GSO RC update

[KenGee (Kenith Gee)]

AS we all know the GSO website has jad ;ittle info on their RC telescopes I emailed them and got this reply.

Hi Kenny,

We received your query from Guan Sheng about the new RC telescopes.
We have ordered 6" and 8" OTA (mainly 8") as these will be available first. I expect these to ship around the beginning of July (possibly earlier).
The specifications so far look very impressive. We are running an ad in the next edition of Australian Sky & Telescope outlining the specs.
At this stage price is likely to be just below $3000 for an 8" scope and around $1600 for the 6". We are expecting much greater demand for the 8" as it wil have quartz glass blanks and carbon fibre OTA.
You are sure to hear more as delivery gets closer! We are happy to accept pre-orders for the telescopes now. No need to pay a deposit but you will be assured of a telescope from the first shipment.

Thanks for your enquiry,

Michael Chaytor
The Binocular & Telescope Shop

I have decided to go for the star instruments version myself. But the taking orders people, we will expect a review

[netwolf]

So 1200 from the US for a 6" and 1600 from our local guys. And I am sure the US supplier has a profit margin added on this. Surely the prices should be about the same given the source is GSO. I would consider the 6" as its more affordable. The 8" is a big jump in price for extra 2".

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Originally Posted by netwolf

So 1200 from the US for a 6" and 1600 from our local guys. And I am sure the US supplier has a profit margin added on this. Surely the prices should be about the same given the source is GSO. I would consider the 6" as its more affordable. The 8" is a big jump in price for extra 2".

Be careful on a direct comparison on the estimated price at this time...as was mentioned these have not even shipped yet and so I am certain that the cost estimate is just that an estimate...

There can be and are some differences in shipping costs between countries and depending on the size of the object and order quantity significant costs differences can occur on a per unit basis (depending on how many can fit into a container).

Also remember that our local Australian price will also include GST a component that the US quoted price will not have...and as it is over AUD$1,000 importing it will attract GST and custom charges and shipping...by my quick and dirty back of the bar napkin estimate the difference does not look too big at all...

But I think it is premature to get into a discussion on price based on this early cost estimate...

[KenGee (Kenith Gee)]

My take is buy local whenever you can. I have found and made good use of local dealer advice , Whilest this was freely given we should not believe that it can be supplied for free. If you get my drift. Some times we have no option then to buy direct or from an OS dealer, other times it's cost. Be sure to do your sums, the local dealer maybe more cost effective then it appears at first glance.

[TrevorW]

Guys refer my thread on this

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Netwolf,
The "extra 2" ", are worth the difference when you consider the light gathering power and resolution. An 8" mirror has almost 180% more area than a 6", and I'm sure the specs will be a bit more up market..

[netwolf]

Scott, fair points you make. But as far as i know the GST is the only applicable tax on Telescopes. Duty does not apply on Telescope optics and mounts. I would agree that due to ad different market size the price in Aus may be more to cover overheads.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

$1600 is serious coin for a 6" scope

I believe RC scopes are preferred for astrophotography, but how much better results would you expect compared to say a 6" f5 newt + coma corrector?

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Starkler

$1600 is serious coin for a 6" scope

I believe RC scopes are preferred for astrophotography, but how much better results would you expect compared to say a 6" f5 newt + coma corrector?

The 6 inch newt only has a FL of 750ml so you are limited to wide field, RC's have a much longer FL which is one of the points of using them. So i dont think there is any comparison.

Unfortunately 1600 AUD is cheap for a good imaging scope, A good 4 inch refractor is well over twice that amount, a good 6 inch refractor is well over 10,000 AUD.

Paul

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Originally Posted by netwolf

Scott, fair points you make. But as far as i know the GST is the only applicable tax on Telescopes. Duty does not apply on Telescope optics and mounts. I would agree that due to ad different market size the price in Aus may be more to cover overheads.

While I am not certain, I think there might be a customs clearance charge depending on method of shipment and company that clears it that fee could be different...this is different than "duty"...but I might be wrong...

Regardless, I won't be buying one either way...

[Prickly]

$3000 for an 8 inch. Nice try. Why not buy a VMC200L and be done with it or even go for more aperture with a C9.25 carbon fibre?

It would have to be about half that price for me to consider it, but others might pay that for an RC perhaps.

Be interesting to compare the prices to the US ones ?astronomics (which from memory had fancy focussers etc.) adjusting for the dollar.

