Re-“ASTROMASTER 127 ED TRIPLET REFRACTOR”

[Davekyn]

Re-“ASTROMASTER 127 ED TRIPLET REFRACTOR”
http://www.astro-optical.com.au/viewscope.php?scopeid=182&minnum=0&maxnum=5&priceband=all&sort=name&x=54&y=11
Looking for comments on the “Astromaster 127ED Triplet Refractor. Sounds...like an awesome scope to own, however is it just a scope with the right number of “cheap lenses” thrown together with even cheaper parts, to call it a Triplet and cash in on AU$3000.00?

I am a little wary as I can’t find any info on this scope other than a short add in Australian Sky & Telescope or the website that sells it. Can anyone shed some light as to the quality of this apparent 5inch Triplet??? Any other triplet of this size would cost thousands more, so forgive me if I think it looks and sounds like an very expensive gimmick.

Where are all the reviews on it? Any owners with one? Would a plain 120ED be the better option?

Is it worth $3000.00 AU (Australian)$ for the scope alone?

[toyos]

It's the same scope as this:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=31566&page=9

It's sold under several different brand names/badges. There are other threads too, you can look it up on this site.

[AlexN]

They are also sold at Myastroshop.com.au as the Prostar 127ED

From what I've seen and heard, they are a great scope, that will unfortunately need a new focuser for 100% successful imaging.

To put it simply, you wont get a 5" triplet for less money than that, and it performs brilliantly.

[Davekyn]

Thankyou...I am interested! Forgive the. Istakes as I am using iphone here:)
I kind of got confused assoon as you mention "ED", like I know what that means and own an ED scope, but thought this scopewas a triplet with three aprochromatic lenses an No ED glass at all. But It takes a while for the penny to drop with me.

I would most like use for imaging ofcourse...I take it, that the aquasistion of a suitable focused would not be as exspensive as the scope itself??

Thanks
Dave

[AlexN]

Its a triplet APO, but they call it an ED... The Meade 5000 series ED80 is called ED, but has 3 lenses...

A great focuser is the Moonlite model, they are fantastic and will cost you around 350~400AU... You could probably get something cheaper, but, you get what you pay for.... Cheers. Alex.

[Phil]

Steve at MyAstro Shop said his scope had different focuses then the one from china. All i no is i love my 127mm and will not be selling it.
Phil

[Davekyn]

Thanks again...understood. The link provided is good, but if anyone knows of a review please let me know,
Cheers

[wasyoungonce]

http://ghonis2.ho8.com/astrotech127mm.html

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/2672372/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1/vc/1

Lots of discussion on this at Cloudy Nights:thumbsup:

[JethroB76]

I love how they provide a $1500-$3000 price range..what use is that?

[Davekyn]

lol...agree...I beleive that particular scope is $3000.00 at that store. After reading the reviews around the place, (and thankyou for the links once again) an orion ED 120 appears to marginally win over on overall visual quality. I will most likely go with an EON...the 120ED is somewhat lighter and more suited for my purposes of imaging anyways...especialy seeing as I will be mounting an ED 80 atop of it was well.
Heres what I am going on:
http://www.astromart.com/articles/article.asp?article_id=678

Thanks again all:
Dave

[Astrod00d]

Hi Dave,

I think the Orion ED120 may have better colour correction than the 127ED visually.
However the 127ED, being a triplet, may have a flatter field for imaging. This was certainly my experience when comparing my 127ED (triplet) with my ED80 (doublet).
While I cannot comment on the ED120 (never tested one), the ED80 benefits from a flattener for full-field imaging with a DSLR-size imager, while the 127ED is quite satisfactory as-is.

Cheers,

Rob

[Davekyn]

Wow...thanks Rob,
there really is so much to consider. I like the way you think! Ponders again :)

[Astrod00d]

Both scopes are good, neither will be perfect. While they'll both be good optically, the focusers may need a bit of work.
I replaced my ED80 focuser with one from GSO but I had to re-work the 127ED focuser myself (I got my 127ED direct from China). If Steve supplies a better focuser with the 127ED then it shouldn't be an issue.

See my article on the 127ED focuser here:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=35042

An image using the 127ED at prime focus:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=36602

Finally an image using the ED80 at prime focus.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=31550

Confused yet? :D

Cheers,

Rob