Posts Made By: Emmanuel Apodaca

Can any one comment on the use of any of these two scopes as a quick look scope. I am interested in any cool-down issues etc. Should I stick with a widefield 80-100mm refractor?.

Thanks,

Emmanuel

I wont mention any names but at least two of the well known Russian telescope suppliers put up ads claiming good prices. Once you give them a call or contact them its nothiong but a big scam. These people should take a class on business ethics.

Sadly, the only other option for me is a USA premium engineering source that provides spider web like scratched primary mirrors.

While its easy to compare Maks and SCTs to APO refractors in terms of contrast (readily available in writing). The comparison between a good ED doublet vs an APO is not very clear. Assuming all other errors are negligible.

Anyone want to shed some light on this?. How do fine planetary details compare vs deep sky etc. What exactly do you gain from that last bit of color correction?

I came upon this 'Focus Lever' - being a sportscar fanatic I am naturally very excited about this thing. How well does it work ? Hype or the real deal ?

IMHO the televue focusers are due for an update with dual speed but this thing might do it for me.

Any plans for a Televue Great Polaris mount? (A la celestron from a few years back). Recolored TV white or black and rebadged with that star T logo - Ill take one of each!

I just got a Nagler Zoom and it was snowing. So stop complaining

I recommend you do the following:
1.Go to a star party.
2.Get the largest aperture scope you can confortably carry around.
3.Get a pair of binos or a small refractor either of which can be used for both learning the sky and for quick looks.

If you will be traveling with your scope (like me)then
2b.Get the largest aperture scope you can confortably travel with OR
3b.Get a 4 inch short tube refractor/5 inch SCT for travel use and binos.

I have owned a 5 inch SCT, a 6 inch Mak, A 6 inch Mak Newt, a TV Ranger, and a TV-85. What follows is what I have learned so far.

The Ranger(Pronto) is usable up to about 160. Although image is not degraded the view starts to get uncomfortably dim at higher mag. The scope is very light and is a pleasure to use for quick peeks outside and it makes an excellent solar scope. The TV-85 compares favorably with a five inch SCT and you would not miss the 5 at all if you owned this scope. That said, the SCT costs 1/4 of the price and the only bad thing is the smaller field of view and longer cooldown time.

The six inch Maks with small central obstruction and quality optics are noticably better than the TV-85 both planetary and deep sky, especially the Mak Newts but that is going off topic (not as portable and requires hefty mount). The performance of the TV-85 is fantastic for its aperture though and it still does a decent job against the 6 incher. The cooldown time and price of the ETX is about same as that of the intes MK-67 so I would opt for the six incher here.

If you want something for quicklooks then a refractor is the one to choose as they are ready to go in about ten minutes. If you want a scope that is light and that will make you forget about the bigger scopes you have inside and the price does not scare you - get a TV-APO. A small refractor will be the telescope you use more often regardless of what else you own. I now own a TV-Ranger which keeps me observing till my Mak is ready.


Emmanuel

Get a TEC140 APO, sell your SCT and get a universal astronomics mount until you save for a GEM. Do it now and save over the overpriced competitors, do it now before the wait starts to go up, do it now and be the King.

Tak scopes only look good on Tak mounts - get an EM10.