AstroPhysics Refractors

Okay, my curiosity is killing me. What is it about these telescopes that makes them command such a high price and elicit such a long waiting list?

Thanks,

John

While not inexpensive, AP prices are actually lower than many competing products of similar world class quality; the waiting list reflects much higher demand than supply for hand figured optics from a master optician. Yield is not 100% from the production floor, and many people discount the superb mechanical construction of the OTAs, mounts, and accessories. AP's products are integrated as a total visual or photo system. They will not compromise quality for higher production rates.

For a more qualitative reason, look at the Double Cluster with an AP155 and a 31mm T5!

Highest attention to quality, expertly design drawing from a great store of optical knowledge, hand figured (very expensive and time-consuming),... the epitome of all APO?
Note also that it's the only(?) APO **advertised** as capable of 100X/inch, surely an object of desire, wouldn't you all agree ;-)?

Ron B[ee]

Well, the price isn't so high if you actually wait it out on the list(s) instead of feeding a scalper's greed, but anyway...

It's a proven high-quality product, made-to-order instead of mass-produced. To me, that alone is appealing. You're much less likely to get one with problems that way. And of course there's glowing reviews all over the web from the people that have used them.

As Mike pointed out, APs scopes are in some cases cheaper than similar apos, it's just that the waiting list creates a small scalper's market, as it were. Some think this is so horrible that AP ought to change its ways, but I disagree. I think it's great that at least one manufacturer works this way.

/The other John -- who will probably get his AP130 in 2004...

I own an Astro-Physics 155 f7 EDF with 4" focuser, flattener.
It is the best 6" scope I've ever looked through, bar none.
Taks are great too, but in all honesty, I can't justify paying nearly double the price of the A-P for a 6" f7 Tak.
This is why there's virtually no wait for the Tak's, and a four year wait for the A-P's.
It's interesting, using my 6" A-P with an St-10 MXE ccd, even a 30 sec. exposure of M51 shows 10 times more detail than one can see visually through a 36" reflector on the same object. Neat.

Here's a good intro on Astrophysics.
http://www.astro-physics.com/about_us/about_us.htm

Ron B[ee]

Herb, I've looked through both, and I stand on what I've stated. When I first considered purchasing either a Tak 6"f7 or an A-P f7, I was willing to pay the considerably higher price for the Tak, if it was clealy superior.
The fact was that it was NOT. And that's not just my opinion. Sorry, but that's it.
Jim S.