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Post by borispider on Mar 4, 2012 13:50:45 GMT -5
So what, no thread w/ pics and YouTube video of Mike's adventures at the WSP?? You did mention some reactions to the scopes you had there, but I was hoping for pics and stuff  |
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Post by Watcher3 on Mar 4, 2012 14:32:03 GMT -5
Probably too busy filling out orders for everyone that saw the ISTARs, so we'll just have to  until he gets around to it. |
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Post by borispider on Mar 4, 2012 21:29:04 GMT -5
Well that's a great reason to wait I'd say.
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Mar 5, 2012 4:34:04 GMT -5
Here is our flagship CaF2 Fluorite Super APO triplet Phantom CFT 152-8 with a brand new Asteria AT 127-12 R30. A very compact, easy to handle and lightweight scope compared to rest. Mike will comment further on its performance and other details. cheers, Ales Attachments:
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Mar 5, 2012 4:38:14 GMT -5
And the last picture Im going to share (being extremely busy myself). Mike will pick up at this point with a full review and another set of photos. I cant wait myself. But based on what Ive heard already, the WSP was a great success for Istar and some more than knowledgeable and experienced people made some extremely favorable comments about istarts optical quality, build quality and extremely low price for an instruments in this range.. personally, I could not be happier.. best regards, Ales Attachments:
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Post by Mike on Mar 6, 2012 12:13:33 GMT -5
Instead of writing last night about my trip to the WSP and how the scopes performed, I decided to go outside, observe and image Mars. Two years is a long time to wait for the next Mars opposition. It was a no brainer for me. I'd rather be under the stars than typing on my keyboard although, Ales might think otherwise. And, by the way Ales, thanks for posting my picture... I should start by saying something about the WSP that unless you have been there you wouldn't know. Yes, it's a great time. Yes, warm balmy weather on the beach, eating and drinking astronomy and telescopes for a week, every scope imaginable, Astro Vendors with all the goodies and the camaraderie that comes with being with 400 astronomers. Here is the amazing part of being there. I live under dark skies. I can be in the everglades in 30 minutes. We don't suffer the effects of the jet stream like those of you in mid and upper latitudes. The skies in the Florida Keys are rock steady. Unless you look at the stars on the horizon, it is nearly impossible to discern scintillation. For years I have told the general public that the way to tell the difference between planets and stars is the planets don't twinkle. This does not work in the Keys. For those who live under the skies in the Southwestern US, this may be common. But for someone who had lived in the Southeastern US his whole life, it's quite uncommon. What do you think you get when you combine a high quality refractor with ultra steady skies? I'll tell you, some fantastic observing and imaging. We had 5 nights of clear steady skies. I didn't get much sleep. We're also camping so not much sleep is expected anyway. Now for the scopes starting with the Phantom 152. I thought the scope performed well in my driveway. I'm posting some images I took of Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and the moon. They won't win any prizes but for a 6 inch scope, I think they're pretty good. As far as DSOs, Orion was amazing. Orion has always been my favorite. I guess because it never looks the same to me. Scopes, magnifications, locations and conditions render it different every time. It stood out from the background sky like 3D. With an 82 degree field at 91X using a 13mm Nagler Type 6, the nebula seemed to "hang" off the sky. I wish I had at least a DSLR to image it but I don't think it would have been the same as being there. The Asteria 127-12 R30 exceeded my expectations. Yes, a 5 inch scope can show a lot of detail in the planets and brighter DSOs. I will echo the sentiments of nearly everyone who looked through it, "I can't believe a 5 inch scope can show that much detail". The false color is minimal. One older individual with a highly trained eye said he barely noticed it. Even a refractor snob like me could easily look past it. The contrast the Asteria delivers is the ticket. The E and F stars of the trapezium do not require averted vision. The scope really delivers on planets like Jupiter and Saturn. The compact size and relatively light weight would allow a much smaller mount than I used. A Celestron CGEM or Orion Atlas, just to name two, would be more than enough. Yes, I work for Istar and want to sell telescopes. However, I can honestly say the Asteria has made me a believer in R30. I haven't told Ales yet but I intend to purchase one for myself in the very near future. Either that or I'll be hanging on to one and using it as a demo for an indefinite period of time . So, buy an Istar telescope and go to the WSP next year. To say you'll enjoy yourself would be a gross understatement. Mike |
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Post by borispider on Mar 6, 2012 18:10:59 GMT -5
Yeah that 127mm is right up my alley.
How much heavier is your 127 compared to a C4R?
