Telescope Reviews: William Optics GTF 102

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Equipment Discussions >> Refractors

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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/05

Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA

William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

#5700677 - 02/25/13 10:17 PM

Hi all,

I got the WO GTF 102, and will be attaching some pictures in a minute. I will preface by saying that it was hazy, and getting more cloudy by the minute when I shot the moon picture, and the scope had not reached cool down equilibrium yet. The views are stunning. I got some good looks at the full moon, as well as some not great looks at Jupiter and the Orion Nebula. I will be investing in a mount to do astrophotography at some point, and I think I will likely go with the iOptron iEQ45 but I need to wait to get that, and will decide after NEAF to see what comes out and how much I can afford to start with some very beginner astrophotography.

Timm

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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/05

Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: timmbottoni]
#5700679 - 02/25/13 10:18 PM Attachment (228 downloads)

Pic of the full moon

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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/05

Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: timmbottoni]
#5700680 - 02/25/13 10:18 PM Attachment (205 downloads)

Pic of the scope atop my EZ Touch

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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/05

Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: timmbottoni]
#5700682 - 02/25/13 10:18 PM Attachment (158 downloads)

Another pic

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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/05

Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: timmbottoni]
#5700683 - 02/25/13 10:19 PM Attachment (135 downloads)

Another pic still

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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/05

Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: timmbottoni]
#5700684 - 02/25/13 10:19 PM Attachment (121 downloads)

Thermomether works and is accurate

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Erskin71
sage

Reged: 12/13/10

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: timmbottoni]
#5700732 - 02/25/13 10:52 PM

Congrats! Sure looks nice. Do you have the dew shield extended in these pics?

Mine gets here Thursday. Can't wait.

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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/05

Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: Erskin71]
#5700738 - 02/25/13 10:56 PM

Yes, dew shield is extended. It has a very nice locking thumbscrew feature as well. WO pays great attention to the little details.

Timm

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nirvanix
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/07/07

Loc: Saskatoon, SK

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: timmbottoni]
#5700784 - 02/25/13 11:24 PM

Beautiful scope Timm. Glad to hear the optics are as sharp as its looks.

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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/05

Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: nirvanix]
#5700791 - 02/25/13 11:28 PM

Quote:

Beautiful scope Timm. Glad to hear the optics are as sharp as its looks.

Thanks - I can't wait to get it out a night of GOOD seeing!

Timm

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zjc26138
Loved By All

Reged: 02/24/05

Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: timmbottoni]
#5701298 - 02/26/13 10:01 AM

Beautiful scope Timm!

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Kon Dealer
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/05/11

Loc: Cambridge UK

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely *DELETED* [Re: zjc26138]
#5701319 - 02/26/13 10:09 AM

Post deleted by Scott in NC

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EdTheEdge
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 04/10/09

Loc: Lomita, CA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely *DELETED* new

[Re: Kon Dealer]
#5701422 - 02/26/13 11:10 AM

Post deleted by Scott in NC

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A. Orzechowski
newbie

Reged: 09/30/04

Loc: Monessen, Pa

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: timmbottoni]
#5701653 - 02/26/13 01:10 PM

Hi Tim
Great to hear about your new edition... Just added the FLT98 to the collection. Please keep us informed about the performance.
Tony

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timmbottoni
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/25/05

Loc: W Chicago suburbs, IL USA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: EdTheEdge]
#5701658 - 02/26/13 01:13 PM

I agree, lets not hijack the thread. I'm not an employee of WO, or a dealer of WO products, so I can't answer questions (even hypothetical ones) about anyone's problems they may have had. Those should go to WO or the selling dealer to determine if there is a defect, a user error, or some other reason that its not performing to expectations.

And while its no secret I have long been a fan of WO, I will do my best to review the scope including the focuser in a detailed and objective way. If you read any of my other reviews, you will hopefully find that I try hard to discover the pros and cons of all aspects of the product. I promise, I will do the same here.

It may take a while unfortunately, as we are now in the midst of getting pounded with another winter storm, or as better known here... "the curse of a new scope"

Edited by Scott in NC (02/27/13 08:17 PM)

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rockethead26
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/21/09

Loc: Indiana, USA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: EdTheEdge]
#5701824 - 02/26/13 02:49 PM

Tim,

Congrats on the 102. It's a gorgeous scope!

Edited by Scott in NC (02/27/13 08:20 PM)

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SteveG
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/27/06

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: rockethead26]
#5701856 - 02/26/13 03:16 PM

Beautiful scope Timm! I'm looking forward to a future shoot-out between this and the TV101 variants. I know the focal length on the WO is longer, but it's nice to have another 4" flat field refractor on the market.

I think Kon just had some very bad luck with his WO experience. It is true that many aren't happy with the WO focusers - mostly imagers, but I think they are working hard to solve this.

Oh and Timm, thanks for the heads up on that tripod - I'm ordering one today!

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nirvanix
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/07/07

Loc: Saskatoon, SK

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: SteveG]
#5701876 - 02/26/13 03:28 PM

That scope is so sexy like "the woman in red". I'd like to get a 6" ED doublet with the same trimmings.

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Kunama
super member

Reged: 10/22/12

Loc: Australia

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: nirvanix]
#5701893 - 02/26/13 03:39 PM

Sweet looking refractor ! Congratulations !!!!!!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts once the skies clear.
(There's nothing quite like the excitement of bringing home a new baby and seeing the lights of the heavens through it)

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gustavo_sanchez
sage

Reged: 12/30/10

Loc: Puerto Rico, US

Re: William Optics GTF 102 - first light barely new

[Re: Kunama]
#5702047 - 02/26/13 04:46 PM

It sure looks great! I have the GT81 (though in blue

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