William Optics GT102 Refractor

[Chris1965]

Does anyone know if there is a William Optics dealer in Australia? The GT102 looks like a great rich field scope to team up with my C11 Edge SCT.

[FlashDrive]

Here.............. http://www.andrewscom.com.au/

Col...

[Chris1965]

:)

[casstony]

Crikey, 4400 for a WO 4" triplet. I'd be contacting Matt about the TSA102 he just withdrew from the classifieds or look at the new Tak FC100-DZ for that price.

[LewisM]

You can buy from WO direct, and save a bit, even after GST and duty

https://williamoptics.com/products/telescope/gran-turismo/new-2019-gran-turismo-102-gold-innovative-bahtinov-mask-cover-patented-included

The prices are in USD - then add $199 US for delivery, then add GST and Duty (easy to import something yourself without an agent).

[LewisM]

I totally agree...

Plus Matt being in Canberra makes it easy too. Here is the original advert: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=178316

I can guarantee the TSA is SUPERB (used to be mine!) and it is near mint. Visually unbeatable, and photographically (whereas the WO's show blue halation)

[bigjoe]

Hi Chris William Optics is just another rebrand of these Kunming or possibly sharpstar scopes.
..TS much better value and they'll help you via email with spacers,Flatteners for AP etc
https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/index.php/cat/c223_APO-Refractor-Telescopes.html

See for yourself ..delivery FAST and UPS will handle the import charges when they ring you..can pay import over the phone by card.

Otherwise grab that cheap as chips Tak in comparison to W.O..thats what Id do for AP!
Bigjoe.

[LewisM]

Agreed - the only difference is in the WO trademark gold, blue or red anodising.

AliExpress lists many, and FAR cheaper than anyone locally

[Chris1965]

Wow $4.4K for the GT102, must be the poor exchange rate. Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated. I’ve contacted Matt :)

[gregbradley]

Tak fluorite doublets have a question mark over them for astrophotography. I note the latest model says 50% less blue halation around stars. You really want no halation not just reduced. False colour is the enemy of astroimaging and refractors.

I used to have an FS102 and an FS152. The 152 showed blue rings around bright stars and was really only a visual scope (where it excelled).

The TSA102 is a triplet and excellent correction and would be far and away the safe choice for imaging.

You usually pay a lot extra for that last 20-40% of performance.

$4400 for a William Optics GT102 sounds like a lot. I am sure it performs fairly well as do most of these FPL53 triplets. But is it in Tak triplet territory?? I doubt it.

Greg.

[LewisM]

Choosing the TSA-102 is a brilliant move, as the scope is up there with THE best 4" triplets out there.

Greg, the Tak FC-100's show LESS halation than the W.O triplets. All the W.O triplets I can best describe as semi-apochromatic (just making the lens from FPL53 does NOT make it apochromatic, as we all know - though Cloudy Nights village iddiots will tell you otherwise).

I'll be frank - W.O are all glitz with only a modicum of glamour. They perform probably better than most doublets, but not a lot more. In fact, the Skywatcher Esprit triplets are a MUCH better option, and VERY good image quality wise

[bigjoe]

William Optics seem very ,very overpriced when basically the same scope referenced above costs only about 2700 delivered to Oz from TS..there all great visual scopes but can't speak of them for Astro.
Even some Of the APMs are just sharpstar in disguise the 107mm triplets and 140 ED, ALL
Apos visually, but not so much for AP.
Youll be doing this like a mate does..
Lens
Corrections...Click Profile or Color, and make sure
Remove Chromatic Aberration is selected in Lightroom!
Doable but a pain!
Bigjoe.

[Peter Ward]

Really?

WO dealer Hat on. I beg to differ. Begging the question how did you come up with $2700?

The correct WO equivalent from TS is the TLAPO102 7-FT priced at 1,92400 EUR or $A3150 plus shipping plus GST plus customs entry

Assuming say EUR 275 shipping you won't get much change from $A4100

and if it's not up to par...well...my bet is you'll have to wear it.

[bigjoe]

Here youve deliberately picked the MORE EXPENSIVE FEATHER TOUCH TS VERSION..William Optics DONT COME STANDARD WITH FEATHERTOUCH!!
Bigjoe.

