New Astrograph 190mm F5.3 Mak-Newt from Orion/Synta

[netwolf]

Hi All,

Just saw this advertised on Orion US website.
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=optical_tube/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_id=09972;jsessionid=0A1643 06208B26645B8044E89FFB183E.ivprod2

This had been mentioned in an earlier thread in CN but here is the current discussion on it.
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2530103/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1

I wonder what price these will come in for in Australia.

Regards
Fahim

[Kal]

Do the holes at the front serve a purpose or is it just to look like the russian mak-newts? :confuse3:

[Chippy]

Sounds good! Now if only we would get them at that price... i'm guessing we'll pay close to $2000.

Andrew, if you read the blurb it says "The telescope's rear cell has tapped holes for an optional Cooling Accelerator Fan (#7816) to aid in rapid equilibration of the optics to ambient temperature." so I'm guessing the holes are related to that.

[davewaldo]

Hi Guys!

Sirius optics is advertising this scope now for $1799.... interesting.

See here: http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/index11.htm

[netwolf]

I wonder who actually makes these scopes.

[gbeal]

I'm working on that as we speak, stay tuned.
Gary

[davewaldo]

nice one Gary! :thumbsup:

Can anyone explain how this scope design would differ from a Schmidt-Newt for instance? Or would this scope be much better than an ordinary Newt with coma corrector?

[gbeal]

Davo,
there is a whole lot of techo stuff that says one is better suited than others, but most of it is way above my pea sized brain.
I have had a few Mak/Newts, albeit Russian, and they have been absolute stunners. Awesome DSO views, and even better planetary. Imaging may be tricky as the C.O is normally quite small. Cost has (up until now maybe) been the biggest snag.
Wonderful times we live in.
Gary

[JethroB76]

$1299US to $1799AU is not bad considering Orions' Dobs are twice the US prices here..$2300 for the 12" Orion Dob with Object locator or "only" $1800 without:rolleyes:

[netwolf]

I am betting we can get a better deal if we go direct to China or HK dealers.
I have seen a MN152 telescope made by JOC sold in HK for about 560AUD. I have emailed them about this scope several times over the last 6months but unfortunately it does not seem to be available yet. Its very similar to the Mead 6" SN. And from the pictures i have seen of the factories, i think possibly made in the same factory as some Meade and some Celestron gear.

http://www.hkastroequipment.com/catalog_3.html

Regards
Fahim