· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Classic Telescopes Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | (show all) JonH super member Reged: 04/07/12 Loc: Brisbane Australia Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: Dave M]       #5709674 - 03/02/13 10:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am curious about the box that came with your beautiful scope. I cant picture what it was supposed to hold. If it is too narrow for a folded refractor what bit of kit would have fitted those supports? I guess it could have been a scope and tripod container as sold with some of the Unitron 114s, but if that is the case why arent there any eyepiece or prism holders and no divider to stop the tripod messing with the OTA? Post Extras:       Dave M Postmaster Reged: 08/03/04 Loc: N.E.Ohio Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: JonH]       #5709703 - 03/02/13 10:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I`m curious also, im hoping someone recognises it and knows what its for. Its outer dimensions are 22" long x 9" wide x 4.5" deep. Post Extras:       gelkin scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 09/22/10 Loc: Western, MD. Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: Dave M]       #5709712 - 03/02/13 11:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Its not very long. I wonder if it is from a spotting scope. Post Extras:       Joe Cepleur Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/18/10 Loc: Dark North Woods Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: Dave M]       #5709743 - 03/02/13 11:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The folded Unitron is one of my favorite scopes. Never seen one in person, but hope to someday. Is the image somewhat dimmed due to the mirrors? Nothing modern coatings couldn't fix. The steadiness on the mount must be radically improved with so short a tube. Post Extras:       bremms scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 08/31/12 Loc: SC Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: Joe Cepleur]       #5709862 - 03/03/13 02:01 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   At that age those mirrors are 70% reflective each so you are about 50% throughput on the mirrors. Your 3" has about as much light to the eyepiece as a 2.2" scope. Plus alignment issues, more wavefront error and scattering. Might be a cool scope, but performance will suffer. Post Extras:       Joe Cepleur Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/18/10 Loc: Dark North Woods Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: bremms]       #5710217 - 03/03/13 09:43 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The scope's flaws are as expected. Still, it's a classic, and insanely cool! Looking at the mounts of the day, the increased steadiness must have somewhat offset the degraded image, but not much. Optically, sounds as though it's like having a good, but not great, 60mm that nevertheless has the resolution of a 3-inch. Still, it's a quirky favorite of mine. Post Extras:       Dave M Postmaster Reged: 08/03/04 Loc: N.E.Ohio Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: bremms]       #5710270 - 03/03/13 10:09 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   One could "assume" that might be the case. The mirrors look in excellent condition given their age. Since they are in such excellent condition i have no plans to have modern coatings applied. Post Extras:       Joe Cepleur Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/18/10 Loc: Dark North Woods Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: Dave M]       #5710479 - 03/03/13 11:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   A lot goes into choosing a telescope, from the expectation of what one might see, to the ease of carrying it outside, to the ineffable pleasure of using it. All told, the folded Unitron is one of the greats, a good-sized refractor in the ultimate grab-and-go package, surrounded in the glow of history and ingenious design. Congratulations! Post Extras:       Dave M Postmaster Reged: 08/03/04 Loc: N.E.Ohio Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: Joe Cepleur]       #5710508 - 03/03/13 11:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks! Joe, i couldnt agree more, very well stated. Post Extras:       starman876 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/28/08 Loc: VA Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: gelkin]       #5710535 - 03/03/13 12:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That small box is for the Unitron 80mm spotting scope. Post Extras:       starman876 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/28/08 Loc: VA Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: starman876]       #5710540 - 03/03/13 12:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And if you are interested you can, out of two of those spotting scope boxes, make a box that will hold the 131C. If you would like pictures of how I did it just ask. Post Extras:       starman876 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/28/08 Loc: VA Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: bremms]       #5710544 - 03/03/13 12:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Exactly why I am planning to replace the mirrors in one of mine to see if I can improve the performance of the 131C. Post Extras:       terraclarke Pooh-Bah Reged: 05/29/12 Loc: Over the river and thru the wo... Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: starman876]       #5710555 - 03/03/13 12:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Precisely why I like the thru-put of a straight thru design coupled with a quality prism. No mirrors (I don't smoke) Terra Post Extras:       starman876 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/28/08 Loc: VA Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: terraclarke]       #5710563 - 03/03/13 12:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This was Unitron attempt to counter the high end shorter focal legth APO's. I always wonder what would have happened if they would have started making APO telescopes. I do know they attempted to start selling telescopes again, but in order to compete with price market were obtaining products out of China. However, they could not find a source to be able to produce the quality that people were expecting from Unitron so they left the telescope market completely. Post Extras:       Dave M Postmaster Reged: 08/03/04 Loc: N.E.Ohio Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: terraclarke]       #5710565 - 03/03/13 12:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks! for the ID on the Unitron box Johann. Yes, please do post some pictures of you box here, ide love to see them. Post Extras:       xavier super member Reged: 10/31/07 Loc: Belgium Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: Dave M]       #5710583 - 03/03/13 12:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Congratulations with your new Unitron. Great find. Is one of the few missing in my collection. Post Extras:       Dave M Postmaster Reged: 08/03/04 Loc: N.E.Ohio Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: starman876]       #5710594 - 03/03/13 12:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If you do replace them ide be interested in your results. I dont have any imediate plans on replacing mine but who knows, i could be tempted at some point. Post Extras:       starman876 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/28/08 Loc: VA Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: Dave M]       #5710613 - 03/03/13 01:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I would think they are at least 1/10 flats. I am not sure it I ever saw any specifications on the mirrors. Considering the wavefront on the objective and 1/10 mirrors I would be surprised it it comes close to 1/4 at the eyepiece. Anybody else have any opinions on this? Post Extras:       Dave M Postmaster Reged: 08/03/04 Loc: N.E.Ohio Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: starman876]       #5710855 - 03/03/13 03:33 PM Attachment (17 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here`s a shot of the objective, apparently mine is also one of the rare green tinted ones, see the next to last page, and last page in this thread. http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4715419/page... His is marked with a C531 on the lens cell, mine is marked C540. Thought that was rather interesting.. Post Extras:       mustgobigger Post Laureate Reged: 06/12/07 Loc: Michigan Re: Unitron 131-C [Re: Dave M]       #5710964 - 03/03/13 04:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am going to do some testing With mine when the weather gets a little better. I think mine will blow away any 60mm let alone 55mm as stated Above. maybe ill try a photo light meter At the eyepiece between mine and A 60mm. No one will make me believe It compairs to 55mm. I am so swamped it might be awhile Before I get a chance to test but I will do that. I get great views with mine and No way any of 50 or more 60mm Scopes I have viewed through Match it. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 19 registered and 11 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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