After 5 long months of waiting, my order from Planewave Intruments finally arrived today.
After many many months of comparing scope designs and looking thru many more, i found the CDK produced the best images out of the box. The RC came close second, but it required the added expense of the field flattner and in turn reduced the imaging circle too much for me. The extra 20K diddnt do much to tempt me either !
I almost went for the Tak Baker RC, but it was too small and i needed size.
I visited a freind of a friend in the States some time ago who had one of the first CDK telescopes, and once i looked thru it and had a look at the image and collimation abilities, i was sold.
I have been bragging about this design for over 2 years, and finally put my money where my mouth is. After 2 years of saving up, i finally splurged. Thank kripes i did it when the dollar was better, as i would be paying $31 K more today. I was actually tempted to cancel the order and pocket the $31K after the refund, but i stuck to my guns.
The scope came in a crate that was very well put together, and firm.
An added benifit was the shock dye sensors place around the scope to make sure that there was no drop that went unnoticed.
Then there is the Mathis MI-750 mount. My god, it looks smaller in the pictures, but when next to it, its HUGE, and i know huge, i had a 22" fork mounted newtonian.
Its going to take longer than i thought to put this baby up and running.
Explains why the shipping weight was 440 Kg.
Oh my golly gosh – you must be one happy person right now! It looks a real beauty of an instrument. I’m sure you’ll enjoy setting it up and getting to know its behaviour – can’t wait to see some piccies!
was wondering why that other monster you had got sold .
Well, i had to get rid of a scope, as i had a 14" RCX as well, so after seeing an advert for a "large scope wanted" i decided 1 needs to go. But i didnt want to get rid of the 22", but i said to myself if i do sell it, i'll get the dream scope i wanted. If i sold the Meade, then i'll spend the money on the 22". Well, after i sold the 22", i really missed it. Optically it was a dream (22" f4.5), goto etc etc. Yes it needed a little TLC and cleaning up, but the images were stunning. Richard (The new owner) put a post of it some time ago, and now he is the loving carer of that monster too.
Anyway, i tried a few times to talk Richard out of it, but it was too late. He knew it was a great scope and didnt budge, so then i decided to put a deposit on the CDK, and 5 months later .
Now im deciding do i need the 14" RCX, so i think it may be going for sale too.
Very exciting indeed! You going to mate a QHY11 to the rear end of it?
I've been eyeing the CDK since you mentioned it to me, although I'll be going for the 17" (after a year or so of saving)
Looks like a very serious bit of gear, I look forward to the first light pics as well as the pics of this behemoth sitting atop the MI750... Dude - they are a seriously seriously large mount! Did you go for the GEM or the Equatorial Fork option?
Can't wait to see a few pictures of the mount for this beast.
Heres the mount, i couldnt get the Fork arms out properly, sorry... but managed a shot with the Dec Drive and a little of the arm.
But mate, its freaking heavy, ALL of it, and any of it.
I was pretty peed at the cost of the head from Mathis, but after seeing it close hand, and the quality (And size), i can understand why.
Glad to see it arrived in one BIG piece Theo. Can't wait to see some imaging results.
Where were you Doug !.
Nicked off back to the mountains knowing you might have been needed.
Dont want to make the cake, but hey, i'll have a piece when its ready thanks .
But you should be out tonight imaging with your new gear, and im hanging out to see the results. Your 2 minute test was a real suprise.
Well, i had to get rid of a scope, as i had a 14" RCX as well, so after seeing an advert for a "large scope wanted" i decided 1 needs to go. But i didnt want to get rid of the 22", but i said to myself if i do sell it, i'll get the dream scope i wanted. If i sold the Meade, then i'll spend the money on the 22". Well, after i sold the 22", i really missed it. Optically it was a dream (22" f4.5), goto etc etc. Yes it needed a little TLC and cleaning up, but the images were stunning. Richard (The new owner) put a post of it some time ago, and now he is the loving carer of that monster too.
Anyway, i tried a few times to talk Richard out of it, but it was too late. He knew it was a great scope and didnt budge, so then i decided to put a deposit on the CDK, and 5 months later .
Now im deciding do i need the 14" RCX, so i think it may be going for sale too.
Theo
Yes, you want to keep the RCX because whilst the beast is doing one thing, "baby" beast can be doing something else at the same time
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