Perseus AT 150-12: Dropped ?

[ukjohn]

I can't see the Perseus AT 150-12 in the product lineup on the Istar website. Has this model been dropped ?. 

If so, out of interest, could I ask what the reasoning is ?

Also, if I may, could I ask how many of the Perseus AT 150-12 were produced in total ?. 

I'm very fond of mine by the way - it's a bit of a beast but one that it's fun to tame ! 

[Mike]

The Perseus 150-12 has been discontinued and replaced by the Asteria 150-12 R35. Of course, you can still buy the 150-12 R35 lens by itself for an ATM build. The 150-12 was the first telescope I received from Ales some three years ago. It ended up on OPT's showroom floor where it currently resides (as far as I know). It tested very well and the guys at OPT loved it. I'll see if I can get a production count.

Mike

[ukjohn]

Thanks Mike, thats helpful.

I would be interested to know how many AT-150-12's were produced, if that data is available.

John

[rgm]

When I read the title of this thread, I thought you had dropped your scope on the ground. Glad to hear that was not the case.

[Mike]

I thought the very same thing. Also glad to hear this was not the case. I meant to say the Perseus was replaced with an Asteria 150-12 R35 TCR. I'll see if I can come up with those production figures.

Mike

[russ]

Hi Mike! Yes, I thought the same too, that the scope was dropped. Phew! This is the very scope I am waiting on.. having upgraded from the Perseus 150-12 I originally ordered. It should be on it's way to me soon! Can hardly wait. The R35 TRC looks to be a real performer! I've been reading the trash that was dished on CN re: Istar.. I can hardly believe those people, guess they feel nervous over the possibility their expensive APO's being somehow.. diminished?? After paying the BIG bucks for their APO's - then hearing the excellent reviews Istar scopes have received from so many people around the world.

Russ

[ukjohn]

Sorry for the poor choice of words folks - I have NOT dropped my Perseus 150-12 I'm very glad to say !!!

As previously posted, I would be very interested to know how many AT150-12's were produced.

Thanks.

John

[Mike]

Since I started keeping the records of sales three years ago we have sold 30 150-12s.

[ukjohn]

Apr 12, 2014 11:16:25 GMT -5 Mike said:

Since I started keeping the records of sales three years ago we have sold 30 150-12s.

Thanks for that Mike. I guess the total production would have been somewhat less than 100 units then ?

[Viktor Z.]

I can't help but would like to share some thoughts about it: We Istar refractor owners have the privilege that are objectives are hand figured. At this time, companies must use machines to produce their thousands and thousands of objective lenses, and quantity -as usually does- wins over quality. Even if stringent quality control takes place, the complexity of the manufacturing process in large factories always require frequent interventions to bring back products to within a certain specification. It results an everlasting deviation in product qualiity and there are always compromised products that slip through unnoticed out of the factory doors. I may be wrong about it, but I believe that hand figuring of a lens is just like one-to one nursing care...or at least a last stage hadfiguring after the machining process may add a kind of security to quality enhancement; moreover a unique touch to improve smoothness of the lens surface by hand may distinct hand-produced objective lens from mass produced ones under the starry sky...I prefer quality over quantity...however it can be a dilemma for any profit making manufacturer whether where to set the limits and how to balance?