Should be similar to ship from Taiwan to US or Australia ?cheaper in Australia I might have thought.

Cheers
David

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Prickly

$3000 for an 8 inch. Nice try. Why not buy a VMC200L and be done with it or even go for more aperture with a C9.25 carbon fibre?

It would have to be about half that price for me to consider it, but others might pay that for an RC perhaps.

Be interesting to compare the prices to the US ones ?astronomics (which from memory had fancy focussers etc.) adjusting for the dollar.

Should be similar to ship from Taiwan to US or Australia ?cheaper in Australia I might have thought.

Cheers
David

I may be wrong, but an RC is coma free, a C9.25 is not, additionally an RC will cover a 35mm sensor but a c9.25 and VC 200L wont. It's all about image quality, if you want the best then you probably need to get an RC. I have a TV 85 and it's a great scope but it's widefield and a whole different ballpark from even a 6 inch RC.

Paul

[garymck (Gary)]

Originally Posted by Zuts

I may be wrong, but an RC is coma free, a C9.25 is not, additionally an RC will cover a 35mm sensor but a c9.25 and VC 200L wont. It's all about image quality, if you want the best then you probably need to get an RC. I have a TV 85 and it's a great scope but it's widefield and a whole different ballpark from even a 6 inch RC.

Paul

RC is coma free, but also has a markedly curved focal plane that will need a flattener of some sort, a VC200L has 15 micron stars over a 45mm diameter circle, and has a flat field, and costs 30% less, why bother with the RC - just because it's an RC????

cheers
Gary

[Prickly]

Hi Paul,

You are right of course and more or less my point. Some people pay the extra for an RC which may (should) have slightly better optics (corrected) but the degree of difference from a VMC200L, an outstanding instrument, would to me seem minimal. Looking at photos from the VMC200Ls which are well tested out there (plenty of shots to look at and good QC) you might well be inclined to ask the question.

Factor in also that the GSO RCs are virtually unknown on the market as yet. Would you be the first when you could have a VMC200L instead?

Perfectly right about the 9.25 inch - but they are a really nice scope nonetheless and carbon fibre (my point here was more aperture and still a very good imaging scope). I could certainly be very happy living with one of them too.

Cheers
David

[netwolf]

The VMC200L is listed at 1295USD. Whihc is what the RC 6" is priced at in the US. 2" more apperture for the same price.
But the VC200L is 1899 still better priced than the 8" RC. Question is then down to Optical quality. I think Vixen would probably make better optics than GSO.

[TrevorW]

You know the long awaited RC from GSO it's already being sold in the US under the name of Astro-tech a 6" for $1300US and an 8" for $3000US also a 80mm APO Triplet with graphite body can be purchased under the same brand name. Astronomics in the US are currently waiting on new stock. I've also asked Lee A to see if he can get them but he has no plans at this point in time so I was surprised to hear that Bintels offering them for sale unless Lee's holding out and will sell them at a better price. If you check Astronomics web site the spec's are impressive

Clear Skies

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

The 10" has been advertised at f/9. Will the 6" and 8" be the same? Seems awfully slow for a DSO imaging scope no matter the quality.

[JohnH]

Originally Posted by Starkler

$1600 is serious coin for a 6" scope

I believe RC scopes are preferred for astrophotography, but how much better results would you expect compared to say a 6" f5 newt + coma corrector?

There are a very high quality corrected newts out there see:

http://www.dreamscopes.com/pages/pro...astro-list.htm

Or less extreme and since others have already mentioned Vixen the RSS200 with its custom corrector works well.

These scopes have the advantage of fast optics.

The VC200L (which I own) is slower at F9 but has a large flat field so it is suitable for large format sensors.

[netwolf]

Thinking futher on this, the Astronomics website lists the 6" at 1295 and 8" at 2995. The email quoted by the OP, indicates the 8" will be sold in Australia for a similar price, but the 6" is 300$ more. Now I understand these are not final prices but still why the 300$ difference on the 6" price. I know previously Scott mentioned this maybe dues to different market prices dues to size of market, and overheads. But the 8" price is indicated as being similar then why not the 6".
http://www.astronomics.com/main/cate...F9DX9A0/Page/1

Regards
Fahim

[netwolf]

For those interested here is the diffrences between the VC and VMC from Vixen.
http://www.astronomie.be/Tranquility...vc200lpage.htm