161 replies to this topic

[R Botero]

Just wondering after these comments how many folks have started checking what they have left in their bank accounts.    

 

George

[Derek Wong]

Could one of you who is trying out the scope compare it to a similar size instrument such as an 8" Newtonian tor 7" refractor on Jupiter?  Also, on the site it says that it is easy to dial out atmospheric dispersion using the collimation adjustments - is this true in practice?

 

Thanks,

 

Derek

[Psion]

I make second test Zerochromat and TEC side by side on the Sun today. Zerochromat again WIN. It has a better resolution and more stable picture and flat whole FOV.

 

The Moon has a very low elevation now, but I test Zerochromat and TEC. I choose magnification 100x and both telescopes show the same picture. I set magnification 200x and I can see in TEC around the crater Theophilus small blue and red atmospheric dispersion, but not in Zerochromat. Yes, it is true, you can collimate Zerochromat for atmospheric refraction!

[Astrojensen]

Anyone got a surefire get-rich-fast scheme? I kinda need one right now. 

 

 

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

[areyoukiddingme]

Sell a kidney!

[wiseone]

 Or two!       

[Psion]

Could one of you who is trying out the scope compare it to a similar size instrument such as an 8" Newtonian tor 7" refractor on Jupiter?  Also, on the site it says that it is easy to dial out atmospheric dispersion using the collimation adjustments - is this true in practice?

 

Thanks,

 

Derek

 

I can say only, Zerochromat will be better than Newton 8", believe me, specially this time (low elevation of Jupiter).

[meade4ever]

 Or two!       

 

The magic of the zerochromat is its low price, much cheaper than any other apo of the same diameter.

I don't even talk about a 10" or 12" refractor !

 

Zerochromat : the greatest consumer telescope in history ? :-)

[jrbarnett]

 

Could one of you who is trying out the scope compare it to a similar size instrument such as an 8" Newtonian tor 7" refractor on Jupiter?  Also, on the site it says that it is easy to dial out atmospheric dispersion using the collimation adjustments - is this true in practice?

 

Thanks,

 

Derek

 

I can say only, Zerochromat will be better than Newton 8", believe me, specially this time (low elevation of Jupiter).

 

You know us Americans - trust, but verify.  

 

A picture of the chimney through a C8 SCT or 8" f/6 Newtonian would be very interesting even if it does bear out your supposition.

 

I have to say, I was skeptical when you first ordered it, but by gosh, it appears to work.  The lens and mirror system looks just plain "Rube Goldberg" crazy IMO, but thinking about it a bit, and waiting for the headache to pass, I suspect it becomes second nature and is fairly intuitive in actual use.  And you can't knock the result.

 

Very well done, oh wiseone.     And thank you for your ongoing reporting efforts, Psion.

 

Regards,

 

Jim

Edited by jrbarnett, 29 September 2014 - 03:30 PM.

[Astrojensen]

 

Sell a kidney!

 

Or two!       

I kinda need those myself. Other ideas? 

 

I was thinking more along the lines of "Hi, I'm Mr. Jensen from Nigeria Denmark. I have a business opportunity for you..." 

 

 

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

Edited by Astrojensen, 29 September 2014 - 03:23 PM.

[Herr Ointment]

A new design that really works.

 

Wouldn't this upset the apple cart here at CN Orchards?

 

I hope the builder is prepared for the inevitable fruit fight.  .

Edited by herrointment, 29 September 2014 - 04:33 PM.

[jrbarnett]

A new design that really works.

 

Wouldn't this upset the apple cart here at CN Orchards?

Well, actually, it's a fresh take on or perhaps modern/updated derivative of a very old design.  A design by Georg Simon Plossl from the 1850s called the "Dialyte".

 

http://books.google....dialyte&f=false

 

Not that it matters where the design descended from, so long as it works and is comparatively affordable.  Which is really why I think some equal aperture comparisons would be helpful.

 

Regards,

 

Jim

[Psion]

I can say only "Peter, embracing thorns on your journey to success"!

[Astrojensen]

I have a flameproof suit, I am willing to sell for a tidy sum.

 

 

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

[jrbarnett]

I can say only "Peter, embracing thorns on your journey to success"!

