#1  
Old 07-03-2019, 08:01 AM
Peter Ward's Avatar
Peter Ward
Galaxy hitchhiking guide

Peter Ward is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Shire
Posts: 8,090
Gso rc16

I have searched the web for the last hour or so, in an effort to find some imagery and/or user reviews of the GSO RC16.

There seems to be no shortage of images of the instrument, but very few taken through the instrument.

Pretty much struck a blank. Anyone using one of these? Some example images with a 35mm chip?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-03-2019, 08:34 AM
Startrek (Martin)
Registered User

Startrek is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sydney and South Coast NSW
Posts: 5,990
Peter
These any good for reference ?
Found them on cloudy nights , not very good quality though
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (4719525F-F03C-450F-81BD-51C1155C62AE.jpg)
71.5 KB92 views
Click for full-size image (23CD4A0A-3092-4048-ACC8-AF9EBBAB7AE7.jpg)
55.8 KB89 views
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-03-2019, 09:19 AM
Peter Ward's Avatar
Peter Ward
Galaxy hitchhiking guide

Peter Ward is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Shire
Posts: 8,090
Quote:
Originally Posted by Startrek View Post
Peter
These any good for reference ?
Found them on cloudy nights , not very good quality though
Thanks...hard to tell how well it performs due the narrow field. I checked out that fellow's website...he has/had his hands on an EMccd for a time!!

I wish!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-03-2019, 03:16 PM
LewisM's Avatar
LewisM
Novichok test rabbit

LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,388
Here's one on Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/200144/?nc=picks

More here: https://www.astrobin.com/search/?q=RC-16

But you'll need to decipher which is GSO - or at least the numerous rebadges globally
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-03-2019, 09:26 PM
Peter Ward's Avatar
Peter Ward
Galaxy hitchhiking guide

Peter Ward is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Shire
Posts: 8,090
Quote:
Originally Posted by LewisM View Post
Here's one on Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/200144/?nc=picks

More here: https://www.astrobin.com/search/?q=RC-16

But you'll need to decipher which is GSO - or at least the numerous rebadges globally
Ta...I have found a couple of those already...interestingly the owners seem to have sold their GSO RC16's in fairly short order.

'nuff said.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-03-2019, 09:38 PM
glend (Glen)
Registered User

glend is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lake Macquarie
Posts: 7,033
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Ward View Post
Ta...I have found a couple of those already...interestingly the owners seem to have sold their GSO RC16's in fairly short order.

'nuff said.
I believe Paul H still has his 12", but it has has a fair amount of work done.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-03-2019, 07:24 PM
Slawomir's Avatar
Slawomir (Suavi)
Registered User

Slawomir is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: North Queensland
Posts: 3,240
Hi Peter,

I hope this post is not diverging too much from your question. An alternative solution to buying a GSO RC16 and tweaking it to make it work reliably could be placing a GSO mirror in a mechanically sturdier body. I know that CFF offers such option for those wishing to save some $, but such hybrid would still probably cost 2x the GSO landed.

David (DJT on IIS) recently upgraded his 10" GSO to 10" CFF so he might be able to provide his first hand impressions on build quality.

I found this website with images taken with CFF RC16 and a 35mm chip:

http://astrophotographysirius.com/Hi...Group%2044.htm
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-03-2019, 08:40 PM
DJT (David)
Registered User

DJT is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,452
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slawomir View Post
Hi Peter,

I hope this post is not diverging too much from your question. An alternative solution to buying a GSO RC16 and tweaking it to make it work reliably could be placing a GSO mirror in a mechanically sturdier body. I know that CFF offers such option for those wishing to save some $, but such hybrid would still probably cost 2x the GSO landed.

David (DJT on IIS) recently upgraded his 10" GSO to 10" CFF so he might be able to provide his first hand impressions on build quality.

I found this website with images taken with CFF RC16 and a 35mm chip:

http://astrophotographysirius.com/Hi...Group%2044.htm
Hi Suave
I will update the CFF thread I have in equipment and keep this clear. Suspect theres a reason why Peter wants to see GSO images with the 16.

Also wondering if the success they have with mirrors on the 8 and 10" has been replicated on the larger ones
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-03-2019, 09:06 PM
Slawomir's Avatar
Slawomir (Suavi)
Registered User

Slawomir is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: North Queensland
Posts: 3,240
Apologies David, I didn't want to step on anyone's toes. I thought it won't hurt mentioning this option since there appears to be little info on what Peter is after.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-03-2019, 09:10 PM
Peter Ward's Avatar
Peter Ward
Galaxy hitchhiking guide

Peter Ward is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Shire
Posts: 8,090
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJT View Post
Hi Suave
I will update the CFF thread I have in equipment and keep this clear. Suspect theres a reason why Peter wants to see GSO images with the 16.

Also wondering if the success they have with mirrors on the 8 and 10" has been replicated on the larger ones
I have used both the GSO RC8 and RC10 telescopes, liked the 8, but found the mechanicals of the 10 to be under engineered.

Scaling up to a RC16 is not a trivial exercise...hence was looking for examples of how well GSO have executed this, given their exceptional pricing...and to be frank..did the old addage of "you get what you pay for" still apply?

