(professor emeritus)

07/06/08 07:48 PM

AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

After a long wait, UPS delivered on the 3rd, nice treat for the fourth. Beautiful scope, smaller and lighter than the Tec140, first light tonight...pics to follow...

(Post Laureate)

07/06/08 07:56 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Wow! Congradulations! (Been waiting long?

) Can't wait for you pics.

David E

(sage)

07/06/08 08:11 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Congratulations!

I had the pleasure of using one for a couple of nights this weekend.

I want my own!

(super member)

07/06/08 10:34 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Congratulations on a superb scope! We are looking forward to the pictures and first light report.

I now move up the list another spot, but am still planning delivery in about 2020.

Hermie

(Pooh-Bah)

07/07/08 06:27 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

(Pooh-Bah)

07/07/08 10:12 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

WOW exciting! Good luck w/ it. Regarding pics, allow me to place my order:
------The usual exterior pics.
------A juicy lens shot.
------OTA disassembled.
------Interior shots.
------Close ups on where/how everything connects.
------Side order of fries

(Running out of Oxygen)

07/07/08 10:13 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

(Mostly Harmless)

07/07/08 10:46 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

GT's are always more fun!

Congratulations and happy observing!!

(Postmaster)

07/07/08 12:19 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

congratulations on the new scope!!

(sage)

07/07/08 01:21 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Congratulation on your new scope. Post some photos.

(Post Laureate)

07/08/08 08:55 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Congratulations, that's an awesome scope. Looking forward to some pics!

(Post Laureate)

07/08/08 01:01 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Quote:

WOW exciting! Good luck w/ it. Regarding pics, allow me to place my order:
------The usual exterior pics.
------A juicy lens shot.
------OTA disassembled.
------Interior shots.
------Close ups on where/how everything connects.
------Side order of fries

Yes, we'd like the "Grand Tour!"

But I think champagne and caviar would be more apropriate than fries.

David E

(professor emeritus)

07/09/08 04:06 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Having trouble with picture size and posting here...pics on "other" site under AP...
Still waiting for a good "first" light, but even in bad seeing I was impressed...

(Carpal Tunnel)

07/09/08 04:15 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Let's see it. Words are cheap.

(sage)

07/09/08 05:13 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

WOW that is one nice looking scope. You are one luckey guy..Now where do I get in line at.....

(scholastic sledgehammer)

07/09/08 06:16 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

I'm jealous. How about the pics.

(Pooh-Bah)

07/09/08 07:43 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Agreed.....love to see it

(Fleet Navigator)

07/10/08 09:32 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Nice pic on the "other site." Great side-by-side with the TEC 140!

(sage)

07/10/08 11:34 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Post edited until I get permission from Tim to post his images.

Apologies.

(sage)

07/10/08 11:53 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Tim, can I have permission to post your resized photos?

(professor emeritus)

07/10/08 08:23 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Please, do...thank you.

(sage)

07/10/08 09:41 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Posted with permission from Tim.

Nice photos of a beautiful telescope Tim!

(professor emeritus)

07/11/08 09:53 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Well, I've had a fair night to check out the GT and form some impressions. Mounted on a CG5goto, good size/weight ratio, more stable than with the TEC. In a word...Excellent.

Jupiter even fairly low showed good detail with red spot even at the following edge. Belts stood out with good contrast and detail seen in the N and S polar regions. About on par with the TEC although I've seen way more in better seeing with it. Excellent star test.

Cruised the galactic bulge,M17,M8,M22 on to Hercules M13, Lyra M57...all about comparable to the TEC view.
The double double was an easy, excellent split, with dark lines at 136x and just got better as I zoomed in with the TV3-6 eyepiece.
Alberio, beautiful with faithful color rendition

The first night out wasn't the best of seeing, but Saturn at low altitude still diplayed globe shadow, belt and a hint of cassini's. It cut thru some pretty bad seeing quite well.

I love the size compared to the TEC, very easy to maneuver the whole setup in and outside. I like the FT 3.5" focuser of the TEC better but the AP's 2.7 with FT ain't bad either, just different. I DO NOT like the 2 screws tapped into the tube side...a short cut I believe. The push on cover is old school and WILL rub the paint off the dew shield eventually. I love the TEC's lens cover. AP should update that and set up the focuser for the finderscope.

I'am primarily a planetary/lunar/double star visual observer. My biggest concern is what I might loose on planetary detail giving up the TEC's 10mm. I have viewed the mottling on martian maria, 10+ belts and detail in the red spot on Jupiter, multiple bands and ring structure on Saturn with the TEC and this is my minimum level of acceptable detail.
I hope the GT can deliver it...

(Carpal Tunnel)

07/11/08 10:21 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

I would be very interested in your comments/opinions re a comparison of the optics of these two scopes.

Tom

(sage)

07/11/08 12:20 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

You should let AP know what you do not like as well as what you like.

Good report!

Thanks Tim!

(professor emeritus)

07/11/08 12:38 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

I would, but you know who is a bit sensitive about his babies...

I'll leave that to the inner circle, those more qualified than I.

(sage)

07/11/08 01:54 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

I know for a fact that they value customer feedback.

