Small ED/APO refractors - what are the options?

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Originally Posted by Andy01

Looks like a very nice 'scope, and Stellarvue have a great reputation.

Although by the time you add the approx $295 for the reducer/flattener, the estimated Fedex shipping cost of $185 and import costs ie: Customs entry, Airport terminal fee, Documentation fee, Currency adjustment fee, Airport fuel surcharge & GST you're looking at around $2050Au. which is rather more than what I paid for the WOStar71 that I ordered last week

It adds up very quickly, doesn't it?

Looking forward to reading your review of your new 'scope Andy

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Me too

[Andy01 (Andy)]

Looks like its going to a while before anyone sees a review of the WOStar71.

My order was placed 3 weeks ago when the factory production was running again after running out of stock worldwide earlier in the year, but my dealer was just informed by WO after a lengthy delay that they're out of stock, again!
(Sigh)

So no sign of it in the immediate future.

Also, heads up that there's a new WO four element 71 coming in January.

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Andy, Agena astro are showing them as in stock, although no doubt at a higher cost with import etc.

I'd love to see one of these with a full frame chip, like a Canon 6D or similar...

[Andy01 (Andy)]

Update:
So anyway, having ordered and paid for my WO star71 back in Dec last year, and expecting delivery in 10 days- my Oz dealer informed me three weeks later that WO had it seems run out of stock (again) and he had no idea when I could realistically expect to recieve my 'scope.

So I emailed the WO factory today to express my disappointment and politely ask wtf was going on.

Seems that they claim that they didn't recieve my order, sold out of all Star 71's and now it's discontinued! Zip, nafa, no more.

Was told there's a new design, replacement four element model arriving in March, (maybe).

Sorry WO. I'm done waiting after three months of lost imaging time and poor communication. Refund requested, potential purchase email sent to Stellarvue.

Moving on, hoping for a better outcome

[MortonH]

That's disappointing from WO, Andy.

You considering the new Stellarvue 70mm triplet now?

[Andy01 (Andy)]

Originally Posted by MortonH

That's disappointing from WO, Andy.

You considering the new Stellarvue 70mm triplet now?

Yes, it was originally plan 'b' but the WO was around 10-15% more cost effective at the time. Hoping SV can deliver as it's also a popular item

[casstony]

There were issues reported on CN with more than one of the WO Star 71's; perhaps the scope was discontinued because they couldn't guarantee the quality?
It seems to be harder to make a quadruplet or 5 element scope than the more common designs.

[MortonH]

Originally Posted by casstony

There were issues reported on CN with more than one of the WO Star 71's; perhaps the scope was discontinued because they couldn't guarantee the quality?
It seems to be harder to make a quadruplet or 5 element scope than the more common designs.

Yet now Stellarvue and others are bringing out SIX element scopes!

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Yeah that sucks, I fancied one myself

Six elements...hmmm should be an interesting optical design...