Comet Catcher/Astrograph

[astrocecco]

Hi all,
for sale a huge zoom lens from a giant Projector.
The lens weighs 8 kg and was (I believe) taken from either a Panasonic or Olympus projector. It zooms from 70 to 180mm at f/ratios of 0.7 to 1.5. The lens weighs approximately 8Kg :eyepop: and will make a nice comet catcher and/or very quick astrograph. Could also be ideal for an observatory/fixed location.
It comes with a custom made mounting bracket and manual focussing gear at the back, and double dovetail (on top of one another, and it can be taken off) for both a Vixen and/or Losmandy mounts, had not the time to finish this project,
Asking price is $900 O.N.O.
Lens is in Mount Gambier, South Australia.

Cheers!
Andrea

[Poita]

Any images available taken with it?

[OICURMT]

Diameter?

[brian nordstrom]

:eyepop: 8kg? thats 16+ pounds ? Whoaw!
As asked it is hard to get a picture in the mind of this hunk of glass , do you have any idea how many lenses are in there ? a laser pointer would give some idea , if it aint Flourite ? ( laser beams pass thru Flourite without leaving a trace ).
;).
As Orcuimt , asks how big it this , in Diameter and length ?
looks intreguing , the cell looks hand machined , by your Dad , Andrea ? but it has to be nice bit of glass to put that time and effort into it ?
Thanks :thumbsup:.
Brian.

[Dennis]

Just guessing here, but if we do a quick calculation using 180mm focal length at an F:Ratio of F1.5 we derive an objective diameter of around 120mm, or around 4.7 inches in the old money.

Cheers

Dennis

[astrocecco]

Hi all,
sorry for the late reply, I had no computer at home last night.
You are correct, the lens diameter is approximately 120mm, I'm not sure how many lenses are in there, but I have a laser pointer at home, I'll try tonight. The lenght si approximately 400-500mm, I'll remeasure that tonight and post it. A friend of mine did the machining on the late (it's all aluminium) and assembled it, it was a very rewarding feeling, as I was planning on getting out of town and do some astrophotography with it. I didn't proceed any further (the poor thing has been stored away fo more than one year now!) with this project because 16 months ago I took on our property renovation (which hasn't finished yet), so I sold my first scope and mount, an EQ6 that was holding it very well, and left with no mount for it. I was, back then, planning on buying a Celestron mount but then it didn't happen and I'm getting out of the hobby :sadeyes: at least until I've completed the renovation. I think I might soon be posting also a f/15 refractor lens (diameter 150mm) and huge WO focuser I had purchased to build a long refractor... sad...
My other scope (a FS78) posted yesterday is going too...:(

Let me know whether you need other info on it,
cheers,
Andrea