282 replies to this topic

[PeterR280]

I sold my AP155 for $10k about 6 years ago. They're going for a little bit more now on the used market. I would suspect the 155 to be priced around $15k

[karlz]

I've been fortunate enough to get several AP scopes over the years: an AP140 (now sold), a 130GTX, and a new 92 Stowaway -- Each time the purchase has been an unexpected burden but I've never regretted making that choice.

 

Now, I've been on the AP160 list since 2005 so I had pretty much given up any hopes of obtaining one of the larger AP's outside of the used market, but now there may be some small chance of that happening. And should I get the call, there will be a 130GTX and Stowaway up for sale post haste!

 

Personally, I would prefer the AP190CS but I would take either one without hesitation...Will they be significantly better than the high-end offerings by TAK, TEC or CFF, probably not; but Roland made them, and that makes them worth the money and wait for me.

[Dean J.]

…

 

Personally, I would prefer the AP190CS but I would take either one without hesitation...Will they be significantly better than the high-end offerings by TAK, TEC or CFF, probably not; but Roland made them, and that makes them worth the money and wait for me.

For me the performance specs on AP’s two new superachromats - the 155CS and the 190CS - are are indeed significantly better than the current high end apochromats by Takahashi, TEC, CFF or anyone else that I know of.  Check out the technical design details tab on AP’s web page for each scope.  I would certainly like to have either one of the new scopes although the 190CS would require a bigger mount for me.

[Psion]

The quality is only on paper for now, but if we believe it, it still depends on the seeing, and in my place I would use the quality about twice a year. So CFF 160, Strehl 0.98 will be enough for me

[ichdien]

I have no doubt that the AP superachromats will offer superior quality, but I'm not sure my aging eyes would be able to detect the difference between the 155CS and my 20 year old 155edfs.  That being said, if I were lucky enough to be offered the CS, and the price isn't exorbitant, I would snap it up after selling the edfs, mainly because at 31" in length, it will be nearly a foot shorter than its predecessor and should be even easier to transport and mount.  

[Orion68]

Back when AP was making the 155 f7s, they designed the scope with a large focuser for "photography". That scope, as many know, was also very compact, superb optically and was easily handled by a G11. Even though the optic was designed with "photography" in mind, as it turns out, those attributes (superb optically, compactness and reasonable portability for a 155mm refractor) were also coveted by visual observers. AP got more and more requests from the visual folks for a smaller focuser version. That's why there are two versions of the 155 F7.  As I was mostly visual, I purchased the AP 155 with the smaller focuser. 

 

The thing is, these days, both the 190 and the 155, being even more compact at F6 and with a superb optical design, will also make excellent visual, imaging, EAA and even night vision (with an intensifier) refractors. My guess is that owners of either scope might do a bit of everything with these refractors or maybe they'll lean heavily in one direction. But the versatility is there in the design to do whatever task "or tasks" the owner's want to undertake. 

 

Bob 

Good to hear that a G11 would be fine for visual, I wondered that myself.

[Dean J.]

Although the 155CS is several pounds heavier than my TEC 140FL, it is also a couple of inches shorter.  So I'm confident that I'll still be able to transport it around and set it up.   The high degree of color correction and the imaging performance at the edges of a full frame sensor with the provided flattener are what I'm primarily interested in.  It also looks like this scope will perform very well with a medium format camera.  I've been looking at mirrorless medium format cameras for a while.   The visual performance will just be icing on the cake.

[RichA]

The quality is only on paper for now, but if we believe it, it still depends on the seeing, and in my place I would use the quality about twice a year. So CFF 160, Strehl 0.98 will be enough for me

What isn't so good is reality of value. A 130 GTX (for example) will sell now for almost $10,000 used.  A Tak TOA 130 (for example) will sell for around 2/3rds or less of its new price.  Not sure about CFF or TEC.

[Scott99]

The quality is only on paper for now

That's really funny!  Good joke

Edited by Scott99, 09 May 2025 - 09:50 AM.

[Psion]

The CFF 160 telescope costs €10,500 excluding VAT, and VAT in the EU averages 20%. The lens is oil-filled, hand-figured, and aspherical. A friend looked through the CFF 180 and said the contrast was beautiful. I have no idea how much the AP155 will cost, it could easily be double that. Anyway, the price is irrelevant; buying a new AP is like winning the lottery, i.e. the chances are slim. We can only talk about it here, only a select few will ever see it.

Edited by Psion, 09 May 2025 - 10:13 AM.

