127mm Achromat from Aquila Optical.

[AGarvin]

Hi all,

Has anyone had any experience with the 127mm Achromat sold by Aquila Optical? They're F9.5 which I'm hoping would reduce the CA abit compared to the faster achromats around. Plus, the focuser assembly looks a lot like the one on the Meade AR achromats, which potentially means a Moonlight crayford upgrade, assuming they're optically ok.

Thanks in advance.

Andrew.

[asimov]

No experience with that particular scope, but I had a hell of a time making up my mind between the 127mm F9.5 & the 152mm F8.

I wanted the 127mm for your reasoning precisely: less CA than the F8. I went the 152mm in the end, I just couldn't bring myself to pass up the opportunity to get the bigger aperture.

I'm glad I did now. The F8 has tolerable CA & the fringe killer filter pretty well nips the CA in the bud.

I'll be looking forward to a review on the 127mm if you decide to get it.

[janoskiss]

You can always mask the 152mm f8 down to get an effective 127mm f9.5, but still have the extra inch of aperture when you want it.

[asimov]

Good point Steve! I made 3 different sized masks for certain objects that worked really well on the F8.

[AGarvin]

Hi Asimov,

I've read your review of you 152mm. How have you found the overall build quality since you wrote the article? I'm guessing that if you find the CA ok on the 152 with a fringe killer, then the 127 @f9.5 will be fine.

I also noticed you listed it as a "Meade 152" on your scope list. Is my assumption that the focuser is basically the same as the Meade correct then? Moonlight make a crayford specifically for the Meade. Of course the dual speed gunna be worth the same as, if not more than the scope itself, but I cant afford an APO (maybe I could sell the kids :whistle: ).

I'm considering the 127 with the HEQ5 upgrade. To be honest, I really can't justify a 127mm achromat when the 10" f5 dob is more versatile, except for the fact that I want a refractor :) .

Thanks for your replies folks.