Incoming..CFF RC

[DJT (David)]

Quite excited. Just settled on a CFF RC250 at F7. It’s a total one off, a rework from a project that didn’t happen which makes it rather interesting. At F7 I imagine it will have more curvature than normal for an RC however there is a CFF Flattener included as well.

Arrives in Feb. Have always enjoyed the “da da” posts, the unboxing of the new toys, so will share as it goes.


It’s been great to deal with Catalin. Very helpful dealing with adapter requirements from a Luddite and sharing the history of the scope build.


Happy days.


https://cfftelescopes.eu/limited-edition-ritchey-chretien/

[Atmos (Colin)]

Now that is a fantastic purchase!
If I didn’t have a Mewlon 250 for the longer focal length imaging I’d have considered a CFF

Not long until the unboxing starts!

[multiweb (Marc)]

What a beast! Exciting times. Looks like a hotrod.

[LewisM]

I am NOT being the party pooper, but PLEASE, PLEASE read the reports about the CFF RC's. Insist on guarantees and warranties. Specify a Zygo report.I implore you!

Best of luck!

[DJT (David)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

I am NOT being the party pooper, but PLEASE, PLEASE read the reports about the CFF RC's. Insist on guarantees and warranties. Specify a Zygo report.I implore you!

Best of luck!

Hi LewisThanks for the dire warning. This has been front of mind since I started the process.
I am aware of the posts etc on cloudy nights and reached out to the guy directly affected to get his view on how the resolution process went. He was highly satisfied.
I also had a conversation with the owner specifically on this as well and am comfortable with his responses.
I will get sight of the report pre shipping and warranties are already in place.


These guys were mortified by what happened and mirror grinding has not been outsourced since.


Still excited

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Congratulations David - I briefly considered this very scope but for now, mainly due to my camera's characteristics (read: small pixels), will stick to my CFF 105mm triplet which has been serving me very well.

From what I read Tavi, CFF's mirror optician, has been consistently doing fabulous job and his mirrors are really good. And I am confident mechanically your RC will also be excellent.

Please keep up updated

[DJT (David)]

Happy days. Just paid the duty, the scope lands tomorrow and expecting it Monday. Brace yer selves for appalling weather in Sydney

I did get some test images from Catalin and it looks good so far.


Twiddles thumbs.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Awesome looking scope Dave, hope its commissioning goes without a hitch

Mike

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Congratulations David - fingers crossed for a speedy and safe delivery

[Atmos (Colin)]

Now that’s exciting news David! We’re looking at a potential thunderstorm Sunday night in Melbourne so it may hit you by Monday

[gregbradley]

Wow, great purchase.

CFF seem to be the new AstroPhysics.

I have a 105 F6 refractor like Suavis in mind for later this year.

His scopes look to be some of the best around.

I have only had a small interaction with Catalin and he seemed like a pretty cool guy.

I look forward to your images.

RCOS had a 250mm F7 at one stage. Fred on this site has one although not sure his may be F9??

I think 250mm F7 is a very good balance between speed of the optics and sharpness and aberrations. CDK settled on F6.8 and the cost of that is a bit of extra vignetting but good flats handles that mostly.


Greg.

[DJT (David)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Wow, great purchase.



...I have only had a small interaction with Catalin and he seemed like a pretty cool guy.

I look forward to your images.

He is indeed. Last night he emailed me all of data on the specific scope as well as instructions for checking that it’s got through the shipping ok and for collimating. Its a unique scope so very happy to have all the measurements and diagrams in my hands.


He really is very good to work with.


I received some test images a couple of weeks ago when he was doing the shakedown before dispatch and it looks all good. Enough to check there is nothing of concern before shipping.


Skies look ok for a couple of days this week but let’s see how it goes.



“RCOS had a 250mm F7 at one stage. Fred on this site has one although not sure his may be F9??


I think 250mm F7 is a very good balance between speed of the optics and sharpness and aberrations. CDK settled on F6.8 and the cost of that is a bit of extra vignetting but good flats handles that mostly.”


Yeah. One of the reasons I moved the GSO RC10 on was that it was just a tad too large for the obsy if I wanted to piggy back another scope. I will have the advantage of the things you pointed out and the OTA is a bit smaller and also 20% lighter than the GSO.

It comes with a dedicated flattener and Catalin provided the appropriately sized adapters to the MMOAG.

I lose a bit on focal length, down from 2024 to 1790 using the flattener but it does means its a slightly better match for my local seeing conditions with an image scale of 1.06

I may or may not use the flattener. I’d like to see how it works natively given the STL6303 chip isn’t that big.


Cheers

[DJT (David)]

The parcel was dropped off by DHL this morning and of course I had to rush off to work so no time to play until this evening.

No signs of damage on the box, so tick. Lots of packaging peanuts. The kittens had a field day.

The scope was supplied in a flight case and the contents were well secured.

Other inclusions were a starlight focuser, dedicated RC Flattener, riser for a finder and the adapter to the MMOAG, along with a selection of spacers to fine tune. Along with this, a set of dew covers and mirror covers as well as adapters for the installed secondary heater.

I checked everything on the bench including specified distances between mirrors (as per spec) focuser for tilt (none)then checked Collimation. No adjustments were needed (so far but expecting to tweak in a star test).

It’s now on the mount in the obsy, happily balanced, and will finish the cabling tomorrow, maybe even get a first light?

Accordingly to the interferometry report Strehl seems very good at 0.979 as does RMS so happy little camper. Looking forward to getting some imaging happening.

[Wilso]

Very nice pick up David

Looks as sexy as Kunama's dob with the carbon fibre and anodised fittings.
You must be very happy indeed!
Good luck with the commission of the scope and hope everything goes well.

I think I would have taken the day off

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Looks like very well delivered fantastic and compact RC - congratulations David

[jwoody (Jeremy)]

That looks great David, nice one!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Awesome looking bit of kit there Dave ...talk about astro porn, that's a veritable focusing sex pot

Mike

[DJT (David)]

Hee Hee, I almost blushed when I saw the gold Anodising. Carolyn had to avert her eyes.

Currently playing dodge the clouds to get a first light.

1st couple of subs look pretty good straight out of the box but small tweak needed I think.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Awesome looking bit of kit there Dave ...talk about astro porn, that's a veritable focusing sex pot

Mike

[Wilso]

How are you getting along with the new scope Dave?

[DJT (David)]

Hi Darren

Not much happening unfortunately. Just havnt had the skies in the last few weeks so I am still hanging out for a first light image.


Sighs heavily.