Help! H-alpha Solar Observing: Coronado Maxscope 40 or SM40/10?

Hi all,

I've decided to take the plunge into Ha solar observing. The question
now is: "which set-up?"

I've narrowed my options down to two. The PST from Coronado was my
initial choice, especially at its price point. The downside is that
with back orders and the fact that they haven't shipped yet (at least
to my knowledge), it may be 3-5 months before I can get my hands on
one. Also, the bandpass on this unit is optimized for prominences at
the expense of solar surface detail

The remaining choices a Cornado SM40/10, and the Coronado Maxscope
40mm.

I have a 4" f8 (~800mm focal length) refractor. The SM40/10 at first
blush is slightly less expensive than the Maxscope, but with the
addition of an adapter plate to mount it on the objective of the
refractor, the cost works out to be +/- the same. The maxscope is
smaller than my 4" scope, so there is the portability factor.

Does one of these options have any other benefits over the other? Can
the Maxscope be "de-tuned" i.e. is there a mechanism to change the
filter's angle to move the band-pass away from the H-alpha line to
observe fast moving (doppler shifted) events? Anyone know what the
lead-time is on the Maxscope? The SM40/10 is in stock at a couple of
places, but I haven't seen the Maxscope in stock.

Thanks for any input!

- Craig

Craig Levine
Observing Chairman
RASC, Halifax Centre