Ken,
as a biased owner, but an honest seller let me add a few things.
The MK67 is an f10 Maksutov Cassegrain.
The virtues of these scopes are smallish compact size with an eyepiece position that appeals to most, me especially, as I like to observe seated. If you enjoy lunar and planetary viewing as well as some DSO, then they are possibly the best value for money out there. I won't get into the star images slanging match that exists with Maks as opposed to SCT, both are fine scopes, but to my mind the star images are better in the Mak, but for the same sort of money you can get an 8" SCT.
The Manksutov Newton is different again. They are BIGGER, more unweildy, and depending on how you use them (for example on a GEM), the eyepiece position can be.............let me say awkward.
Contrast seems better, and the central obstruction is around 20%, which makes for almost "refractor" like views. Nice tight star images, and dark black sky/background.
One thing that seems incredible with an MN is the ability to cruise lower powers, (it is an f6, so about 1100mm focal length), as well as accept ridiculously high magnifications, when the seeing allows.
I bought mine as I have always liked the MN design, and am either destined to keep it, or go bigger.
Yes, that extra inch seems to make things better as well, except the price, like the apo refractors, the price jump, 5" to 5" is large, and the jump 5" to 6" even more so.
Really, a decent newtonion like many forum members have is avery hard scope to better.
Doh, got Houghy's problem. You are right.Thank you.
I really should sit down and write an essay on the various scopes that have been discussed here, and the virtues/failings of them all, as there really is a lot of confusion as to what each has or doesn't have.
Maybe though I would be better shutting up, and saying nothing. C'mon Houghy do what I did.
Nope, no way, never do that, I'd surely get into a scrap!!
The BEST scope is the one you use the most.
In my arsenal, it is. I have a gorgeous 80mm refractor, and a couple of smaller 63mm refractors, plus the 10" f5 newt homebrew.
Scope that gets used most is the MN76.
If imaging I use it, and on an EM200. If quick and dirty looking I use, on a dob base.
The 10" gets a good run when the skies are really dark, and a few DSO nuts are visiting.
The ED80 sees quite a bit of sun with a nice Zeiss solar filter. I sometimes get it out and just try cracking some tightish (for an 80mm anyway) doubles.
That's me folks, and I will take Houghy's advice, shut up and say nothing more.
Well I think its good to talk on different scopes.
Most people ask about Meade, Celestron, GS, Saxon etc. But there many types of scopes out there.
Intes or Takahashi, Tele Vue and Williams Optics plus many others offer high quality telescopes. These can cost a lot of money. So people seem to keep away from these. But to look through a higher end type of scope can see you change from what you may buy. The MN76 is a very high end scope at a very good price. The problem seems you need a big mount which puts people off.
I would own one in a heart beat, but its not as portable as a MK-67.
For value for money its hard to go past the GS dob newts.
The market is very different to what it was. Lucky for todays buyers.
Good quality scopes seem to get lost these days. If you get a chance to get a look through some high end type scopes enjoy those wonderfull views they can bring. But also see how there built some are like a piece of fine art.
A Tele Vue Np 101 on a Losmandy mount is a fine telescope indeed. Wonderfull package. But at around 10k most would not consider this.
My friend has a Takahashi FS128 on EM200 mount. And even today its my favorite telescope to look through and look at.
So its good to here and talk about different scopes other than those in the main stream.
The scope is great(even though some think its a Volvo)
