127mm 5.5mm Objectives at Surplus Shed.

[Poita]

Just letting everyone know that the Surplus Shed has those cheap 127mm F5.5 Achro lenses back in stock again.
Has anyone made a successful build with one yet?

[MrB]

There was a thread here where a couple of people had made scopes with them. I have considered trying one of these lenses myself for NB work.
If I find the thread I'll post a link here. (on my phone at the mo)

[MattT]

Peter don't know about the f5 lenses but on ATM forum on Cloudy Nights there are a number of refractors made from Surplus Shed lenses.
Mattt

[Poita]

At $189 it is a cheap project I guess, and a 700mm focal length is not too unwieldy.

Maybe if there is any interest we could do a group buy and save some shipping $$.

http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/l3968.html

[Poita]

Of course, they also have a 6" f/1.25 (!!) triplet lens for $265...
Now that is a fast lens.

[Saturnine]

Hi

Having made several scopes with Surplus Shed lens, 80mm f5, 80mm f11, 102 f6 & 127mm f9.4, I can safely say that the lens' work quite well, not premium quality but very good visually for the price that they are. The construction and baffling of the tube and alignment of the lens cell are just as important in getting the best from the lens as the quality of the glass.
The 127mm X 700mm lens have a good reputation from all the threads that I've read on Cloudy Nights, making a very handy aperture, fast f ratio, portable scope, so I don't think you'd be dissapointed but I'd stay away from the 6" f1.5 as it is an camera lens not an telescope lens unless of course you want to make a large wide angle meteor catcher camera.

Jeff