janoskiss
04-09-2006, 11:20 PM
Intes Mak MK-65 and an EQ mount!
Bought it through IIS from Paul J (see ad in the b&s archives here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=11944)). Paul did a great job packing it, and Australia Post got it here safely. :thumbsup:
The MK-65 is not the most popular of the Intes scopes, mainly because of its fixed primary and helical focuser. But what the heck!
The scope has an aperture of 150mm and a focal length of 1500mm, making it an f/10. I love the no-nonsense look and solid feel of the OTA. There is a handle attached to it (black one you can see in photo) and it makes carrying it around very easy. The corrector plate and primary look pristine! Not bad for a 12 y.o. scope. :thumbsup:
I only got to try it on the Moon, in a brief period of clear skies between thick clouds, using the 26mm Meade 5000 Plossl to find it and the 8.5mm Pentax XF for a closer look. Nice and sharp with seeing being the limiting factor with the 8.5mm at 176x.
The helical focuser works okay. It's a bit stiff but it does give finer control than your basic r&p or crayford.
The biggest surprise was the Intes "Polaris" EQ mount. I don't know exactly what this mount is but appears to be Japanese made. It is a lot sturdier and much closer to vibration free than the EQ5 I used to own (sorry Geoff). And there is also a lot less backlash in the RA and Dec axis motions. It is on an aluminium tripod which is nothing like the Chinese alum tripods you find in shops these days - it's a lot more solid. At 176x the whole setup was very sturdy, virtually vibration free, and it will probably be very good for powers as high as the scope is capable of.
I have not tried the RA motor. I will have to make up a power lead to connect it to one of my 12V batteries.
I am really looking forward to observing for extended periods with tracking: especially to be able to watch Jupiter and its moons revolving uninterrupted smack in the centre of the FOV where the EP will perform at its best, instead of watching the planet drift across the FOV and having to nudge to scope every 20-30 seconds.
Just call me Kev. Because, "I'm excited"!
:jump2: :jump2: :jump2: :jump2: :jump2:
Great time to buy a planetary scope, huh? :doh:
Bought it through IIS from Paul J (see ad in the b&s archives here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=11944)). Paul did a great job packing it, and Australia Post got it here safely. :thumbsup:
The MK-65 is not the most popular of the Intes scopes, mainly because of its fixed primary and helical focuser. But what the heck!
The scope has an aperture of 150mm and a focal length of 1500mm, making it an f/10. I love the no-nonsense look and solid feel of the OTA. There is a handle attached to it (black one you can see in photo) and it makes carrying it around very easy. The corrector plate and primary look pristine! Not bad for a 12 y.o. scope. :thumbsup:
I only got to try it on the Moon, in a brief period of clear skies between thick clouds, using the 26mm Meade 5000 Plossl to find it and the 8.5mm Pentax XF for a closer look. Nice and sharp with seeing being the limiting factor with the 8.5mm at 176x.
The helical focuser works okay. It's a bit stiff but it does give finer control than your basic r&p or crayford.
The biggest surprise was the Intes "Polaris" EQ mount. I don't know exactly what this mount is but appears to be Japanese made. It is a lot sturdier and much closer to vibration free than the EQ5 I used to own (sorry Geoff). And there is also a lot less backlash in the RA and Dec axis motions. It is on an aluminium tripod which is nothing like the Chinese alum tripods you find in shops these days - it's a lot more solid. At 176x the whole setup was very sturdy, virtually vibration free, and it will probably be very good for powers as high as the scope is capable of.
I have not tried the RA motor. I will have to make up a power lead to connect it to one of my 12V batteries.
I am really looking forward to observing for extended periods with tracking: especially to be able to watch Jupiter and its moons revolving uninterrupted smack in the centre of the FOV where the EP will perform at its best, instead of watching the planet drift across the FOV and having to nudge to scope every 20-30 seconds.
Just call me Kev. Because, "I'm excited"!
:jump2: :jump2: :jump2: :jump2: :jump2:
Great time to buy a planetary scope, huh? :doh: