200 (jump) 2000. why??

Silly question perhaps...
but as I read the ads (and have for years) there are
-Lots of 4" scopes around 200-300 used, be they meade, celestron, or APM achros.

-Lots of 4" scopes around $2000 used.

A few in the middle (Vixen), but not many. And even they are supposedly prone to color, or are damn expensive for a non-apo.

So why is that? Does a single piece of flourite glass actually cost $1500? I mean, you'd think someone could make a decent 4" scope at f9 or so taht would be fine for non-Astrophysics types but would be better than your standard C102. What am I missing?

Well...I had the Celestron 4" refractor and moved up to the TV 102. Although the Celestron was a good scope for the money, the Tele Vue is quality every inch from the focusor to the dew shield. And don't forget the case.

Pat G.

I think one of the problems is most of us here (all of us?) don't have a good insight or experience into how APOs are made from design conception, to grinding/polish the glasses to alignment to delivery onto the UPS truck ;-). If anyone is interested, perhaps this link might just let us peek at the complexity of the operation ;-).
http://www.astro-physics.com/about_us/about_us.htm

To get an idea of finished lens prices, this might also give us a peek-a-boo ;-).
http://www.tmboptical.com/itemsGrid.asp?cat_id=27
From what I hear, Thomas Back works 7 days a week and can't afford to hire any help. So I don't think he's getting rich from selling APOs and lenses either but have certainly enriched his customers with savoring experience.

Ron B[ee]