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Old 04-11-2011, 10:07 PM
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dugnsuz (Doug)
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Refractor Purchase Advice Please...

Hi all...

I've recently sold a couple of L lenses and various bits and bobs in order to fund the purchase of a premium refractor in the 90-100mm range.
I've got about $2.5k to spend - that's got to include scope rings, flattener etc so realistically ~$2k for the scope.

I've narrowed my search down to 2 scopes - TMB 92L and TMB 92SS.
Both essentially the same optics but very different hardware

The TMB 92L price allows the purchase of all necessary accessories etc, but I'm worried that the 2" Crayford that gives the scope its L (light) designation won't handle my astrophotography needs - hanging a 1.2kg Astro 40D off the back.

The TMB 92SS on the other hand has a 3" Starlight focuser which you could hang a fat man's hammock off. This scope pushes my budget in that I can't get the flattener straight away - not a drama.

But, I wonder if the focuser on the TMB 92L would handle my DSLR - it looks like a generic, but good quality Chinese model a la Orion Eon scopes?

Or does anyone have a better suggestion in this scope size/price range.

All this s@#t is coming from the US so I've got to factor in $100-200 delivery costs too!!!!

Any thoughts welcome in clearing away this mind-fog.
Doug
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Old 04-11-2011, 10:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dugnsuz View Post
Hi all...

I've recently sold a couple of L lenses and various bits and bobs in order to fund the purchase of a premium refractor in the 90-100mm range.
I've got about $2.5k to spend - that's got to include scope rings, flattener etc so realistically ~$2k for the scope.

I've narrowed my search down to 2 scopes - TMB 92L and TMB 92SS.
Both essentially the same optics but very different hardware

The TMB 92L price allows the purchase of all necessary accessories etc, but I'm worried that the 2" Crayford that gives the scope its L (light) designation won't handle my astrophotography needs - hanging a 1.2kg Astro 40D off the back.

The TMB 92SS on the other hand has a 3" Starlight focuser which you could hang a fat man's hammock off. This scope pushes my budget in that I can't get the flattener straight away - not a drama.

But, I wonder if the focuser on the TMB 92L would handle my DSLR - it looks like a generic, but good quality Chinese model a la Orion Eon scopes?

Or does anyone have a better suggestion in this scope size/price range.

All this s@#t is coming from the US so I've got to factor in $100-200 delivery costs too!!!!

Any thoughts welcome in clearing away this mind-fog.
Doug

Hi Doug,

What about something like this:

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds...fied_id=752331

It seems good value.

Also APM have an astrograph refractor for $2399 I think it was. Not sure of the aperture 130?? I'll see if I ca find it.

$2500 for 92mm aperture doesn't seem good enough value these days.

There's a WO FT132 for $2800 on Astromart.

Over $1000 there is also GST on entry and shipping of course would be in the order of US$300+.

Greg.
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Old 04-11-2011, 10:41 PM
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dugnsuz (Doug)
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Cheers Greg - should have added that this scope has got to be mounted on a HEQ5 Pro so larger refractors need not apply!
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Old 04-11-2011, 10:42 PM
Hans Tucker (Hans)
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Also take a look at Stellarvue...they have some specials and pre-owned scopes.

http://www.stellarvue.com/
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  #5  
Old 04-11-2011, 10:46 PM
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dugnsuz (Doug)
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This is the scope I'm looking at to clarify things...
http://www.astronomics.com/main/prod...oduct_id/TMB92

ps...cheers Hans
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Old 04-11-2011, 10:46 PM
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Here's the one I was thinking of.

US$2775 107mm F6.5 with reducer giving F4.9 plus a flattener, rings, case and good focuser. Hard to beat.

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds...fied_id=630674

For a bit extra you get larger reducer and focuser.

This'd be the one I'd go for. This is like a dream come true for an astrophotographer in that price range.

Shipping is most likely US$350 to $400 and GST on entry would be about AUD$300. Bank Wire transfer costs about AUD$25 and the US bank takes an extra US$25 from the amount sent.

Greg.
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Old 04-11-2011, 10:48 PM
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That SV105 looks nice
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Old 04-11-2011, 10:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gregbradley View Post
Here's the one I was thinking of.

US$2775 107mm F6.5 with reducer giving F4.9 plus a flattener, rings, case and good focuser. Hard to beat.

