Taken the plunge - pray for me - Page 3

strongmanmike (Michael) · #41 06-09-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netwolf

The new tak trifocal Cassegrain cca-250 is another contenter in this range. With 3 FL' ragning from f/3.59 to f/8 this would be nice all in one scope. But I think this is more pricer than the Orion once you add all the accesories.

http://www.buytelescopes.com/Product...strograph.aspx

Yeh ti's a beauty and I did consider it, it's still a way off of course. You're right though more expensive at the estimated US$15K = AU$16.5K (more if purchase in OZ too I am sure) compared to GBP7K (AU$ 12K) for the Orion. The Tak is only a 10" as well plus I have never really been happy with the star images that these scopes produce, they look good in wide fields but any sort of zoom they look less than optimal to me...? The big plus is that it is a Takahashi and the optical design is virtually guaranteed out of the box

So many great choices

...I had procrastinated long enough and had to make a decision....

Mike

gregbradley · #42 08-09-2010, 07:26 PM

Congrats on the new order. This is definitely the right scope for you and what you have wanted now for some time. Good on you for getting over any trepidations from the ASA experience.

Its a good choice Mike. I have been following Orion Optics UK for some time now and all the posts on the Yahoo Group.

Barry Pemberton is a good guy and is very professional. He certainly seems to hold high standards and gets the result.

I think you are in safe hands here Mike.

Greg.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #43 08-09-2010, 09:28 PM

Cheers mate

Yes that is my impression re Barry and John too and at least they speak English!

I just couldn't die wondering.....

Mike

TrevorW · #44 09-09-2010, 04:54 PM

Did you consider this one ???

strongmanmike (Michael) · #45 09-09-2010, 05:18 PM

Yes Trev, looked at these top of the line gear that but the price of around AU$30K+ was a no go straight up

. It's a Richardi Honders but at F3 it was just a bit short on focal length for me anyway.

Viva Italia

Mike

TrevorW · #46 09-09-2010, 05:48 PM

Cheers Mike

$30k unless you win Lotto is a bit steep and hard to justify

mind you I know guys who have spent as much on power boats

gregbradley · #47 10-09-2010, 08:09 PM

Especially when the AstroPhysics version is US$17,500 and no doubt far better. (if you can get one that is).

Greg.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #48 10-09-2010, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Especially when the AstroPhysics version is US$17,500 and no doubt far better. (if you can get one that is).

Greg.

+ exchange rate + freight + GST = AU$21500 compared to the Orion at AU$13500.

One can be sure the AP will work 100% though.....

gregbradley · #49 11-09-2010, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

+ exchange rate + freight + GST = AU$21500 compared to the Orion at AU$13500.

One can be sure the AP will work 100% though.....

Yes it is quite a bit more. I wonder how much difference you can achieve with different combos with the same aperture though. Sharp stars are sharp stars no matter how you got there.

Greg.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #50 20-09-2010, 10:10 PM

Well the service from Orion Optics has so far been great. Several back and forth emails with questions and requests (there are items coming to them for my scope from all over the World) and John and Barry are very responsive and have been most accomodating with some modifications and options that I have been after and this has been very comforting ...so far things are boding very well!

Mike

Moon (James) · #51 20-09-2010, 10:13 PM

Mike
Do you know if they make the Wynne corrector themselves? It looks a bit longer than the ASA version.
James

strongmanmike (Michael) · #52 21-09-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon

Mike
Do you know if they make the Wynne corrector themselves? It looks a bit longer than the ASA version.
James

I asked Barry at Orion Optics and he said the polishing of the ellements in the OWC is out sourced but the units are assembled at Orion.

Yes the housing of the Orion Optimised Wynne Corrector (OWC) is 37mm longer and about 5mm wider than the ASA, the OWC is a 4 element design too where the ASA uses three elements. The OWC spot size data looks slightly better but they are both good really.

Mike

Sylvain (Jon) · #53 22-09-2010, 12:12 AM

May I ask what happened with ASA before?

Orion Optics seem very serious, I hope all is going to be well.
Looking good so far

strongmanmike (Michael) · #54 22-09-2010, 12:31 PM

Quote:

May I ask what happened with ASA before?

It showed bad astigmatism caused by the way the secondary mirror was mounted, the focuser was inadequate and broke a bearing, the robo focus unit that came with the scope was faulty (I had to organise another), the focuser arrived with two mounting screws fallen out and the fan cable plug came unassembled. I never got to image properly using my ProLine11002 but it was clear that there were going to be issues with image plane flexing as others experienced with these scopes and the main mirror collimation method could easily cause astigmatism in the primary and had to be backed off so much that the mirror could move as the scope tracked across the sky. To their credit though ASA tried hard to recitify all my issues, including sending me a new focuser and complete main mirror and mirror cell to check if the astigmatism was coming from the primary - but it wasn't - it was coming from the secondary. In the end I had enough and just requested a refund and ASA obliged (although this was drawn out somehwat and was a bit scary once I was in the position of having no gear and no money

)...then more anguish in organising to get the GST paid back...in the end I was only out of pocket about AU$800 due to the Aussie dollar increasing in strength over the course of the drawn out sagga...

Quote:

Orion Optics seem very serious, I hope all is going to be well.
Looking good so far

Yes so far Orion have re-instilled some confidence but you see now why all the trepidation huh?

RobF (Rob) · #55 22-09-2010, 10:05 PM

Any idea when the beast is arriving Mike....?

strongmanmike (Michael) · #56 23-09-2010, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobF

Any idea when the beast is arriving Mike....?

No firm date yet as the construction and delivery to Orion of the FLI Atlas focuser is in the equation too but November is sounding feasable

..at least it is all paid for...except the GST...so my wife can't spend it on me

Mike

RobF (Rob) · #57 23-09-2010, 08:49 PM

Looks like you've got a very nice Christmas present due this year then

strongmanmike (Michael) · #58 24-02-2011, 10:13 PM

Well the new scope isn't too far away now

I received the mirror Zygo report today and according to this at least...it sounds pretty good:

Strehl: 0.991
Peak to Valley wave front: 1/10th wave
RMS eror in wavefront: 1/66th wave
residule astigmatism 1/100th wave

The mirror is made of low expansion Suprax from Schott in Germany and will be coated with 97% reflective coating that is predicted to last 25years.

I have been informed that some photos of the OTA final assembly process will follow soon (a nice touch).

Mike

h0ughy (David) · #59 24-02-2011, 10:19 PM

this must be one of the longest waits......

dugnsuz (Doug) · #60 24-02-2011, 10:21 PM

"page not found" - that must be bad Mike!!

You're a man of impeccable taste, so I assume it's an absolute cracker whatever it is (from the url looks like an Orion Astrograph!?)