NEAF news RC

[TrevorW]

Picked up a thread on CN that some lucky bugger who attended NEAF purchased a 10" GSO RC for $2800US

Fingers crossed pricing here should in theory be around $4000-4500 at the most although a dealer in Sth Africa is selling the 10" at more than double the price of the 8" which makes no sense unless he's trying to make a huge profit.

:hi:

[Comet Hunter]

Andrews have updated their RC info...

ETA has slipped to late July for the 10", but the price!! :eyepop:

Also noticed the 6" is no longer listed.

[AlexN]

Perhaps the 6" has not attracted as much attention as the 8" and the 10"..

I think I'll stick with the 8" until I get some more experience with it... although my initial impression of this scope tell me that at some stage or another I'll be going for a 10~12" version..

[TrevorW]

Prophetic or pathetic wasn't I , if that pricing is right it's going to be a good bargain all things considering even if you decide to replace the focuser

[Paul Haese]

Yep that price is pretty good, emailed Lee, but I am gonna wait for the 12" myself. That will be a much longer wait I suspect and most likely a harder figure to acheive.

[mick pinner]

Orion are selling the 8" version with a steel tube in the states for $1200.
Take into account current exchange rate, postage etc, landed in Aus for less than $2000.

[Comet Hunter]

Once the issues with the 8" are dealt with (ie the reflections you guys are getting / focuser etc), and all the other teething troubles are squashed, the larger sizes when released will be an even greater bargain. I'm watching quietly from the sidelines, as I'm sure a lot of others are, to see how the 12"+'ers turn out.

One thing I've noticed is the prices are ballpark(ish) to same sized LX200-ACF ota's...

8" LX200-ACF OTA - $2299
8" RC - $2699

10" LX200-ACF OTA - $3499
10" RC - $3699

12" LX200-ACF OTA - $5399
12" RC - :whistle:

Maybe I'm just reading into it a little too much.:P

One things for sure.... there's interesting times ahead.

[AlexN]

Andrew - From my experience. I wouldn't compare an F/10 SCT to the RC... The Meade SCT's do have a long standing reputation, but the SCT design is not without drawbacks itself... Correctors dew up quickly, in the bigger models mirrors never reach thermal equilibrium.. refractive elements can cause reflections as well, not to mention aberrations...

Interesting times indeed... Who would have thought 12 months ago that you could own a 10" RC telescope for less than $4000AU.... Crazy..

Alex.

[Comet Hunter]

For sure Alex, sorry I didn't mean to imply comparing the design pro's + con's of the two (been a 10" SCT owner for a few years now), just pointing out the similarities in price points between them.

[AlexN]

I see... I tend to jump on the defensive pretty quick in conversations about these scopes, what with the mile long list of people who seem to say they are average...

You are right, the pricing points are very closely matched, and I think GSO will be doing this on purpose... The SCT market is HUGE! heaps of people use them, and at some stage or another majority of people in astronomy will own at least one SCT... GSO are probably hoping to one day have people saying similar things about their RC scopes, so pricing them at the same point as the equivilant sized SCT would be a good start. Most imagers looking for a decent aperture imaging scope are more likely to buy an RC than an SCT providing the prices are close...

Smart marketing perhaps.

[Paul Haese]

All different tools in the shed, I use my SCT for planetary, my RC for DSO, my refractors for either wide field DSO or solar. Each has its task to perform, each has it strengths and each has its weaknesses. ACF versions of the SCT are very good though and more in line with RC use.

I reckon images are proof enough Alex. I think the nah sayers have died down now, my website had its bandwidth chewed through last month and nearly every hit had something to do with the RC pages. I have not heard a bad thing said about the optical elements since. The reflections issue is not really part of the optical elements and I am not worried about them myself, even though some people seem to be focusing on this very issue.

Another great tool to have in my shed.

[dpastern]

Pricing looks very promising on that 10". I've heard some rumours that the focuser issues will be fixed, as well as flexure too in upcoming releases. Looks very promising. I'm not keen on the fixed primary mirror, and the fact that GSO doesn't really have a shopfront, so you're reliant on a dealer providing support. But the pricing is very tempting I do admit.

Dave

[Tandum]

It is competatively priced isn't it. The 8" was a good 25% dearer than the offshore price of the Vixen VC200L while this 10" is about 5% cheaper than the Vixen VMC260L.

What's the F ratio for the 10"?

[AlexN]

f/8 for the 10" Robin.

[AlexN]

with a 0.75x reducer becoming available through Astronomics in the US, bringing it back to F/6.... Nice and fast!!

[Matty P]

That is great news. :)

I've been following the GSO RC's very closely over the past month and with the intruduction of the 10". It is almost impossible to resist. I must have one! :whistle:

:thumbsup:

[AlexN]

Matty, It would be a nice step up from your C8 for deep sky imaging thats for sure!

Ps.. Long time no see.. Where have you been hiding?? :)

[Matty P]

I think I am at the stage where I need an upgrade from the C8. These RC scopes really look promising and hopefully the initial problems will be addressed with future models. Can't wait to get one for myself. :)

I haven't been as active on the forums as of late. I've been fairly busy and just haven't had the time to visit the forum as much as I would like to. Not the mention the weather has been awful for the past few months. Not much imaging happening from me, however I have got myself a couple Astro toys. ;)

I was able to grab a couple images tonight before the clouds rolled in. Was great to get back out there. :thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

Astronomics are currently advertising the 10 and 12" RC's as having triple cooling fans

pricing the 12" US $4500

[Paul Haese]

Trevor, you got a link to show about the 12" pricing? Astronomics does not seem easy enough to find that information. I can find the 8" page but not the 10 or 12"

[Comet Hunter]

Here you go Paul...

Click (http://www.astronomics.com/main/documents/print%20ads/astronomy%20may%2009.pdf)

[TrevorW]

Advertised in the June edition of Astronomy magazine page 66

[Paul Haese]

Thanks guys, yet the GSO site is well, very ordinary at providing information.