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Post by Mike on Mar 7, 2012 23:09:18 GMT -5
Sorry the first upload was Purple. Not sure why. Attachments:
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Post by Mike on Mar 8, 2012 20:00:45 GMT -5
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 8, 2012 21:53:23 GMT -5
Hi Mike. Nice pictures taken..... Is a total different environment as compared to my usual star gazing in Malaysia, at Punggai Chalet. I now can even see your full outlook , without the hat, haha..... And also just wondering, every members in this ISTARSCOPECLUB going to get complimentary ISTAR SUNSHADE from ISTAR, hahaha... And noticed the ISTAR 127 F12 R30 is wrapped up with a plastic protection .... Maybe this will be sold off to any ISTARSCOPECLUB member at a special price...hahaha.... Hi Joe and All. Just noticed that our club member now is at 130 , with latest member, Doc, joining us.... And I take this opportunity to say to all those members who has joined after me, a warm welcome to this ISTARSCOPECLUB, and I know many of you have better knowledge and experience in astronomy then me, as I have started late around 15years back..... I know Joe will be very much happy to see every members joining this forum, whether you own or not, the ISTAR scope, to make this an active and participative forum .... Joe.... we should see the number reaching 150 and 200 soon, ya...... REgards James LIng |
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Post by Watcher3 on Mar 9, 2012 2:13:02 GMT -5
Great pics Mike! Looks like a real tough job, but I guess someone has to do it.  Thanks James. I am very happy to see the ISC still growing at a pretty good clip. We are still a young forum, and I hope to see thousands of members as ISTAR becomes more of a household name. |
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Post by jamesling1000 on Mar 14, 2012 6:09:50 GMT -5
Great pics Mike! Looks like a real tough job, but I guess someone has to do it. Thanks James. I am very happy to see the ISC still growing at a pretty good clip. We are still a young forum, and I hope to see thousands of members as ISTAR becomes more of a household name. Hi Mike..... I hope more reviews from the rest of the scope, which all ISTARscopeclub members would very much like to know how the scopes perform before deciding on which one to choose from..... I myself is still very interested to know how the 150F5 R30 perform, and just wondering when ISTAR will produce a RAYCORR 6 for the F5 version, which will make it perform both for DSO and planetary purposes. REgards james Ling |
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Mar 15, 2012 7:55:00 GMT -5
Dear James,
first version of Raycorr will be designed in about two month time and first units produced in about 4-5 month time from now. These versions will be optimized for F/7 to F10 but made to work BEST with our Anastigmatic doublets R30 in F/8 ratio. Also, we will optimize this design for APS size chips which are found in most higher end CCD cameras and DSLRs. We shoot for retail price of 575 dollars now.. hope I will be able to offer these new Raycorr units exactly at that.. well, would be nice to offer them for less but that wont be possible with Raycorr PRO line.. possibly with future Raycorr LT3 which is a simplified version, visual only which will turn each scope into a semi apo or near apo at around the center of the image.. great for planetary observing. So by this summer we will have a Raycorr Pro version for our Asteria AT 127-8 R30, Asteria AT 150-8 R30 and Asteria AT 180-8 R30, this is a VERY nice selection of scopes indeed and will fit most peopless budget and mount size. The Asteria 127 F8 is very compact, 150 F8 can be easily transported and 180 is still withing the limits of most better mounts (CGEM range now selling for 1200 by OPT.. wow..). We may get into producing larger models but not this year.. we are introducing 6 more models this year including Raycorrs.. plenty of work still ahead of us.. By the way, another version of Raycorr will be introduced by end of this year, it will be the ultimate quality Raycorr and will be optimized for a Full Frame photography (!!) and it should perform like a true APO visually and hopefully as well as for picture taking of DSOs, planets, etc.. Versions for F5 to F7 will be also introduced by end of this year, possibly 2013, all depends on how many people will buy the F/7 to F/10 versions.. if we can sell at least 100 during first 6 months we would get things into a higher gear and produce all three models in Pro6 and the Raycorr Ultima (or something like that.. we dont have the name yet for the highest version) by the way the highest version should cost around 1200 dollars, for sure no less since the glass types used are extremely hard to get and very expensive.. I assume that currently prepared version of Raycorr Pro6 for APS (we may actually call it Raycorr APS.. how do you like it guys.. and than the top version Raycorr Pro FF).. well, name is least important at this point but I like to hear from you guys with some hints.. must run, so behind with my emails and other correspondence..
cheers,
Ales
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Mar 15, 2012 7:57:11 GMT -5
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Mar 15, 2012 8:04:51 GMT -5
James, no such thing as a great DSO AND Planetary scope at a same time.. you always have trade offs. But in my opinion the best bet is one of our Asteria scopes with R30 or R35 lens (both has been designed and both are in production now.. due to be finished in 3-5 month time). The sweetest thing about these Asteria scopes in F8 ratio is that we have incorporated a field flattener into this design as part of the optical correction but also a FL reducer which will turn the F8 into F6, possibly F5,5.. IDEAL for photography (cant get much faster with lens based system unless you go with materials which are financially out of reach for most of us, regular guys..) but also the F8 with Raycorr can be used for a very decent visual / planetary applications. So in my personal opinion.. go with Asteria F8 in 127, 150 or 180mm model is by far the BEST choice.. the F5 will be harder to correct and wont be good for planetary works.. period.. Personally Im saving my pennies for 180 F8 with Raycorr Pro6 APS. And may end up with Raycorr Pro6 FF since I really like to get involved in photography.. a high quality photography for people on budget. Must run for now, talk to you guys later,
Ales
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