Post by Rick in NWArk on Feb 29, 2016 0:08:00 GMT
Ok, maybe not a full review - maybe I'll take some pics and turn it into that.
So I'm a lazy bloke. I really don't like having to switch out equipment during an observing (or much less, a broadcasting) session. Not even when I am in experimentation mode. So one of my key ingredients to minimizing trauma is a filter wheel. Back when I thought I might do some imaging, I snagged the 5-Position, Manual Filter Wheel by Celestron - their Skyris model. Very soon, I found this was indispensable for Video Astronomy.
For Solar Observing / Broadcasting, it is very handy to switch between solar specific filters like the Baader Solar Continuum Filter and something like an IR Block or IR/UV Block filter - and I'm talking about white light solar observing where you have a solar blocking filter (versus H-alpha telescopes/filters). Even a simple Green filter can reveal a lot of details, depending on how sensitive your camera is to IR wavelengths.
For Deep Sky observing, there are a lot of different options too... I use a Lumicon Deep Sky filter, but there are also the Astronomic UHC and the Orion Skyglow and so many others. And if you're wanting to look at specific objects you might have an Hydrogen-beta, Oxygen III, or an Hydrogen-Alpha. Dont forget that IR and IR/UV block can be helpful with DSOs too. Heck, I have wondered what I comet might look like with a Methane filter - but I digress.
So as I said, I'm lazy... I tried to setup my 5 slots with filters for both Solar and Deep Sky... but when you consider the fact that you need to really keep one slot open for straight passthru of all light, I found myself running out of slots. So I decided to get a second filter wheel. Instead of just getting another Skyris that I really like, I decided to save a few bucks and the the ZWO filter that I found new for less that $100. After all, its a pretty basic device, how different could it be???
How many mistakes in Astronomy have started off with the words "so, I thought I would save a few bucks"?!?!
Well, the first difference is that while the Skyris has a small window where you can manually unscrew 3 screws, open it, and change out a filter - with the ZWO you have a to have a phillips screwdriver and open the whole back. The Skyris is much more flexible in this regard.
The second and most annoying bit with the ZWO is that its easy to turn -- and by this I mean too easy. The Skyris has a nice notch that the wheel stops in and it feels very solid. On more than one occasion, I've actually turned the ZWO by accident with barely brushing it. I have not observed this yet, but I wont be surprised if it slips between filters on slewing at some angles. It's that loose.
Both are made of metal, accept 1.25" filters and have enough "head room" to accept different brands of filters. But there is, to me, a real difference in quality here for not a lot of price difference. The Skyris, new, is about $123US and the ZWO is $88US.
Do yourself a favor and spend the extra $35... I wish I had.
So I'm a lazy bloke. I really don't like having to switch out equipment during an observing (or much less, a broadcasting) session. Not even when I am in experimentation mode. So one of my key ingredients to minimizing trauma is a filter wheel. Back when I thought I might do some imaging, I snagged the 5-Position, Manual Filter Wheel by Celestron - their Skyris model. Very soon, I found this was indispensable for Video Astronomy.
For Solar Observing / Broadcasting, it is very handy to switch between solar specific filters like the Baader Solar Continuum Filter and something like an IR Block or IR/UV Block filter - and I'm talking about white light solar observing where you have a solar blocking filter (versus H-alpha telescopes/filters). Even a simple Green filter can reveal a lot of details, depending on how sensitive your camera is to IR wavelengths.
For Deep Sky observing, there are a lot of different options too... I use a Lumicon Deep Sky filter, but there are also the Astronomic UHC and the Orion Skyglow and so many others. And if you're wanting to look at specific objects you might have an Hydrogen-beta, Oxygen III, or an Hydrogen-Alpha. Dont forget that IR and IR/UV block can be helpful with DSOs too. Heck, I have wondered what I comet might look like with a Methane filter - but I digress.
So as I said, I'm lazy... I tried to setup my 5 slots with filters for both Solar and Deep Sky... but when you consider the fact that you need to really keep one slot open for straight passthru of all light, I found myself running out of slots. So I decided to get a second filter wheel. Instead of just getting another Skyris that I really like, I decided to save a few bucks and the the ZWO filter that I found new for less that $100. After all, its a pretty basic device, how different could it be???
How many mistakes in Astronomy have started off with the words "so, I thought I would save a few bucks"?!?!
Well, the first difference is that while the Skyris has a small window where you can manually unscrew 3 screws, open it, and change out a filter - with the ZWO you have a to have a phillips screwdriver and open the whole back. The Skyris is much more flexible in this regard.
The second and most annoying bit with the ZWO is that its easy to turn -- and by this I mean too easy. The Skyris has a nice notch that the wheel stops in and it feels very solid. On more than one occasion, I've actually turned the ZWO by accident with barely brushing it. I have not observed this yet, but I wont be surprised if it slips between filters on slewing at some angles. It's that loose.
Both are made of metal, accept 1.25" filters and have enough "head room" to accept different brands of filters. But there is, to me, a real difference in quality here for not a lot of price difference. The Skyris, new, is about $123US and the ZWO is $88US.
Do yourself a favor and spend the extra $35... I wish I had.