Which 8" Ritchey-Chretien F6 F8 or F9

[Bob Jones]

Hi all

After reading favourable reviews of the 8" GSO-RC I am keen to get one but have since found four other 8" Ritchey-Chretiens :-

USA F8 Orion $1195 USD = $1480 AUD
https://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=1-599-1089-12937&tb=4

USA F8 Astro-Tech AT8RC $1395 USD = $1727 AUD
http://auroraastro.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&pr oducts_id=3290

Britain F6 Orion 1195 UK Pound = $2444 AUD
http://telescoop.nl/orion-ritchey-cretien-8-ota.html?SID=c1ba183d5a276096bc2c39 639f804d74&id=3153&___store=astrono my_en&___from_store=default

Britain F9 Revelation 1467 UK Pound = $3000 AUD
http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Revelation_8___Ritchey_Chr_tien_OTA .html

For my purposes the Astro-Tech is first choice because of the Losmandy-style "D-plate" dovetail and superior optics??
With approx $240 freight and $280 import duty (if charged) the total cost would be $2347.

Any comments or advice welcome

Bob Jones
6" Intes Mak f12, 80mm Orion EON, EQ6pro, QHY8, StarStuff D plate saddle
12" LX200GPS Ultrawedge
2 Mallincams

[jase (Jason)]

You've got me confused Bob. I'm assuming you're not worried about the focal length? Actually, the one you've listed as F/9 is actually F/8, when you look at the specs at the bottom of the page. Whatever you decide, make sure its what you're expecting!

[marki]

I am going to hazard a guess here. They are all rebadged GSO RC's excepting the third link which led nowhere. One of them does have an ali tube rather then CF but the optics will be the same. If they are then they are F8 not F9 or F6. Not sure if the optics in one type are superior to the others .

Mark

[AlexN]

The Astrotech 8" F/8, Revelation 8" F/8 and Orion 8" F/8 are the same telescope, Manufactured by GSO. The Orion one has a different tube.. The Orion one has a different tube, made of aluminium which isn't as good as the Astrotech which is carbon fibre...

All of these scopes are largely the same as the GSO 8" F/8 RC that can be bought in australia for $2195~ from ATS..

The Orion F/6 8" RC that you linked is likely a typeo... When you look at the specifications page of that scope, it says its 8" F/6 (1000mm focal length) however directly underneith that, it says Focal Length : 1600mm, Indicating that the scope is F/8...

These scopes are proving to be very nice imaging scopes provided you're interested in fairly long focal length work... 1600mm is not exactly a wide field.

Being that I own one of these scopes I can tell you this much, They represent good value for money, and no matter which one you go for they are all "pretty much" exactly the same...
GSO use the carbon fibre tube, and a vixen style dovetail
AT use the carbon fibre tube and the losmandy D-plate
Orion use an aluminium tube and the vixen style dovetail
The revelation scope seems to use the carbon fibre tube and vixen dovetail, the same as GSO releases from the factory.

Personally, it depends on what dovetail you require I suppose, I went for the GSO simply because I could get it cheaper in australia than I could have imported the Astrotech 8" from the US once you take import taxes into account..

[AlexN]

Oh, and as Marki said, the optics in all of them are the same, figured by GSO...

The best option, there isn't one, they are all optically the same. the orion is perhaps the least desirable due to the aluminium tube... and the only difference between the other options is the dovetail

[Bob Jones]

Thanks Alex and others

"Optics" my mistake .

I meant the differences in reflectivity. The Orion adds say 94-96% whereas the GSO and AstroTech quote 99% reflectivity.

I suspected the Adds had typos as the focal lengths did not make sense to me either. I will check out ATS. Better to buy local.

Cheers
Bob Jones

[TrevorW]

If i remember rightly the Orion uses BK7 glass for the primary whereas the GSO is quartz

Regards

[Hagar (Doug)]

Worth taking a look here

[Paul Haese]

Get the carbon fibre tube and think about the GST, delivery which get added on to the imported prices.

[Bob Jones]

Hi Doug

ATS will only supply them with a Vixen plate.

"The GSO models do not come with a Losmandy D-Plate.
They are fitted with a Losmandy V series (aka EQ6/Vixen) plate"

Since I have StarStuff side-by-side system I'm prefering the D-plate offered by
Aurora Astro Products. Stuff it! I think keep my money under the bed.

Cheers
Bob

[netwolf]

Ther is no import duty on asteo equipment. What you will pay is GST, on the price above 1000$ including shipping. So your AT price it would be 10% of (727+240). total is ~2100.

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Originally Posted by netwolf

Ther is no import duty on asteo equipment. What you will pay is GST, on the price above 1000$ including shipping. So your AT price it would be 10% of (727+240). total is ~2100.

I'd be very surprised if this was the case.

Dave

edit:

http://www.ato.gov.au/businesses/con...tent/13193.htm

I see no exemption for Astro gear...

[Paul Haese]

If I recall correctly it is only refractors that have no duty owing on them due to the notion that they are scientific equipment. Not sure about reflectors but when I imported my solarmax I had not duty but only because I pointed customs to the provision about refractors.

[Bob Jones]

Hmm. Only 10% GST improves things a little.
AstroTech have offered 3 delivery options

"This is my best estimate as I will need box dims to get exact cost but should be close.
All these options are with insurance $1395.00."

1)UPS express $454.00
2)UPS expedited $360.00
3)USPS priority mail $189.00

So 1395+189USD = $1969AUD + $197GST = $2166 Total Cost

Considering this amount includes a Losmany-style D-plate dovetail plus a carrycase
it compares favourably with ATS's $2195 (no case plus freight?)

I will decide after Qld Astrofest.

Bob Jones

[Gama]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

If I recall correctly it is only refractors that have no duty owing on them due to the notion that they are scientific equipment. Not sure about reflectors but when I imported my solarmax I had not duty but only because I pointed customs to the provision about refractors.

Na, no Duty. My CDK passed right along thru. Just paid a whopping huge GST, but thats about it..
All my astronomical gear from outside Aus had NO Duty.

Theo.

[AlexN]

Originally Posted by Bob Jones

Considering this amount includes a Losmany-style D-plate dovetail plus a carrycase
it compares favourably with ATS's $2195 (no case plus freight?)

I will decide after Qld Astrofest.

Bob Jones

The GSO ones from Andrews and I would assume ATS come with the aluminium carry case.. You'd only be sacrificing the D-plate.. however If you require the D-plate for your mount, then perhaps the AT8RC is a better choice for you...

If you were planning to upgrade your mount to the D-plate saddle from a vixen saddle, I really think it would be unnessacary for such a light telescope...

[TrevorW]

Nah the EQ6 cab easily handle the scope/guidescope etc on a Vixen dovetail,

If you really want to go that path there is additional expense changing the head etc on the EQ6

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

Just remember that if u do buy from overseas for only a little discount, that if anything goes wrong u will maybe have to ship it back to the supplier ?
Sometimes it's better to buy here at more expense to save monies down the track.

Just my 2c worth, wish i had a mount to take one of these beauties

[Bob Jones]

Trevor

I already have a StarStuff side-by-side D plate saddle which is why I am leaning towards the Astrotech.

Bob

[TrevorW]

In that case just buy a Losmandy plate and saddles to fit your scope from ADM