Kson refractors any good?

[traveller]

Hi everyone, has anyone got any experience with Kson products.
From what I can find, they are made in China and like most products, their focuser would be the first upgrade.
They are selling here for $800 for an 102mm f6 (http://www.australiantelescopes.com.au/telescopes/refractor-telescopes/buy-kson-ekinox-ed-doublet-apo-apochromatic-102mm-4-inch-refractor-telescope-ota-on-sale.html).
Fast and affordable, but what's the catch?
I looked on CN, but not much luck.
Thanks,
Bo :thumbsup::help::thanx::confused2:

[dannat]

anyone can make up there own brand - they also have some orthos - i think you'll find the scope ok - will be in the same league as any short-ish ED doublet, will be some colour but good value - if you contact some of the chinese manufacturers its an eye opener to see what some of the goods cost you,
there was a guy on CN selling them for 700 ish -

when you factor in focuser upgrade plus flattener - looking for a secondhand good scope can be just as cost efffective

[traveller]

Thanks Daniel,
I was talking to the guy on CN, he is selling the OTA with case for $550 now. I don't know what glass is used and CA.
My brother is pricing a few ED OTAs for me at the moment in China, so if he comes across any good prices, I will let others know so we can aim for a group discount.
Bo

[traveller]

Apparently there was a test report on 102mm f6 in the April 2011 edition of Aust Sky and Tel, page 80.
If anyone has a back copy, I'd be interested in borrowing it or have a scanned copy of the report.
Thanks again,
Bo

[keni]

Hi Bo,
I just PM'd you with a quickie review of mine.

Cheers,
Ken.

[traveller]

Thanks Ken, great info!
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[MrB]

Ken, could you post publicly for anyone else that may be interested?
Cheers

[keni]

Here you go....MrB

There's no indication of the type of glass.On the end it just has ED High definition Optics.
Looking at Kson's website I don't think it's ED/APO just ED glass.

I have had it out a few times and am very impressed with the view through it.
It performs well with all my EPs even my TV 4mm Radian.
I have taken some shots of the moon with it and my 600D and am also impressed.
I don't have any sort of flattener/reducer but it still works very well.Of course having the moon in the centre of the FOV helps too.
I should mention that Colin had a Moonlite focuser fitted that definately helps
but I reckon the glass is very good going by the views and the sharpness of the moon photos.
Quite a few didn't need any sharpening.
I haven't noticed any CA either.Then again I haven't done any longer exposures yet.

[MrB]

Cheers mate :thumbsup:

[Sepe535]

Hello, Ken you mentioned that Colin was able to add Moonlite focuser to his scope. I currently have an APO80_C Triplet that i recently aquired fron CN seller and moonlite says they dont have anything that would fit. Help please!!!!!

[gaseous]

Slightly off topic, but I bought a Kson 1.25" OIII filter earlier in the year and the threading was abominable - needed a thin strip of plumber's tape around the thread (a really professional look) to stop it dropping out of most of my EP's. Hopefully their OTA's are better. Good luck.

[chris lewis]

I have the Kson 102 ED doublet and the Kson 80 Triplet APO. The triplet comes in the blue carbon whilst the 102 ED comes in a nice pearl white.
Both have FPL-51 glass and the dual GSO fosuser.
Build quality is very good on both.
The 102 ED is a F/6 and would be best described as a 'semi-APO'. There is CA on brighter objects and field curvature on the periphery, as one would expect with a short F/L ED doublet. On axis resolution is good.
The 80 Triplet is true APO with no Ca on bright objects and only a hint on on intra and extra focus on bright objects like Venus. The triplet gives a flat image.
This FPL-51 triplet has slighty superior CA control and image quality then my now sold Orion Synta ED 80 mm FPL-53 doublet.
The 102 ED makes a good dark sky scope and works well w. mags to around 100x
The 80 mm Triplet make a better planetary and lunar scopes and is best for AP.
Both cost me the same price which was around NZ $800 each which was the wholesale price.
I also have the full range of Kson EP's with the 2 in. Kellner 32 mm and the 5x various Orthos. They are 48 degrees FOV. These are good quality and far superior to my old GSO Plossls.

Chris

[cometcatcher]

Old thread, but Kson ED refractors seem to have been discontinued from their lineup. I have the ED80 F5.5 doublet. It's okay for visual, but is a bit problematic for photo use. The single speed R&P focuser has image shift. The optics flare on bright stars. Probably a reasonable eclipse chasing telescope though.

[Sepe535]

Looking for help, regarding Moonlite focuser for my scope.

It was mentioned that Colin was able to add Moonlite focuser to his scope. I currently have an APO80 C Triplet that i recently aquired from CN seller and moonlite says they dont have anything that would fit.

Looking for some feed back and Help please!!!!!

[gaa_ian]

This thread goes back a bit now.
But just wanting to let you all know that the Kson Triplet ED-80 Refractors are still available, from my Store @ NightSkySecrets.
http://www.nightskysecrets.com.au/telescopes/refractors-ota/kson-80mm-triplet-refractor-carbon-fibre-apo.html
It is the most cost effective ED-80 Triplet you will find in the Australian Market I believe.