4 replies to this topic

[Airbus340]

Hi everybody, 

I have the opportunity to buy this old boy for $80.

What do you think about that ?

I don't know this manufacturer 

Thanks 

Philippe

 

[CHASLX200]

No clue what it is.  SCT?

[Bomber Bob]

If the mirrors are undamaged, $80 is a fair price.

 

"C" only should mean traditional Cassegrain (just 2 mirrors).

 

"SC" means Schmidt-Cassegrain.  AFAIK, there are 3 versions, basically Short / Medium / Long; as in, my Kenko SC125L has a 14.4 Focal Ratio.  Depending on the style / year made, some of these SC's may have JSO optics (Kenko bought this maker).

 

[abe]

Dave Trott has some videos on a similar model, the Kenko Spacia 100c, which uses a sub-aperture corrector inside the baffle tube.  He does say that the optics are decent:
​https://www.youtube....h?v=qQGLUt6Ry5w
https://www.youtube....?v=-1lg8y1oBTs 

 

He does say that the optics on his Kenko Maksutov are not very good:

https://www.youtube....?v=9_mFbd0vQzU 
 

It sure is a pretty little thing.  I have a "ScopeMate" 80mm which is a full aperture Mak design (with a bright red tube).  I paid $80, so that seems to be in the right ballpark.  It's sharp but the images aren't very bright.  I use it mostly for looking at the sun.  With that bright yellow tube, the Kenko would make a nice solar scope!

Edited by abe, 12 January 2025 - 05:33 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

Just thought of this, and I haven't verified, but I think... Kenko used different tube colors for CAT type and/or Focal Ratio...

 

... at least during their Golden Age -- the 1980s.  (Our Italian CNers may know for sure -- lots of Kenkos sold over there.)

Edited by Bomber Bob, 13 January 2025 - 06:05 PM.