gord
Full Member
Posts: 82
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Post by gord on Apr 15, 2011 21:13:42 GMT -5
Hi guys, So I'm adding another IStar to my collection! The Forfax 160 F12 triplet. I got just the lens only and will be building my own again. Looking forward to it! I'm thinking of going the builder tube route as a finished scope this time given how well it worked out for my "test mule" I built for the 6" F10. I think with some better finishing (epoxy, glass, or CF) the tube could be made to look as nice as any material and still maintain the low weight and good thermal properties. I'm also planning to go with the Astro-Physics hardware once again. Really nice gear, and I'm very happy with it on my achro. Going to be a fairly long scope, but my goal is around 25lbs. Should ride nicely on the G11 and maybe even pretty good on the EQ6. More to come! Clear skies, -Gord Attachments:
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Post by Watcher3 on Apr 16, 2011 13:21:49 GMT -5
Congratulations Gord! That's a helluva score. Big, long, AND an APO. Sounds like a whole new ballgame.
Can't wait to see the results on your tube. I didn't realize the material was that light.
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Post by Mike on Apr 16, 2011 19:59:17 GMT -5
Hey Guys, as soon as we start taking delivery of these scopes we're going to have a lot to write about. It's going to get interesting. Any of you guys imagers?
Mike
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Post by Watcher3 on Apr 16, 2011 20:25:47 GMT -5
I got a Canon and a DVD on imaging, but that's as far as I've gotten. Yep, things are going to pick up when these scopes get delivered, but things are REALLY going to pick up if they meet out expectations.
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Post by Mike on Apr 16, 2011 22:44:28 GMT -5
I've been using an Imaging Source DMK41 for about 6 months now. Great camera for planetary, lunar and solar. I have some great shots of the moon through a Stellarvue Triplet and the sun through a Lunt Ha double stack. Gee Joe, it's a shame we don't have anywhere to upload them to on this board. A gallery so we could look at each others work from our new scopes would be nice... hint hint Mike
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Post by Mike on Apr 16, 2011 22:45:41 GMT -5
Gord, you say you got the lens only. Have you taken delivery yet? Or, you just mean you ordered it.
Mike
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Post by Mike on Apr 16, 2011 22:53:28 GMT -5
I'm expecting this 6" F12 and my DMK41 to produce some "Knock your socks off" images of Saturn. My good friend is always sending me his Saturn images taken with his DMK21 and a TEC MC300. I'm hoping my new ISTAR will rival his results. What do you think?
Mike
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gord
Full Member
Posts: 82
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Post by gord on Apr 17, 2011 7:52:53 GMT -5
Gord, you say you got the lens only. Have you taken delivery yet? Or, you just mean you ordered it. Hi Mike, No, haven't got it yet. It's coming from Europe via courier, 2 bus-days. I'm hoping to have it by mid-week. Long weekend coming up, so hoping to have some time to put into it. Already working on the design for the tube attachements. What I really need is a lathe (and knowledge of how to use it ! I've been to a few machine shops, but none seem real interested in the work. I have a design and approach to roll my own, but it's not my ideal solution. These are items though for more the longer term finished product. I'll be able to setup and try out the lens almost immediately using the rail scope which will be good to evaluate and confirm exact dimensions. Thanks, -Gord
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gord
Full Member
Posts: 82
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Post by gord on Apr 17, 2011 8:19:07 GMT -5
Oh yeah Mike, on the comparison to the TEC MC300 and imaging...
My feeling would be don't hold your breath. I'm pretty sure these are going to be awesome visual scopes, probably not giving up much (if any) to some of the classic long focus apos (A-P super planetary, etc.).
That being said, don't expect it to rival even a C11 for imaging. Heck even a C8 may out-do it. This is for planetary imaging. You just can't beat size, and with the current methods of capturing/stacking/processing, even average (decent) optics can produce killer images. And the bigger they are, the better the results.
If you look at all of the planetary images produced these days, you will be lucky if you find anything produced by a refractor, and then it won't likely be in the "top-tier" images.
I know someone with an A-P 6" F12 and a C14. They have made some nice images with the refractor, but nothing even coming close to what the C14 will do. Not even close.
But visually, I think these long apo's are going to give very pleasing results and be more tolerant of the variations in seeing and local thermal effects. I've started noticing this with even the 6" F10 relative to other designs.
Clear skies,
-Gord
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Post by Mike on Apr 17, 2011 11:52:03 GMT -5
Well Gord, I know your right about the quality of planetary images and where they come from. I also own a C11 with really good optics. I do realize that good planetary imaging relies on plenty of brightness. Certainly the C11 provides it. The great planetary imagers like Damian Peach use SCTs (C14 for him) and Don Parker a 16" reflector. Personally I'm sick of bloated stars and central obstructions. I prefer unobstructed views of pin point stars on velvety backgrounds. So for now I going to pretend I'm going to get great planetary images I will tell you one night in the Everglades we took several images of Jupiter through my friends TEC 160FL and they turned out great. If I had a place to upload them on this site I would like you to see them. Mike
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Post by Watcher3 on Apr 17, 2011 13:23:29 GMT -5
Mike. I don't know if it's something workable, but I started an ISTAR Scope Club group on Flikr. I'm really not exactly sure how it works. Maybe you and some others could check it out. If you you register with Flikr, you can upload pics to your album, and share them with the ISTAR Scope Club group on Flikr. If I put a link to that in the menu here, it might work OK. only inconvenience would be that those who want to upload pics will have to register there, and join the group there. Any way, I think that's how it should work. I'd really appreciate it if some others would double check it, and maybe upload some images as a test. I'll try to get the link up on this site shortly, but the river is rising, and it looks like I'll be dealing with my second flood in a month!
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Post by mikey cee on Apr 17, 2011 13:54:29 GMT -5
I don't get it. I upload pictures of my scope right here on Istar Club. Why do we need another site? Mike
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Post by Watcher3 on Apr 17, 2011 14:59:19 GMT -5
So we don't have to look through a bunch of threads just for pics. CN, and even Yahoo groups have a place to keep albums of pictures. I wish Proboards had one so it would actually be part of the site. I think it's nice to have a place to keep all your pictures in one spot to share with each other.
By all means, don't stop putting pics in your posts, this is just an additional showcase for your images. I hope it works out well.
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Post by mikey cee on Apr 17, 2011 15:43:09 GMT -5
Ah so....I see said the blind man. ::)Mike
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Post by Mike on Apr 17, 2011 22:22:31 GMT -5
Joe, seems like there should be an easier way. I don't want to join another group and have to check both. I already, as you know, bounce back and forth between here and CN refractors. I'm just ribbing you about the image album. Can we find a site to house our images and just put a link here. I have a site but I really don't use it much. Actually, just have the email address I want. OK that sounds really vain We just need some kind of software to organize the images, right? I'd volunteer the space on my site if you can figure out the software we need. Mike
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