[OAJoe]

The quality is only on paper for now, but if we believe it, it still depends on the seeing, and in my place I would use the quality about twice a year. So CFF 160, Strehl 0.98 will be enough for me

He's made the prototypes. I don't think those are made of paper.

[t.r.]

The quality is only on paper for now, but if we believe it, it still depends on the seeing, and in my place I would use the quality about twice a year. So CFF 160, Strehl 0.98 will be enough for me

I would trust RC’s ability to take quality on paper and transform it into real world quality above anyone else in the industry. Period.

[drprovi57]

The CFF 160 telescope costs €10,500 excluding VAT, and VAT in the EU averages 20%. The lens is oil-filled, hand-figured, and aspherical. A friend looked through the CFF 180 and said the contrast was beautiful. I have no idea how much the AP155 will cost, it could easily be double that. Anyway, the price is irrelevant; buying a new AP is like winning the lottery, i.e. the chances are slim. We can only talk about it here, only a select few will ever see it.

I believe CFF Telescopes relocated operations to Australia now, optics still by Pal G.   Depending on where Tariffs end up, Australia and US has a free-trade agreement.. My recent CFF230 (9") APO refractor had no import duty, just local state sales tax.  

[Dean J.]

..I have no idea how much the AP155 will cost, it could easily be double that...

Why do you say that.  Do you know something we don't?
 

[Dean J.]

What isn't so good is reality of value. A 130 GTX (for example) will sell now for almost $10,000 used.  A Tak TOA 130 (for example) will sell for around 2/3rds or less of its new price.  Not sure about CFF or TEC.

Well, people do funny things.  I wouldn't buy a used 130GTX for $10,000.  I would pay the retail price.  The TOA-130 would be a great alternative.  The TEC 140FL would be another great alternative.

Edited by Dean J., 09 May 2025 - 01:05 PM.

[Psion]

I believe CFF Telescopes relocated operations to Australia now, optics still by Pal G.   Depending on where Tariffs end up, Australia and US has a free-trade agreement.. My recent CFF230 (9") APO refractor had no import duty, just local state sales tax.  

Yes, my telescope will come from Australia to the EU, so 4% duty and 21% VAT.

[Psion]

Why do you say that.  Do you know something we don't?
 

It's my humble guess. People will order an AP even at this price due to the very limited number of scopes produced. AP can afford it given the published parameters.

[Dean J.]

He's made the prototypes. I don't think those are made of paper.

Indeed.  My impression upon reading the reports of people who talked to the AP folks at NEAF is that the 155s are being made now and people will start to be notified /invited to purchase "this summer"... whatever that means... June?  ... July?...August?...

[mdanese]

If you look at TEC pricing, the 140FL is $7900 compared to the AP 130 which is about the same at $7950.  So if the TEC 160 is $12,900, then I would expect the AP 155 to be in the $13,500 ballpark.  I am assuming that their costs are comparable (small, custom American manufacturers).  It could be that the production costs of the AP are higher, of course.  Or they charge a higher amount because they certainly could get it.  But AP has not done that historically.

[Dean J.]

If you look at TEC pricing, the 140FL is $7900 compared to the AP 130 which is about the same at $7950.  So if the TEC 160 is $12,900, then I would expect the AP 155 to be in the $13,500 ballpark.  I am assuming that their costs are comparable (small, custom American manufacturers).  It could be that the production costs of the AP are higher, of course.  Or they charge a higher amount because they certainly could get it.  But AP has not done that historically.

Astro-Physics has always been fair with their scope prices.  Its the prices that people are willing to pay for used ones that has historically been over the top. 

[Spikey131]

Indeed.  My impression upon reading the reports of people who talked to the AP folks at NEAF is that the 155s are being made now and people will start to be notified /invited to purchase "this summer"... whatever that means... June?  ... July?...August?...

The last day of summer is September 21.  Just sayin…….

[Psion]

As I wrote, AI (chatGPT) decoded the prices, but I have no idea how it managed to do so. It just replied that it had edited the image and increased the resolution.

[Dean J.]

As I wrote, AI (chatGPT) decoded the prices, but I have no idea how it managed to do so. It just replied that it had edited the image and increased the resolution.

But you can see that the actual prices for the 155CS and the mount are "TBD"... right?  Maybe deleting the post would be in order because it is false.

[CHASLX200]

Astro-Physics has always been fair with their scope prices.  Its the prices that people are willing to pay for used ones that has historically been over the top. 

Reason why i never buy used AP scopes.

[Dean J.]

Reason why i never buy used AP scopes.

OK