glend
05-12-2020, 09:34 AM
I have had my eye on this ED150 for a long time, when they originally were introduced I was imaging with Newts and Mak-Newts it was not seen as a serious imaging scope (mostly because of the Doublet Objective).
After retiring from imaging, it entered contention as a simple to use visual scope (no diffraction spikes, no collimation, etc). However, even after selling off all my scopes except my iStar 127mm f12, I was blocked by what I saw as an excessive retail price (at the time it was RRP'd at $2999, and that was for the standard ED150 with the 2" focuser).
I watched all this year, and the price never changed, and even Andrews was stuck (no 10% off sale). So fast forward to the week before the Black Friday Sales events, and I had a tip off (thanks Dunk) that Astro Anarchy had marked down the standard ED150 to $2199 on the website and they were in stock. I rang up Peter at Astro Anarchy and had a chat, during which he mentioned that he could do a deep discount on the ED150DX (this being the Delux version with the Esprit 3.4" focuser, Beefy rings, and Losmandy plate). The DX version apparently had an RRP of $4600, and I had never seen the price below $3600.. Peter was offering me one substantially discounted (below $3k), how could I pass it up? I got a nice discount on the reducer corrector as well. As I understand, it is a TASCO Black Friday Special available through it's retailers, and I cannot say for sure that all retailers will pass on all of the discount provided by TASCO. Don't assume, but certainly ask, if your looking.
Anyway it arrived a few days ago (free shipping was a bonus) and last night was my first chance to try it out. BTW, these scopes come with a hard Aluminium case as well.
I have posted some photos below, of the scope on my CGX in the obervatory.
Testing last night went very well, the Star tests showed no collimation concerns (these scopes cannot be user collimated, it is set at the factory). There was no false colour at focus that I could detect, and only a hint of colour on the tips of inward focus flares but disappearing approaching focal point. Focus popped, no need to search back and forth, it was clearly defined. I forgot to do a Ronchi test last night but will get to that soon. Touring the usual suspects in the east and southern sky provided great views, and surprising grab on the nebula but then again it is 150mm unobstructed.
The focuser could pull my car, it is that strong.
So yeah I am pretty happy with the scope, optics and mechanics. Being a Doublet it is easily balanced on the mount, and that heavy focuser helps with that. It is easily handled by the CGX.
Ultimate setup will be for EAA, so it will be reduced from f8 to f6,8; and I will piggy back an ED80 on top to get good focal length coverage from say 400mm to 1020mm; but that is down the track.
After retiring from imaging, it entered contention as a simple to use visual scope (no diffraction spikes, no collimation, etc). However, even after selling off all my scopes except my iStar 127mm f12, I was blocked by what I saw as an excessive retail price (at the time it was RRP'd at $2999, and that was for the standard ED150 with the 2" focuser).
I watched all this year, and the price never changed, and even Andrews was stuck (no 10% off sale). So fast forward to the week before the Black Friday Sales events, and I had a tip off (thanks Dunk) that Astro Anarchy had marked down the standard ED150 to $2199 on the website and they were in stock. I rang up Peter at Astro Anarchy and had a chat, during which he mentioned that he could do a deep discount on the ED150DX (this being the Delux version with the Esprit 3.4" focuser, Beefy rings, and Losmandy plate). The DX version apparently had an RRP of $4600, and I had never seen the price below $3600.. Peter was offering me one substantially discounted (below $3k), how could I pass it up? I got a nice discount on the reducer corrector as well. As I understand, it is a TASCO Black Friday Special available through it's retailers, and I cannot say for sure that all retailers will pass on all of the discount provided by TASCO. Don't assume, but certainly ask, if your looking.
Anyway it arrived a few days ago (free shipping was a bonus) and last night was my first chance to try it out. BTW, these scopes come with a hard Aluminium case as well.
I have posted some photos below, of the scope on my CGX in the obervatory.
Testing last night went very well, the Star tests showed no collimation concerns (these scopes cannot be user collimated, it is set at the factory). There was no false colour at focus that I could detect, and only a hint of colour on the tips of inward focus flares but disappearing approaching focal point. Focus popped, no need to search back and forth, it was clearly defined. I forgot to do a Ronchi test last night but will get to that soon. Touring the usual suspects in the east and southern sky provided great views, and surprising grab on the nebula but then again it is 150mm unobstructed.
The focuser could pull my car, it is that strong.
So yeah I am pretty happy with the scope, optics and mechanics. Being a Doublet it is easily balanced on the mount, and that heavy focuser helps with that. It is easily handled by the CGX.
Ultimate setup will be for EAA, so it will be reduced from f8 to f6,8; and I will piggy back an ED80 on top to get good focal length coverage from say 400mm to 1020mm; but that is down the track.