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds...fied_id=630674

For a bit extra you get larger reducer and focuser.

This'd be the one I'd go for. This is like a dream come true for an astrophotographer.

Greg.
Looks lovely Greg - unfortunately over budget for me
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Old 04-11-2011, 10:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dugnsuz View Post
This is the scope I'm looking at to clarify things...
http://www.astronomics.com/main/prod...oduct_id/TMB92

ps...cheers Hans
Yes I've heard it was good.

The Feathertouch focuser would be perfect. The lens would be very very good. You need rings, a case, a flattener and a reducer plus 92mm is a bit small in my opinion.

What camera were you planning to use? You have an STL11 don't you?

92mm is a bit lacking in aperture for an STL11 to shine in my opinion.

FSQ type aperture of 106mm up is when it shines. 105 to 115mm would be good for widefield. 130mm would be good for medium wide field and some galaxies, 150-160mm is the sweet spot for APOs in terms of performance , flexibility, portability,cutting through the seeing and the ability to image a very wide range of targets from nebulas to brighter galaxies.

Greg.
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Old 04-11-2011, 11:04 PM
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Here's an evaluation of the optics of the APM astrograph by Mr Rohr:

http://translate.google.com/translat...history_state0=


Greg.
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Old 04-11-2011, 11:35 PM
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What camera were you planning to use? You have an STL11 don't you?
No a cooled DSLR - my images just look like I have an STL11
Boom Boom!!
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Old 05-11-2011, 06:41 AM
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dannat (Daniel)
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The 92l is 200 off at the moment, should be about 1500 landed, I lot bought one for visual grab & go, 800 diff for the upgraded focuser is a bit much IMO..
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Old 05-11-2011, 07:50 AM
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The 92l is 200 off at the moment, should be about 1500 landed, I lot bought one for visual grab & go, 800 diff for the upgraded focuser is a bit much IMO..
Do you think the focuser on the 92L could handle a DSLR Daniel?
My 40D has been cooled and weighs about 1.2kg
Doug
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Old 05-11-2011, 08:24 AM
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going through this dilemma myself atm Doug.
Since changing to the "so light weight it's like it's not there" Finder guider, I believe that the HEQ5Pro would be up to the weight of a larger refractor. I'm looking in the 120mm range myself.
Have you checked out what's on offer from Long Perng at Andrews? There is a sweet little 110mm f6 quadruplet there for $2000.
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Old 05-11-2011, 08:40 AM
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going through this dilemma myself atm Doug.
Since changing to the "so light weight it's like it's not there" Finder guider, I believe that the HEQ5Pro would be up to the weight of a larger refractor. I'm looking in the 120mm range myself.
Have you checked out what's on offer from Long Perng at Andrews? There is a sweet little 110mm f6 quadruplet there for $2000.
Cheers jjj - had forgotten about Andrews!
How do you find the finder-guider? Can you pickup stars without any problems - or is it only brighter ones that are useable?
Doug

UPDATE: just did a quick search on that Andrews model - doesn't look too good!
http://stargazerslounge.com/discussi...refractor.html
Teething issues!?
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Old 05-11-2011, 08:47 AM
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I've had no trouble picking up stars using my (now deceased RIP) phillips spc900. If there isn't a suitably bright star in the immediate fov, it only takes a twist of a screw to find one.
That said, I'll be purchasing a more sensitive guide cam to replace it.
Previously I was using an 80mm F5 for guiding, and used a .66 (?) focal reducer, which bought it down to approx the same focal length as the finder guider.
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Old 05-11-2011, 09:34 AM
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In all seriousness at least go to a 105 scope, the 5 will handle that size as well as a 90 and you will kick yourself later for choking off the light if you don't. I'm extremely happy with my 105/650 lomo and would definitely not go any smaller. Your mount would easily cope with this scope.
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Old 05-11-2011, 09:43 AM
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dannat (Daniel)
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The tmb is alo not much longer f/l than your 400l, maybe you want something longer eg 600-750 with reducer/flattener
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Old 05-11-2011, 10:17 AM
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Another option you may want to take a look at is vixen scopes. I have an fl102 and an fl80s, and have owned an ed103 and ed80. All were spectacular performers. One thing that surprises people is how light these scopes are.

Brett
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Old 05-11-2011, 03:16 PM
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Doug, there is a vixen 4.5" in CN for 1300 with a moonlite
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthrea.../1#Post4897699
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