Great Optics?

The term great optics seemed to be used a lot in reviews and posts. Can an SCT from Meade or Celestron truly have great optics and compared to what?

Yes they can on occasion. I had one out of many. Yes, they were all critically collimated and cooled. They can also be "great" compared to decent samples of other designs.

The think I sometimes chuckle about is when every one for sale says "great optics" or occasionally you will see a whole slew of them that are "hand picked". Yes, somebody pics them up with their hand, when they put them in the shipping box. LOL

Kevin

Dave Barta said:

The term great optics seemed to be used a lot in reviews and posts. Can an SCT from Meade or Celestron truly have great optics and compared to what?

Compared to a A-P 10 inch MAK... Probably not

Compared to a Baytronix 150/1400... Duh...

Jon

Sure,

I think one of the big things about the premium optics is that they have to pass a more rigorous selection procedure before they go out the door. There is more variation in mass market products, though. So, while you will always get a very good product from a premium marketer, only a smaller percentage of mass marketer products will hit that mark. But yes, it is possible to get "Great Optics" form anybody--just highly unlikely.

Alex

Dave Barta said:

The term great optics seemed to be used a lot in reviews and posts. Can an SCT from Meade or Celestron truly have great optics and compared to what?

Yes. My other observation? Most folks wouldn't know great optics if it bit 'em in the patootie. Which is OK, since most of the time "great" makes absolutely no difference.

When someone is trying to sell something they tend to exaggerate. Recently I saw a Baytronix (ugh) Telescope for sale with the adjective excellent used. Now I'm pretty new to the field but the reputation of these instruments (and I use the term loosely) is not new to me. So, excellent compared to what, maybe looking through the bottom of a shot glass after you've relieved it of its contents? With all due respect to the poster they actually said excellent condition and may have been referring to the paint. Great optics are very rarely mass produced. Great craftsmen make them and are willing to test them afterwards to quarantee quality. For instance when someone advertises anything with a Zambuto mirror in it they don't need adjectives, the name stands for itself.