Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Yeh? I find that an interesting statement, the TOA is a top of the line APO so while other APO's may give similar views I can't imagine other APO's of the same size out performing it 
Mike |
Hey Mike.
I've come to this conclusion after doing a few side-by-sides with other 'fractors namely:
A TEC 140, an APM/TMB 130/1200, a TMBSS 130 and a TS130.
The TEC and APM 130 were an easy match for the TOA and both out-resolved it on Jupiter and Luna using a Tak 7.5 LE eyepiece (which I pretty much carry around with me as its THAT good). The APM was certainly as well colour-corrected and both the TEC & APM scopes had a noticably darker background. However both scopes cost as much if not more than the TOA.
In 2010 I took the TOA to Europe and met up with a bloke with a TS 130. It did not 'beat' the TOA, but certainly matched it's resolution and was only a little behind in colour fidelity. At around 1/2 the price (at the time) I was seriously considering a switch!
The TMB SS was an early model from before TMB passed away and really gave the TOA a run for it's money (though at the time there wasn't a whole lot of difference in price). Like the TS scope it was 50/50 - whichever scope I looked through I liked best. The TMB gave better wide-field views tho'.
When first introduced the TOA 130 certainly had a place of its own and still is probably the best colour-corrected refractor around.
However in terms of outright resolution its matched and beaten by several other scopes costing a few hundred or even a thousand bucks less.
Its also built like a tank as they say.
Big chunky metal parts that don't fit especially well and heavier than necessary!
Anyway. I think there are better visual 'fractors out there for a whole lot less so I'd shop around.