View Single Post
  #22  
Old 25-03-2012, 05:28 PM
beren
Registered User

beren is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,810
Tough choice went through the same dilemma not long ago Went with the M250, the introduction of the new {baffle}corrector swayed it for the imaging angle. I brought mine second hand and arrived with the collimation out a fraction. Collimating at first seems daunting on the mewlon going by the instructions found in the manual but it's not to bad {and seems to hold well moving the scope from storage to backyard}, wish Tak could centre spot the secondary so you can utilise their collimating scope. Unfortunately the few nights I've done visual with the scope I have not taken notes but from memory I couldn't be happier with it's performance {taking into account seeing conditions, cool down etc etc}. Pleased to find off axis views through the eyepieces I use display negligible coma {24pan,16mm/9mm nagler,12mm radian}. Different story for imaging though even the older reducer/corrector doesn't eliminate it, yet to purchase the new corrector.The M250 motorized focuser works fine and easy to access the primary for cleaning, and the back of the scope can be taken off for cooling. Overall no regrets on the purchase, the more all round function of the M250 won it for me but i'd love the privilege of owning a TOA-130 just have to win lotto first.

Quote:
The Mewlons are (again, IMHO) a waste of money. They are difficult to collimate and go "off-song" very quickly.
Also, the spikey artifacts are very noticeable in visual use and the wave front error is nowhere near as good as claimed.
Virtually any Celestron or Meade SCT is a match for a Mewlon I think and there are quite a few refractors in the 120-140mm range that will out-perform the TOA visually.
But: YMMV!

G'Luck!
Peter
Agree with you Peter with the spider vane affects, quite noticeable after using SCT's and refractors. Curious why your opion of the mewlons deteriorated after a earlier posting on the 20/2/10 where it was more positive....

Quote:
I, unfortunately have also spent a night with a Mewlon. Its pretty easy to get spoiled for anything else.

A few years ago I was at the Texas Star Party, and had some time with an Intes 8" Mak. It was pretty speccy, but from memory, not quite up there with the M210. The only scope that I remember as matching or even exceeding it was an 8" Portaball with Zambuto optics.
But they're about twice the price of a Mewlon.
There are certainly no massed-produced cats/reflectors that compare.

If I was going to start again. I'd go with an M210 and an NP101 or LOMO/LZOS 4-4.5"
Reply With Quote