Astrophotography Ideal beginner scope? Altair Starwave Ascent 70ED

Review of the Altair Starwave Asent 70ED Doublet Refractor, the Ideal beginners scope. In this review, I show how to set up and connect to a camera and get an image from this widefield refractor.
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[Astro_Shed]

Excellent review Simon, looks like a great little widefield scope, and at a great price too, and a superb image at the end..👏🏻

[marvinwhisman]

I appreciate your detailed reviews of different scopes. Altair seems to be making some very nice scopes.

[LogansAstro]

Great review Simon and really nice image from this little doublet. The stars looked great out to the corners too.

[HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy]

Great review, Simon. Altair Astro should be proud. I was AMAZED at the quality of the glass. Tt that price, I was expecting to see some chromatic aberration, particularly in the blue, but the stars were clean and sharp ... and round at the edges.
Clear skies (although your nights are rather short now).

[jeremyhigginson]

Another great video Simon, looks like a good little scope at a good little price!! Looking forward to the video on the camera!

[tullyfisher]

Very interesting review Simon. Really a cool (travel) scope and also the flattener/reducer..wow. It's much better than my more expensive one for my 90 Apo. And also great to see that this little scope and focusing tube can handle the relatively big and heavy camera. Looking forward seeing you camera review as well mate. Clear skies! 👍🏼

[davekemp]

Great review and what a great little scope at an amazing price. Lovely image as well mate.

[nightscapejournals]

Nice review, Simon. I had one of the earlier generation of these for visual use and it was a cracking little scope, especially from dark skies. The build quality is outstanding for the price point, and whilst you won’t get the punch of a larger aperture dobsonian, the contrast and crispness really compensates and gives excellent views. I loved it.

[petesastrophotography]

Excellent review Simon, that's cracking little scope. Just goes to show that you don't have to break the bank to put together a very competent imaging rig. I should really follow that advice myself!

[OlliesSpace]

Looks a good piece of kit their Simon, I like the form factor too.

[AZRunner]

great review Simon! Looks like a nice little scope. Image came out really good. and yes I agree, once you go EAF you can't go back.

[Tony-Elliott]

Hi Simon looks like a great little scope mate, always surprising how much detail you can get from such small aperture, looking forward to seeing your next videos

[mediocrefunkybeat]

I've had one of these for around 12 months. I have an Evostar 102 and a C5 yet always seem to be drawn to the little 70ED. It's just a compelling little package and with a lightweight tripod and alt-az mount, I'm set up and ready to go in less than a minute. It has really sharp optics, a nice focuser and is beautifully put together.

[woody]

Great review, great image, great music.

[dumpydalekobservatory]

Nice review mate looks a cracking little scope, does it have a built in rotator?
Look forward to seeing the 533 review clear skies!!

[koomber]

Very tempted to pick up one of these. Was the chromatic aberation as well controlled as the final image suggests? I've mostly been imaging with old prime lenses and removing CA from the images sucked the fun out of it. I've got a 102ED FPL53 which is very well controlled at F7 ( with 0.8 reducer) so I'm looking for something in the same ballpark in terms of performance, but with a nice wider FL

[astrostufftomtrubridge]

Hi Simon, looks a nice travel scope with a decent size objective and good optics, My Evostar 62ED although it produces great images with its reducer E-focuser etc the scope becomes a heavy unit but is solid, the Altair scope is better weight wise and I do like that style of rack and pinion. ime surprised my old AZgti can manage my Evolux, amazingly guiding at below 0.5 !! But still sounds like a coffee grinder. Nice one, Atb Tom..

[AnotherAmateurAstronomer]

And, my brand new Sky Watcher Startravel 120/600 just arrived, today!

[Oxizee]

how do you decide your gains and offsets?

[Cheapass-tro]

Good review Simon and a surprising price for that scope.