8923 replies to this topic

[starman876]

anyone know which Questar this is?

 

 

 

[davidmcgo]

Looks like a 7 ota

 

Dave

[starman876]

Looks like a 7 ota

 

Dave

thats what I thought.   Will see when it gets here.  

[clamchip]

Wow dreamscope alert!

[starman876]

Wow dreamscope alert!

Thanks.  It might need some restoration.   Lucky for me Cumberland optics is right around the corner.    I have used them to restore other Questars I have had.  

[clamchip]

Thanks.  It might need some restoration.   Lucky for me Cumberland optics is right around the corner.    I have used them to restore other Questars I have had.  

Please lots of pictures, let's see what you've got there when you get it and have time.

Rare and such a perfect size 7 inch.

I once owned a Meade 7 inch that was fabulous.

 

Robert

[RichA]

Please lots of pictures, let's see what you've got there when you get it and have time.

Rare and such a perfect size 7 inch.

I once owned a Meade 7 inch that was fabulous.

 

Robert

I had the Meade and 2 x 7" Questars, the Meade in my opinion was as good.  I also had a Sky Watcher 180mm but didn't own it long enough to see how it stacked up.

[CHASLX200]

I had the Meade and 2 x 7" Questars, the Meade in my opinion was as good.  I also had a Sky Watcher 180mm but didn't own it long enough to see how it stacked up.

I paid a arm and a leg for a Q7 and was not happy with it. Only had it for about 2 months back when we had real winters and it would never cool. Much bigger in person than anyone would ever think.  I never had a Meade 7" Mak but my friend did and it was good , but heavy.

Edited by CHASLX200, 12 August 2020 - 05:34 AM.

[starman876]

I still have a Meade 7" Mak so it will be interesting to compare the two.  I have read other reviews about comparing the two and the Meade is good, but not quite the quality optics of the Questar.   With any big Mak cool down time is so important. That is a lot of glass on the front.  

Edited by starman876, 12 August 2020 - 06:30 AM.

[starman876]

I paid a arm and a leg for a Q7 and was not happy with it. Only had it for about 2 months back when we had real winters and it would never cool. Much bigger in person than anyone would ever think.  I never had a Meade 7" Mak but my friend did and it was good , but heavy.

You mean the temperature kept dropping and the scope would never cool?  

[RichA]

I paid a arm and a leg for a Q7 and was not happy with it. Only had it for about 2 months back when we had real winters and it would never cool. Much bigger in person than anyone would ever think.  I never had a Meade 7" Mak but my friend did and it was good , but heavy.

Yes, the LX50/200 Maks had that stupid 8lb weight inside the OTA to balance on the "too short for it fork mount."  However, the Meade 7" OTA didn't, so it also cooled down faster.

[starman876]

Yes, the LX50/200 Maks had that stupid 8lb weight inside the OTA to balance on the "too short for it fork mount."  However, the Meade 7" OTA didn't, so it also cooled down faster.

and to take that weight out is ineresting.  They siliconed it is place.  

[clamchip]

I never had a problem with cool down or the 8 pound counterweight inside.

Its nice that the Meade comes with fans.

Generally though I think the Q7 comes with exotic ingredients to help with thermal

management like Quartz mirrors and Titanium structure.

 

Robert 

Edited by clamchip, 12 August 2020 - 08:11 PM.

[davidmcgo]

The recent Q7 Lightweight does all that supposedly but the originals did not.  But from experimenting with Reflectix wraps, you have nothing to fear except a shiny metallized bubble wrap jacket hiding the purple.

Dave

[starman876]

The recent Q7 Lightweight does all that supposedly but the originals did not.  But from experimenting with Reflectix wraps, you have nothing to fear except a shiny metallized bubble wrap jacket hiding the purple.

Dave

So if you use the Q7 only when it is nice outside there are no issues.  Sounds like the perfect scope to me.  

[RichA]

So if you use the Q7 only when it is nice outside there are no issues.  Sounds like the perfect scope to me.  

The Q7, like the Meade always work better when 1, outdoor temps match indoor (no change) and when temperatures outdoors are stable.

[CharlieB]

Let's wind or way back to the ads.  You are welcome to start a separate Q7 topic.  I'm sure that would be interesting.  Thank you.

[starman876]

Let's wind or way back to the ads.  You are welcome to start a separate Q7 topic.  I'm sure that would be interesting.  Thank you.

I am so sorry Charlie.  I thought this was the thread where we talked about what we found after we responded to an ad??

[CharlieB]

You are right - it was my error.  I thought I was in the Ads forum.  Please forgive my late night modding.  Please continue.

 

Charlie

[davidmcgo]

Get a roll of Reflectix.  It is inexpensive.  Wrap the OTA with it and it will kill a lot of the convection plume that blurs the image.

 

I need to try something a little thinner for my 3.5 to block less of the finder but almost all of the distorting thermals are inside the tube and due to cooling through the tube wall.

 

Insulate that and it really becomes a non issue.

 

And if you still don’t like it, I’d give it a happy forever home in San Diego ;-)

 

Dave

So if you use the Q7 only when it is nice outside there are no issues.  Sounds like the perfect scope to me.  

[starman876]

You are right - it was my error.  I thought I was in the Ads forum.  Please forgive my late night modding.  Please continue.

 

Charlie

I understand, been there done that.  Thanks for the response.  You have a wonderful day.

[starman876]

Get a roll of Reflectix.  It is inexpensive.  Wrap the OTA with it and it will kill a lot of the convection plume that blurs the image.

 

I need to try something a little thinner for my 3.5 to block less of the finder but almost all of the distorting thermals are inside the tube and due to cooling through the tube wall.

 

Insulate that and it really becomes a non issue.

 

And if you still don’t like it, I’d give it a happy forever home in San Diego ;-)

 

Dave

drill holes in the tube wall and then put a fan on it. Make sure to cover the holes with a filter for dust.  

Edited by starman876, 13 August 2020 - 08:16 AM.

[Terra Nova]

There’s several Q7 owners and good info and discussion on the Q7 over in the Questar Forum. You might consider posting over there!

[CharlieB]

Folks, to avoid any confusion (on my part) I'm going to lock this topic and open a new one simply named "Vintage Telescope Finds".  It's too much like "Craigslist, ebay and other Vintage Telescope Ads".