t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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Please, do...thank you.
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Present Stable:
Kmart 40mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
PST
C6XLT
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
C-11XLT
EQ-2,CG-4,ASGT-5,DenkII's,TV(zoom,plossls,Ethos),Pentax XW's,UO volcano set, ZAOII 4mm,BaaderZoom and other un-notables
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
Carl Sagan
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 437
Loc: Wisconsin
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Posted with permission from Tim.
Nice photos of a beautiful telescope Tim!
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Astro-Physics 130mm f6.3 StarFire EDF 'Gran Turismo'
TEC MC200/15.5
Astro-Physics AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D Hap Modified
DFK21AU04.AS
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t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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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...
Edited by t.r. (07/14/08 08:55 AM)
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Tom D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/29/04
Posts: 1732
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I would be very interested in your comments/opinions re a comparison of the optics of these two scopes.
Tom
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Stellarvue SV105 (TMB/LZOS f/6.2)
DiscMounts DM-4 w/Sky Commander XP4
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 437
Loc: Wisconsin
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You should let AP know what you do not like as well as what you like.
Good report!
Thanks Tim!
--------------------
Astro-Physics 130mm f6.3 StarFire EDF 'Gran Turismo'
TEC MC200/15.5
Astro-Physics AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D Hap Modified
DFK21AU04.AS
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t.r.
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/14/08
Posts: 577
Loc: Upstate NY
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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. 
--------------------
Present Stable:
Kmart 40mm(first scope @ age 8)
Jason 60mm
C80SS
Tak Sky90II
PST
C6XLT
AP130 "Gran Turismo"
C-11XLT
EQ-2,CG-4,ASGT-5,DenkII's,TV(zoom,plossls,Ethos),Pentax XW's,UO volcano set, ZAOII 4mm,BaaderZoom and other un-notables
"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."
Carl Sagan
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 437
Loc: Wisconsin
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I know for a fact that they value customer feedback.
--------------------
Astro-Physics 130mm f6.3 StarFire EDF 'Gran Turismo'
TEC MC200/15.5
Astro-Physics AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D Hap Modified
DFK21AU04.AS
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Tom D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/29/04
Posts: 1732
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Yes. Maybe they'll have changed the screw and lens cap things by the time I get "the call" 
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Stellarvue SV105 (TMB/LZOS f/6.2)
DiscMounts DM-4 w/Sky Commander XP4
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 437
Loc: Wisconsin
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How does the TEC lens cap work?
Photos?
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Astro-Physics 130mm f6.3 StarFire EDF 'Gran Turismo'
TEC MC200/15.5
Astro-Physics AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D Hap Modified
DFK21AU04.AS
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Mike Clemens
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/05
Posts: 4248
Loc: Wasilla, Alaska 61N
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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.
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historius apochromaticus
Edited by Mike Clemens (07/11/08 04:06 PM)
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 437
Loc: Wisconsin
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Ah! Something akin to the Nikon lens covers.
I have broken those in the past.
--------------------
Astro-Physics 130mm f6.3 StarFire EDF 'Gran Turismo'
TEC MC200/15.5
Astro-Physics AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D Hap Modified
DFK21AU04.AS
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Mike Clemens
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/05
Posts: 4248
Loc: Wasilla, Alaska 61N
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These aren't going to break. You could probably get them licensed as deadly weapons.
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 437
Loc: Wisconsin
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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.
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Astro-Physics 130mm f6.3 StarFire EDF 'Gran Turismo'
TEC MC200/15.5
Astro-Physics AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D Hap Modified
DFK21AU04.AS
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Joe Bergeron
Vendor - Space Art
Reged: 11/10/03
Posts: 930
Loc: Upstate NY
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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.
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Seven telescopes of a diverse nature.
Multiple chums glittering in the sky. New friends await.
My Web Site
English Lessons for Amateur Astronomers
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Tom D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/29/04
Posts: 1732
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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.
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Stellarvue SV105 (TMB/LZOS f/6.2)
DiscMounts DM-4 w/Sky Commander XP4
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LLEEGE
Running out of Oxygen
Reged: 03/03/05
Posts: 9046
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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It is pretty darn slick.
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"Okay! You draw the straws. I'm-a taking the parachute."
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Mike Clemens
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/05
Posts: 4248
Loc: Wasilla, Alaska 61N
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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.
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historius apochromaticus
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 437
Loc: Wisconsin
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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.
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Astro-Physics 130mm f6.3 StarFire EDF 'Gran Turismo'
TEC MC200/15.5
Astro-Physics AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D Hap Modified
DFK21AU04.AS
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k5apl
sage
Reged: 05/19/06
Posts: 397
Loc: Arkansas
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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
Edited by k5apl (07/12/08 12:16 PM)
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Mark Jenkins
sage
Reged: 06/25/08
Posts: 437
Loc: Wisconsin
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Cool photo Wes!
--------------------
Astro-Physics 130mm f6.3 StarFire EDF 'Gran Turismo'
TEC MC200/15.5
Astro-Physics AP Mach1 GTO
EarthWin PFS-B
Canon EOS 50D Hap Modified
DFK21AU04.AS
|
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