OK, only had time for twilight seeing (besides targetting the finder on a distant dead tree I like using).
Yeah, I CAN see some chromatic abberation, but that's only when using the 2x Barlow and the 6.3mm eyepiece! Using the 40mm yields NIL CA. Using the 28 yields NIL, and the 17 shows a very VERY insignificant hint of purple. The 6.3 throws purple, reds, and blues
But that's with the Barlow pushing it to max potential.
Trained it on Saturn... OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even with the 40mm, I could CLEARLY see the ring shadow, banding, etc. Then I threw in the 6.3....my jaw dropped. Seriously, OK, there's CA there at that mag, but I don't care, it doesn't worry me much. The detail I saw more than compensated for the CA.
Tried Mars. Again, a case of WOW! I split Alpha Centauri's double with consumate ease even using the 40mm eyepiece - child's play. The DEPTH of the field is amazing too - typical refractor - velvet dark sumptuousness. Did a collimation star shot, and please to report even after me disassembling the objective cell completely to clean it, it is still SPOT ON collimation. (did I mention that's a metric poop ton of glass up the front?).
Downsides:
1. it's BIG. Zenith observations is going to mean I have an air matress inflated outside on the ground
2. It's big, therefore there's a few moments. Focussing becomes a fun experience seeing how much it dances whilst trying to focus. My Crayford inbound will help resolve a LOT of that, but moreso after I counter-balance and tweak the tube as I have received PM's about. I expected this with such a big tube. I am considering trying to find a longer dovetail bar too to spread it a bit more, and maybe tightening the HEQ5 head a little.
3. As expected, and already in the process of remedying, the R&P, whilst GOOD for a R&P still is...an R&P focuser. It has some drawbacks (yes Sherlock
)
4. The older SW diagonals are not the best. The newer ones are light years ahead, and I have swapped over already with my ED80's.
I threw a blanket over it in the garage after I had finished balancing (EASIER than I anticipated) it in the HEQ5, and put the polystyrene foam objective "cradle" over it to hold the blanket... My 4 year old daughter came out and said "Daddy, it's a dinosaur". So, the scope got the name "Dorothy" after the Wiggle's Dorothy the Dinosaur.
I have shimmed under the pull-off dew shield with more felt, as it did seem a little loose. It's now tight. The blue is growing on me, but still think it'll be white and black before Sunday
100%, in every way, this is the BEST bang for the buck possible! Large aperture refractor, with MINIMAL CA (that can be removed almost entirely thanks to a Chromacor - just got to get one!), built pretty darned right out of the box. A few refinements (focusser etc), and she will be a stunner in every way.
Oh, and it's a BIG! I had a neighbour come out when I was sighting it in. She said "Holy SH*T!" I just chuckled.