1260 replies to this topic

[George9]

I did not go back to AP after their second attempt, they did a real fine job but the problem may very well be in the diameter of dew shield which I believe is just a bit too tight for this scope, another reason for not going back was that the application of felt liner is a very expensive and labor intensive job, I am hoping that painting the dew shield would hopefully solve the problem.

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Vahe

That's very odd. Hmmm. I wonder if the shield is small or the lens collar outside the cell is big. I assume the shield is not just out-of-round.

 

Which part is binding: the part that attaches to the lens collar (with the tension screw), or the part that slides over the whole front of the scope for storage? Seems like the latter because your photo shows the bubble in the middle of the shield. If so, one solution is to store the scope with another plastic cap and use the dew shield only for observing.

 

It seems to me that paint will drive you crazy, knowing you are scratching both shield and scope every time you open it.

 

I actually bought a new dew shield for my AP155 f/7 as the old one was somewhat beat up. It was not cheap. I think I got the last one AP had. Fortunately, it fit perfectly, and the scope looks new.

 

George

[gjanke]

I don’t know how to break it to them but there aren’t  any brand new ones being made. I thinking they mean the stowaway.

https://astromart.co...veler-telescope

[peleuba]

A few days back I returned from a 6 night astronomy trip to Cherry Springs in north-central PA.  I took three telescopes, a Portaball-8, a TAK TSA120 and the Stowaway.   I used the Stow for some white light solar viewing with a Baader Herschel wedge as well as some night-time viewing of the planets, brighter deep sky objects and some double stars.  

 

Typically, double stars are poor arbiters of optical quality.  But, I had the cleanest/nicest most aesthetically pleasing view of the Double-Double in Lyra I have ever had - and the seeing was not particularly good at the time.  Jupiter and Saturn exceeded my expectations and were only limited by the aperture.  I had the scope riding on my classic 20+ year old Vixen Great Polaris on a Berlebach Uni tripod using TeleVue Delos eyepieces.  For a finderscope, I am using the Baader SkySurfer III which is more then adequate for this telescope and it adds almost no weight to the package.

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Edited by peleuba, 24 June 2020 - 11:44 AM.

[gjanke]

Paul,

 

 

That is a pretty sweet setup and a nice collection of eyepieces. So my take away from your summary is its a keeper?

[Jared]

OK, one of these isn’t a refractor, but it’s still an AP scope on an AP mount so I’m including it.

 

First, my 1994 “Traveler” on the smallest mount I could find that can handle it, the RST-135.  As a true travel scope, I can’t think of anything that will beat this.  The scope and mount together fit in a single airline carry-on case.   Works well for both visual and imaging. Enough aperture to be fun (especially under dark skies), but compact enough that I will take it out even for just a one hour session in the back yard.  Truly, a great scope.

 

 

Now, the pièce de résistance, my Ricardi-Honders. Lots of aperture, plenty of speed, super wide field of view, and still seeing limited on most nights for fine features on galaxies.  No, it can’t be used visually, but within its niche a truly superb instrument.  The 1100 GTO AE ain’t half bad, either. 
 

 

And one sample photo from the Honders, taken from my backyard here in Oakland, CA (horrible, horrible light pollution), the Iris Nebula.  About five hours of luminance data combined with one and a half hours each of RGB.

 

[gjanke]

This won’t last long.  
 

https://astromart.co.../ap-stowaway-92

[Scott in NC]

This won’t last long.  
 

https://astromart.co.../ap-stowaway-92

And of course you were right...already pending.  

[gjanke]

I'm just curious what his dream scope is that he mentions in his ad...I bet it's a TAK!

[SeymoreStars]

[gjanke]

Sweet!

[gjanke]

So now there's another Stowaway on AM but for much more. It seems like such a crazy price point. I would not buy it for that price. I guess we're gonna find out if someone will.

 

This is why the Takitis page has some many more followers. The barrier of entry into the TAK brand doesn't have a ten year waiting list or crazy after market mark up...just WOW!

[Doug D.]

 

 

First, my 1994 “Traveler” on the smallest mount I could find that can handle it, the RST-135.  As a true travel scope, I can’t think of anything that will beat this.  The scope and mount together fit in a single airline carry-on case.   Works well for both visual and imaging. Enough aperture to be fun (especially under dark skies), but compact enough that I will take it out even for just a one hour session in the back yard.  Truly, a great scope.

 

 

I’ve got to agree. The Traveler is remains a very special scope. Mine is same vintage shiny black tube and still gets a lot of use after all of these years.  It is also a beautiful scope to look at and through.
 

I’ve been thinking about an RST-135 as a meaningful “upgrade” for my travel-friendly Traveler for dSLR imaging and visual.  Are you still pleased with your choice Jared? Been a little concerned that you can’t move scope around manually (lack of equivalent disengage of “clutches”) to reach a target. Maybe I’m just too old (school)?

Edited by Doug D., 13 July 2020 - 07:24 PM.

[Jared]

I’ve got to agree. The Traveler is remains a very special scope. Mine is same vintage shiny black tube and still gets a lot of use after all of these years. It is also a beautiful scope to look at and through.

