Ronchi Tests of some top end refractors

[Exfso]

This site is in Japanese, but has some very interesting results relating to some top end refractors.

http://homepage3.nifty.com/cz_telesco/refracter_test.htm

you can translate it into English using. http://www.systranbox.com/systran/box

Just for information the two taks, toa130 and 150 get best ranking, even over the AP apo's.

Just thought I would post this for those of you who have refractors.

:rolleyes:

[ausastronomer]

Thats all well and good but I think you will find if the yanks did the test the Astro Physics would come out on top and if Markes Ludes conducted it the TMB would come out on top. At this level its small individual differences that would cause you to pick one manufacturer over the other. In the case of Astrophysics of course the waiting time is always a major drawback. Then again maybe there's a reason they have a nearly 5 year waiting list. At this level they are all outstanding instruments and I rate the Taks at the top of the tree.

CS-John B

[Exfso]

Yep, I understand where you are coming from. The site I got it from, one of the yahoo groups, AP users from memory, Roland Christen acknowledged that the triplet that was used in this test was one that was sent to Japan as a test unit and was not meant to be what one could expect as a final product.
Obviously the long wait is because of the excellent quality of AP scopes, in addition to the fact that he, and I will stand to be corrected on this, does all the final figuring himself. Very time consuming for a one man concern. Just for info, I have my name down for their latest 160mm f7.5 StarFire EDF Triplet Apochromatic Refractor with 4" Focuser . I probably wont be around by the time it becomes available. One consolation, I have plenty of time to save up for it, and will always, if I decide to, get some reasonable renumeration for the TOA130. Mind you Takahashi might have something better on offer by then as well at the appropriately weighted cost. Nothing wrong with dreaming. I might also go mad and order this monster. http://www.tmboptical.com/itemsRecord.asp?item_id=19&cat_id=4&
Not likely, one would need a warehouse to store it in and a mobile crane to operate the thing once installed in an OTA. Truly a frightening beast. :jawdrop:

[Stu]

TMB 356mm x 4272mm triplet APO! :love:
There is no way I would even dare ask how much it would cost.

[ausastronomer]

About 1/2 as much as a Takahashi or Astrophysics one of the same size :)

CS-John B