I'll dig the camera out and see if I can get some decent pics of the sun for you.
For deep space I use an Orion XT10i push-to dob. It has been a great scope. It takes time to set up as I have to collimate it and it takes about 40 minutes to cool down to ambient temperature, but once it's ready it delivers the views. Excellent scope. And the push to computer works really well. Like you, Odanscoil, I can push the moon and planets but since it's a push-to, it doesn't stay in view very long.....The earth rotates very fast at x400 - x600 power. I really like viewing the nebulas.
But there are times I wanted something more grab and go. I was recently going to get a nice 90mm short tube refractor but found out Orion had gone out of business. Then this summer I got a cheap 70mm short tube minus eye pieces at an estate sale for $2. Then a couple of weeks ago at Goodwill I picked up a complete 90mm refractor with a couple of eye pieces, moon filter, tripod and carry bag for $10. It was all strewn out in pieces on a rack and it took a bit to recover it all but it was all there. I was stoked and the guy at the register was stoked for me too. All the parts are interchangeable between the two , plus the goodwill 90mm included an adapter that lets me also use my 1.25" eye pieces from my dob. At least the lighter ones as the short tube can't handle much glass weight.
So for $12 dollars I got two grab and go scopes, a 70mm short tube for wide field viewing, a 90mm for planets and the moon. Yes they are cheap scopes but the views were acceptable for what I wanted them for. I'm pretty sure once I start using them I'll get the hankering for better quality but for now I'm happy. I'll try to get some pictures from them to show what you can get out of cheap equipment.
HH
Mike
Heard that Coronado PST is a good'n - until recently I've never looked at the sun. So just out of curiosity, picked up one of the SVBONY solar scopes, just for kicks because not only was it cheap, they jaked the price down to 20 so I had to try it. I tried it on a TW-1 tripod - orangish view with sunspots. It was cheap just to get to see it in real time during the day.
Otherwise - 12" dob, 4.5" reflector, and 3 refractors (70, 90 & 102mm) and the little 90 MAK after I gave all others to the kids.
Tab-Nabit
Be careful viewing the sun thru cheap telescopes.
Make certain the primary mirror has a sun filter.
I prefer the in glass ones. Not a film.
I've seen some where the scope let the full sun into the scope. And using filter in or on the eyepiece.
The eyepiece gets extremely hot. Possibly cracking or shattering while viewing.
Exposing your eye to perminate damage in milliseconds.
If I remember correctly.
Sun viewing was always someone's else scope.
I believe you'll need the HA filter to see the filaments.
Mike
I started young. Working a paper route all summer to buy my first long tube 90mm refractor.
Terrible optics and 3/4" eyepieces.
I lost interest when I noticed girls more beautiful than the planets.
Viewed thru others scopes for to many years.
Around 2008 I regained interest.
Picked up the Ioptron equitorial Cube tracking mount with their sweet little short tube 80mm refractor. Enjoyed that for a few years.
Then I fell in love with the Meade 125mm ETX.
Until the Ascension motor burned up.
Pulled it of the mount added a vixen dovetail.
And put it on the Ioptron mount.
With optics and camera. A little twitchy.
Though I used it for years. Great views.
Then I picked up the Celestron 12.5" Dobson on a standard mount.
Which my over eggsuecated son promptly borrowed and never returned.
After a bit of overtime and saving I came across a sweet deal on a miss identified 6" Celestron Schmidt. My favorite scope. Light weight and great views. Though shaky on the Ioptron mount. Added better optics and mounting hardware as money became available. Years.
Really enjoy those views.
Though I wanted "More Power" looking at the moon.
Found a long tube 150mm refractor with upgraded primary doublets. Good friend let it go to a good home.
Then a steal on a used 10" Meade Schmidt came along. Years later I had to have a better mount capable of handling those larger scopes.
The Ioptron mount just couldn't do it.
Never got a usable view on that mount with those big scopes.
Just before I retired two years ago I got a good bunch of overtime and picked up the HEQ6 mount.
I was forced to retire because of injuries.
My retirement present.
And those same injuries have prevented me using it with the big scopes. Still haven't had a good steady viewing with the 10" Meade or the big refrigerator.
Frustrated am I ...
My grandson is 16 now and showing interest in astronomy.
Hopefully soon I can get him to carry this stuff out and get some hours in on the moon.
So far my best moon viewing has been with that Dobson. The 5x Russian Barlow really cranked on the moon. There's some cheap $ and good russian eyepieces and barlows. And amazing filters.
Hirsch is a good one. Filter is in the glass.
Not a coating like some Meade and others.
Last year I picked up a used Sony Alpha A6000 camera. Used to be a big shutter bug.
Small body. Big sensor. Light weight.
And can be controlled with phone or tablet.
24 mgp , up to 24,000 ISO
At 800 ISO with 30 second exposure.
Looks like afternoon full sun in total darkness.
Green grass and everything. No moon even.
Crazy older sweet camera.
Excellent higher quality all around camera too.
Though I've yet to try it on the scope.
I used an old heavy Fuji with T ring adapter for many years before. 10 mgp if I remember.
I bought it here.
Great prices and great used equipment.
Though used. Always buy excellent or like new.
That's not just cosmetic it's shutter count.
Hope to enjoy some pics and conversation here.
I'm not a master by any means.
Dreamy eyed amateur here actually.
Welp that's my story.
