Radian Raptor 61

[echocae (Brian)]

Hi guys....
I just found out about this new telescope today... It looks like a winner.. Light Weight, under f5, has build in Flattener, Triplet etc...

Radian Raptor 61 Specs:

Optical Design: Apochromatic Triplet Refractor
Aperture: 61mm
Focal Length: 275mm
Focal Ratio: F/4.5
Focuser: 10:1 Dual Speed
Image Circle: 44mm
Rotator: 360°
Filter Size: 2"
Weight: 1.8 Kg (4 lbs)


https://optcorp.com/products/radian-...3263575.8c059d

https://youtu.be/KI6AK3JhTwo <---- video review

Im thinking to preorder one and pair it with asi183

what u guys think?

Yay or Nay?

[Startrek (Martin)]

Yeh Trevor Jones from Astro Backyard in Ontario designed it with Radian telescopes
Saw the YouTube this morning
I have watched Trevor for a number of years now , he’s a great backyard Astrophotographer and full of enthusiasm for the hobby
This Raptor 61 was his brainchild
Cheers

[Startrek (Martin)]

Oh and sorry I don’t do wide field so I have no interest in this scope other than it looks like Trevor has ironed out a lot of problems with this new set up and it basically set up and image !!

[jahnpahwa (JP)]

I think as a general rule, if the question is "should i buy a telescope?", the answer is "yes". Whether that one is the one, i dont know


Things to compare it to:
Astrotech 60... people really seem to love that scope on cloudy nights and i think its very reasonably priced

William optics zenithstar 61? Pretty well proven performer.


A camera lens of similar focal length.

Lots of people seem to love the william optics redcat.


Takahashi fc60. Not sure of the price of the radian, but maybe the tak with flattener isn't too much more of a premium to pay? This will also almost certainly be a more flexible scope that is also beloved as a visual performer.


I also have to confess that I've read nothing about the radian.


Whatever you get, I'm sure you'll have fun with it!.

[echocae (Brian)]

Originally Posted by jahnpahwa

I think as a general rule, if the question is "should i buy a telescope?", the answer is "yes". Whether that one is the one, i dont know


Things to compare it to:
Astrotech 60... people really seem to love that scope on cloudy nights and i think its very reasonably priced

William optics zenithstar 61? Pretty well proven performer.


A camera lens of similar focal length.

Lots of people seem to love the william optics redcat.


Takahashi fc60. Not sure of the price of the radian, but maybe the tak with flattener isn't too much more of a premium to pay? This will also almost certainly be a more flexible scope that is also beloved as a visual performer.


I also have to confess that I've read nothing about the radian.


Whatever you get, I'm sure you'll have fun with it!.

yes.. but f ratio and weight is the reason I was looking...

[jahnpahwa (JP)]

Originally Posted by echocae

yes.. but the f ratio and the weight the reason was I was looking...

Ok


Just saw the price. No, I'd go an fs60cb with 0.72 reducer. That radian will be over 2k aud landed here. That tak set up will be similar and will do so much more, while more than likely also outperforming it as a photography set up. Insofar as weight being an issue, not sure if there is any useful AP mount that will be happy with 3kg and not happy with 3.5?

[gregmc (Greg)]

I just noticed this YouTube video on the topic from the Cuiv, The Lazy Geek

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Too pricey for what it is.

And I’ve not seen a piece of equipment that the promoter doesn’t like

[AnakChan (Sean)]

The SharpStar 61EDPH II version is much cheaper. Per Cuiv, would be interesting to see if Radian just OEMed or if there are real practical differences.

[Spleenus (Darren)]

Originally Posted by AnakChan

The SharpStar 61EDPH II version is much cheaper. Per Cuiv, would be interesting to see if Radian just OEMed or if there are real practical differences.

You're right, it is cheaper.

But I think the point with the Radian is that it is ready to go with all the mod cons that Trevor believes it should have to be a fantastic AP scope. For example, the flattener/reducer is built in, has a built in 2" filter draw and a carry case. The flattener/reducer for the sharpstar is A$329 on its own.