Putting GSO optics into a CFF (or any third party OTA) gives no insight at all to the OEM product's performance....but if doing so can deliver good performance at an affordable price point, then kudos to those that took that approach

All that is however a little moot unless you use a mount can move the considerable payload that comes with a 0.4 metre aperture, with a good deal of accuracy and rigidity.

All that said...there seem to be very few GSO RC16 images on the web, thus leaving myself and I'm sure other interested punters none the wiser.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-03-2019, 09:20 PM
DJT (David)
Registered User

DJT is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,452
Hi Peter

there’s a guy on Cloudy Nights called Phil Cowell. He has used his AT16 on an AP1600 and looks like he still has it, looking at his SIG.


It’s a rebranded GSO I think,


Might be worth dropping him a line.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-03-2019, 06:59 PM
Paul Haese's Avatar
Paul Haese
Registered User

Paul Haese is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 9,937
Hi Peter,

just for clarification GSO scopes are generally rebranded across the globe. Here are a few examples:

TPO - seen here at their Website and an image and another here from one of their RC16's (This is a GSO RC16).

GSO - One of their images here. And another here.

Astrotech also have rebranded GSO scopes.

TS have also rebranded GSO scopes.

I have not bought one because I have had other priorities, though I should have bought one and been well ahead by now. I did not have to do much to get my 12" scope working well. I did change it from a tube to a truss and I have used it with several focusers and rotators. I was going to change the mirror cell over to the new one but did not in the end. The scope holds the heavy payload I am asking it to hold well and it never flexes (the scope is holding an Moonlite Nitecrawler 30, AOX, STXL11002 with integrated filter wheel). Focus is always within a few hundred steps on my Moonlite Nitecrawler 30. It is a very affordable alternative to the more expensive scopes. The scopes are not like your scope but they do produce good results generally.

Why are you searching? I am most interested in your reason.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-03-2019, 10:26 PM
Peter Ward's Avatar
Peter Ward
Galaxy hitchhiking guide

Peter Ward is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Shire
Posts: 8,090
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Haese View Post
......

Why are you searching? I am most interested in your reason.
I've had a few calls recently for robotic observatory systems, but the client's budgets have been limited.

The (virtually non-negotiable) use of a PMEII or AP1600 makes their budget even tighter, so I'm looking for off-the-shelf optics in the 0.5 metre aperture class that won't cause any grief.

Institutions simply don't have the staff that can "tinker".

The product has to work out of the box...hence my search.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-03-2019, 03:26 PM
Paul Haese's Avatar
Paul Haese
Registered User

Paul Haese is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 9,937
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Ward View Post
I've had a few calls recently for robotic observatory systems, but the client's budgets have been limited.

The (virtually non-negotiable) use of a PMEII or AP1600 makes their budget even tighter, so I'm looking for off-the-shelf optics in the 0.5 metre aperture class that won't cause any grief.

Institutions simply don't have the staff that can "tinker".

The product has to work out of the box...hence my search.
Well, all it needs is collimation and a focuser, shroud and a dew heater installed. Not that much tinkering. The scopes are now mature. All the large scopes have good mirror cells, sensor centering adjustment rings, plenty of back focus, good baffling, but you will need to find a good flattener that does not cost the earth. That is the only catch. Still searching myself. I think TS have one but it might mean not using my AOX (89mm+ or - 2mm). It they are using a small sensor, then there is no issue as the correct field covers easily.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 11-03-2019, 08:15 PM
Peter Ward's Avatar
Peter Ward
Galaxy hitchhiking guide

Peter Ward is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Shire
Posts: 8,090
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Haese View Post
Well, all it needs is collimation and a focuser, shroud and a dew heater installed. Not that much tinkering. The scopes are now mature. All the large scopes have good mirror cells, sensor centering adjustment rings, plenty of back focus, good baffling, but you will need to find a good flattener that does not cost the earth. That is the only catch. Still searching myself. I think TS have one but it might mean not using my AOX (89mm+ or - 2mm). It they are using a small sensor, then there is no issue as the correct field covers easily.
Sure, while the 12" scopes look like they can be well tamed, the lack of a
usable focuser, rotator, dedicated flattener, reducer, robotic dust cover is not trivial.....they do add significantly to the cost.

An Optec Gemini rotator/focuser is around $A6k landed alone....making the
telescope itself, at $A7.5k look positively cheap.

Running the numbers, PMEII, GSO16, Optec Gemini = $38.5k

The mass increase from 12" to 16" is basically double...which begs the question how good are the horizon to horizon collimation/bending moments?

The design being functional at 12" could be a world of hurt at 16" if all GSO do is scale components up.

Perhaps the above gives original question more clarity....as, if you paid near enough $40K for the "telescope" bits (we haven't factored in the cost of a Dome yet) and you received no optical certification data....

......but the images have Hubble-Mark-I haloes...it would be hard to swallow and explain to the funding authorities.

Hence my dilemma.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 12-03-2019, 09:16 AM
Slawomir's Avatar
Slawomir (Suavi)
Registered User

Slawomir is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: North Queensland
Posts: 3,240
If I may...and possibly saying the obvious, but with a limited budget of $40k (cough cough), perhaps a better quality 14" on a MX+ is a much less risky solution?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 02:57 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement