Forfax 140 f12 coming my way

[istarmullet]

To supplement my Perseus 150 f15 I will soon be taking delivery of an ISTAR APO. I have wanted to purchase a sizable APO for some time and ISTAR helped me make my decision. Pics and such will be forthcoming after I pick the scope up from Mike next week here in so cal.

[istarmullet]

I picked up the scope from opt yesterday and was able to use it last night for a bit, this is one very good instrument. Perfect star test. Absolutely no color on bright objects. Build quality is superb. The losmandy g11 handles he scope with ease. This has to be one of the best deals in the history of recent apo history. More to follow.

[mikey cee]

Hi there Mullet. Obviously I don't put my big Istar lens into the same category your APO is. However judging from the way my lens has been performing on double stars lately I think we can agree that all these Istar lenses perform superbly. I as well as you feel we made the correct decision!! Triple cool move is all I can say at this point in time! Mike

[istarmullet]

Here is the scope all mounted.

[mikey cee]

Well Mullet the scope doesn't look to shabby. What is in your observatory? Will it be this one? Or will it ride piggyback on something larger? Mike

[istarmullet]

Believe it or not this apo will be grab and go so no observatory time for it. Inside the obs is a cpc 1100 on one side and a tmb 80mm apo piggy backed on a stellarvue ED scope on the other. It has been fun comparing Saturn views in the apo to the cpc, the latter clearly wins as it is a larger scope but the apo really is not that far behind...a great purchase.

What are some good double stars I should be checking out with the apo?

[Mike]

Try these: Doubles

Well if the APO is not too far behind the C11, there must be something wrong with the C11 collimation. C'mon now, how could an Istar product possibly perform well?

Sorry, I couldn't resist

[Kitch101]

Jul 29, 2013 22:32:39 GMT -5 Mike said:

Try these: Doubles

Well if the APO is not too far behind the C11, there must be something wrong with the C11 collimation. C'mon now, how could an Istar product possibly perform well?

Sorry, I couldn't resist

That was my thought also, I see no way that a 140mm  scope is going to get anywhere near a well collimated C11 but I doubt anyone expects one to.  Nice scope nonetheless, hope you have many happy hours with it.

My little Apo is the perfect scope for me at the moment, no extraneous color showing at all. Must be something to do with the Strehl of 0.99.

[mikey cee]

Well Kitch I see Mike's statement went right over your head! Mike

[Kitch101]

Jul 31, 2013 9:33:28 GMT -5 mikey cee said:

Well Kitch I see Mike's statement went right over your head! Mike

Actually it didn't Mikey but I saw no reason for continuing with any more sarcasm.  I know there are a lot of people smarting over comments made on CN about what Istar scopes can and cannot do.  But lets face facts, a medium refractor of any brand is going to find it a struggle to match the performance of an 11" Cat reflector, in that regard Istar will be no different to any other brand.

 I  too think Istar should keep their manufacturing data (other than lens material) a secret, just because 2 members of CN want to know doesn't mean they ought to be told. Let them buy an Istar to test for themselves. Obviously there are those whose brand-loyalty is such that they will never stray to the Istar shop.

Anyway, I digress from Mullets beautiful Apo Istar which seems to a rather rare beast indeed, are there many of these that have been made?

Cheers, Kitch

Edit: Post some more pictures of the Forfax

[mikey cee]

Let them buy an Istar to test for themselves.
You hit one of the nails right on the head Kitch. I'm on record as having stated that on CN to one of the afformentioned "2". A rather gutless measure sitting back, complaining and that's exactly what it is, for someone else to do their bidding. Mike

[istarmullet]

Re my initial comparison to the cpc, I was trying to be very honest and used it to compare with the apo because it gives such great views, it was never my intent to say it compared to the cpc, it of course cannot give the aperture of the celestron. But, it continues to be fun to compare them, the apo is close. Next is comparing the apo to my istar 150 f 15.

The apo has been giving really terrific deep sky views too btw.

[Mike]

after more than 2 years of waiting I think it is time to put up or shut up until it actually emerges.


We've not said a word about Raycorr for some time now. All we do is answer inquires as to when it is coming out. The customers keep bringing it up and I don't blame them. I don't know how much more frank I can be. It simply isn't finished yet. I don't know what else we can do to apologize. It's not like we are currently advertising it. We have SHUT UP for sometime now. Eventually it will become a reality. Ales made a mistake in letting things out too soon. We know it and it won't happen again. I guess I could take him out behind the building and horse whip him. Would that make it better? Yes, that was sarcasm. I don't think we are riding on any "hype." We are building great products. This is what we are riding on. But you are right Kitch, there is no reason to continue the sarcasm concerning CN.

I sincerely thank the customers who have looked past this situation, bought new telescopes or lenses and ended up with a product they love.

I have a C14 that I image planets with and no 5 or 6 inch refractor can compete with it. Planetary imaging is all about collecting as much light as possible. However, if I had the money and an observatory, I would have the biggest refractor money could buy. Yes, I'd take a big 12 or 14 inch refractor over an SCT any day. There are things Kevin's 140mm can do that my C14 can't. That is produce the smallest pin point stars and a velvety black background. Have you seen Omega Centauri through a 150mm refractor? There is nothing like it. From a practical standpoint, you can't beat a big SCT for planetary imaging. Planetary imaging is my passion in astronomy. However, If it weren't for that, I would have no reason to own an SCT.

Mike

[jolasa]

Well said Mike.

I bought my Asteria TCR 150 R35 last month with hopes in the back of my mind that eventually there would be a Raycorr to match my lens.

But having viewed and imaged through this scope for over a month now, the scope's performance has exceeded my expectations, in spades, with or without a Raycorr.

Well done Istar!

JonS

[bn1777]

Jul 31, 2013 19:20:04 GMT -5 istarmullet said:

Re my initial comparison to the cpc, I was trying to be very honest and used it to compare with the apo because it gives such great views, it was never my intent to say it compared to the cpc, it of course cannot give the aperture of the celestron. But, it continues to be fun to compare them, the apo is close. Next is comparing the apo to my istar 150 f 15.

The apo has been giving really terrific deep sky views too btw.

As you know I have a Takahashi Mewlon 210 and like you have compared this against my 127mm f8 Isatr achro and yes the Tak is better , but not by much .
I recon the difference would be similar to the difference you see between your 140mm APO and CPC11 , its great fun doing these comparo's ,aint it ? , especially when you own and love both so there is no onus one way or the other to which is better .
I would love one of these 140mm APO's but because my 127mm achromat performs so well , it aint going to happen .

I echo Jolasa's comment ,,
' Well done Istar ! ' .

Brian.