I’ve been thinking about an RST-135 as a meaningful “upgrade” for my travel-friendly Traveler for dSLR imaging and visual. Are you still pleased with your choice Jared? Been a little concerned that you can’t move scope around manually (lack of equivalent disengage of “clutches”) to reach a target. Maybe I’m just too old (school)?

Yes, still pleased with the RST-135 for smaller refractors. You are correct it has no clutches for manual movement. That’s something you get used to quickly, though. I can’t recall using the clutches on my Mach1, for example. Just too easy and effective to hit GoTo on my phone using SkySafari.

The only downsides to the RST-135 are its price and its very large periodic error. No getting around the first issue, but the second issue can be managed with guiding. You just need short guide exposures.

I’m taking a short trip to Lake Tahoe right now with the family and brought the RST-135 with a telephoto lens. Car was stuffed to the gills with five of us and food for a week so no AP refractor this trip—just the telephoto. Hope to use the mount for Rho Ophiuchi as well as a comet pic or two. Wish I had my Traveler with me as well.

[Bill Barlow]

So now there's another Stowaway on AM but for much more. It seems like such a crazy price point. I would not buy it for that price. I guess we're gonna find out if someone will.

 

This is why the Takitis page has some many more followers. The barrier of entry into the TAK brand doesn't have a ten year waiting list or crazy after market mark up...just WOW!

Looks like it might be sold as it is now “pending”.  If I sold mine I would never ask this much, too much gouging.

 

Bill

Edited by Bill Barlow, 14 July 2020 - 04:37 PM.

[OAJoe]

I've got a pretty unique 5" F/11.4 Starfire that will probably go with me to my grave, or be donated to a worthy cause (Astro club or whatnot) before I pass away. I worked at AP from January of 1990 to October 1991 as a lens grinder fresh out of college. The scope was supposed to be a 6" F/9, but it had striae on the outer edge, so Roland could not sell it. He had two sets that were problems. He decided to make them into 5" f/11 scopes (after edging to size and regrinding to make them less thick), and he gave one to me, and one to another employee. I forget if I've got 51101 or 51102. 

 

I also had the luck of working at Company-7 in the 1993-1994 time frame when my wife and I were in Maryland. This was during the time when Marty was injured in a fire. Such an interesting time to be alive. I remember the comet Shoemaker-Levy hitting Jupiter well, and watching the scars appear on Jupiter after taking the 5" scope on a trip to the midwest. 

 

Around the year 2002?, I finally got a good Losmandy G11 mount for the scope. 

 

Anyway, I will post some pics if anyone wants.

Edited by jokrausdu, 01 August 2020 - 12:29 AM.

[donadani]

OF COURSE!

[gjanke]

Some I am looking for opinions on this set up. Does the AP 8 x 50 finder seem like over kill when mounted with the Stowaway?

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[vahe]

Just my opinion based on your pictures, a Stowaway with a 31mm eyepiece is worlds finest finder, you really do not need AP 8 x 50.

.

Vahe

[gjanke]

Just my opinion based on your pictures, a Stowaway with a 31mm eyepiece is worlds finest finder, you really do not need AP 8 x 50.

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Vahe

Okay, so one vote no.

[Tyson M]

Okay, so one vote no.

Make that two

[Jeff B]

I've got a pretty unique 5" F/11.4 Starfire that will probably go with me to my grave, or be donated to a worthy cause (Astro club or whatnot) before I pass away. I worked at AP from January of 1990 to October 1991 as a lens grinder fresh out of college. The scope was supposed to be a 6" F/9, but it had striae on the outer edge, so Roland could not sell it. He had two sets that were problems. He decided to make them into 5" f/11 scopes (after edging to size and regrinding to make them less thick), and he gave one to me, and one to another employee. I forget if I've got 51101 or 51102. 

 

I also had the luck of working at Company-7 in the 1993-1994 time frame when my wife and I were in Maryland. This was during the time when Marty was injured in a fire. Such an interesting time to be alive. I remember the comet Shoemaker-Levy hitting Jupiter well, and watching the scars appear on Jupiter after taking the 5" scope on a trip to the midwest. 

 

Around the year 2002?, I finally got a good Losmandy G11 mount for the scope. 

 

Anyway, I will post some pics if anyone wants.

First, welcome to CN's!

 

Second, what a great story.

 

And third, yes (!), pictures please!!

 

Jeff

[gnowellsct]

586DF57C-D401-4F46-8272-3F3E0F9EE3F9.jpeg

My 130mm GT on a DM6. I have since replaced the Berlebach tripod with a Losmandy HD.

The HD is very good but I'd like to know why you moved in that direction.

[gnowellsct]

Some I am looking for opinions on this set up. Does the AP 8 x 50 finder seem like over kill when mounted with the Stowaway?

Nah it's kind of skanky because the color scheme doesn't match. It's black The scope is white. If you got the tak finder which is 7 x 50 and excellent quality you would then have a beautiful white finder on a beautiful white scope

[gjanke]

okay how about now

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[gnowellsct]

okay how about now

That's more like it