Meet my TELESCOPES | William Optics Zenithstar 61 Mk.II

[@katrinaedmunds7566]

I love my Z61, awesome scope and lots of fun to use. I have the gold one too Nice video 😎

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks! Yes, it's a cracking wee scope with lovely optics...have great fun with mine! Thanks for tuning in! :)

[@poruatokin]

Thanks for sharing, I bought the Z73 a few months ago, despite being just a doublet, the optics are very good and at a reasonable price.

[@scotiaastro]

Totally agree, Paul! The WO Doublets are fantastic...planning on getting one their Triplets later this year, but the Zenithstars are, as you say, great value and punch way above their price point...thanks for tuning in and have a great week! :)

[@ms70072]

Great video! Can I check how this compares with an entry level triplet in terms of image quality? I have a basic doublet but am considering an upgrade and the zenithstar looks very tempting!

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks so much for tuning in! I would highly recommend the Zenithstar series, the optics (on my copy at least) were superb. My two other refractors are the Skywatcher Evostar 72ED DS Pro (doublet) and an Esprit 100 (triplet). I'd say from my experience, the Zenithstar sits nicely in between them. You honestly can't go wrong with them, in my opinion, and given their price (compared to other APOs) they punch well above their weight...good luck and let us know how you get on! Hope that helps! :)

[@ms70072]

@scotiaastro that's really helpful thanks!

[@gorath0007]

Love the video, keep it up.

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks so much for the lovely comments! So glad you enjoyed my video and stay tuned for more! Have a great day…😀

[@LogansAstro]

Nice collection of images from that scope. I'm using Mead 10" SCT, SkyWatcher Esprit 120ED and WO Redcat51. CS

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks mate, yes I think for the price, the Z61 really punches above its weight! What a nice 'triplet' of scopes you have too! I've got the Esprit 100 and I love it...will be doing a video on it in due course. Hope you're getting some clear skies where you are and thanks for tuning in! Best wishes from the UK... :)

[@BuildonRock]

Great review. Is the long dovetail rail removable so the telescope can be attatched to a normal camera tripod?

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks so much for tuning in mate! Glad you enjoyed the video...yes, you can certainly mount it to a tripod and I've also used mine on a Skyguider Pro and Star Adventurer...I think William Optics also do a Vixen/Arca Swiss reversible plate (of various lengths) that you can use on a traditional mount and a tripod? Hope that helps and have a great day! :)

[@BuildonRock]

@@scotiaastro Good news, thankyou for your reply.

[@Astro.Q]

7:02 video and the scope looks great. You got some fantastic wide field images. I have a redcat 51 and a zenithstar 81, amongst others what are your favourite objects to image?

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks so much for tuning in and for your lovely comments, mate! Yes, the Z61 is a great wee scope and I'm really impressed with the build quality of the WO components. I shoot anything and everything from here in Scotland...need to be quick with the weather, so I generally grab what I can...but am really partial to a huge wide-field nebula! :)

[@carolinewilson4261]

How would you attach a diagonal and lens for camera free viewing?

[@scotiaastro]

Hi Caroline, thanks for tuning in...yes, its really easy to fit a diagonal and eyepiece of you wanted...there's space for either a 2 inch or 1.25 inch diagonal with the included threads...hope that helps and have a great day! :)

[@juniortsf]

How does the rotator work? I’ve tried moving the piece you mentioned but it’s stuck.

[@scotiaastro]

Hi mate, thanks for tuning in! The rotator is part of the field flattener and you just need to loosen off the screw pin to rotate it, once you're in position you just retighten the wee silver screw pin. Hope that helps! :)

[@juniortsf]

@@scotiaastro i got it to work. Thank you

[@scotiaastro]

@@juniortsf Awesome! Glad to hear it...have fun! :)

[@old_guard2431]

Interesting approach these manufacturers are taking. Essentially a three-element optic, you just buy the third element separately. (Curvature of field being the aberration normally corrected by the third element.) That just leaves spherical aberration or coma, normally handled by a fourth element. Certainly did not see coma in your example. Not a criticism - someone who is more interested mostly in a highly portable scope for visual observing gets a good two-element scope with good chromatic aberration control at a reasonable price point.

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks for tuning in! :) Yes, I agree with you on the visual side of things with a doublet...there's some cracking ones out there! Have a great day! :)

[@DSOImager]

Looks like a nice little scope :) I use three different scopes for imaging: The SV70T, an AT115EDT and a Clestron Edge HD8. CS!

[@scotiaastro]

Nice triumvirate you've got there, mate! I'm looking at a 115EDT clone here in the UK and have seen some great results with it, so would be interested in hearing your thoughts on it? I have an Esprit 100, but I'm looking for something with a bit more reach, so it's going to be the 115EDT or something a bit longer, not sure yet. Thanks for tuning in and have a great day! Best wishes from Scotland! :)

[@DSOImager]

@@scotiaastro I find the 115 to be a solid scope. I was originally looking at the Esprit 120 or the WO FL 120 but the costs on those were too much. I am using mine with the .8 reducer at 644mm FL. There is a little bit of blue fringing on some blue stars but you have to pixel peep to notice. I've looked at Esprit 100 data and I'd say it's a little bit better corrected than the 115.. which is expected due to the price/glass difference. In your case, it sounds like you'd want the 1x flattener instead of the reducer. I've heard that things are better corrected with the flattener. I've got some examples of this scope on my channel and on astrobin (link on my channels banner) if you're interested. CS! :)

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks so much for your thoughts mate, much appreciated! Will definitely check out your 115 images...have a great day! :)

[@snnfly]

Hello, When imaging these shots with this scope did you use any guiding? Thanks, Steve

[@scotiaastro]

Hey SteveI Yes, I use the ZWO 30mm F4 guide-scope or the William Optics 50mm one, usually with a ZWO 290MC as the guide camera. Hope that helps and thanks for tuning in! :)

[@joedizzelfoerizle]

Listen up you nerds!