William Optics 66mm scopes

[MortonH]

Does anyone own one of these models (either the Petzval ED or the SD APO)?

I have a Megrez 90 on order, so my old Megrez 80 will be redundant soon. Am thinking of 'replacing' the M80 with a smaller scope that is more for daytime 'spotting' but can also be used for astronomy and will be nice and small for travel.

I love WO scopes, and the 66mm models look great. Anyone got any comments on their use?

Regards

Morton

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I have two Petzvals, one with and one without the 10:1 focuser. I love them both for visual use. All you need is a SCT-threaded 2" diagonal and away you go. For photographic use though the rear elements give you some interesting challenges in terms of getting the light path long enough to reach focus. You need to get yourself at least a 50mm extension tube and dangle your camera off that.

The Petzval is a delight to use visually as the field is so ultra-flat. Fabulous focus edge to edge. Contrast is very good for such a small scope too. I picked up the Ring Nebula a little while ago and saw its definite shape, so it's OK for dark-adjusted eyes to see quite a ways.

Pick up and go - what can you say....

Cheers
Chris

[MortonH]

Do you really need TWO? (hint!!!)

Morton

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by MortonH

Do you really need TWO? (hint!!!)

Morton

hehe... yep

One is use primarily as a get-up-and-run pocket scope (which I love using in that vain) and the other is my guidescope for the SCT's. As a visual scope the Petzval still gives a TINY bit of purple chromatic abberation on REALLY bright objects like Sirius - but for everything else it's as close to APO you'll get without actually spending to get there. It's not noticable at all everywhere else in the sky.

If you hurry, I think that Andrews has them going at $399 at the moment with the 10:1 focuser. Not bad at all - but you'll have to hurry I think.

[DeanoNZL (Adrian)]

Hi Morton,
I have the 66SD-APO.
Never having owned a quality scope before, I am very impressed with the 66SD-APO.
Image quality is fantastic, but with bad eyesight like mine, I may be biased. Maybe a pic will assist!
"M8 10 x 300 sec, tec on.

Regards

[JohnH]

Mine is a newer model with the 10:1 focuser and is used for wide filed imaging, as a guide and travel scope.

Mechanically and visually I cannot fault it.

For photo work you need the relevant WO adapter ($$) or extension tube to get to focus as has already been mentioned. The SD version suffers with some field curvature when coupled with my Canon20D - I have to crop at about 75% of the frame, with a full frame camera this would be much worse. A flattener is now available and would make a useful addition to the scope is you are going to use a big sensor. Native the scope is a good match to the DSI, Orion Starshoot etc.