121 replies to this topic

[Dave Novoselsky]

Good choice.  You can always get an Askar but a Zambuto?  Priceless!  

[turtle86]

Looks like i just got a new big gun.  But not a fract.  Can't pass up a Zambuto that is just so close to me.

 

Congratulations!  Think you made a great choice.  

[Rodgerraubach]

My jaw dropped after seeing the price point on this new APO Triplet! Back in 2004 I shelled out around $15 K for a new TMB 175 with LZOS optics and another bunch of cash for an NJP Takahashi mount. I thought that was the best visual scope I had ever used, and even better than a then new design TMB 203 f/7. I unfortunately sold all my astro-goodies in order to cover the massive medical expenses of my now late wife.

 

At this late stage in my life I still have that aperture fever after plugging along for several years using my Astro-tech 115 EDT on a Orion Sirius mount. I recently took the plunge on a new mount with a significant carry weight upgrade, a Skywatcher EQ6-R, which the Agena reviewer used for testing this telescope. I'm now in my 80's and have a bad back, but have several willing friends to assist with setup and takedown of a scope.

 

There is another Askar scope on the horizon: the Askar 160 EDT triplet which is somewhat smaller and more easily handled than this 185.

 

But--I gotta have a bigger frac!!  

 

My primary interest is visual, so aperture means everything when  searching for faint fuzzies.

 

I recall reading some articles posted by Dave Novoselsky at the time I was pondering purchase of my first TMB, and I wanna give him a belated shout out and  thanks for leading me down this path of astro-viewing!

Edited by Rodgerraubach, 13 March 2025 - 06:03 PM.

[Rob Moore]

Well I just ordered the last 185 in stock at Agena. Looking forward to trying it out. Always wanted a big refractor. Should be excellent with 21 Ethos on double cluster

[CHASLX200]

Well I just ordered the last 185 in stock at Agena. Looking forward to trying it out. Always wanted a big refractor. Should be excellent with 21 Ethos on double cluster

I wanna slap a 3mm in it for Jup.

[Rob Moore]

I have hi end refractors that are 130mm but am anxious to try this thing out. I bet it will be better than I am expecting given the aperture. Like one reviewer said you don’t get those stinking eye floaters as bad at higher magnification like in smaller scopes. It should be awesome on moon with bino viewer. I am sure it will also show more details on Jupiter than my 5” scopes unless it is a real dog.

[CHASLX200]

I have hi end refractors that are 130mm but am anxious to try this thing out. I bet it will be better than I am expecting given the aperture. Like one reviewer said you don’t get those stinking eye floaters as bad at higher magnification like in smaller scopes. It should be awesome on moon with bino viewer. I am sure it will also show more details on Jupiter than my 5” scopes unless it is a real dog.

Should do 500x easy if ya got the seeing.

[Psion]

A lot depends on the seeing, but the 350 magnification will be great in the Bino viewer.

[Bomber Bob]

My primary interest is visual, so aperture means everything when  searching for faint fuzzies.

 

I manage very well with my 1970s Jaegers 6" F5...  Back when my back could take the hoisting-up, my 2017 APM 152ED F8 was a perfect all-rounder -- outstanding views of every object type.  And, no crazy $$$$$$ mount required.

 

Should do 500x easy if ya got the seeing.

 

In 8+ Seeing, my APM 152 cruised at 400x; so, yeah, 500x should be fine in this 7.3" APO...

Edited by Bomber Bob, 15 March 2025 - 10:13 AM.

[Rob Moore]

The largest refractors I have owned were the AP 155 F7 and the Tak FS 152. Years ago at Astrofest when AP set up we were looking at Saturn through Charles AP 7” F7 and it was my all time best view of Saturn ever. It is etched in my memory. The inner Crepe ring looked brown or slight copper color and had texture like a Brillo pad. Ever since that view I always wanted a big refractor. I don’t expect this Askar to perform like that but I still think it will be nice.

[Rob Moore]

I have two small pair of Swarovski NL pure binoculars that cost more than the Askar so if you look at it that way what a deal. Lol

[Scott99]

I have two small pair of Swarovski NL pure binoculars that cost more than the Askar so if you look at it that way what a deal. Lol

I always buy glass by the pound Askar 185 gives you a huge hunk of glass for the $$   

[CHASLX200]

I always buy glass by the pound Askar 185 gives you a huge hunk of glass for the $$  

That it does but when it comes to the crunch at 450x on Jup is the view gonna throw me back in the seat?  Or am i gonna say well my $120 Meade 826 does better than a 5k scope?  I got burned bad once on a 7" ED so hard to take another chance lance.

[Rob Moore]

That Meade 826 is a beautiful telescope. I always loved those and the old parks research grade scopes.

