Personally, I felt it had soft focus issues (even with the Moonlight with stepper motor focus) and it bloated stars more than any Skywatcher ED I ever used. It didn't warm to me at all.
One thing the North Group DID do for me was polarised me into only fluorite refractors Kind of a LOT more expensive, but worth it. No more ED
Totally agree Lewis. I just love my WO FLT110 flourite triplet. It is considerably better than my Orion ED80, and my ED80 is quite good.
All I can say is , What a Price ! and hope someone here grab's one and lets us all know how it performs , $1200 is so cheep .
I had a NG 127mm for a while and it performed very , very well , I would still have it if my Tak Mewlon 210 hadn't come along .
Hope someone gets one of these ??? .
Brian.
Someone with more money than me will have to be the guinea pig!
Bit unfair to compare the HiOptic 127ED with a William Optics 110 fluorite. The 127ED is a very good scope for the price of around AU$1200. The WO 110 is an excellent scope for the price of around AU$4400. Aperture wise the equivalent to a 127ED would be the WO 132 fluorite, priced around AU$6000.
You cannot compare apples and oranges.
The WO fluorite range should be seen as in the higher end of scopes, while the 127ED is in the lower to middle range.
For those of us who can't afford AU$6000 for a scope, the 127ED is a very good alternative within most of our budgets, it is suitable for both visual and AP which gives very satisfying results - in my (possibly biased) opinion
Bit unfair to compare the HiOptic 127ED with a William Optics 110 fluorite. The 127ED is a very good scope for the price of around AU$1200. The WO 110 is an excellent scope for the price of around AU$4400. Aperture wise the equivalent to a 127ED would be the WO 130 fluorite, priced around AU$6000.
You cannot compare apples and oranges.
The WO fluorite range should be seen as in the higher end of scopes, while the 127ED is in the lower to middle range.
For those of us who can't afford AU$6000 for a scope, the 127ED is a very good alternative within most of our budgets, it is suitable for both visual and AP which gives very satisfying results - in my (possibly biased) opinion
Clear skies
Rod
Agree with your point but not your prices
FLT110 is $2799 at Andrews. FLT132 a bit closer at $5499. Not that I'm spruiking anyone.
FLT110 is $2799 at Andrews. FLT132 a bit closer at $5499. Not that I'm spruiking anyone.
I paid less than that for the FLT110 (DDG focuser model) with a field flattener ($584 worth) thrown in as a bonus. Landed, after GST /Customs costs, about $2600.
Last edited by Stardrifter_WA; 17-12-2012 at 10:49 PM.
I suspected this would be the case but I didn't want to cause waves. It is a real dilemma because $1,200 for a brand new 127mm refractor is a fantastic price and makes you seriously ponder how superb optical quality would stack up against raw larger aperture. For example, how much more you might see with a 3.2k+ TSA102 versus one of these 127.
If I were to speculate on the basis for the relative price drop I suspect it is probably more due to shifting production lines of these Chinese "generic" refractors from these older models which we currently know and recognise towards the newer, improved versions - one incarnation of the new versions being the new Meade 6000 series for example.
I think a couple of years ago when some IIS members were buying the ED127 direct from North Group it was around this price. But of course, there were some issues (dodgy focuser for example).
Might depend whether you believe the branded models undergo additional quality control over these "direct" models. I have no technical skills so I want it to be perfect out of the box, but others are prepared (and have the ability) to overcome a few imperfections that might be present.
Kevin , looks like you may be the Guinea pig we are all waiting for , I like you hope this price stays like it is for a few more months , Christmas time and all .
Brian.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cometcatcher
Is this a short term special only? I'd like to get one but it will take me a couple of months to save for it.
Hi Peter , and yes ' Raw apateure ' will win every time , then optical quality comes into it , thats why I sold my NG 127 triplet and now have a Takahashi Mewlon 210 , there is no comparisim in these two scopes , as good as the 127mm was ( and it was very good ) the Tak is a way better scope optically and mechanically , sorry to say .
But $1200 ,, whew ! .
This price will get lots into middle end scopes , great ! for our hobby .
Thanks , Hi Optic .
Brian.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Profiler
Hi Morton
I suspected this would be the case but I didn't want to cause waves. It is a real dilemma because $1,200 for a brand new 127mm refractor is a fantastic price and makes you seriously ponder how superb optical quality would stack up against raw larger aperture. For example, how much more you might see with a 3.2k+ TSA102 versus one of these 127.
If I were to speculate on the basis for the relative price drop I suspect it is probably more due to shifting production lines of these Chinese "generic" refractors from these older models which we currently know and recognise towards the newer, improved versions - one incarnation of the new versions being the new Meade 6000 series for example.
Last edited by brian nordstrom; 18-12-2012 at 07:51 PM.
Reason: mistake
Kevin , looks like you may be the Guinea pig we are all waiting for...
Lol, great. I hope it doesn't turn out like that LP90. Should be better though being a triplet. And I'm really not that fussy. I don't care how bad the focuser is, as long as the optics let me take photos with less CA than a plain achromat. Perfection is for the rich.
Do a search for "North Group" in these forums and you'll find lots of happy owners of the ED127. The focuser thing is important actually. There used to be two versions, one for visual and one for astrophotography. But many people upgraded to a Moonlite, so factor in that potential additional cost.
Kevin , look at my sig , I have just finished building a 127mm Istar Achromat , f/8 , and well these are lenses , $ 384 au delivered to your door from the good old USA , hand figured in an awsome cell ,
Here is a photo .
Istar lenses come from Russia .
I hear some great lenses are comming from there .
Good for us Joe Astronomers .
Brian.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cometcatcher
Lol, great. I hope it doesn't turn out like that LP90. Should be better though being a triplet. And I'm really not that fussy. I don't care how bad the focuser is, as long as the optics let me take photos with less CA than a plain achromat. Perfection is for the rich.
Morton , and others , I have the origonal 11/1 focuser off my NG 127 after I fitted a FT3035 , ( thats a focuser !!!! ) but anyway the origonal is still sitting in my box of parts , Its Carp! I wont even give it away .
True , I made an adaptor to fit it on to my Istar 127mm ,,,, .
Thats why My Istar still has its origonal 1 1/4 Vixen focuser ,, yea Mort , they are ( were? ) that bad .
Brian.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MortonH
Do a search for "North Group" in these forums and you'll find lots of happy owners of the ED127. The focuser thing is important actually. There used to be two versions, one for visual and one for astrophotography. But many people upgraded to a Moonlite, so factor in that potential additional cost.
Exchanged a couple more e-mails with VTI about their stock of eyepieces and James mentioned they've received their first order for the ED127. Wonder if it was someone here?
Kind of a LOT more expensive, but worth it. No more ED 
.
Yes , another vote for Flourite , its just amazing .
