13 replies to this topic

[rainycityastro]

 I had signed up in early 2010 on a lark. I never dreamed then I would spend 17,000 on a scope.

 

It is now over 7 years. And the price has gone up to $22,420 + shipping.  What are the pros and cons of getting one? Should I go for it?

My current main scope is a 12" TEC ADL 300 at F5.6.  Main camera is KAF16200 based Moravian. Love this combo but F3.8 is very appealing.

 

Is this a worthwhile upgrade? I guess I have to upgrade the mount as well. Current mount is AP900.

 

Would love your feedback.

Edited by rainycityastro, 13 September 2017 - 02:58 PM.

[Richard O'Neill]

 Do you have disposable cash on hand that won't be needed for anything more important? If you do and the cost / benefit ratio looks promising then go for it. You aren't getting any younger.

[JohnH]

 Do you have disposable cash on hand that won't be needed for anything more important? If you do and the cost / benefit ratio looks promising then go for it. You aren't getting any younger.

Didn't Matthis have a huge Maksutov or sale?

[bobhen]

HERE is a short review of the 305.

 

Bob

Edited by bobhen, 15 September 2017 - 09:26 AM.

[akulapanam]

It's an awesome scope but I don't see it as an upgrade over the TEC which is in the same class.

[JoseMenudo]

I think Deep Sky West has 2. Dual RH 305's is a super wow!

[rainycityastro]

I decided to go ahead and get it! I signed up in early April 2010, less than 1 year after the list was started. 

Basically the list has moved a year in the last 7 years. This is probably my only chance of getting a telescope directly from AP. 

 

At that time, I was simply doing milky way shots with a canon 5d mark II. I never imagined I would get so deep into astrophotography.  it is a perfect scope for me at this time and I have the rest of the system in place: mount, camera and all assorted paraphernalia: power supplies, dew heaters, focus controllers etc. It will fit in perfectly.

Edited by rainycityastro, 18 September 2017 - 10:28 PM.

[SeattleScott]

So seattleites should keep an eye on the classifieds for a 12" TEC soon?

[rainycityastro]

The TEC is staying. There will be a sale of other astro gear.

[JoseMenudo]

a rh305 in seattle, washington? will you only use it 10 times a year with rain and light pollution?

[yellobeard]

I was a friend of Klaas Honders, I visited him in Sassenheim (Netherlands) often, and helped him with optical design when he came up with this telescope type.. Sadly he passed away way too soon.

 

Its a setup that works very well, as long as the very tight tolerances are met successfully.

[SeattleScott]

a rh305 in seattle, washington? will you only use it 10 times a year with rain and light pollution?

The mountains aren't that far away. About a90 minute drive to dark skies and rain shadow. When I visited San Diego it seemed like it took two hours of driving to get to dark skies. So granted Seattle isn't ideal but it isn't the worst. And Seattle has lots of high paying tech/areospace/coffee (Starbucks headquarters) jobs so more people can afford fancy scopes. That's always the catch, the good paying jobs go hand in hand with light pollution. Oh well someday I will retire, right?

 

Scott

Edited by SeattleScott, 19 September 2017 - 11:05 PM.

[rainycityastro]

 

a rh305 in seattle, washington? will you only use it 10 times a year with rain and light pollution?

The mountains aren't that far away. About a90 minute drive to dark skies and rain shadow. When I visited San Diego it seemed like it took two hours of driving to get to dark skies. So granted Seattle isn't ideal but it isn't the worst. And Seattle has lots of high paying tech/areospace/coffee (Starbucks headquarters) jobs so more people can afford fancy scopes. That's always the catch, the good paying jobs go hand in hand with light pollution. Oh well someday I will retire, right?

 

Scott

 

And narrowband is always a possibility when its clear here. We get a lot of clear nights in summer and sometimes in fall as well. 

[rainycityastro]

I was a friend of Klaas Honders, I visited him in Sassenheim (Netherlands) often, and helped him with optical design when he came up with this telescope type.. Sadly he passed away way too soon.

 

Its a setup that works very well, as long as the very tight tolerances are met successfully.

yellobeard, thanks for jumping in!

I have read that for this type of scope the tolerances need to be 1.5x as precise as for a regular reflector scope due to the nature of the mangin mirror. I believe Glenn LeDrew mentioned this in an old post on this design.

 

Optically it would seem that this design is somewhat easier to make than other designs given that all surfaces are spherical. And the glass type is the common BK7.

Are the challenges in this design mainly mechanical? 

I am asking this because there are only two manufacturers (to my knowledge) of this scope. And neither of the scopes could be considered inexpensive. 

 

Regards,