[LewisM]

+1 there - W.O is bog standard Chinesium "Meh" focuser.

Why would anyone buy a WO when you can have a SUPERB TSA-102 for the same price? Not even a debate there - the TSA hits the WO out of the park with consummate ease.

[LewisM]

Who nelly, your figures are WAY out.

I did a fake checkout of that telescope with T-E. Total came to $3279.20 AUD INCLUDING post UPS (85 EURO post - not 275 Euro you mention).

Add in to that say 16% GST+Duty, and it's $3803.84, which is a GOOD saving over $4400 or even the $4100.

And Teleskop Express honours warranty claims.

[Peter Ward]

WO don't make a FT version...so it must be a different product

This is the only 102 on their current price list. The produce code is

A-F102GTS-RP33

No matter how I cut it, price still comes in at about $A4000 landed.

But sure, you are free to buy whatever it is from TS

[gregbradley]

Noone is expecting Tak quality at WO prices. I must say though I like my WO Redcat 51. Its a little ripper.

Not a lot of experience with their scopes. I did have a Lomo 80mm APO triplet lensed WO scope. It was way out of collimation and I had to repair it. A long time ago though.

I've seen lots of images now from the plethora of FPL 53 triplets and they all seem rather good. Not AP, Tak or CFF territory but still capable of some lovely images.

Greg.

[Peter Ward]

Agreed on the RedCat 51. I've looked a few samples now, all have been excellent.

As for the GT102, seems now we have an apples vs apples product code, the price is around $3900 (the $2700 mentioned earlier looks to be a la-la land figure ) direct from WO and $4000 to $4400 from local dealers (who have to respect Australian consumer law)

Is it a FSQ106 of CFF? Nup.

But for the price the performance is not bad at all....BTW I won the overall Malin award a few years back using a WO 80mm...which I thought at the time was excellent bang for buck.

Not much has changed IMHO.

[brian nordstrom]

:shrug:Yes these WO triplets are very good , but !

I have a 100 mm f9 FPL53 Doublet made by Synta and it easily holds its own against friends Takahashi , Zeiss , TV , AP and APM 100mm f7-9 refractors and all the WO triplets ( doublets as well ) fit right in with the quality $$ value of other scopes ;) .,

My two 100 mm APO's do extreemley well against scopes that cost 2 AND 3 X MORE ,, don't worry :D enjoy .

Bragging right's go nowhere fast :welcome: and the last Moon shot is my ED100 with 14mm TV Radian and Pixel phone held over ,,, Zero imagining . Zero CA !


Brian.

[bigjoe]

Hi Brian, indeed you have fine equipment.
I don't think you need feel aggrieved here as mostly on IIS theres a little bragging rights of ones hard earned.

Snobbery ..I dont think its intended..bragging yes..it goes on in ALL forums.

I have a friend in wealthy Vaucluse were I go to observe near a clifftop in Summer; Only30 mins from Concord where I mostly live...He has an 80ed and sees no reason to get more expensive gear and hes REALLY WEALTHY..
I know another near Penrith a less affluent area and he has far more expensive gear..Hes Not a Snob..just thats what he wanted ..the best.

I myself who can afford Tak, but put my money elsewhere have gone for a very good solution.. In a TS 130mm Apo triplet..ITS GREAT ..I have no regrets..I've put my money in property etc ..not so much in Astro.

Enjoy what you have its darn good, and good seeing ..its been rare here in Sydney of late.
Bigjoe.

[brian nordstrom]

;) Thanks Joe , yes its horses for courses and back to the OP's origonal Q , nothing wrong with the WO for visual or AP and I hope he enjoy's the TAK but if it was my money I would have grabbed that Sky Rover 115 in the classifieds and saved 2k for some good accessories ,, but its his $$$ .

Yes I like my gear and wont be changing any of it any time soon .

I have friends here with the SR 115 and 130 triplets and I am sure these are made in the same place as your sweet TS 130 and YES :eyepop: these perform excellently .

Brian.

[LewisM]

How Brian - the listed SkyRover is $6495 with everything and the seller will not split http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=178168

So, how could he save????

Anyway, buyer made a lifetime scope choice.