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Old 16-07-2019, 03:27 AM
astro744
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astro744 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,244
In no particular order you can get superb mirrors from http://www.loptics.com and https://zambutomirrors.com See also https://zambutomirrors.com/zambutoopticalca.html

Go quartz if you can but not an absolute requirement.

Locally there is Mark Suchting but I'm not sure if he's still making mirror. He refigured my 10.1" f6.4 and it is exquisite and I am very happy with the result. this was many years ago around the 2003 opposition of Mars which I remember provided me with some superb views.

There are a few other quality mirror makers. Note the rest of the 'scope can and will impact on performance. See http://www.sdmtelescopes.com.au for some quality telescopes.

After saying all of that you can get a very good quality mirror from a mass produced manufacturer. The only difference is that with a custom manufacturer you will be guaranteed to get quality every time but the QA of the mass produced makers means some poorer quality mirrors slip through.

The other day I had some exceptional views of the crescent moon (5-6 day old in twilight with mirror at ambient; makes a difference) with resolution I had never seen before on the lunar surface. Which mirror do you ask... a 16" f4.5 Meade mass produced mirror that I am very happy with so much so that the 10.1" has been retired...sorry not selling either.

Don't get too hung up over the numbers. A quality mirror maker will guarantee a first class mirror whereas mass produced makers can put whatever spin they want on the numbers. Don't get too hung up on Strehl either. I've seen a Rhonchigram of a mirror showing a clear defect yet reportedly had a very good Strehl! It's just another way to spin the numbers.

Last edited by astro744; 16-07-2019 at 04:22 AM.
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