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Post by mikey cee on Dec 15, 2011 17:21:44 GMT -5
Has everybody gone to sleep around here?? Karl and Mike are coming over tonight to check out Karl's new used binos. If you look at the Weather Bug map it don't get no clearer. Seeing will probably be crap. Tonight were going to see how tough it will be to see stars E & F in the Trapezium. If I can't see 'em I'm shippin' this lens back! Any takers ? ;D ;D Mike
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Post by Watcher3 on Dec 15, 2011 19:16:42 GMT -5
I'm sure everyone is busy Christmas shopping! I'm packing for my move to Missouri next month, and sitting on pins and needles waiting for the 6" R30 shorty to get checked out and shipped as well as being busy as hell at work.
If you can't see E&F in that beast, you don't need a new lens, you need an eye doctor!
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Post by Mike on Dec 17, 2011 0:21:39 GMT -5
Skies should be clear Sunday night. Actually, they should be clear every night until May but we are experiencing the weirdest weather pattern in the 10 years I've lived here. First scope on the test mount will be the 150-5 R30. I'll try to give a report on Sunday night.
Mike
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Dec 17, 2011 6:24:09 GMT -5
Hello Mike, please keep ISC members informed about testing of the other scopes as well. I know that you have tested the new Forfax LTT 140-12 APO first generation. Than you tested few scopes for our distributors namely Perseus AT 150-10 and Perseus AT 150-8 if Im not mistaken. Personally I cant wait to hear some news about the Asteria WFT 150-5 which is an R30 super fast F/4,7 system. You should direclty comapre this Anastigmatic R30 doublet to a Classic achromatic doublet 150 F/5. Try to have both scopes side by side even though the R30 is faster... Thanks for keeping everyone at ISC informed!! Cheers, Ales
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Post by Mike on Dec 18, 2011 22:13:09 GMT -5
WFT150-5 vs Asteria 150-5 R30 Attachments:
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Post by Watcher3 on Dec 18, 2011 22:28:17 GMT -5
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Post by jamesling1000 on Dec 18, 2011 23:18:57 GMT -5
WFT150-5 vs Asteria 150-5 R30 Hi Mike.... This comparison will be interesting.... I have seen through the C6R F5, and I know its CA too well, whereby images get fuzzy when you try to push to 200X. So for me, my interest will to know how well this R30 goes against the std one, in terms of CA , and how much we can push the power , especially on Jupiter...... Myself has the C6R F8, and I know its not able to beat my 6SE, when is well collimated... Regards James Ling
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Post by Mike on Dec 19, 2011 21:35:40 GMT -5
James, I hope you are not wondering about Jupiter through this 150-5 R30. It is not a planetary scope. It is for star fields and DSOs. The 150-5 is great on M31. The central core is very bright. It's two accompanying galaxies are easily seen in the same field. It is a great scope for these type of objects at low power. It is not good on any bright object. This includes planets, the moon and bright stars. Jupiter glows purple. Use it for what it was made for and you'll love it.
Mike
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Post by Watcher3 on Dec 19, 2011 23:57:39 GMT -5
I'm wondering. Not because it's a planetary scope, but because I'd like to see how it compares to the standard F/5. Perhaps more relevant, would be to ask what magnitude stars show color at 300X? Again, in comparison to the F/5. Color wise, this R30 should be the equivalent of an F/5.9. Inquiring minds want to know!
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Dec 20, 2011 6:29:19 GMT -5
I would like to step in and make something clear. Both the Phoenix WFT 150-5 and Asteria WFT 150-5 are Comet Hunters and both perform well at around 0,25D which in this case translates to a maximum usable power of 38x. Im sure that you can "push" the magnification of R30 Asteria to some 50x but that would be it. So both scopes should be tested in a magnification range they were produced for. To test at 300x will be interesting to see and know.. but wont tell much about the scopes real value. The 0,25D is exactly by the book.. for 150mm aperture F5 doublet. So we should do this test in three separate magnification levels, first of all with some top quality 40mm eyepiece at 19x, than 20mm eyepiece at 38x (exactly the maximum usable magnification as per optical design and glass types used) and than a total overkill for this scope with 10mm eyepiece at 75x. The Asteria should outperform the Phoenix by a comfortable margin.. but we must first test them both side by side. Im sure that Mike will do a splendid job on this.. hope we really got the correct R30 lens in stock.. after the mix up in shipment. Mike will let you know about this soon. Again, both the Asteria 150-5 and Phoenix 150-5 were made solely as low power, wide field star sweeper. Nobody should expect this scope to perform well on planets, bright stars. If you are looking for a scope which can handle both DSO and planets.. than go with Asteria AT 150-10. Greetings to all and thank you again for your support. By the way, se are going to design a special corrector for our Asteria line of scopes, will give out details by July 2012 or possibly sooner. best regards,
Ales ISTAR Optical
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Post by Watcher3 on Dec 20, 2011 23:18:26 GMT -5
Ales. I think it is pretty clear that this is not the equal of your fluorite triplet! I do think, that at 38X, even the diferences of the fluorite would be subtle. I intend to use this scope for more than low power wide field, although I definately will use it for that also. I believe quite high powers will be usable for things like some brighter galaxies. and with an effective CA of an F/5.9 scope, I'm not going to worry about setting up multple scopes if I want to take a peak at a planet for a couple minutes during a night of DSO observation. I know it won't be the best choice for planetary, but I have other scopes for nights dedicated to that. I know it will fill my needs for these purposes. The Canadian Telescopes 6" F/5.9 does these things, EXCEPT for the extreme wide fields. The ISTAR should do better, because of the better optical quality. Of course, when I have a bigger ISTAR in a couple years, I will use this scope JUST for wide fields, but I am quite sure I'll be happy with my intended uses until then.
Regards Joe
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Post by Mike on Dec 20, 2011 23:26:01 GMT -5
Our lens shop did in fact mix up our shipment and sent me another "classic" 150-5 instead of the R30 version. So, the show down is off for at least a few more weeks. Sorry Joe. Believe me I am just as disappointed as you probably are. After Ales chewed some behinds I'm hoping to get the correct lens in a hurry. I'll let you know. I will give a detailed review and you'll know exactly what you are getting. Ales just wants a perspective buyer to know what they are getting. This scope was designed with a specific use in mind and in that use it performs admirably. Even with full disclosure someone will buy a scope and then complain by saying that Jupiter has CA.
Mike
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Post by Watcher3 on Dec 20, 2011 23:40:12 GMT -5
I understand completely! But at the same time, don't sell it short to more savy buyers. I think an extreme widefield 6" with the CA of an F/5.9 is game changer for DSO!
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Post by Mike on Dec 23, 2011 19:45:44 GMT -5
Honest to goodness, I am not selling it short. I really enjoyed a long night out with the 150-5. It showed a remarkable view of M31 and several other DSOs. I just want people to appreciate it for what it is. A wide field scope for star fields and DSOs. It is not a planetary scope and if you bought it thinking you could use it for such, you would be disappointed. However, the R30 may change things. As soon as I get my hands on one, I'll let you know. And, the scope... is just plain cool looking
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