Sharpstar 61EDPH test

[casstony]

I managed to pick a gap in the clouds to get a test shot with the new scope. There was still thin cloud and the colour is off because I mistakenly left a light pollution filter in, but star shapes look pretty good. The slightly out of round corner stars should be fixed with a spacing adjustment.
The scope should produce nice images when I get a chance.

61EDPH @ f/4.5, Canon 600D, 10 sec, ISO 3200

Fit and Finish is good on the Sharpstar but not as good as the WO Redcat.

[LewisM]

Stay with the Redcat Tony.

[casstony]

Tough choice really with minor points in favour of either.

[Ukastronomer]

Fit and Finish is good on the Sharpstar but not as good as the WO Redcat.

But one is over £200 more it is not comparing like with like

[casstony]

I guess it depends where you are shopping Jeremy. TS in Germany sells both scopes for the same price. I think they're in a similar category, all things considered.

[Ukastronomer]

Not the UK :(

[LewisM]

Interesting pricing - I did some research.

The Redcat direct from WO is $698 USD (€626 / £559)
The Sharpstar 61EDPH (rebadge TS) is $793 US (€713 / £636) - I couldn't find a pricing with Chinese sellers.

Some retailers are selling the OLD 61EDPH (not a petzval quad, but a reducer-equipped scope) for much less.

Additionally, Sharpstar is selling a 71Q flatfield for $719 US (€645 /£576 ), and the 86Q flatfield for $1475 US (€1324 / £1182).

I'd be getting the RedCat direct from WO, paying the import duty and postage.

[casstony]

The current 61EDPH is a 60mm fpl53 doublet f/5.5 with a large diameter 3 element reducer/corrector bringing it to f/4.5.
It looks like they've fitted a bigger focuser to the already existing f/5.5 scope and designed a reducer to suit.

Also AFAIK the Redcat isn't strictly a Petzval (4 elements in 2 groups); the Redcat has 4 elements in 3 groups.

Both designs produce flat fields.

[casstony]

I think you may be forgetting to add the cost of the reducer to the 61edph Jeremy? The 61edph with reducer is similar in price to the Redcat even in the UK.