5 element 4.5" RFT refractor OTA

[TomB (Tom)]

For sale or trade, a 5 element 4.5" RFT refractor OTA created from a NASA photo lens. The objective is 6" in the first 3 elements, coupled with 2 elements which act as a corrective Barlow. The result is a 30" refractor. It is not a true 6" as there is vignetting resulting in an effective 4.5" aperture. Although it has good colour correction, I hesitate to call it apochromatic as it pre-dated the era of triple-element APOs. It really is best at rich field and is not intended for high power. I imported it from USA and paid US$200 for the OTA (excl shipping). It weighs a hefty 16 lb of glass plus tube and 2"+ Jaegers focusser, but easily sits on any 6"-capable mounting.

My reason for sale is storage and that I now have a glut of RFT refractors so something has to go. So I'd be happy to discuss trade or sale. One thing I could use is an 8in SCT or a 6in Mak to use on my urban Chatswood balcony, if anyone happened to want to part with such & take this as part trade-in. I have two 10 inch Newts, several 3in refractors, and a C-5 so don't need anything in those categories. Open to other suggestions.

[mill (Martin)]

Hmm now i see it.
Is US$200 Really the right price? Or should it be US$2000 ?

[TomB (Tom)]

Originally Posted by mill

Hmm now i see it.
Is US$200 Really the right price? Or should it be US$2000 ?

Maybe it was $US250 plus shipping. That was in the 80s. It's not a direct equivalent to a modern apochromat but in the right hands makes a great RFT and would probably do even better in its original incarnation for photography.

[PhotonCollector (Paul)]

Sounds interesting....
What f/ratio is it?
Do you have any pics of what this RFT looks like or any pics that you have taken with it ?

[mill (Martin)]

Tom i am still waiting for an answer on my pm.
If you dont want to sell just say so please.

[mill (Martin)]

Hmm 4 days now and no reply.
It looks like Tom doesnt want to sell.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Mill, he may not have PM activated, or email notification of PM activated

[mill (Martin)]

Pm is activated because he has send me an pm a while ago after i pm'd him.
Well something might have happened that needs his attention

[g__day (Matthew)]

Love to see a picture of this thing.

Hey Martin - what sort of swords do you collect, looks at tad like a dai-katana there

[mill (Martin)]

Hi g_day it is an dai katana with just the most beutifull hamon i have ever seen.
Just a pity it isn't mine (costs more than a small car).
I only collect katana's from the edo period.
But now i do astronomy i had to give up the collecting
Doing both is too expensive

It looks like this item is not for sale anymore
Havent heard from TomB at all.
It would have been a nice scope for imaging.

[netwolf]

Martin, I initially did get a reponse from TomB to a pm when this add first appeard, but i don't think he has been online since then.
Sent him an email.

Regards

[g__day (Matthew)]

Martin,

I've never seen a real dai-katana, but I had a few special books on katana's when I did a bit of aki-jitsu in a subfield of aikido. Incredibly beautiful swords that live up to the legends you sometimes see on tv. Ever see the video of a katana splitting high powered 50 cal rifle bullets? Shame to do that to a sword - but it split 9 bullets - that had the power to explode a body (gross what a Macmillian can do to a flesh target) - before it split.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Hi,can you email me a photo of this refractor.
Also, what is vignetting ? and why doe sit obstruct the 6 inch lens ?
Let me know if you can send photos and I will give you my e-mail address.

cheers.
Geoff

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Is this scope still for sale.
I have had no reply to my previous question.

Please advise.
Geoff

[mill (Martin)]

Inmykombie.
You are just talking to a brick wall here.
I didn't get a reply since 24-08.