Apropos the age-old "reflector vs. refractor" debate, here's Ed Ting's take on it: http://www.scopereviews.com/best.html Note that his piece is concerned with very specific brands and models, not an over-arching statement on types, but it's still a good read from a reliable, experienced observer and telescope junkie. He throws-in a CAT just to be an equal-opportunity reviewer, and talks about the telescope lust factor, as well. Good stuff.
2007? I'm thinking many things have changed since then.
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 11:11:44 -0600 From: chuck.hards@gmail.com To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Telescope shootout
Apropos the age-old "reflector vs. refractor" debate, here's Ed Ting's take on it:
http://www.scopereviews.com/best.html
Note that his piece is concerned with very specific brands and models, not an over-arching statement on types, but it's still a good read from a reliable, experienced observer and telescope junkie. He throws-in a CAT just to be an equal-opportunity reviewer, and talks about the telescope lust factor, as well. Good stuff.
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Actually, in the last 4 years, not much has changed at all other than certain models having dropped out of production and new models have entered the market. Telescopes are a lot like airplanes, cars, and many other things. You can design one that does everything acceptably, but to do one thing very well, there are trade-offs in other areas. I'll never take a stand as to a certain telescope being "the best" overall. Each type (and brand, actually) has strengths and weaknesses. I love all telescopes, taking each on it's own merits. I will never make the statement that a certain type is best. Like you, I have a fondness for doublet refractors, but I'll defer to a huge mirror when going after faint deep-sky stuff. The only APO's I'll ever own are ED doublets. I'll buy a triplet when I hit the lottery. But even non-ED refractors have a certain mystique that I am, for better or worse, a sucker for.
Ahhhh, I agree with all you have said and while quality has not changed all that much for the Great Scopes much has changed as far as availability. Large glass is near impossible to get any more. Roland has stopped anything near 6" if I remember what I have heard correctly. The TEC line has lost the 200mm the 180mm and even the 160 is like hens teeth. D&G stopped making mirrors. The Intes Micro line is all but gone. Mark from Teton Telescopes was the last dealer that did any volume.Great mirrors are still without a doubt the biggest bang for the buck if you ask me. Starting with a 10" Dobson Complete going for as little as $495.00 and going from there to $1,000.00 for a good 10" Zambuto mirror. People like Rob Teeter are getting back in the business and with the advancements in video astronomy the really short fl mirrors are in huge demand. Big lenses are coming from China that are about 50/50 as near as I can tell. About half of the folks who get one are really satisfied with them. IStar blows their own horn plenty but still have to prove they can deliver a quality product everytime and in a little larger quantity than they are currently. They still are not Premium Optics but are so improved it is indeed getting closer.Daniel and I will continue to poke each other till our last breaths. Mirror or lens?
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 11:22:05 -0600 From: chuck.hards@gmail.com To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Telescope shootout
On 10/4/11, Steve Fisher <iotacass1@hotmail.com> wrote:
2007? I'm thinking many things have changed since then.
As I said, it's brand and type specific. But he holds your favorite in very high regard Steve. I doubt Roland's quality has shifted in 4 years.
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On 10/4/11, Steve Fisher <iotacass1@hotmail.com> wrote:
Big lenses are coming from China that are about 50/50 as near as I can tell. About half of the folks who get one are really satisfied with them.
Right on! Having owned 3 of the Chinese 5" lenses, I agree. I'll take an old Jaegers doublet over a modern Chinese doublet every time, even if the modern lenses have better coatings. I even worry about Chinese glass being mildly radioactive. Something to think about with eyepieces especially. Makers come, makers go, but the basics never change. Everything is driven by ecconomics. Funny but the SCT as mass-marketed has always been near the bottom of the barrel for optical quality, ever since it was first sold as the Celestron, yet it's still a leader in terms of numbers sold. Putting the corrector in the proper location (at radius, not focus) would put it back in the running in terms of imagery. That was Bernhard Schmidt's original design, not the compact compromise that was Tom Johnson's contribution to commercial telescope manufacture.
