Post by Vondragonnoggin on Feb 21, 2014 18:57:35 GMT -5
Hello Ian. Yes, I have some experience with fast achros. A binocular telescope fan with a Garret Optical BT70 w/ 90 degree oculars at F/6.2, an APM100ED semi-Apo at F/5, previously owned an AR127 at F/6.5, and have many other binos including F/5 25x100's as well as viewed quite a bit through friends 120ST.
I guess I'm a widefield junkie. I also have a high tolerance for CA and have never been bothered by it. It's there, but I don't find it spoils the view at all. I had a Skywatcher collapsible 8" dob but sold that because it started to collect dust after the AR127 purchase. Took a gamble on an iOptron 150 MCT and made some custom mods for it and absolutely love that scope despite its shortcomings of narrow view. It's my planetary secret weapon getting up to 400x on Saturn one fine Southern California evening with impeccable seeing conditions. Image still crisp. It was amazing what that scope could do in right conditions. Built like a tank too.
The Comet Hunter seems like such a beautiful richfield refractor. I've had my eye on it for awhile. Still waiting on it getting to me, but there are no other offerings quite like it.
Lower power viewing of DSO's and open clusters (of which I'm a huge fan), plus Milky Way sweeping is my plan for it, although after I acquire my image intensifier I plan on viewing some globs with it. The image intensifier should bring out those better with the modest 6" aperture. Also the spectra curve happens to cut off some of the lower blue region and should help with CA. I plan on narrowband Ha views with it also at low power with the IIE. No need for tracking or long integration times with IIE. It's immediate. Not skimping on that purchase and going for a good unit with excellent resolution and might even be a white phosphor tube so I can view black and white rather than standard green of regular green phosphor tubes.
I won't review until I've had it and viewed quite a bit for minimum 6 months. I want the honeymoon stage to be done before giving my review so I can give my best unbiased report on it.
I know my viewing habits fairly well and the scope should get used a whole lot. I have more interest in nebulae and clusters than planetary and, as we know here being refractor fans, there is something about refractor views that just does it for me.
Reading about the 204 was great. Probably something I would be interested in if I get a more permanent setup. I also know my limit on large scopes with active job and parenting duties and the 6" was the largest I could see myself setting up frequently from having everything inside to setup on my deck.
I guess I'm a widefield junkie. I also have a high tolerance for CA and have never been bothered by it. It's there, but I don't find it spoils the view at all. I had a Skywatcher collapsible 8" dob but sold that because it started to collect dust after the AR127 purchase. Took a gamble on an iOptron 150 MCT and made some custom mods for it and absolutely love that scope despite its shortcomings of narrow view. It's my planetary secret weapon getting up to 400x on Saturn one fine Southern California evening with impeccable seeing conditions. Image still crisp. It was amazing what that scope could do in right conditions. Built like a tank too.
The Comet Hunter seems like such a beautiful richfield refractor. I've had my eye on it for awhile. Still waiting on it getting to me, but there are no other offerings quite like it.
Lower power viewing of DSO's and open clusters (of which I'm a huge fan), plus Milky Way sweeping is my plan for it, although after I acquire my image intensifier I plan on viewing some globs with it. The image intensifier should bring out those better with the modest 6" aperture. Also the spectra curve happens to cut off some of the lower blue region and should help with CA. I plan on narrowband Ha views with it also at low power with the IIE. No need for tracking or long integration times with IIE. It's immediate. Not skimping on that purchase and going for a good unit with excellent resolution and might even be a white phosphor tube so I can view black and white rather than standard green of regular green phosphor tubes.
I won't review until I've had it and viewed quite a bit for minimum 6 months. I want the honeymoon stage to be done before giving my review so I can give my best unbiased report on it.
I know my viewing habits fairly well and the scope should get used a whole lot. I have more interest in nebulae and clusters than planetary and, as we know here being refractor fans, there is something about refractor views that just does it for me.
Reading about the 204 was great. Probably something I would be interested in if I get a more permanent setup. I also know my limit on large scopes with active job and parenting duties and the 6" was the largest I could see myself setting up frequently from having everything inside to setup on my deck.