(Carpal Tunnel)

07/11/08 03:44 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Yes. Maybe they'll have changed the screw and lens cap things by the time I get "the call"

(sage)

07/11/08 03:46 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

How does the TEC lens cap work?

Photos?

(Post Laureate)

07/11/08 04:00 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

TEC 140 - 180 lens caps have two holes in them where your thumb and finger go in, then you squeeze the two squares (seen below) together, which releases the cap from the rounded front of the dewshield.

They are spring loaded, so when you put it on, there are two delrin-looking hook-a-ma-bobs (not seen in pic) on the back of the dewshield cap, which lock inside the reducing diameter of the rounded dewshield front.

You can see in front of the lens engraving ring, on the bottom, there is a groove seen. That is the area where the hook-a-ma-bob go into and then expand to lock.

(sage)

07/11/08 05:12 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Ah! Something akin to the Nikon lens covers.

I have broken those in the past.

(Post Laureate)

07/11/08 05:25 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

These aren't going to break. You could probably get them licensed as deadly weapons.

(sage)

07/11/08 05:55 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

I meant the mechanism. Some of the older ones used something like spring steel and I have seen other that used plastic as well as steel springs.

I don't think the existing design of the AP lens cover will damage the new paint. It seems tough as nails.

My traveler has not been damaged and it have been removed and replaced a lot!

It is lined with felt

Not sure the extra expense of a mechanical lens cover is really worth it.

(Vendor - Space Art)

07/11/08 06:12 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Quote:

I would, but you know who is a bit sensitive about his babies...
I'll leave that to the inner circle, those more qualified than I.

I wouldn't worry about that. Equanimity is Roland's middle name (his parents were cruel). Tell him what you think.

(Carpal Tunnel)

07/11/08 07:21 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Bar none, TEC has the best lens cap arrangement I've ever seen. Unless Yuri has a patent on it, I cannot understand why other mfg's do not employ it.

(Running out of Oxygen)

07/11/08 08:53 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

It is pretty darn slick.

(Post Laureate)

07/12/08 01:19 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

I'm a bit taken back by the two screws in the side of the tube. Are they for a finder mount or what?? The dewcap slide-on is fine. Overall the 130GT gets an "insanely gorgeous" rating from me.

(sage)

07/12/08 02:30 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Yes, they are for the new QRBASES quick release bracket for the finder. The tube rotates easily if you wish to change the position of the finder.

I think that is why AP chose to put the mounting screws on the tube instead of the focuser. You can rotate the focuser without disturbing your finder location.

(sage)

07/12/08 11:35 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Hi Mike
I mounted the TEC finder base with those two screws in the
GT tube. Fit perfectly. Now I can use the TEC/AP finder or
MRF in that base on the GT. I like the idea that the finder
doesn't have to rotate with the focuser.

Wes

(sage)

07/12/08 01:21 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Cool photo Wes!

(sage)

07/14/08 12:23 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Quote:

Hi Mike
I mounted the TEC finder base with those two screws in the
GT tube. Fit perfectly. Now I can use the TEC/AP finder or
MRF in that base on the GT. I like the idea that the finder
doesn't have to rotate with the focuser.

Wes

Wes, I believe this is a good solution to the two screws on the tube. I would expect AP to at least but a finder base there so that the two screws don't spoil the look of the OTA.

The peel off lens cap can be improved though. Even the cheap Meade 127 APO triplet has a screw on lens cap. Not that I like that, but it still look better than a peel off cap on a nearly 6K AP scope! The TEC lens cap has a really nice touch to it.

Otherwise, I think the GT is a really exquisite scope in the sense that it can be break down for portability.

(Post Laureate)

07/14/08 06:55 AM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

that last picture.... NICE

(sage)

09/04/08 11:29 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

guys, what do you think would be a resale value of the Gran Turismo? This scope is quite new, sells for $5675 by AP.

Any idea what would be its resale value?

(Pooh-Bah)

09/05/08 12:33 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

How does the color correction compare?

(sage)

09/05/08 02:02 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Ref: Color Correction
I see the color correction of the 130GT as being excellent
so far; I haven't really cranked up magnification on Vega
or Sirius though. No color on any other star visible now
in the evenings to midnight and no color on the limb of the
Moon at high power (240x-330x). Jupiter is white with ex-
cellent contrast of the bands. Jupiter's color is all on the
disc, not around it.... Double Cluster has the Red stars
stand out easily. I can easily see the red/orange color of
Antares and its green companion. As far as Doubles are con-
cerned, it easily splits Nu Scorpii when seeing is steady.
Using high power terrestrially on pine tree needles against
the blue sky in broad daylight shows no purple haze (300-400x). So, color is not an issue for me.
BTW I viewed through a TEC160FL for comparison so I am
familiar with excellent optics as you are too, judging by
your equipment list.
I'll try to answer any specific questions, as this was a very general answer. And, the view of the Milky Way impress-
ed me by the sharpness and clarity and fine detail visible;
I believe a better indication of the excellent optics.
Clear Skies,

Wes
ps. I view stars and planets etc in focus

(sage)

09/05/08 03:59 PM

Re: AP130 Gran Turismo Arrives

Not only Nikon, but other camera manufacturers as well. This definitely isn't something that was invented by TEC. This might be new for telescopes but lens covers like this have been around for a long time.

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