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Lawrence Parchman

Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

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Posts Made By: Mark Holden

March 8, 2007 01:36 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

First scope advise...

Posted By Mark Holden
If you're interested in imaging, and time exposures, you really do need a tracking eq mount. The mount is more than half the battle. If it's in your budget, the Orion Atlas with goto seems like a contender for "bang for the buck" champ. If you buy the mount first, you could mount your camera on it with a telephoto lens to start imaging before you buy the scope itself.

It's easier to learn imaging if you start out with a relatively short scope. If you're not interested in an apo refractor, you might look at a Mak/newt. A friend got an 8" Meade MN a couple months ago, and it's pretty nice.


March 13, 2007 02:08 PM Forum: Chinese Optics Imports

Will BO 91MM PH Be At NEAF??

Posted By Mark Holden
Jeffrey Kurtz said:

So after all the "it's coming" messages will BO be able to display a prototype/production version at NEAF.

Bill B has been pretty quiet about the estimated delivery date for this scope. He hasn't sent a lot of "it's coming" messages. I don't think he's even got it on his web site yet. His 12/23/06 post about the scope said it would be out in approximately 3 months.

But in this industry, optimistic delivery projections seem to be routine, and BO seems to be more optimistic than most.

What does seem to imply it could be out sooner than normal for BO is the prototype was sold at least a couple years ago. The sales of thousands of TMB designed eyepieces implies they should have the capital to get them into production.

On the other hand, given that BB mentioned the objectives for the 80mm backpacker are in, I expect that scope will be available before the 91 fluorite.

March 20, 2007 12:33 AM Forum: Eyepieces

No more using the initials or names for ?

Posted By Mark Holden
Huh?

Edit -

On reading the Chinese Optics Importers thread, I think I've found the problem.

Bill and Thomas are having a problem with a supplier not honoring an exclusive contract, and the Planetary eyepieces are being sold out the back door. Dealers outside of the US are offering the back door copies with the designers name as part of the promotion.

Bill and Thomas were probably advised to put every dealer and forum they can find on notice to protect their trademark rights.



April 4, 2007 02:13 PM Forum: Ask rating questions here

I paid -- no eyepiece, no communication

Posted By Mark Holden
If he's moving, he might not currently have internet access, and while it does you no good, people who are moving tend to greatly underestimate how much will be involved.

As Ivan mentioned, it's probably just bad timing.

Hard to imagine someone would intentionally ruin the reputation over 100 ratings creates on a $400 transaction.

April 6, 2007 02:06 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Do I still need a barlow/powermate?

Posted By Mark Holden
The only time I use a barlow or powermate these days is for imaging. I'd think you could sell one or the other without missing it.

And you might very well be able to sell both.


April 8, 2007 12:47 AM Forum: Coronado-Lunt-DayStar Solar Filters

Scope City won't refund money for PST

Posted By Mark Holden
They're supposed to ship within 30 days, or ask your permission to delay shipment - and if you don't consent, they owe you a refund.

See:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/mailorder.htm

Write, phone and email them to cancel the order.

From the link:

How Quickly You Must Make a Refund
When you must make a Rule-required refund, the following applies:

* If the customer paid by cash, check, or money order, you must refund the correct amount by first class mail within seven working days after the order is cancelled.

May 15, 2007 04:08 AM Forum: Refractors

apo lenses from China

Posted By Mark Holden
There was a discussion about him in March of '06.

John Biggs of GCS astro was one of the participants - I've also got some back channel emails.

The upshot is "you pays your money and you takes your chances". Some people were happy, some were not. At the time of that discussion, I noted his feedback was 96.7 and compared it to a well known radio dealer who is routinely excoriated in newsgroups for misrepresenting things. The radio guy's feedback was better at 97.4.

May 17, 2007 04:00 AM Forum: Politics

Toddler Gets Gun Permit

Posted By Mark Holden
I'm surprised they need a permit to own a shotgun. In many if not most states they wouldn't need a permit for a long gun.



May 17, 2007 03:49 PM Forum: Refractors

Replacement for our Gaertner scope

Posted By Mark Holden
I'd think something like an Orion 100ed with an upgrade to a Feathertouch or a Moonlight dual speed focuser would be pretty close to what you have, but with better color correction.

Not sure what you'd do about the cross hairs, but I presume they can be in the eyepiece. Takahashi makes a nice short focal length one.

You could probably set everything up for $1600.

June 22, 2007 06:47 PM Forum: Eyepieces

Ethos Preview Saturday 6/23!!!

Posted By Mark Holden
I had the Ethos in my TMB 115 (f7) for about 45 minutes last Saturday at the AOS Starfest in NY.

It's possible the unusually dark sky influenced my impression of the eyepiece.

But if you ignore the fact it's a GWA (gonzo wide angle) I still like it much more than a Nagler.

The image is a more natural color.

Otherwise:

The contrast was nice. We could see the spiral structure in M51.

I noticed a hint of astigmatism at the edge when looking at M11, but the image was still quite nice.

It has pincushion, but it didn't jump out at me when I centered objects in the field.

Overall, my first impression was very positive, and if preliminary reports from people who buy the first production ones match my observations with the prototype, I'm apt to get one to replace my 14uwa.

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