127mm ED Triplet for $1199 at VTI Optics

MortonH · #1 16-12-2012, 10:25 PM

Since buying an Explore Scientific eyepiece from VTI I'm on their mailing list.

They're offering the HiOptic version of the 127ED triplet for $1199 plus $100 delivery.

I'm happy with my current scope collection but I imagine others may be interested. Just passing it on...

AG Hybrid (Adrian) · #2 16-12-2012, 10:36 PM

Thats got to be a mistake. They must mean the 102 ED APO? If its true the 127 ED APO is $1299 that works about $700 cheaper then getting it from the US.

MortonH · #3 16-12-2012, 10:59 PM

It's true - they confirmed it in an e-mail to me. It ships direct from the supplier. Wish I needed another scope!

Note that it's the HiOptic version, which is the same as the Meade 127 triplet, not the Explore Scientific one. So it's basically a North Group scope sold through VTI.

Stardrifter_WA · #4 16-12-2012, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MortonH

It's true - they confirmed it in an e-mail to me. It ships direct from the supplier. Wish I needed another scope!

Note that it's the HiOptic version, which is the same as the Meade 127 triplet, not the Explore Scientific one. So it's basically a North Group scope sold through VTI.

Hi Morton,

I wonder what the North Group are really like? I have seen a few of these come up second hand for more than that price.

Cheers Peter

MortonH · #5 16-12-2012, 11:20 PM

Never seen one, Peter, except in photos on this site!

chaffingbuttock (Matthew) · #6 17-12-2012, 08:48 AM

Oh no! My wallet! So tempted.. thanks for the link morton

LewisM · #7 17-12-2012, 10:21 AM

I had a North Group ED127.

Personally, I felt it had soft focus issues (even with the Moonlight with stepper motor focus) and it bloated stars more than any Skywatcher ED I ever used. It didn't warm to me at all.

One thing the North Group DID do for me was polarised me into only fluorite refractors

Kind of a LOT more expensive, but worth it. No more ED

Poita (Peter) · #8 17-12-2012, 11:18 AM

I think a review is here:
http://explorescientific.com/telesco...7Review_v1.pdf

Profiler (Profiler) · #9 17-12-2012, 01:01 PM

$1,200 for a brand new 127mm rerfractor which clearly isn't an Achro is not a great price - it is a mind-exploding price irrespective of any QC issues which can't be too bad anyhow.

MortonH · #10 17-12-2012, 01:02 PM

I've read that Explore Scientific's quality control is better than North Group, but no personal experience with either apart from some recent ES eyepiece purchases.

allan gould · #11 17-12-2012, 01:04 PM

Be careful as the glass in the North group 127mm has changed since the original release of this scope. They definitely are NOT the same now as they were then, particularly due to the use of Chinese glass and not japanese glass in the triplette. My advice is to beware of something that is too good to be true compared to other scopes of similar specifications ie Skywatcher.

MortonH · #12 17-12-2012, 01:17 PM

The other issue is how well aligned the lens elements will be. Maybe if you're comfortable tinkering with such things it might be worth the risk. Personally, I like my Stellarvue scopes because I know Vic Maris has done the hard work for me.

allan gould · #13 17-12-2012, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MortonH

The other issue is how well aligned the lens elements will be. Maybe if you're comfortable tinkering with such things it might be worth the risk. Personally, I like my Stellarvue scopes because I know Vic Maris has done the hard work for me.

From some information I gleaned recently, the chap in North Group who used to do all the alignments of the triplette has relocated to Taiwan and the consensus is they are not as good as they used to be.
Allan

Profiler (Profiler) · #14 17-12-2012, 02:22 PM

Presumably a lot of things which are the basis of concern would be covered by warranty - however limited that might be. But $1200 for a 127 refractor that is clearly not an achro has to be fantastic value. A SW150 achro is the same price and the SWBD120 doublet is $2k+

Granted, you are not getting anything close to Tak, Televue or Vixen but in a choice between a NP127 for 7.5k+ or this hioptics scope for $1,200 it has to be attractive if for nothing else as a cheap way to get a reasonably large refractor for beginners.

Richard Gamble (Richard Gamble) · #15 17-12-2012, 04:37 PM

These Ed127 apo are made by Kunming Optical.
They are sold as MaxVision, ES, Hioptics,Meade.
The OTA is the same but marketed under different brand names, it seems.
Whatever names it goes by, you get the same scope but you can pay more or you can pay less.
There is an ED127 forum group on yahoo.
Lot of discussion and comparison among the owners. Generally, the feedback is very positive for the Chinese ED127 and they deem it an exceptional value scope!
The Explore Scientific ED127 has also garnered rave reviews in the States and it is a Chinese made ED.

allan gould · #16 17-12-2012, 05:03 PM

The glass in the original 127mm scopes was Japanese HOYA FCD1 (Dense Fluor Crown) glass and were NEVER claimed to be ED glass as used in the SW 80EDs. Those manufactured now have chinese glass which was/is not hand figured as was the original triplette - hence the difference in quality and peoples experiences with these scopes.

Profiler (Profiler) · #17 17-12-2012, 07:27 PM

I don't know if this will help or further muddy the waters but here is a link to A&T in SA who have been selling these HiOptics for some time

http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com....-refractor.htm

Interestingly - you will see there is both an optical test but when you click on the nearby link for a review it takes you to the same review of the ES127.

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #18 17-12-2012, 08:30 PM

All I can say is , What a Price ! and hope someone here grab's one and lets us all know how it performs , $1200 is so cheep .
I had a NG 127mm for a while and it performed very , very well , I would still have it if my Tak Mewlon 210 hadn't come along .
Hope someone gets one of these ???

.
Brian.

chaffingbuttock (Matthew) · #19 17-12-2012, 09:37 PM

i'm quite keen, but i'm not sure if it's too heavy for my heq5 for imaging. Brendan (oncewasyoung) kindly let me have a look at his setup and the 127 is a lot larger than i thought it would be. I have absolutely no gear other than the heq5 and at 10kg all up i'm just not too sure. any opinions / advice? I'm currently (and was previously) considering one of these or maybe the sharpstar 107PH / sharpstar CF106II but the other 2 options are a bit more pricey (even more than the direct price for the 127ED at ~$1600). I'd just be looking to stick my sony 5n on the back to take some images and maybe a guidescope at a later date (i believe this one comes with a small scope, which is included in the 10kg total weight).

cheers.

Stardrifter_WA · #20 17-12-2012, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Gamble

These Ed127 apo are made by Kunming Optical.
They are sold as MaxVision, ES, Hioptics,Meade.
The OTA is the same but marketed under different brand names, it seems.
Whatever names it goes by, you get the same scope but you can pay more or you can pay less.
There is an ED127 forum group on yahoo.
Lot of discussion and comparison among the owners. Generally, the feedback is very positive for the Chinese ED127 and they deem it an exceptional value scope!
The Explore Scientific ED127 has also garnered rave reviews in the States and it is a Chinese made ED.

Hi Richard,

That is not strictly correct. Although a seemingly identical item may be marketed under different names, it may not actually be the same. It will depend on who the scope is made for and what level of quality is required. This can mean that two identical scopes may have differing glass elements, for example. Therefore, a cheaper version may be very well that, cheaper glass used. You do get what you pay for and someone starting out may think the cheaper scope is great where an aficionado will clearly see the difference.

Cheers Peter