Coming soon to Andrews: Skywatcher Mak-Newt

[Tilt]

Skywatcher Maksutov-Newtonian 190mm f/5.3

I'm pretty sure its going to be this:
http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=skywatcher_mak_ newt_astograph

Michael

[renormalised]

Looks a nice scope...wonder how much out here??

[matt]

If Skywatcher would make these to 10 or 12 inches...I'd be very interested.

[Satchmo]

I wonder how the images compare to a standard Newtonian with a Coma Corrector.

Mark

[mick pinner]

it will be a rebadged Orion.

[renormalised]

Most likely....it looks like one. Or, are the Orions rebadged Sky Watchers (although they're really both just Syntas with different badges).

That's what I was thinking when I took a look at the piccies of one...pity it wasn't a bit bigger. A 10" to 12" version would be sweet.

[mick pinner]

Ken has taken some very nice images with his Orion Mak/Newt.

[renormalised]

It'd be nice to have one mounted on a HEQ5 or EQ6, although with an autoguider scope and camera added you'd need the EQ6.

[chris lewis]

'Review' here.

http://www.andysshotglass.com/introduction.html

[csb]

Thanks for this. Very interesting.

I'm considering getting a Vixen VCL200 or an Intes mak-newt - 6" would be best, for cooldown time. (great reviews for both).

How do you know this scope is going to be sold at Andrews Comm? And when?

[csb]

From the quicky review at shotglass, it seems comparable to an Intes mak-newt.

[toryglen-boy]

anyone wanna speculate on the cost here in Australia? i should imagine it will be quite pricey ...

[Tilt]

According to the top of the Skywatcher link on the Andrews website, he will be adding this scope to the list at some stage, not too sure when though.

http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm

I wouldn't have any idea what he plans to sell them at? Maybe less than $2k ??

Michael

[pgc hunter]

Judging by the dramatic increases in prices on existing scopes/accessories since the global economic crisis crapped on our hobby, I wouldn't hold my breath for for the new mak-newt to be sold at any "affordable" price.

The British dealer in the OP's link has it at 950 pounds, I'd say double that (maybe double and a half) at the least to get an approximate Aussie dollar value. Looks sexy as, but pricey for a 7" OTA that's for sure. - relatively speaking ofcourse.

[csb]

Thanks, I did have a look before but missed it.

So I'll keep watching.

It's supposed to be great for visual and imaging.

[csb]

It seems the scope may be quite heavy.

If it is the same as the Orion then it will weigh about 10kg for just the bare ato.

Probably a bit heavy for my liking.

[chris lewis]

Yes the weight is a concern. Sirius optics had a second hand one in their showroom about 2 months ago - now sold. I was impressed with its build quality - it was well baffled and solidly built at 10kg./22 lbs.
A Meade 8in. SCT OTA is 8.5 kg./ 18.7 lbs
They are quoting $2688 for a new one - same price as the Equinox ED120 which I now have on a HEQ5. Still would like to see a review looking more at its planetary performance.
HEQ5 would work as it load is capacity is 13kg./ 30 lbs but the EQ6 at 18kg./ 40 lbs would be better esp. for AP work.

[toryglen-boy]

just called Andrews to order a part, and i asked after this, they said round $1000 ish for the OTA in April

[csb]

$1000ish will keep me watching for this scope.

Yep, it seems they are well baffled.

Apart from the weight, the cooldown is maybe a bit long. The intes scopes had "vent holes" to overcome this (I think?).

I'm not in a rush. I've got house restoration as a priority first.

[toryglen-boy]

well, i just had a look on the UK websites where this is listed, and the price was closer to 1000 pounds, so $ 1000, seems a bit ambitious to me, would surprise me if it was nearly twice that.



:screwy:

[csb]

Ah, maybe your accent threw them a bit. Or they got a FANTASTIC price themselves.

[toryglen-boy]

aye, he had to ask me a few things, a few times. must be the accent


:P

[csb]

Sorry if it seems I am stalking you :scared3: :lol:

[bluescope]

Looks good ... good review ... probably as toryglen-boy says it will be closer to AUD$2,000 or more based on UK and US pricing.

:thumbsup:

[Satchmo]

I'm still curious as to what advantage these have compared to say a Skywatcher 8" F5 tube with a Baader MPCC coma corrector, for half the price.

Mark

[bluescope]

Very true Mark ... plus with a Newt you don't get dew usually whereas with the Mak plate you will need heaters which adds more expense.

:thumbsup:

[Tilt]

'Massive' Skywatcher shipment due to arrive at Andrews in April 2009. This little number may be in that stack of SW goodies :)

Michael

[toryglen-boy]

Yeah, i asked them, and they said April

;)

[mbaddah]

Has there been any update to this recently? I stumbled across the skywatcher page listing it:

http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?id=149&class1=1&class2=108

Doesn't seem to be listed on Andrews or Bintels webpage?

[toryglen-boy]

Lee Andrews told me months ago they where not gonna stock it after all, as they said the price for what it was, was a bit out of order, and TBH i have to agree, you can get teh axact same results with good collimation and a coma corrector

:)

[MuntiNZ]

Dunno about that mate.
I seen some pretty amazing shots with these scopes.
All stars out to the edge were flat as pancakes with no bloating I saw.
Yep its a heavy monster and built like a brick so dont drop it on your foot mate or you will be sorry!
In NZ they pay less for astro kit for some reason but I still dunno if I would by one of these over a ed refractor ..... Maybe its pretty good I have to say.
A bigger one would be better but how much would that cost??
Try and see some pics from one coz I think that will make you think hard.
My Sky 90 is all I need for now but. ;)

[toryglen-boy]

take it from me, apart from the diffraction spikes, a good F5 200mm newt, well collimated, with a good coma corrector, will produce will produce similar results

:)

[MuntiNZ]

Furry nuff but I have mine doubts but.
Aint never seen a newt with out coma specially a fast newt and with a decent TV paracorr in em to.
I dont mind spikes they make the stars look cool.
Not as good as they look in my Tak but refractors are special cases right.
Hey you should still check out the astro pics taken with the Mak newt they are nice as long as the dudes knows what they are doing of course.
It will be intresting to compere a 200 mm newt and the maknewt on there mounts like which needs the most massive mount to be stable.

[AlexN]

I would think that a coma corrected, mass produced Newtonian would perform on par with the mass produced Mak Newts. The only real difference being the lack of spikes in the images... If you were going to be fair in the test.. get an 8" newt that costs the same as the 8" mak newt and battle it out then... I would eat my shoes if the premium 8" newt didn't destroy the mak newt for quality..

I would agree - good images have come from mak newts, but the price of a mass produced mak newt vs a mass produced newtonian + coma corrector is ridiculous..

[toryglen-boy]

:thumbsup:

[Garyh]

For the same price as the Mak-newt you could get a premium kick ass mirror, feathertouch focuser, protostar 1/20 wave mirror and a MPCC.
Put that together and you know which one I would have :thumbsup:

[AlexN]

My point exactly Gary - I recently priced up a 10" F/3.5 Newtonian astrograph and the total cost of the entire setup wasn't all that much more than a mass produced 12" OTA + coma corrector..

If you were to spend the same dollars, a premium, custom made newtonian would destroy the SW MN190

[Ken]

As a user for the last 15 months of 190 mak/ newt I am very happy with the images at the eye piece and the camera, it just does the job it was designed to do with no fuss. How many scopes can image at a reasonable f ratio with decent light grasp with a flat field no ca and not need a focal reducer or coma corrector and cost less than 2k?. I also own a 10" f5.6 newt with coulter optics this now sits in the corner of the shed with the mice running over the primary mirror :mad2: this was a nice scope that I imaged for years with a baader coma corrector but it never produced consistent good images. My 18" newt with c/c also produces good images but lack the flat field of the M/N perhaps a Keller type correcter is the ultimate answer for a Newtonian. The only problem is the usual Chinese focuser with all these new scopes leaves a bit to be desired as per the RC8 it will replaced one day but no rush as I have fitted a cheap S/W electric motor to it and seems to work o.k. The mirror cell has push pull screws that seem to hold collimation very well in fact it has never been touched from the factory although it could use a slight adjustment.
Anyway I am still happy with it after 12 months, I have sold many scopes before this time. My M78 image is still on the deep sky forum.
Clear skies Ken

[Tilt]

I really should slice 50mm off my GSO 10" f/5 so my modded 350D can reach focus and pick up a MPCC, question is, will the EQ6 handle the pain of Camera + GSO 10" + guide scope? Then again, I could just sell the GSO and get a 190 Mak/Newt or a VC200L.

Yes, I do want a flat field :lol:

Michael

[Ken]

Get the angle grinder out Micheal I love cutting tubes up, check your secondary mirror will be still large enough when the primary is moved forward. I see the latest 190 MN has a larger secondary and improved focuser plus a few other tweaks. I keep noticing little things about my MN like the extra black flocking opposite the focuser that I didn't see at first.
Clear skies Ken.

[Tilt]

Good point, I'm not sure if the secondary would be large enough :question: probably not? I must say, I'm not usually one for the hands on 'projects', I usually just throw $$$ at what ever it is I'm attempting to achieve.

Michael

[Tilt]

By the way Ken, would a DSLR reach focus on the Orion 190 MN?

[Ken]

The 190MN is supplied with a 2" extension for eyepieces to reach focus this gives plenty of in focus for imaging. DSLR'S should be fine as I have used the QHY9 with filter wheel, two T rings, OAG and still had some in focus left.
Clear skies Ken.

[Tilt]

You're right! A larger secondary (58-->64mm).

The 100% fully illuminated field diameter increases from 14mm to 22mm.