[garret]

Meade, Swarovski, Charles, TMB, AP, Jeager, Brillo... 500x... this topic has run his course.

[ZX12]

Meade, Swarovski, Charles, TMB, AP, Jeager, Brillo... 500x... this topic has run his course.

Okay, this should be very much on topic.

 

I'm still enjoying my Askar 185 and spend half the time observing visually, and the other half split between deep sky and planetary photography.

It works superbly in all three categories. Very easy to switch back and forth between the different configurations.

 

Views of Venus, Jupiter, and Mars have been as good as my seeing allows here in the northeast U.S. Mars in particular has been superb with the 185.

 

Splitting double stars is another thing the 185 excels at doing. Sirius B has been visible on many nights and is especially easy right now due to its current position from A.

 

Here is a capture of Venus from last week with the 185. It's difficult getting a clean image as it's just over my house roof.

 

Mike

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[denis0007dl]

Awsome image Mike!

 

Do you use binoviewers with your 185mm APO?

If yes, which one, and which exact diagonal, and did you notice colourcorrection difference on high magnifications out of focus?

 

Mine 185 APO is absolutely colourfree at 370x magnif even out of focus when using APO SS binoviewer + mirror diagonal.

 

Otherwise (in monoviewing or when using my Mark V binoviewer), out of focus I can notice some tiny false colours (blueish on one side and reddinsh on other side).

 

Denis

[ZX12]

Denis,

 

I have both the APO SS and the Big Bino from you.

 

Diagonal is the Baader T2 prism with BBHS coating.

 

Image quality is the same as you describe.

 

Mike

[CHASLX200]

Okay, this should be very much on topic.

 

I'm still enjoying my Askar 185 and spend half the time observing visually, and the other half split between deep sky and planetary photography.

It works superbly in all three categories. Very easy to switch back and forth between the different configurations.

 

Views of Venus, Jupiter, and Mars have been as good as my seeing allows here in the northeast U.S. Mars in particular has been superb with the 185.

 

Splitting double stars is another thing the 185 excels at doing. Sirius B has been visible on many nights and is especially easy right now due to its current position from A.

 

Here is a capture of Venus from last week with the 185. It's difficult getting a clean image as it's just over my house roof.

 

Mike

I wanna see a jup image. That does look very clean but a image and the eye never look even close.

[ZX12]

I wanna see a jup image. That does look very clean but a image and the eye never look even close.

With my limited processing skills Charles, the visual image is still better than my photos due to the seeing artifacts that blur fine details.

Visually, the moments that I have had great seeing surpass any of the images I have acquired so far.

 

This is still my best image of Jupiter taken with the 185, and I have not been able to beat it with either my CFF250 Cassegrain or my C14. Too much focal length for my seeing. 

 

Mike 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[CHASLX200]

With my limited processing skills Charles, the visual image is still better than my photos due to the seeing artifacts that blur fine details.

Visually, the moments that I have had great seeing surpass any of the images I have acquired so far.

 

This is still my best image of Jupiter taken with the 185, and I have not been able to beat it with either my CFF250 Cassegrain or my C14. Too much focal length for my seeing. 

 

Mike 

I just never Venus as white.

[denis0007dl]

Denis,

 

I have both the APO SS and the Big Bino from you.

 

Diagonal is the Baader T2 prism with BBHS coating.

 

Image quality is the same as you describe.

 

Mike

Aha, gotcha.

 

BTW, paradoxally, BIG Zeiss have still less false colours than Mark V, which is very unusual, while BIG Z have noticable bigger correction cylindrical glass (31.5mm vs 28mm on Mark V).

[ZX12]

I just never Venus as white.

It could be the increased contrast that I applied to darken the background.

 

This was taken in a bright blue sky.

 

Mike

[Rob Moore]

I am really hoping my mount can handle this Askar 185. The scope with rings and plate around 38lbs. My mount is the Astro Physics 600 GTO with AP wooden tripod. They advertised the mount being able to hold a 6” F9 Starfire that is longer than the Askar. Zeiss also used the same mount for the 6” APQ were I read somewhere weighing 40 lbs. It will only be for visual so hope I am ok. I thought about getting an 8” AP pier to use with the mount to make it more solid. I guess I will just have to try it and see how it does.

[Psion]

I’m afraid that it’s too heavy for the mount. It might handle it somehow, but it will shake. The wooden legs don’t add much stability—ideally, they should be able to be driven into the ground. I mounted a 12 kg refractor on a mount with a 40 kg capacity and a wooden tripod, and it wasn’t very stable.

 

You have to consider that the telescope is very front-heavy, meaning the eyepiece will be quite low. Therefore, the mount head should be at least 1.5 meters above the ground.