TMB 130SS Star Test

Hi folks. Just been reading the thread Giorgio has on the Pentax. Thought there might be some good input I could get on a new TMB 130SS.

I'm new in the APO world and certainly not a star test expert. I've done a fair amount of work with SCTs and comfortable with star testing them but this APO analysis looks as if it can get complicated. Reason I say this is in this thread:

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1443948/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1

some say an APO could have a star test like the one shown and have an excellent lens.

When the unit arrived I thought it looked fine but then I mounted a Tak FS-78 on top of it and looked at the Trapezium. I could see the F star in the Tak but could not make it out in the TMB 130SS. The test was duplicated over several nights. In a star test on an artificial star and generic star on inside focus the pattern looked pretty good. As you moved through focus to outside focus the focused star seemed to stay and grow as you moved to outside foucus. Ending in the large bright shimmering blur shown in the star test photo. I'm sorry my shots are not better. I was using a Televue X 5 barlow trying to get as close to focus as possible on the star test.

The dealer says the star test doesn't look right but some of the others feel it is fine. Any ideas?

The lens appears to have some weak center zone. But whether it is
enough to make a real problem is difficult to say. It is a question
of getting a quantitative measurement. If your images were slightly
better (no dust motes, maybe use green filter) you could try Roddier
technique with them to make some more detailed result. But it is some
work to process the images.

The lower resolution in the larger scope is concerning. Had the scope been out long enough to achieve thermal equilbrium? How was the seeing on the nights you were out?