Astro-Physics offers a 6.3" F 7.5
Ahhhh, I agree with all you have said and while quality has not changed all that much for the Great Scopes much has changed as far as availability. Large glass is near impossible to get any more. Roland has stopped anything near 6" if I remember what I have heard correctly. The TEC line has lost the 200mm the 180mm and even the 160 is like hens teeth. D&G stopped making mirrors. The Intes Micro line is all but gone. Mark from Teton Telescopes was the last dealer that did any volume.Great mirrors are still without a doubt the biggest bang for the buck if you ask me. Starting with a 10" Dobson Complete going for as little as $495.00 and going from there to $1,000.00 for a good 10" Zambuto mirror. People like Rob Teeter are getting back in the business and with the advancements in video astronomy the really short fl mirrors are in huge demand. Big lenses are coming from China that are about 50/50 as near as I can tell. About half of the folks who get one are really satisfied w ith them. IStar blows their own horn plenty but still have to prove they can deliver a quality product everytime and in a little larger quantity than they are currently. They still are not Premium Optics but are so improved it is indeed getting closer.Daniel and I will continue to poke each other till our last breaths. Mirror or lens?
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 11:22:05 -0600 From: chuck.hards@gmail.com To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Telescope shootout
On 10/4/11, Steve Fisher <iotacass1@hotmail.com> wrote:
2007? I'm thinking many things have changed since then.
As I said, it's brand and type specific. But he holds your favorite in very high regard Steve. I doubt Roland's quality has shifted in 4 years.
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Yes, they do offer one, and if you were to get on the list today someday maybe ten years from now they might give you a call and see if you are still interested. Or they might say "we aren't making them any more, would you like to be put on the end of another list"? This is what happened to someone on this mailing list. Care to guess who? Steve
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 13:23:42 -0600 From: erikhansen@thebluezone.net To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Telescope shootout
Astro-Physics offers a 6.3" F 7.5
Ahhhh, I agree with all you have said and while quality has not changed all that much for the Great Scopes much has changed as far as availability. Large glass is near impossible to get any more. Roland has stopped anything near 6" if I remember what I have heard correctly. The TEC line has lost the 200mm the 180mm and even the 160 is like hens teeth. D&G stopped making mirrors. The Intes Micro line is all but gone. Mark from Teton Telescopes was the last dealer that did any volume.Great mirrors are still without a doubt the biggest bang for the buck if you ask me. Starting with a 10" Dobson Complete going for as little as $495.00 and going from there to $1,000.00 for a good 10" Zambuto mirror. People like Rob Teeter are getting back in the business and with the advancements in video astronomy the really short fl mirrors are in huge demand. Big lenses are coming from China that are about 50/50 as near as I can tell. About half of the folks who get one are really satisfied w ith them. IStar blows their own horn plenty but still have to prove they can deliver a quality product everytime and in a little larger quantity than they are currently. They still are not Premium Optics but are so improved it is indeed getting closer.Daniel and I will continue to poke each other till our last breaths. Mirror or lens?
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 11:22:05 -0600 From: chuck.hards@gmail.com To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Telescope shootout
On 10/4/11, Steve Fisher <iotacass1@hotmail.com> wrote:
2007? I'm thinking many things have changed since then.
As I said, it's brand and type specific. But he holds your favorite in very high regard Steve. I doubt Roland's quality has shifted in 4 years.
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On 10/4/11, Steve Fisher <iotacass1@hotmail.com> wrote:
Yes, they do offer one, and if you were to get on the list today someday maybe ten years from now they might give you a call and see if you are still interested. Or they might say "we aren't making them any more, would you like to be put on the end of another list"? This is what happened to someone on this mailing list. Care to guess who? Steve
You have to remember that many (if not MOST) "commercial" telescope suppliers fall into the "cottage industry" category. Either that, or they are sidelines for when the maker's regular products (read: profitable and high volume) hit a slow period. You are at the seller's mercy. You'll get your (telescope, part, whatever), when the maker has a (boat payment/alimony payment) due. Caveat Emptor. I LOVE being an ATM. ;-)
Another scope that he reviews, the Sky Designs 24" Dob, is the very same scope we bought back in 2000. His review was one of the main reasons we felt comfortable committing to such a big investment, sight-unseen. Picked it up in New Hampshire three months later, and have never regretted it! Quoting Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com>:
Apropos the age-old "reflector vs. refractor" debate, here's Ed Ting's take on it:
http://www.scopereviews.com/best.html
Note that his piece is concerned with very specific brands and models, not an over-arching statement on types, but it's still a good read from a reliable, experienced observer and telescope junkie. He throws-in a CAT just to be an equal-opportunity reviewer, and talks about the telescope lust factor, as well. Good stuff.
participants (5)
-
Chuck Hards -
erikhansen＠thebluezone.net -
Josephine Grahn -
Patrick Wiggins -
Steve Fisher