I guess it depends on what f/l you want and whether you need a flattener.... and I think I would go for the Radian if it was me purely because it has the extra bits.

[jahnpahwa (JP)]

Originally Posted by Spleenus

You're right, it is cheaper.

But I think the point with the Radian is that it is ready to go with all the mod cons that Trevor believes it should have to be a fantastic AP scope. For example, the flattener/reducer is built in, has a built in 2" filter draw and a carry case. The flattener/reducer for the sharpstar is A$329 on its own.

I guess it depends on what f/l you want and whether you need a flattener.... and I think I would go for the Radian if it was me purely because it has the extra bits.

Is the flatterner really built in? Its only a triplet, and the opt ad says something about the flattener being designed to always stay on, rather than built in. I also wonder about the 1.8kg, whether thats the ota or with rings, flattener, camera angle adjuster, filter drawer?

[LewisM]

This IS the Sharpstar 61EDPH with the reducer ...which you can get for a LOT less than this black rebadge.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000...archweb201603_


Did Trevor truly design anything about this - the Sharpstar 61EDPH has been out for a good while. The black coolness and the crap advertising photos hiding it in shadow...and maybe those funky spacey rings don't inspire confidence.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by AnakChan

The SharpStar 61EDPH II version is much cheaper. Per Cuiv, would be interesting to see if Radian just OEMed or if there are real practical differences.

Pure rebadge and repaint, nothing more. Oh, but new rings. That makes it "unique"

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by jahnpahwa

Is the flatterner really built in? Its only a triplet, and the opt ad says something about the flattener being designed to always stay on, rather than built in. I also wonder about the 1.8kg, whether thats the ota or with rings, flattener, camera angle adjuster, filter drawer?

Exactly right John. The reducer/flattener just slides into the focuser just the same as the Sharpstar 61EDPH I linked to. ZERO difference.


Smoke, mirrors and carnival barking hyperactive marketing.


Sharpstar says Total weight 1.8kg including rings and dovetail plate.

[AnakChan (Sean)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Pure rebadge and repaint, nothing more. Oh, but new rings. That makes it "unique"

Well there is always the possibility it could have taken the TS-Optics 61EDPH route of putting in Ohara FPL53 glass in the same tube. Sharpstar hasn’t made the same claim. Maybe that’s how TS-Optics justifies the higher price than its SharpStar counterpart.

OptCorp hasn’t made such a claim (yet?) to justify its higher price. But at least we know there are variants to the 61 EDPH out there.

[LewisM]

Could be a glass spec change but we don’t know yet. Time will tell.

I’d chose a Redcat or Spacecat over it to be honest

[AnakChan (Sean)]

Cuiv has posted a video to highlight the differences between the SharpStar & Radian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAmN...%2CTheLazyGeek

In short, it's basically still a SharpStar , with minor tweaks which IMHO doesn't justify the additional cost.

Personally I would beg to differ on WO RC/SC as to me, the SharpStar is cheaper (not Radian). Actually who am I kidding...would I ever venture away from Takahashi? Don't think so unless it's a Astro-Physics of TEC .

However WO is coming up with the RC71 & RC90 (or RC91?) soon. Would be interesting to see if WO would price it competitively against SharpStar.

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Have to say, I can’t see anything wrong with the Sharpstar for the price.

The reducer for my WO Z61 is looking appealing...

[LewisM]

I think Tony preferred the 61EDPH over the Redcat. I've noticed a LOT of blue bloat in Redcat images, and less so in 61EDPH.

I'm with you Sean...my Tak FSQ-85 covers all bases, and my SW ED80 as a simple grab and go when not in the mood for equatorial setup

[AnakChan (Sean)]

[OT]
Interesting that you mentioned about the blue bloat in the RedCat. Apparently the former Vixen VSD100 seemed to have suffered from that too.
[/OT]