asaint
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 2021
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JSO SCT
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Patrik Iver
sage
Reged: 07/29/03
Posts: 201
Loc: Kaarina, Finland
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No comments from anyone yet?
I'll add a comment then: Sounds like a really nice and collectible scope - I wan't one!
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Best regards,
Patrik Iver
60°N, 22°E
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Gerry S
journeyman
Reged: 12/09/06
Posts: 8
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It's not surprising that there are no comments as this scope is unknown to most. Part of the reason for writing this review is to prod failing memories of those who each hold part of the big story. If you are curious about obtaining a JSO 5 inch SCT I know of one for sale from an organization down in California. Email me for details.
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FieldofDreams
member
Reged: 11/22/05
Posts: 27
Loc: Maryland
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I bought a JSO 125mm somewhere around 1983 from an outfit in Baltimore, MD. It included the optical tube, an equitorial mount and an impressive array of photographic accessories. We have a long history together - but for the last several years the scope has served as an "accessory" (my wife likes the color of the tube and the redwood tripod). Recently, I decided to try to learn to use some "modern technology". I have used the ever reliable JSO assembly to experiment with a DSLR in my backyard in an extraordinarily light polluted environment.
I am attempting to attach an image - more details if anyone is interested.
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Tom Fleury
LXD75 SN 8 f/4
Orion Short Tube 80mm f/5
JSO 125mm f/10 on Mizar mount (25 years old)
Rebel XT
DSI
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FieldofDreams
member
Reged: 11/22/05
Posts: 27
Loc: Maryland
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The image that I tried to attach....
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Tom Fleury
LXD75 SN 8 f/4
Orion Short Tube 80mm f/5
JSO 125mm f/10 on Mizar mount (25 years old)
Rebel XT
DSI
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Clive Gibbons
Mostly Harmless
Reged: 05/26/05
Posts: 10307
Loc: Oort Cloud
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Earlier this year, I saw a yellow JSO 5" at a Toronto-area scope dealer. It looked interesting and unique.
One thing that caught my eye--
the primary mirror coating. There were two rather obvious bare strips on opposite edges of the mirror. It looked like these areas were where the mirror was held in the aluminizing chamber.
Probably more of an aesthetic issue, than anything that would affect performance.
Cool scope!  
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A few telescopes of dubious value.
Understanding wife and three curious cats.
"Semper ubi sub ubi"
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Patrik Iver
sage
Reged: 07/29/03
Posts: 201
Loc: Kaarina, Finland
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Quote:
I know of one for sale from an organization down in California. Email me for details.
Thanks for the tip, but maybe not the real world. Four telescopes (counting a Pentax spotter) in the aperture range from 80 to 300 mm are all that I really need right now.
It would be interesting to have a estimate of the approximate value of one, though...
Should go quite a lot higher than a C5, I expect?
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Best regards,
Patrik Iver
60°N, 22°E
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southmike
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/22/04
Posts: 2820
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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i like the vinegar bottle dew shield idea...creative
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group scope pic
my refractors
LX200 10"-St120
LX200 8" f6.3-Orion 80ed
LX200 8" f10-Orion 90 Mak setup pic
Meade 102ED LXD650
Sky Watcher 100 ED Triplet prototype
Nexstar 5
etx125
etx70's
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Gerry S
journeyman
Reged: 12/09/06
Posts: 8
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It would be interesting to have a estimate of the approximate value of one, though...
Should go quite a lot higher than a C5, I expect?
I sold the blue one shown in the review for about $800 Cdn (~$700 US) a year ago. There has been a few sales of these scopes (OTA only) in the $600-$800 US range. The one for sale was a package deal with a Vixen Super Polaris mount. I'm not sure what the cost of a new JSO 125 was back in the 80's but I do know that Parks sold the little brother 100mm f/10 Jovian 4 for price of around $1200. That was the price after a severe price increase as it was sold for around $700 or so. I feel the 125 is a definite step up from the Jovian 4.
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Gerry S
journeyman
Reged: 12/09/06
Posts: 8
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Quote:
Earlier this year, I saw a yellow JSO 5" at a Toronto-area scope dealer. It looked interesting and unique.
One thing that caught my eye--the primary mirror coating. There were two rather obvious bare strips on opposite edges of the mirror. It looked like these areas were where the mirror was held in the aluminizing chamber.
--My yellow JSO also has those two flat spots on either edge of the main mirror. The flat spots barely come in more than a millimeter, but there is no evidence of any effect in the diffraction pattern or image that I can see. Oddly enough, the Blue version didn't have the flat spots.
