AstroZap Dew Shields
"In House" Review by Richard Harris
9/7/2002

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Listen up all you Schmidt Newtonian owners! Got Dew? Here's the solution!

Astrozap dew shields are among the top of the class for your LXD55 Schmidt Newtonian scope. Astrozap was kind enough to send me a couple of 'product samples' for review on the LXD55 Portal. Here are my impressions...

I was sent two separate models. One was the cheaper Flexi-shield and the other was the crafted metal aluminum shield, each were designed for use on the 10" LXD55 scope, though you can order any size you need, all way down to the 6" LXD55 OTA.

Starting with the Flexi-shield.
This is a more portable dew prevention solution for people on a limited budget or that need something lightweight and easy to store away when not in use.

The Flexi-shield is made of a nice looking "orange peel" ABS plastic material. It connects around the front of the OTA by means of a 2" thick wide Velcro strip which is nicely sewn to the inside edge of the dew shield. It fits the OTA nice, but as with any "Flexi-shield" it tends to want to droop when the OTA is pointed near the horizon, especially with the large 10" model -that is unless you really tighten down the shield to the OTA.

The inside of the plastic shield is coated with a nice black felt liner. It keeps the dew from collecting anywhere around the corrector lens, and blackens the inside of the shield for no "stray light" inside the tube. In addition to the felt, on the OTA connecting end of the shield there is a nice strip of rubber for a firm no-slip 'grip' onto the front of the OTA, a nice touch..

Installation onto your OTA will take all but 10 seconds. Snapping the shield on is nothing more than wrapping it around the front of your OTA and viewing.

My overall impression of this shield was good. It's portable, lightweight, built to last and cheaper than it's aluminum counterpart.
It's current market price is about $48 dollars before shipping.
If you are looking for a cheap and portable solution - this is the way to go..
You can buy this shield in any size but in black only.

Next - the aluminum Hard shell dew shield.

This is a more 'classy' and scope beautifying solution. It's made of aluminum and is custom fit to the size of scope you order for (10", 8" ,etc..)
This shield attaches to your OTA using 3 plastic type thumb screws, which hold the shield on nicely, even when pointed low in the horizon..

The inside construction of the aluminum shield is much like the Flexi-shield, in being it is lined with a nice felt liner. But instead of rubber on the connecting end to the OTA, they use another string of felt ontop of the inside shield lining. Since the aluminum shield doesn't "wrap" around the scope - you must slide it on, thus a rubber strip would only mean 'installation frustration' on a dark night, so the added felt is more than sufficiant
However, let's talk about the outside paint for a second on these aluminum shields - is that, Autopaint? Clear coat? WOW, these look very nice and have an excellent finish to them. It almost prompted me to get out my Turtle wax and buffer just to make it shine more- but then I gained my 'focus' back and attached the thing to my scope..
(Side note: All who have actually "waxed" the finish on their OTA, say "I" ....... "I" :)

The aluminum shield is a bit heavier and less portable than the Flexi-shield.Keep that in mind when choosing a solution. But the aluminum shields are quite nice, and look great when attached to the OTA, which brings up another point. Each shield adds about 12" to the front of your tube! Yes, it's longer, but you won't have Dew to contend with either! :)

Installation of the aluminum shield takes a few seconds longer on because you have to tighten down three separate OTA attachment screws, but still in under 30 seconds you will have a nice looking dew prevention solution.

My overall impression of this shield was also good. It's not as portable, buit it's built well and may last longer than the plastic type.
It's current market price is about $150 dollars before shipping.
You can buy this shield in any size and in various colors.

Final Thoughts >>

I think every LXD55 owner will want to add one of these shields to their scope package at one point. They completely prevent dew, and both are built very nice with good materials. The aluminum shield is a "prettier" solution, but not necessarily a "better" solution. Both get the job done, period.
Both shields prevented dew build up 100% when I tested them on a few different viewing occasions.
The only problem your going to have is "which one to pick?"

ORDER ONLINE NOW, EXLUSIVE PRICE through the LXD55 Portal only!!!