20 replies to this topic

[bigbangbaby]

I recently acquired a Stellarvue 95 650 LOMO triplet. I can find very little information about them. Anyone know anything about these scopes?

[SilverLitz]

From old SV Refractor List:

 

SV95T - 95mm f/6.8 LOMO OK4 triplet, FL 650mm, 2" Feathertouch reverse Crayford focuser (2007 – 7 scopes produced)

[bigbangbaby]

Thank you for the information. Curious why so few were made.

[bigbangbaby]

I reached out to Stellarvue for more information. Will post updates here.

[bobhen]

"Lomo"  stands for "Leningradskoe Optiko-Mekhanicheskoye Obyedinenie," which translates to "Leningrad Optical Mechanical Association"; it refers to a Russian company that manufactured optical equipment, including cameras, based in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).

 

The reason that there are few such scopes in the US is because back in the day Vic at Stellarvue was the only importer to import both LZOS and LOMO lenses from Russia. I believe that APM (from Germany) had an exclusive contract with both LOMO and LZOS. So Vic had to stop importing those lenses. Vic then starting importing Chinese lenses.

 

Back in the day, I purchased a Stellarvue 105 F6.2 triplet with a LZOS lens. That lens like all LZOS and LOMO lenses was killer sharp.

 

Even today, I don't believe there are any US importers of Russian lenses. That might be partly due to political circumstances. But even before the conflict in Ukraine, APM seems to have always had the Russian lens market locked-up.

 

Bob 

[Jeff Morgan]

Thank you for the information. Curious why so few were made.

 

They made lots of them - for the Russian military. After the collapse of the Soviet Union they made ends meet by selling some optics to Western concerns.

 

They have an excellent reputation. I owned one of the 80/480 lenses in a StellarVue tube. It was an incredible lens and I still have Sellers Remorse about letting it go.

 

Chances are good I think that you have a gem on your hands.

[Dave Novoselsky]

The very early TMB, especially the prototype and ‘trial’ runs used Russian glass sourced through Markus at what is now APM.  After Tom and Markus parted ways and TMB Optics became a growing concern, some of the on hand Russian optic cells were used before switching over to a Japanese source.

 

i was never involved in the technical end of Tom’s business but assisted him in the withdrawal from the relationship with Markus and introduced him to Fred and Mike at Astronomics.  Mike may know more about the actual source of TMB glass.

 

I did own several of the very first scopes Tom designed, assembled and tested as a TMB product including the TMB 203 f9 displayed as Astrofest and later tested and posted while mounted here in Wisconsin on this website.  The optics for that scope and the prototype 100 and 130 I owned all had Russian sourced glass.  Verdict?  Just outstanding.  If the scope you are considering has optics soured from them, don’t run, grab with both hands.

[bigbangbaby]

Thank you all for the backstory. I am somewhat familiar with LOMO. I own a TMB-designed 80 600 LOMO in a WO tube. Terrible focuser, since replaced; phenomenal optics. I never heard of a 95 650, and relied on LOMO’s reputation and personal experience. Should be a winner. Now if the clouds would take a vacation.

[Scott99]

Lucky you - congrats on finding this!!!  I was searching for one of these scopes for many years.  Basically, a Russian Stowaway.  They're super rare.  Now that AP has cranked out many hundreds of Stowaways, the need for the LOMO version has dissipated somewhat.  

 

It will still be an excellent telescope, the only possible downside I would see is these SV/LOMO/LZOS tend to be heavy OTA's.  But for a 95mm that's not a big problem 

 

Would love to see a picture of it!

Edited by Scott99, 28 November 2024 - 02:00 PM.

[Dave Novoselsky]

Thank you all for the backstory. I am somewhat familiar with LOMO. I own a TMB-designed 80 600 LOMO in a WO tube. Terrible focuser, since replaced; phenomenal optics. I never heard of a 95 650, and relied on LOMO’s reputation and personal experience. Should be a winner. Now if the clouds would take a vacation.

I recall issues with some of the original focusers and know most of the survivors of the early TMB have had them replaced.  Your experience is the norm

[Rich V.]