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Gerry S
journeyman
Reged: 12/09/06
Posts: 8
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Hello Tom. Too bad you had trouble getting an image posted. I was intrigued when you said that you got your JSO in 1983. that's the earliest I have heard of those scopes arriving over in North America. the earliest I have seen of the JSO was a reference to circa 1981. Does yours have the flat spots at the edge of mirror that Clive mentioned? Did yours come with that Mizar tripod as a package or was that cobbled together by you or your dealer?
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Jae
sage
Reged: 04/13/06
Posts: 411
Loc: Boston south shore, MA
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I believe the Park's Jovian is made by the same manufacturer but it's not as substantial as the JSO 5". For JSO fans that want to augment the 5" with a 4", I see one here for sale at a reasonable price so far:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=001&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=110090483413&rd=1&rd=1
I have both and find the 4" to be a lighter weight version of the the 5". Diffraction patterns are very similar.
Jae
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AstroArlo
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 383
Loc: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
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I have a 6" JSO Schmidt Camera which the University of Colorado used for a year and then "sold" at bargain basement prices.
The optical performance is outstanding, and it's really fast at f/2.5 and has a huge 7.44 degree field at 400mm focal length - like a really fast 400mm lens without all the optical aberrations!
But it's a bear cutting and developing the circular film chips. It's getting difficult to get developing chemicals.
But this one is not for sale...
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Best Regards, Arlo
Grand Cosmic Observatory, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
CATS/CASS - 20" RCOS Ritchey-Chretien, C14, C8
REFRACTORS - 155mm Astro-Physics Starfire EDF w/4" Focuser, 102mm Televue Genesis, 78mm FS Takahashi
ASTROGRAPHS - 8" Lichtenecker Flat Field Camera, 6" JSO Schmidt Camera
MOUNTS - Paramount ME, Losmandy GM200, Takahashi EM-100
CCD/IMAGING - SBIG STS-4, SBIG STL-11000M
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David Castillo
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/09/06
Posts: 630
Loc: Carmel Valley, Ca
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I spotted 2 JSO's available ta a surplus dealer. If anyone is shopping check out:
http://www.mountain-skies.org/surplus.htm
I like the Mellow Yellow!
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orion61
member
Reged: 10/20/07
Posts: 55
Loc: Iowa
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I know this is an older post but I just got the deal of a lifetime,
I just picked up a nice 125 JSO off of the A****rt site
for 1/2 of what you guys are talking about.
This is the 3rd one I have owned.
Let me tell you folks I said my vows and am married to this one now!
Perfect star tests, looks just like a mak optically,
Mine does not have the 2 mirror marks on the side, one of my others did.
This one suffered from a little image shift until I mixed up some lube (1/2 white lithium grease and 1/2 30 weight oil) applied on the center mirror (slide) tube with a q-tip. Now ZERO Image shift.. NONE!!! 
My 1980 C8 has worked with this mixture for a dozen years now. "FYI for you that have this problem".
These are super I was stupid, and sold my first 2 in the 80's WHAT WAS I THINKING!! 
If you get a chance to get one, they are pretty rare and
SUPERB.
They are built better than anything else I have ever touched. They are built to last a lifetime and more.
The focuser feels like fine a micrometer. Much better than the typical SCT's out there. These feel like a fine Professional observatory instrument not mass produced or for sale to the general public.
my 2 cents worth.
Larry 
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You may say I'm a dreamer, but Im not the only one
John Lennon (Imagine)
8" F8 1958 Cave Astrola Model B Deluxe (Planet Killer)
8" LX200 Classic
1980 Celestron C8
10" Dobsonian
JSO 5" SCT
4" Bausch & Lomb Portable Obervatory
8" Meade SCT On Polaris GEM
Nikon SLR and Nikkor lenses (a gift from Jim)
Neximage and HP laptop
Burgess 25 x 100 Binoculars
20 x 80 Celestron Made In Japan super Binos.
Cannon 10x30 i.s. binoculars
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Gerry S
journeyman
Reged: 12/09/06
Posts: 8
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Congrats on finding a JSO that you can live with. These scopes will appeal to those people who appreciate fine craftsmanship. It's hard to walk past it and not give that wonderful focuser a few test turns. I haven't used mine much of late as I stupidly wrecked the controller for my LN mount. I'll need some electronics fellow to get that fixed.
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bark
newbie
Reged: 07/05/08
Posts: 1
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I've had my JSO NSC-12B for about 25 years, and it really is a fine instrument.
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2001
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Excellent review and background history of JSO.
Fred
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River Cam - Cambridge England
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