Short focal length SCT?

[Baron von Richthofen]

Hi All
Does any body know if a short focal length, under f10 SCT exists?
Vars

[matt]

Yep.

f6.3 can be found in the old Meade LX range

[casstony]

I have an old 8" f/6.3 sitting in the cupboard but you can put various reducers on an f/10.

[Gama]

Theres theres the Celestron scopes that can go down to f1.8 or so.
There your best bet if you want an Astrograph.
I think they stopped making these scopes now as well.

But i also agree with Tony, you can use a f6.3 reducer, and keep costs down.

[Starkler]

Does this still allow the use of eyepieces or is it for photography only?

[ving]

i think its visual too... dont quote me tho.

i wonder how much an old f6.3 would go for?

[casstony]

The f/6.3 reducers that screw onto the visual back work very well with eyepieces and are handy for varying magnification if you have a limited range of eyepices. The Meade f/3.3 reducer is for ccd only though an eyepiece will come to focus if it's put directly into the 1.25 eyepiece holder screwed onto the reducer (did this once just for curiosity). Then there are other reducers that screw directly into the ccd head.

[[1ponders]]

The Celestron Farstar (http://home.freeuk.net/m.gavin/fastar.htm)operates at f/2 but in this configuration is for CCD imaging only.

[casstony]

If you're referring to my old f/6.3, it's something I keep around for when I'm between scopes, though I am in a clean out mood so I could be convinced to sell. The optics are in very good cond, but as far as I can tell their quality is low compared to more recent sct's, so it's probably only suitable for lower magnification. Thus I figure it's not worth much to sell and is best consigned to reserve duty.