Celestron's new EdgeHD Optics scopes

matt · #1 16-07-2009, 08:41 AM

Finally.....

Celestron has released info about its new range of scopes.

http://www.celestron.com/c3/page.php?PageID=389

The video's worth a look.

Enjoy

rat156 · #2 16-07-2009, 04:47 PM

These look nice on the surface except for a couple of things.

The 14" scope is f/11, the smaller scopes are f/10. Really for deep sky imaging they need to be faster, f/6 to f/8 would be good.

As a planetary scope the 14" looks like it could be really good, but then who really cares about a super flat field for planetary imaging?

I assume that the "other brand" is the Meade ACF, to be honest I haven't seen that bad edge of field stars on any of the ACF scopes I have looked through, but perhaps someone who has one can drop a DSLR in it and see if the off-axis stars are really donuts.

It also has (I think) a field flattener built into the tube. This may mean that it has a limited backfocus.

This is why I really like the RCX design, f/8, no field flattener, fixed primary mirror etc. Meade should really fix the focusser problems on that design and relaunch it.

Cheers
Stuart

matt · #3 16-07-2009, 05:49 PM

I like the fact that finally...FINALLY....a manufacturer of an SCT is addressing (albeit in a very modest way) cooling issues and mirror lock.

Hopefully...these will become common features on SCT's of the future. It'd be great if they went one step further and developed active (peltier) cooling as standard on all their scopes. Sure, it would jack the price up a little...but I'd hazard a guess there'd be many happy to shell out the extra coin for such an important feature.

gb_astro · #4 16-07-2009, 09:18 PM

Bintel prices, no mount:

EdgeHD 1400 $18995
EdgeHD 1100 $8995
EdgeHD 800 $3995

gb.

Kal (Andrew) · #5 16-07-2009, 09:23 PM

Edit: misprint in the manual. The 14" is F11.

Kal (Andrew) · #6 16-07-2009, 09:31 PM

Incase you haven't seen these before, here are some pictures from a beta tester, using a CCD with a KAF16803 chip. Most pics can be enlarged to the full 4098x4098 resolution. Pretty impressive performance to the edge of this massive chip if you ask me.

Link 1
Link 2

multiweb (Marc) · #7 16-07-2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt

I like the fact that finally...FINALLY....a manufacturer of an SCT is addressing (albeit in a very modest way) cooling issues and mirror lock.

Hopefully...these will become common features on SCT's of the future. It'd be great if they went one step further and developed active (peltier) cooling as standard on all their scopes. Sure, it would jack the price up a little...but I'd hazard a guess there'd be many happy to shell out the extra coin for such an important feature.

I don't think two little vents will do anything. My C11 has now two massive fans and I have to run them both a good 30min to get everything balanced in temperature. Tube currents are a killer in SCTs.

rat156 · #8 16-07-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kal

Just a quick note, the classical 14" SCT from celestron is F11. The new EdgeHD 14" is F10 according to the celestron website

From the Celestron website
"aperture 355.6 mm, focal length 3910 mm, focal ratio 11" in the OTA part. Didn't check them on mounts, so there nay be a discrepancy.

Cheers
Stuart

matt · #9 16-07-2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

I don't think two little vents will do anything. My C11 has now two massive fans and I have to run them both a good 30min to get everything balanced in temperature. Tube currents are a killer in SCTs.

Like I said...addressing the issue in a very modest way. Not ideal...but a move in the right direction.

I too am the owner of an SCT and am familair with tube currents.

Cheers.

rat156 · #10 16-07-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kal

Incase you haven't seen these before, here are some pictures from a beta tester, using a CCD with a KAF16803 chip. Most pics can be enlarged to the full 4098x4098 resolution. Pretty impressive performance to the edge of this massive chip if you ask me.

Link 1
Link 2

Nice pics, the ones I looked at showed field rotation so it's difficult to evaluate the edge of field performance. Also they seem to vignette a fair bit as well. Have to wait for some better pics I think.

Cheers
Stuart

Kal (Andrew) · #11 17-07-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rat156

From the Celestron website
"aperture 355.6 mm, focal length 3910 mm, focal ratio 11" in the OTA part. Didn't check them on mounts, so there nay be a discrepancy.

Cheers
Stuart

Sorry Stuart, you are 100% correct. I was looking at the manual earlier on in the day which has a misprint, because it has the same 3910mm focal length listed with F10 after it (3910/356 = F11)

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #12 17-07-2009, 01:54 AM

Very impressive images from an out of the box SCT! And Fastar compatible too. This OTA is top of my shopping list when the 14" is available (and the $$$ is as well)

gregbradley · #13 17-07-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gb_astro

Bintel prices, no mount:

EdgeHD 1400 $18995
EdgeHD 1100 $8995
EdgeHD 800 $3995

gb.

Surely there is a mistake there. OPT prices for OTA only for Edge HD 14 inch is US$5799. That would be about AUD$8500 with exchange rate, shipping and GST.

Perhaps that was with mount and even then it seems too much.

Greg

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #14 17-07-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Surely there is a mistake there. OPT prices for OTA only for Edge HD 14 inch is US$5799. That would be about AUD$8500 with exchange rate, shipping and GST.

Perhaps that was with mount and even then it seems too much.

Greg

I gather that the prices will be much closer to the US$ equivalent when the new Australian Agent 'kicks in'. I can wait...

matt · #15 17-07-2009, 09:29 AM

Who's the new Australian agent? And when will sales commence?

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #16 17-07-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt

Who's the new Australian agent? And when will sales commence?

Can't remember and I don't Know

Give Ron a ring at Sirius Optics a ring and have a look at his prices: http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/index11.htm

rat156 · #17 17-07-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kal

Sorry Stuart, you are 100% correct. I was looking at the manual earlier on in the day which has a misprint, because it has the same 3910mm focal length listed with F10 after it (3910/356 = F11)

You were reading the manual?

Now that's almost unAustralian!

I thought we were supposed to get stuff, set it up and turn it on (perhaps even post about how it's not working properly) before consulting the manual.

Cheers
Stuart

Kal (Andrew) · #18 17-07-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gb_astro

Bintel prices, no mount:

EdgeHD 1400 $18995
EdgeHD 1100 $8995
EdgeHD 800 $3995

gb.

Return airfaires to the USA - $1200
1 weeks accomodation - $1000
Hire Car - $1000
Theme park tickets - $200
Food & Expenses - $1000
14" EdgeHD scope - $7250
Shipping new purchase back home - $850 (?)

Total cost for a week long holiday + scope - $12500, a saving of 5 and a half grand!

netwolf · #19 17-07-2009, 11:26 AM

Really glad to see some improvements being made on the good old SCT Design, which actually work to fix some long standing issues.

Kal, its a joke and I am sure it has more to do with there being only one distributor in this country than the retailers.

The Meade 12" ACF is listed at Bintel for $5399
The Edge 11" is $8995

Almost double for 1" less.

The diffrence is that with Meade, I dont belive there is a central distributor.

Consider the 8SE for $3299AUD, its $1199USD at OPT.
Consider the 8 EdgeHD for $3995AUD, its $1299USD at OPT.
Even with Shipping, and GST this makes no sense. Unles you count the 'monopolisation' of a sole distributor.

Now conisder the Meade.
Meade 8" ACF $2299AUD, its 1099USD at OPT.
Far better.

Regards
Fahim

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #20 17-07-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kal

Food & Expenses - $1000

Learn to party

, there is plenty of slack in that budget