What a score, congrats. The Lomo OK-4 triplets were all excellent; finding one of the rare 95mms is a treat.  SV also packaged the Lomo 102mm/ 650 lens as the SV4 back in the day, another fine scope in the 4" class, rivaling the LZOS 105mm/ 650.

 

I'm so glad I got my little SV80S Lomo 80/480 back in 2007; a great compact scope.  I've had no problems with the same 2" FT focuser as supplied with the SV scopes of the time, even with my heavy Ethos eyepieces.   I'll keep it as long as I live.

[Spikey131]

I recently acquired a Stellarvue 95 650 LOMO triplet. I can find very little information about them. Anyone know anything about these scopes?

Can you post some pics?

 

Lucky you - congrats on finding this!!!  I was searching for one of these scopes for many years.  Basically, a Russian Stowaway.  They're super rare.  Now that AP has cranked out many hundreds of Stowaways, the need for the LOMO version has dissipated somewhat.  

 

It will still be an excellent telescope, the only possible downside I would see is these SV/LOMO/LZOS tend to be heavy OTA's.  But for a 95mm that's not a big problem 

 

Would love to see a picture of it!

Do they have a Stowaway form factor?  Or do they weigh a ton like other Russian scopes?

[Rich V.]

IIRC, from diagrams I've seen, the Lomo lens cells are comprised of individual lenses each mounted in metal rings as an individual "cell", then fitted into the main lens cell assy.  They appear to be "built like a tank" in that respect, though at the cost of extra weight from all the structure involved.

 

I found one:

 

https://web.archive....kel/81971_3.jpg

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

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[bigbangbaby]

Here it is with dew shield fully retracted. I’ve not handled a Stowaway so I can’t comment how the 95 compares. I wouldn’t characterize it as lightweight, but not overweight for a triplet. I need to place it on a scale sometime. 
 

[ngc7319_20]

IIRC, from diagrams I've seen, the Lomo lens cells are comprised of individual lenses each mounted in metal rings as an individual "cell", then fitted into the main lens cell assy.  They appear to be "built like a tank" in that respect, though at the cost of extra weight from all the structure involved.

 

I found one:

 

https://web.archive....kel/81971_3.jpg

Maybe the military LOMO lenses had heavy duty construction, but the amateur LOMO APO triplets I've worked on have very simple construction.  The glass stack has a simple cell with single retaining ring.  There are 3 thick metal spacer tabs in each air space.

 

 

This shows a LOMO 102 / 650 glass stack in a temporary fixture for cleaning and re-spacing:

 

 

[ngc7319_20]

Here is the empty lens cell

 

 

They are superb lenses!!!!!

Edited by ngc7319_20, 28 November 2024 - 08:06 PM.

[bigbangbaby]

Outstanding, ngc7319_20! Thanks for sharing the pics. I’ve not seen one of these cells taken apart. Exacting work, no doubt. Do you need to collimate the cell after reassembly? 

[Dave Novoselsky]

Here is the empty lens cell

 

cell internal 2 an.jpg

 

They are superb lenses!!!!!

Very illuminating, and fact, not pun.

[ngc7319_20]

Outstanding, ngc7319_20! Thanks for sharing the pics. I’ve not seen one of these cells taken apart. Exacting work, no doubt. Do you need to collimate the cell after reassembly? 

Yes, the glass spacing and centering inside the cell, and tilt of the cell on the tube, are all checked and adjusted during reassembly.  Some of it is done with a Cheshire eyepiece tool, and some is done with a star test at high power on an optical bench.  Ultimately it is checked outdoors on a bright star overhead. It takes a little bit of equipment and a lot of patience.

[Scott99]

Here it is with dew shield fully retracted. I’ve not handled a Stowaway so I can’t comment how the 95 compares. I wouldn’t characterize it as lightweight, but not overweight for a triplet. I need to place it on a scale sometime. 
 

IMG_5026.jpeg

very nice, it's the blue one, that is the scope I wanted.  As I recall there are very few of these around, I think they made more of the 4-inchers

[manbot13]

I'm going to plug a thread I started on. LOMO 650/102 that appears to be the "military grade" lens cell mentioned here:
https://www.cloudyni...t/?fromsearch=1