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Refractor size comparisons

Started by Anthony236J , Mar 17 2025 08:25 PM

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60 replies to this topic

#51 $Refractor size comparisons: post #51$ Ronny Floyd

Apollo

Posts: 1,086
Joined: 24 Jun 2004
Loc: Chattanooga,TN

Posted 22 March 2025 - 03:19 PM

The gold trim is somewhat of a mystery to me. I recently bought it from a nice fellow here on CN. I asked him if he painted it and was told no. I reached out to Jon Isaacs to see if he could shed some light and he told me that he has seen anodized aluminum turn gold with age. I have seen one other with the same gold trim on Astromart that was sold years ago. I think it makes my sample very unique.

Liking that gold trim on the ED80. Bling

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#52 $Refractor size comparisons: post #52$ Lentini

Apollo

Posts: 1,450
Joined: 18 Jun 2012
Loc: Alexandria, Virginia

Posted 22 March 2025 - 03:30 PM

(Dew shield ON the Oracle, and dew shield NOT extended on the TSA-120.)

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#53 $Refractor size comparisons: post #53$ slavicek

Apollo

Posts: 1,317
Joined: 01 Aug 2017
Loc: Massachusetts

Posted 22 March 2025 - 07:44 PM

That's a lovely collection of scopes!

What's on the end of the FS-60, is it a solar filter?

Yes, I forgot to take it off when I was taking the pic.

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#54 $Refractor size comparisons: post #54$ Rick-T137

Gemini

Posts: 3,180
Joined: 28 Feb 2015
Loc: Canada

Posted 26 March 2025 - 02:17 PM

Left to right:

Celestron Omni AZ 102 f/6.5 achromat
Sky-Watcher Mercury 705 f/7.1 achromat
Meade 8x50mm finder converted to f/4 achromat

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#55 $Refractor size comparisons: post #55$ JimP

Gemini

Posts: 3,210
Joined: 22 Apr 2003
Loc: USA

Posted 27 March 2025 - 05:09 AM

Weight is an important factor. The additional weight of a triplet or quad, especially as apertures go over 4", should not be discounted.

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#56 $Refractor size comparisons: post #56$ JimP

Gemini

Posts: 3,210
Joined: 22 Apr 2003
Loc: USA

Posted 27 March 2025 - 05:12 AM

Absolutely! When looking for a 130 Apo I was surprised at the weight listed for a Takahashi 130, enough so that I did not buy one that I was considering and available.

Jim

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#57 $Refractor size comparisons: post #57$ fishhuntmike

Viking 1

Posts: 992
Joined: 09 Mar 2014

Posted 27 March 2025 - 07:00 AM

When I was looking for a 5-6" refractor, I found it helpful seeing size comparison photos that included telescopes similar in size to ones that I had already owned.

Since you mention 5-6" refractors here are some. A "small" 130mm, a large 130mm and a 160mm. The small 130mm feels and looks really tiny compared to the other two but packs a punch at the eyepiece for its size.