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  #1  
Old 12-11-2009, 07:27 AM
alfi (Alf david)
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152mm f/7,5 4 lens superapo build

hello DIY people!
im new to astronomy, after many years without a scope.
i have wanted a big-ish ED refractor, but the prices you have to pay for them have stopped that.
there are the old meade ED scopes, the 152mm and 178mm, but they are not easy to find.
lately i have seen postings by Ales from Istar optical, with nice prices, and contacted him, to see what he could offer in way of ED`s.
he offered me the 4 lens 152mm f/7,5 superapo lenscell.
i found the price to unbeatable, at least i could not find anyone else offering something similar anywhere.
in the beginning i planned to buy the lenscell from him, and make the rest myself, i got prices from companys, and friends here in norway, for powdercoating, metalworking, etc.
i talked to Ales about it, and he offered to build the whole OTA for me, using only the best materials, and newly developed technology from Istar, and the prices he could offer is unbeatable here in norway.
so i have now ordered the whole OTA built by them, and we have come up with a design together.
the focuser will be a Baader 3" steeltrack that will be rotatable.
Ales have been very helpful in this prosess, and i can not praise him enough for his service.
so now im really looking forward to the scope being finished, and being the owner of a handbuilt superapo!
i will be posting pictures and descriptions of the build when thing starts to arrive here.

alfi
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  #2  
Old 12-11-2009, 08:34 AM
gbeal
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Congrats Alfi, I too have looked at them and wondered, so keep us in the loop please. In my case all I would be buying was the lens in cell, as the tube is easy to fabricate, and the focuser a no-brainer, Feather Touch for me.
Gary
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  #3  
Old 12-11-2009, 10:03 AM
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allan gould
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Alfi
Thanks for the information. We would certainly appreciate information as to how you scope turns out. There are a few of us that have looked at this site and found it interesting.
Allan
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Old 12-11-2009, 10:45 AM
alfi (Alf david)
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hi
i will do a write-up on the scope in parts, before assembling it, with pictures and descriptions when the parts arrive here, im waiting the focuser in a day or two.
contact Ales at Istar optical if your interested in their products, hes very helpful, and will help you with all parts of the build, and at fantastic prices.

alfi
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  #5  
Old 12-11-2009, 12:02 PM
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allan gould
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Alfi
Thanks for voluntering that. I will be following your posts with interest.
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  #6  
Old 12-11-2009, 05:04 PM
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bojan
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This looks interesting..
Long time ago I obtained a 127mm dia lens with lens holder (660mm FL, supposedly made for astrophotography at the beginning of the last century) and put a lot of hope in it.. after assembling it with tube and focuser etc, I was pretty disappointed.. I had to stop it down to F5.6 to have acceptable performance with 400D.. perhaps it was OK for film photography (and blue sensitive plates & film)
Anybody knows where I can can get similar glass for all this mechanical stuff that is now uselessly occupying a scarce place in my shed?
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  #7  
Old 13-11-2009, 12:51 AM
alfi (Alf david)
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hi bojan
something like this might be the right thing http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthrea...l/fpart/1/vc/1
the lens are from surplus shed.

alfi
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  #8  
Old 13-11-2009, 07:22 AM
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bojan
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Alfi, thanks for this info, I know about this doublet on surplusshed.. It is out of stock now, but I will try again..
However I am not sure this is suitable for photography.. and if I go for it and add coma corrector etc whatever may be needed, it may end up as a very expensive exercise, so I am leaving it as is and waiting for something more suitable to come up.
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  #9  
Old 13-11-2009, 07:53 AM
alfi (Alf david)
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hi

i will check with Ales from Istar, and hear if he has something in the works, 120mm-130mm sizes.

alfi
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  #10  
Old 15-11-2009, 12:45 AM
alfi (Alf david)
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hi
Ales is able to deliver a 127mm f/7,5 triplet lenscell so contact him at ales@istar-optical.com if your interested.

alfi
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  #11  
Old 15-11-2009, 07:38 AM
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Will do
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  #12  
Old 20-11-2009, 05:00 AM
alfi (Alf david)
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hello

just some pictures of the 3" baader steeltrack thats going on the scope.

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alfi
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  #13  
Old 02-12-2009, 05:13 AM
alfi (Alf david)
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changes in plans

hi guys
a little update on my build.
i have changed the plans for the scope, i have chosen to go from a 4 lens design, up to a fluorite triplet design.
this will give even better correction, and also reduce the cooldown time of the lenses.
i will post more pictures of the scope, as i get them.

alfi
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  #14  
Old 15-12-2009, 01:37 AM
alfi (Alf david)
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Istar optical fluorite triplet build

hello
today Ales sent me the preliminary design of the fluorite triplet lenses he is designing for my scope.
i can not share them, of obvious reasons.
the design will be tweaked even more, before production.
already the design is of top class, you will not find many designs that are this good, and after tweaking it should be even better.
the correction is excellent, the best i have seen posted anywhere.
im really thrilled by his work, and cant wait for the scope to be finished.

alfi
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