Does Tak Mewlon 180 have refractor performance?

I'm considering the mewlon 180 w/p2z mount/tripod or going cheaper and just buying a Vixen 140 NA refractor. The price difference is about $2,900 and would be made up by selling TV genesis, Tv eq mount w/ drive, polar scope, camera adapter, a few eyepieces and the starbeam. I paid $2,800 for that setup a year ago so maybe I get $2,500? I have not been able to locate a review on either the Vixen 140 or the Tak mewlon 180. I'm close to buying the vixen but having last second thoughts. So please, astronomers, help! Any insight would be most appreciated. Thanks.
Don

Here's one review:

http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/entry.php?sectionid=12&entryid=436


I've seen comments elsewhere that the 180s were very hard to collimate and tended to lose collimation (which goes against what the review says).

No information on the Vixen, but at your price point you could afford a 7" Russian mak that would be as good or better. Check the APM and ITE websites.


Jeff Verona

hi,

I have a Tak Mewlon 250 and it does have "refractor like" performance. The 250 and the 180 have the same Dahl-Kirkham design with the exception of the focuser. The 180 has a moving mirror and the 250 has a moving secondary ( no image shift problems ).

Here's an interesting link comparing the 250 to a 6" and a 7" APO refractor.

clear skies,

Larry Citro

Opps ..

here's the link

http://www.scottsquires.com/Astronomy.htm

Opps ..

here's the link

http://www.scottsquires.com/Astronomy.htm