Mark Suchting has just completed my 14.5" f4.8 Quartz mirror and it will be shipped off to the coaters at Saintech this week. I have the option of protected aluminium or 99% reflective protected silver coating to be applied. Based on my primitive reading online, most still recommend protected aluminium due to following reasons:
- Enhanced coatings reduce contrast and increase light scatter
- Aluminium is more durable
- Silver is a difficult substance to remove and recoat when it needs to be done later down the track, possibly ruining the figure on the mirror
I haven't read anything yet to show that the enhanced reflectivity of the silver equates to brighter image at the eyepiece? I'd love to hear anyones experience with both and what they recommend. Thanks
