tried to screw it onto the flattener, there weren't enough threads on the filter to attach to the flattener. I purchased a very inexpensive filter. I assume a better filter would have more threads to attach. I think the one I got was meant to be on the very end of a camera lens and not in the "image train" of an astrophotography setup.
I am thinking of trying to remove the small ring that holds the filter in place and then screw it onto my flattener. But, I may just spend some extra money and get a better filter.
I hope that was the question you were asking and I hope I answered it.
You can unscrew the lens cell of the flattener from the rotator and put a 2" filter inside with the old version
@@universalobservations3299 The field flattener should have 1 or 2 M48 extension tube installed on it to achieve right distance for DSLR, the first one (between camera side one and main lens body) can be unscrew, then you can install M48 thread 2" filter inside the field flattener.
I am not sure if this WO ODM version flattener have the feature I mentioned above, the old version is the same as the original manufacturer version.
In your vid about 6:14, you can see the middle side(lens body) should be separable design as the original. :D
Very sad that instead of talking astrophotography we spend time talking about gadgets. It’s the same annoying thing with normal photography😡😡😡
Freier Patriot everything is important on this.
Makes me laugh when photographers try to say there is limited information available about telescopes. Astronomers know where to look and there is a huge amount of info on astro imaging on their websites. Don’t talk crap about not being able to find something. So annoying. Astronomers who get into imaging do fine. Photographers who try to portray themselves as experts on astronomy equipment talk such nonsense. Clueless.
Don't be rude smart a$$.
I get it. I've been a photographer my whole life; but astrophotography is humbling.