Post by paulci on Jan 12, 2014 18:38:29 GMT -5
I received this lens from Mike last July but have had the frustration to have to wait until now to find the time to dedicate to this project.
After over a year from ordering, I finally got the lens mounted a couple of nights ago on my crude 'beam' scope to check out Focal lengths using a variation of my Baader binos and barlows and differing eyepieces. This will allow me to progress on with my self build. (however I have been following the TCR development with interest and may weaken!)
Last night was a very clear night but an active moon which bleached the night sky, particularly in trying to get a good visual on Jupiter. I am going to need additional sessions to fully appraise this lens and am waiting for the moon to go over in the hope of darker skies in the next couple of weeks.
In the meantime I have attached (hopefully!) a luna shot. This was taken with an antiquated compact digital camera through a Brandon ep, Baader Mkv, 1.25 compensator T2 prism diagonal, and 1.8 Baader refractor compensator. mag was approx. 210x.
hardly any colour on the moon in particularly the limb. One side of focus the peaks were on fire with a ruby red!(quite spectacular visually) The other side of focus a violet green. However in focus was a sharp and cold clean image.
I will not comment on Jupiter until I've had darker skies and better seeing. One thing I will say is that the image scale was shockingly impressive and very bright! I have recently borrowed my old Vixen 6" ED apo and am an owner of a Quartz intes MN78. So looking forward to carrying out some comparisons.
I will say that the Istar is very close to the 6" apo in regards to colour control when in focus on the moon!
The mount in the pics is my recent completed project to accept the 8" and it glides faultlessly!
Will report back soon and on progress of the build.
A big thanks to Ales & Mike for all their timely and on going advice and customer support.
So far, a very happy ATM'er.
Paul
After over a year from ordering, I finally got the lens mounted a couple of nights ago on my crude 'beam' scope to check out Focal lengths using a variation of my Baader binos and barlows and differing eyepieces. This will allow me to progress on with my self build. (however I have been following the TCR development with interest and may weaken!)
Last night was a very clear night but an active moon which bleached the night sky, particularly in trying to get a good visual on Jupiter. I am going to need additional sessions to fully appraise this lens and am waiting for the moon to go over in the hope of darker skies in the next couple of weeks.
In the meantime I have attached (hopefully!) a luna shot. This was taken with an antiquated compact digital camera through a Brandon ep, Baader Mkv, 1.25 compensator T2 prism diagonal, and 1.8 Baader refractor compensator. mag was approx. 210x.
hardly any colour on the moon in particularly the limb. One side of focus the peaks were on fire with a ruby red!(quite spectacular visually) The other side of focus a violet green. However in focus was a sharp and cold clean image.
I will not comment on Jupiter until I've had darker skies and better seeing. One thing I will say is that the image scale was shockingly impressive and very bright! I have recently borrowed my old Vixen 6" ED apo and am an owner of a Quartz intes MN78. So looking forward to carrying out some comparisons.
I will say that the Istar is very close to the 6" apo in regards to colour control when in focus on the moon!
The mount in the pics is my recent completed project to accept the 8" and it glides faultlessly!
Will report back soon and on progress of the build.
A big thanks to Ales & Mike for all their timely and on going advice and customer support.
So far, a very happy ATM'er.
Paul
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