I USED to really enjoy reading the S & T equipment reviews, especially back in the "good old days" when they would be BRUTALLY honest evaluating telescopic equipment - remember the 2 part SCT review or their evaluation of 10 inch mirrors? Those reviews also included a lot of impressive testing data too. NOW their reviews seem very "nebulus" to me - glossing over their findings and seemingly candy coating everything. For example - in the most recent issue - with the review of the StarBlast 6, all they really say is that the scope has 'good optics capable of delivering satisfying views'. But they only rated the optics 3 out of 5 stars and never disclosed why the mirror only deserved a 3 star rating. Same with the AT80EDT Refractor. Read the mini-review and everything sounds great, but once again - this scope ONLY gets 3 stars out of 5!? The review of the Orion imaging reflectors from a few issues ago followed the same pattern for the most part. I know, from personal experience, that quite a few of the Chinese made f/5 mirrors I've star tested displayed obvious turned edge. In their defense, the IN FOCUS views - at least with the 130mm size mirrors - were still very satisfying despite the defect. Just feel myself that it would be more enjoyable reading the reviews with FULL DISCLOSURE. How's everybody else feel about this? ...
S & T Recent Equipment Reviews
Started by Dave Sewell, 07/26/2008 08:40PM
Posted 07/26/2008 08:40PM
Opening Post
Posted 07/26/2008 08:52PM
#1
The only attention I pay to the review items in S&T is to note what it is and then Google the 'Net for the nitty gritty. 8) Outside of that the reviews are multi color multi page advertisements.
Pat Kelly in Centreville (Delmarva), Maryland. Retired but working second career.
Telescope - 8" f/12 classic achromat refractor by D&G Optical; Manheim, Pennsylvania;
Mount - 1200DA metric black classic equatorial mount circa 1992 by Astro-Physics; Machesney Park, IL;
BlueStar Observatory 13 x 13 roll off by Backyard Observatories; Lodi, Ohio;
Previous telescopes A-Z: Astro-Physics to Zeiss...D&G Optical Aficionado; The Classic Refractor - The telescope everyone wants to have used but no one wants to own.
Posted 07/26/2008 10:50PM
| Edited 07/26/2008 10:56PM
#2
Dave Sewell said:
I USED to really enjoy reading the S & T equipment reviews, especially back in the "good old days" when they would be BRUTALLY honest evaluating telescopic equipment - remember the 2 part SCT review or their evaluation of 10 inch mirrors?
I do remember those, and they were classics. They have never all been like that, however. Today's reviews? They are what they are. I might wish for something closer to the reviews in Popular Photography, but I think Gary and Dennis do a good job, nevertheless.
Uncle Rod
Time on your hands?
Waste it with Uncle Rod's Astro Blog!
http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/
Posted 07/27/2008 12:09AM
#3
How's everybody else feel about this? ...
So, you're still reading S&T and Astronomy?
I still reference the April 1996 Plossl Eyepiece test, that was pretty darn good IMHO. You're right, they used to do some seriously good stuff.
For me, well, too much equipment, too much advertising of equipment in those mags. I am satisfied with the equipment I have, it does the stuff that I need it to do. It's not the best but I don't need the best to be satisfied.
Jon
So, you're still reading S&T and Astronomy?
I still reference the April 1996 Plossl Eyepiece test, that was pretty darn good IMHO. You're right, they used to do some seriously good stuff.
For me, well, too much equipment, too much advertising of equipment in those mags. I am satisfied with the equipment I have, it does the stuff that I need it to do. It's not the best but I don't need the best to be satisfied.
Jon
Posted 07/27/2008 09:20PM
#4
Dave Sewell said:
I USED to really enjoy reading the S & T equipment reviews, especially back in the "good old days" when they would be BRUTALLY honest evaluating telescopic equipment - remember the 2 part SCT review or their evaluation of 10 inch mirrors? Those reviews also included a lot of impressive testing data too. NOW their reviews seem very "nebulus" to me - glossing over their findings and seemingly candy coating everything. For example - in the most recent issue - with the review of the StarBlast 6, all they really say is that the scope has 'good optics capable of delivering satisfying views'. But they only rated the optics 3 out of 5 stars and never disclosed why the mirror only deserved a 3 star rating. Same with the AT80EDT Refractor. Read the mini-review and everything sounds great, but once again - this scope ONLY gets 3 stars out of 5!? The review of the Orion imaging reflectors from a few issues ago followed the same pattern for the most part. I know, from personal experience, that quite a few of the Chinese made f/5 mirrors I've star tested displayed obvious turned edge. In their defense, the IN FOCUS views - at least with the 130mm size mirrors - were still very satisfying despite the defect. Just feel myself that it would be more enjoyable reading the reviews with FULL DISCLOSURE. How's everybody else feel about this? ...
With regard to the recent review of the 6" Starblast, they tested the mirror by just using it. They didn't actually bench test it. My own 6" f5 could benefit from a blower, multi speed focuser, Parracor and lord knows what else. This scope is a budget machine manufactured import unit. How many would they have to buy to get a broad enough sample to yield useable critical results? I think in this case the 3 out of 5 for optics can be read as equal to your findings of similar f/5's....very satisfying when in focus. : ) The "what we don't like" part of the review is right on target in my experience with my non-starblast. This size ota works best on a tripod. Period.
Posted 07/28/2008 01:59PM
#5
I started reading this thread, got a handful of posts down and just wanted to scream! The notion that reviews on any one forum are better or more qualified than on another forum is just nonsense. How is one supposed to know who can be trusted on any public forum? And WHO HAS THE TIME to sort it all out? The Internets are full of opinions and that's all there is to it.
Everyone's opinion is just a piece of a larger puzzle. You read the opinions, think about them, discuss with your local piers, and try to make the best possible decision with the information you have. Sometimes things work out satisfactorily, other times not.
No one forum, person, or group of persons, is better, more knowledgable, or trusworthy than any another. Obviously, individuals can have more knowledge/experience than others, but one shouldn't form opinions or make decisions based on one source in any case.
Matthew Sherman
Everyone's opinion is just a piece of a larger puzzle. You read the opinions, think about them, discuss with your local piers, and try to make the best possible decision with the information you have. Sometimes things work out satisfactorily, other times not.
No one forum, person, or group of persons, is better, more knowledgable, or trusworthy than any another. Obviously, individuals can have more knowledge/experience than others, but one shouldn't form opinions or make decisions based on one source in any case.
Matthew Sherman
Posted 07/31/2008 01:53PM
#7
Dave Sewell said:
remember the 2 part SCT review or their evaluation of 10 inch mirrors? Those reviews also included a lot of impressive testing data too. How's everybody else feel about this? ...
The two part SCT review along with the 10” mirrors review was the last time that S&T ventured into serious optical evaluation, from what I hear makers of these products were not at all amused with the published results and probably made it clear that they definitely expected support from S&T in return for their full page color ads.
As for the Orion 6” Dob review, in all fairness to S&T, a brutally honest evaluation of a scope like this is asking too much, the entire package to include the mount, the ota, focuser, finder scope and two eyepieces, all for $250 is clearly an el cheapo package intended for very low end beginners. An interferometry on the optics would cost more than the entire scope package and what is it going to tell you?
I am in fact amazed at S&T ability to fill several pages of commentary along with pictures on this scope. This scope is for folks who want a scope but know nothing about scopes and the review is pretty helpful much like product reviews in Consumer Report magazine.
Vahe
Funding Member
