Even thought the image scale in the 80mm APO refractor was smaller, the fine details in the bands along with a white spot in the Jupiter's SEB that was leading the GRS by about a third of the way around the planet were clearly visible. Those were muddled in the 6" CC. I think that the large Central Obstruction in the newly redesigned 6" Classical Cassegrain, which is up to 42% now, reduces contrast to the point that the scope really suffers when looking at the planets at higher magnifications, which was the primary reason I purchased it in the first place. I have a 6" f/6 Newtonian that not only shows star clusters better, but does fairly well on the planets. I do agree that the Newtonian is more difficult to use from an ergonomica standpoint. I like sitting behind the scope much better, which was one of the attractions of the Classical Cassegrain. I also had a 150mm Mak right about that time, a Skymax 150, and that one was much sharper than the 6" CC and held collimation much better.
I can second that. Contrast at Jupe really suffers from the large CO.
Don't get me wrong though. The Cc6 is a great little scope providing a lot of fun. It just weighs 5.5 kg (the very same as the 2080)
and it used to outperform at the latest star parties attended by Jupe and Sat an 8" Newt as well as the Mew 210 at both planets for detail.
But not because it's better. If only the two other scopes were properly seen to concerning thermal control and collimation and mount...Moon, too. People preferred the view though my CC6 to other scopes except a double 4.5 inch apo frac which displays an insane contrast with pitch black shadows on the moon. But this double frac plays certainly another league pricewise. (I just noticed how long every single person was sitting behind my scope because they were discovering things and not just spotting : oh yes, Jupe, fine)
The Skymax 6 does better at any regard (5.5 kg, too) I think a C6 might be level to the CC6 visually but it weighs less. For imaging I think the CC6 is still the best of them
Low weight and low size is crying for mirror focussing, somehow. Skymax or CC6. A mounted CC6 with its backfocus extensions is another beast than the Skymax6
Edited by quilty, 09 May 2025 - 02:59 AM.
