A GSO 12" F4 with 3" focuser

h0ughy (David) · #1 23-02-2011, 12:46 PM

i just saw this advertised at Andrews? a 12" F4 for astrophotography - what a great new toy to play with and the price under a grand!!! Could this be too good to be true? would like to know more about the focuser etc.

12" f/4 3" M-LRN Astrophotography-optimised OTA reflector
(300mm x 1200mm) Has strong and smooth 3" diameter linear focuser $999.00

gbeal · #2 23-02-2011, 12:55 PM

Likely the same as the Astronomics AstroTech 12" Huff. I have the AT8", a stunning scope, and outstanding value for money.
If there is a fly in the ointment, it is the collimation, F4 is a magnitude more demanding than my other newts (F5).
Gary

h0ughy (David) · #3 23-02-2011, 01:09 PM

http://www.astronomics.com/main/prod...duct_id/AT12IN

thanks Gary

gbeal · #4 23-02-2011, 01:45 PM

Pretty sure it is same beast Dave, or a very close cuzzie.
Biggest beef is the sheer weight, it isn't light, and will tax many a mount.
Maybe the 10" would be more user friendly, but like I said to me the 8" is the sweet spot. Hopefully the "mods" had to make to get the AT8" running nicely will now be standard fare in the later models, the 12" F4 especially.
Bit more info on the Astronomics site than what you posted at the start, and it is interesting to note that it is back-ordered anyway, so the "April" guess from Andrews is likely right.
Gary

robz (Robert) · #5 23-02-2011, 02:07 PM

Nice scope.
Pity about the weight......rolled steel tube............madness ?

I guess that brings the price down though. O.K if you have a Paramount

erick (Eric) · #6 23-02-2011, 02:13 PM

6" - 12" f4 OTAs are listed on the Guan Sheng Optical site:-

http://www.gs-telescope.com/

No details or photos, however.

casstony · #7 23-02-2011, 02:38 PM

I reckon it won't be long before carbon fibre tubed versions are available, either from GSO or Synta. A 12" f/4 carbon fibre newt is in the Skywatcher catalogue along with a bunch of other yet to be released stuff, some of which was shown at Astrofest in London earlier this month.

robz (Robert) · #8 23-02-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

I reckon it won't be long before carbon fibre tubed versions are available, either from GSO or Synta. A 12" f/4 carbon fibre newt is in the Skywatcher catalogue along with a bunch of other yet to be released stuff, some of which was shown at Astrofest in London earlier this month.

Not meaning to be an , but so did a number of 5 element apochromats, the EQ7............now becoming an EQ8

..................none of us are holding our breath as it seems that this ''new stuff'' is science fiction.........or might as well be before we get it here in Aus.

casstony · #9 23-02-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robz

Not meaning to be an , but so did a number of 5 element apochromats, the EQ7............now becoming an EQ8

..................none of us are holding our breath as it seems that this ''new stuff'' is science fiction.........or might as well be before we get it here in Aus.

Holding your breath is not a good idea but the new gear will be here eventually - patience

The bigger 5 element apo's are actually triplets with a flattener on the focuser.

EQ8 at Astrofest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg6WLerTKZg

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #10 23-02-2011, 04:20 PM

Its a shame about the weight. Given that the cost of CF tube in China / Taiwan is much less than in the US or Europe, you'd think it would be at least an option.

multiweb (Marc) · #11 23-02-2011, 05:30 PM

The specs sound real good but I'd love to see a corrected CCD field on that thing with the coma corrector/flattener advertised. Similar systems (well corrected) cost an arm and a leg.

casstony · #12 23-02-2011, 05:53 PM

Found this about Astrofest:

On display at the Optical Vision Ltd stand at this year's Astrofest will be the following new Skywatcher products:

Skyliner-400P 16" Flextube Go-To Dobsonian, a prototype of the forthcoming EQ8 Synscan Go-To mount, the SkyTee-2 Dual Alt-Azimuth mount, the new QUATTRO-series f/4 Carbon-Fibre Imaging Newtonians and ED150 3/5 Element Apochromatic Refractor.

robz (Robert) · #13 23-02-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

Holding your breath is not a good idea but the new gear will be here eventually - patience

The bigger 5 element apo's are actually triplets with a flattener on the focuser.

EQ8 at Astrofest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg6WLerTKZg

Looks exactly like the defunct EQ7??.
I like when he mentions it's a comparable to an AP900 or 1200 !!!

....................yeah... .........o.k........

Sorry hOughy..............got carried away with the language there mate.............won't happen again.

robz (Robert) · #14 23-02-2011, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

Its a shame about the weight. Given that the cost of CF tube in China / Taiwan is much less than in the US or Europe, you'd think it would be at least an option.

Hopefully the Skywatcher tubes will be comparable in price and will probably be just as good?

RobF (Rob) · #15 23-02-2011, 07:36 PM

The really nice thing about a Newt vs RC is the with the shorter F ratio you get a nice FOV, tracking a bit easier and really suck down the photons (not to mention price!). I'm biased, but I still think 8" is a sweet spot too until exotic tube materials become the norm. Great to see the focuser, flocking etc getting well need attention. Presumeably a bigger 2ndary too. Would need a good set of collimation tools I guess.

robz (Robert) · #16 24-02-2011, 02:23 PM

I have an 8 inch F4 astrograph newtonian.
It's capable of revealing a lot more than it should in light polluted skies - M42 is stunning

However, with it comes a huge secondary, thick secondary vanes, coma city and very careful collimation required.

gregbradley · #17 25-02-2011, 11:06 PM

I had a Vixen RS200 F4 Newt and I could not collimate it. Then I got one of those cheap laser collimators and collimation was reasonably good within 5 minutes.

You need a good coma corrector. The Vixen one seemed OK for small chipped cameras perhaps up to a DSLR. Baader makes a MPCC coma corrector which is popular.

Perhaps a 3 inch Wynne corrector from Philip Keller may be the go for the 12 inch.

Greg.

Tandum (Robin) · #18 25-02-2011, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Perhaps a 3 inch Wynne corrector from Philip Keller may be the go for the 12 inch.

Greg.

That will cost more than the scope .. ouch

gregbradley · #19 26-02-2011, 08:56 AM

Yes, I thought of that after I posted it. Your right, it probably would cost more than the scope.

Baader MPCC then.

Greg.

Moon (James) · #20 26-02-2011, 09:56 AM

According to the Astronomics web site the focuser is 3.3 inch, not 3 inch.