Looking for Honest Opinions

I've heard so much about the APO refractors such as Tele Vue, Vixen,Takahashi & Astro Physics. Currently I own a 6" D&G refractor & a 12.5 Starmaster; but really, how good are these APO refractors? I read where detail can be seen in the red spot, etc. Can these scopes with 4 inch lens really deliver such performances? Why do I see so many advertised for sale on Astromart? I'm thinking about getting one. I am strictly a visual observator and do not want to dish out the cash if I'll be disappointed with what I get. Help me think through this.

My suggestion:

Do a google search of the newsgroup sci.astro.amateur and see what Roland Christen of A-P has to say on the subject... It might surprise you.

The advantage of the APOs are their shorter focal length wider FOVs.

I am quite sure that no 4 inch APO is going to show the detail that a cooled, collimated 12.5 inch Starmaster will when the seeing is good.

Jon

I don't think that anybody with any real credibility has suggested that a 4" anything would beat a well cooled and collimated 12.5" Starmaster given good seeing conditions. Re-read what Jon Isaacs says above. It's good advice, particularly that bit about checking out what the owner of AP has said many times.

Personally, I think that if you've already got a 6" DG and a 12.5" Starmaster that you'd be quite disappointed in a 4" APO, unless you had specific reasons for needing something much more compact and were willing to accept the inevitable tradeoffs in drastically downsizing your aperature size to achieve portability.

Mike Swaim

Hi John,

I own 2 4" apos and a NexStar 9.25. The 9.25, when acclimated will show more detail more easily than either refractor. Your 6" DG will also outdo any 4" scope on any object except extended ones, period. The only reason I own 2 4s is so my wife and I can have two ultra-quick look scopes that are extremely portable and easy to set up. I have personally found short focus achros to be very disappointing so I didn't mind the extra expense for the apos too much. If you're looking for a scope to outperform the ones you currently own you should really set your sights on an 18" or larger Dob. If you want a quick look scope with ultra sharp premium optics then a 4" apo is a fine choice. Just don't expect miracles, the laws of physics still apply.

Clear Skies,

Steve

The best views of the planets I have ever seen were through my friends 12.5" Starmaster. D&G refractors are great. The big advantage with the APO will be very little or no false color. If false color is a issue with you, get a APO. If it isn't stick with the D&G.

I've heard so much about the APO refractors such as Tele Vue, Vixen,Takahashi & Astro Physics. Currently I own a 6" D&G refractor & a 12.5 Starmaster; but really, how good are these APO refractors? I read where detail can be seen in the red spot, etc. Can these scopes with 4 inch lens really deliver such performances? Why do I see so many advertised for sale on Astromart? I'm thinking about getting one. I am strictly a visual observator and do not want to dish out the cash if I'll be disappointed with what I get. Help me think through this.

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The 12.5" Starmaster will blow away the 4"APO on just about everything but maybe the sun! I had a 12.5" Starmaster and six 4" Apo's. The 4" APO is a great scope, that will show perfect round star images, and snap to focus on the planets, but once you get over 350x with a 4" you start to lose light, and the image gets dim. I could use over 800x in super seeing with the 12.5", all Starmasters make great hi power planet scopes when seeing allows.

I think having a 12.5" to 20" Dob and having a 4" APO makes for a nice rounded up setup. I now have a 14.5" Starmaster and a Brandon 94mm with AP lens. Both scopes do their job well.

Chas P.