One thing that troubles me is this.  Once Zerochromat has made a market for these and taken all the early investor/market maker risk, what's to stop Explore Scientific or Synta from making their own big aperture Dialyte type scope and undercutting the originator on price by virtue of their mass-production capacity?

 

While $5k is relatively inexpensive for a color corrected 8-inch refractor, it is very expensive for a color corrected 8-inch telescope.  $5k is also a lot of money in this hobby in absolute terms.  I'd wager that the vast majority of amateurs in the world do not have $5k tied up in all of their astronomy gear combined, much less any single OTA.  The Zerochromat due to its long focal length seems to be aimed more at visual observer rather than imagers, and it's the imagers that usually spend more on gear.  This opens the door to price competition.

 

I am not trying to discourage the inventor.  I have the utmost respect for innovation and innovators.  But I feel they often do not get to realize their fair share of the rewards ultimately derived commercially from their innovations.  I'm always curious as to the business model "technology defense" strategy.

 

- Jim

Edited by jrbarnett, 29 September 2014 - 05:07 PM.

[GJJim]

All they have to do is say "transcendent" and "diamonds scattered on black velvet", in the marketing literature. Crowds will gather, the lines will form...

 

Seriously, this may be a good observatory scope for folks interested in high resolution work. Squeeze the specs a bit and offer a 12-inch version - woohoo!

[jrbarnett]

All they have to do is say "transcendent" and "diamonds scattered on black velvet", in the marketing literature. Crowds will gather, the lines will form...

 

Seriously, this may be a good observatory scope for folks interested in high resolution work. Squeeze the specs a bit and offer a 12-inch version - woohoo!

That had occurred to me too.

 

A 10-12 version, while less portable, would be incredible and harder to knock off.

 

- Jim

[BillP]

I wonder what the pricing would be on a 10" version.  Hmmm....

[ATM57]

 

All they have to do is say "transcendent" and "diamonds scattered on black velvet", in the marketing literature. Crowds will gather, the lines will form...

 

Seriously, this may be a good observatory scope for folks interested in high resolution work. Squeeze the specs a bit and offer a 12-inch version - woohoo!

That had occurred to me too.

 

A 10-12 version, while less portable, would be incredible and harder to knock off.

 

- Jim

 

Nooooooo! I already have a bad case of telescope itch. A 10" to 12" version would cause a full blown case of astro measles!

 

Scopejunkie

Edited by ATM57, 29 September 2014 - 07:24 PM.

[Derek Wong]

 

 

Sell a kidney!

 

Or two!       

I kinda need those myself. Other ideas? 

 

Sell the Zeiss!  

 

Derek

[Starhawk]

Buy low, sell high.

 

-Rich

[wiseone]

Hi everyone, many thanks for all the great comments, especially a big thumbs up for Psion. It certainly has been a long and thorny ride! Here are answers to some of the questions from the curious:

 

Yes, a 10 inch, 12 inch or even 16 inch is easily possible - I have already done the design work (even a 50 inch is possible.....!). You would probably double the cost of an 8 inch for a 10 inch. Not done the numbers, just a guesstimate at this stage.

 

The design is loosely based on John Wall's 30 inch dialyte refractor at Hanwell Observatory. I have simplified it and made it into a commercial reality. It is substantially different from any other design ever made.

 

To keep the instrument safe from other people manufacturing identical versions, I am avoiding middle-men to lower costs wherever possible. It would be seriously unattractive to other manufacturers as it stands. There is no margin for retailers; I deal direct.

 

If anyone wants to know more, please send me an email, as I need to keep comments uncommercial.

 

- Peter

[Astrojensen]

 

Sell the Zeiss!

Then I'd rather sell the kidneys...

 

 

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

[nicknacknock]

 

 

Sell the Zeiss!

Then I'd rather sell the kidneys...

 

 

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

 

 

 

Thomas, you could always sell the kidneys, keep the Zeiss, buy the Zeorchromat and have some money left on the side for a portable dialysis machine 

Edited by nicknacknock, 30 September 2014 - 02:41 AM.

[Astrojensen]

 

a portable dialysis machine

The idea has crossed my mind a few times...

 

 

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark