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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Sept 18, 2014 6:10:22 GMT -5
Hello everyone, I just wanted to share the latest production news. The new and completely redesigned Phoenix WXT 204-6 LT was just assembled and tested. We had few small problems to deal with and to take care of but together with our production manager Mr. Krotky everything worked out wonderfully. The tube consists of an US made, thin aircraft grade aluminum. All inner parts are still all metal, all CNC machined in the Czech Republic, and precision powder coated. These large Comet Hunters are assembled by hand and hard bolted by stainless steel bolts. All inner parts of this new refractor are hand painted with newly acquired Deep-Black optical paint imported from Germany. Based on extensive testing, this is the best super flat black paint currently available. I wanted to show you the first few photos taken at our European production facility yesterday (September 17, 2014). This scope weighs less then 27lbs. as a bare OTA and mere 31 lbs. (14 kilos) with our massive CNC rings and standard 2" WO Rack and Pinion focuser. Im proud to say that we achieved exactly what we promised some 6 months ago and Im really happy to share this news and first photos with all of you at Istar Scope Club. More pictures will be taken next week. Stay in touch, I will gladly respond to any question about this new and truly magnificent rich field refractor. Best regards, Ales
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Sept 18, 2014 6:11:59 GMT -5
.........and few more pictures...
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Post by astromanuk on Sept 18, 2014 9:27:31 GMT -5
Hi Ales, that looks superb. I have to say though that I still love the appearance of my first generation 204/1200. I can't remember how much mine weighs but it is considerably more than the new version.
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jrc
New Member
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Post by jrc on Sept 23, 2014 19:30:10 GMT -5
Thanks Ales looks tremendous and congratulations on the reduced weight I will certainly appreciate that.
I sent a message to mike about fitting a vixen finder dovetail foot to the tube - I can do that but I'd probably rather you did if you can get the part as I don't want to open the tube if I don't have to
Anyway looks excellent ! Well done John c sydney nsw
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Sept 28, 2014 12:16:52 GMT -5
Hello everyone. This is a short update on our new and really exciting Phoenix WXT 204-6LT.
First assembled OTA was tested last night during the MHV star party in Czech Republic. The results surpassed my highest expectations. This rich field Comet Hunter is one serious deep space instrument. It is equipped with our latest generation achromatic doublet with a well controlled chromatic aberration. This scope delivers high resolution images with a very tight pinpoint stars edge to edge. Even though these scopes are produced with maximum usable magnification of 0.25D in mind (51x), this doublet can handle up to 0.75D with ease. This new 8" refractor is also very lightweight, compact and easy to handle. I will write more about this scope soon, pictures will be posted here in ISC and our iStar Optical web site.
Parts are all finished and ready to be shipped to USA for final assembly, testing and shipment to our customers. Some of you were waiting longer than anticipated, and I thank you very much for your patience. I can simply promise you that these new scopes are definitely worth your wait. This new 8" Phoenix delivered some of the best deep sky views I ever experienced in this range. Yes, it is a REALLY good rich field refractor! Excellent optics with all CNC machined, newly designed super lightweight parts and tubes is a match made in heaven.
I will add new set of images tomorrow. I just returned back home. I will talk to Mike tomorrow, he will keep all of you informed about assembly and shipping dates. Parts from Europe will be shipped next week, Mike has US made tubes already prepared in his Florida location. He should be able to ship first units soon.
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Sept 28, 2014 17:10:48 GMT -5
PHOENIX WXT 204-6LT First photos of complete, fully tested OTA. Test results: EXCELLENT!
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Sept 28, 2014 17:12:50 GMT -5
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Oct 1, 2014 15:09:49 GMT -5
First studio photograph of this beautiful scope Attachments:
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Post by skybender on Oct 11, 2014 18:18:38 GMT -5
Can i Buy it Apollo
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Post by Mike on Oct 13, 2014 21:25:16 GMT -5
We're taking orders for the second run Apollo. Get your order in quick before their gone.
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jrc
New Member
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Post by jrc on Mar 11, 2015 1:25:52 GMT -5
This 204 1200 really is everything Mike and Ales say it is. I did have a few issues with a focusser component (non Istar supply) which has been resolved. However its cloudy in Sydney tonight. That won't last. I did have a look before the foc played up and I think this scope is best called by the double name Comet Hunter - Galaxy Puller!
Ive taken some terrestrial photos they are quite severe tests for CA - almost no fringing at all very clear colour reproducibility , I cant see any SA; which is a great credit to Ales & the team's selection of the glass & their workmanship. This is not meant to be an APO I know but its a pretty good ED ! Seriously a brilliant instrument which I keep enjoying the more I play with it.
Just be aware its big. There is 6'2" of me in the picture. But it's light and with a dovetail attachment for the G11 it is very easy to load up. Im working on a threaded lock for the G11 all the seme (5/16 hole so I can screw a bolt into one of the spare 1/4" holes.
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Mar 12, 2015 12:52:11 GMT -5
Hello John,
thank you for your follow-up and first impressions of your new Phoenix WXT 204-6LT. Im very happy to hear that you are completely satisfied with this telescope. Please, keep everyone informed about your further experience with this big but compact and super lightweight refractor. So far everyone who looked thru this scope said that it delivers the best quality images in its class. Well, Im happy and proud because I personally redesigned this scope to the last bolt and our master optician Zdenek Rehor came up with a new doublet design which delivers truly stunning images of deep space objects. The chromatic aberration is controlled extremely well because we upgraded the glass types and started using heavy flint instead of standard flint optical glass. This pushed the overall image quality of this doublet into a new, much higher level. I must also give much deserved credit to Mike Harden because he kept telling me that we must redesign our OTAs to be substantially lighter and with better eye appeal including much requested white body color. So this new scope is a direct result of a great team work of Zdenek Rehor (master optician), Mike Harden (sales manager, partner), Milan Krotky (production manager), and me.
This scope was tested by Neil English and his review was featured in Astronomy Now magazine recently (approx. 3 months ago). Im trying to get copy of this review and once I get it I will post it right here on ISC and our web site.
We are now taking order for next production run of 5 scopes, I believe that 2 are still available. Talk to Mike Harden about how to pre-order.
Some of you asked me about exact F-Ratio of this rich field refractor. it is F/5.83. Yes, VERY fast for a huge 8" doublet.
Stay in touch everyone, we are working hard on several new projects. I hope to introduce at least first two still this year.
best regards,
Ales
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Post by Mike on Mar 18, 2015 15:11:14 GMT -5
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Post by starlite on Mar 29, 2015 1:32:27 GMT -5
Another good review about Istar in the BBC SKY AT NIGHT magazine February 2015 #117. A 5 star rating on a Istar 100mm F12 lens in a Moonraker Nebula Class 4 inch f-12 refractor. Cheers J.
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Post by Ales - iStar Optical on Mar 31, 2015 15:02:32 GMT -5
Hello Starlight,
can you please send me copy of this recent BBC Sky at Night review of 100mm F/12 iStar doublet mounted in Moonraker OTA. Send to ales@istar-optical.com Im sure people would like to see it right here on ISC too. Thank you in advance, best regards,
Ales
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