Posts Made By: Tom Ifft

I am making a (simple?) alt-az mount for my Meade 6" and Orion 4.7" refractors. I intend to just place a 4x4 post into the ground and make all out of treated wood, so it can be left out this summer. Are there any rules of thumb for the minimum desirable diameter of the circles for each of the axis bearings? I am comfortable with woodworking and don't mind experimenting, but would like advice. I will start with 2" PVC pipe for the altitude, and can really go any size on azimuth.
Also, any suggestions for the depth of the semi circles to be cut to supprt the azimuth bearings? Should it be a full 1/2 circle?
Thanks
Tom

Always wondered about this.
At what point in refractor size does brute force (aperature) equal finesse (quality optics)?
Would a 6" Meade, Celestron, Orion, etc. decent achromat give the same/better/worse view than a 4" top notch TeleVue, Takahashi, A.P., etc. apo?
At some point size wins out, if taken to the extreme. Forget all the very valid arguments on portability for the smaller scope, and the brag factor.
Anybody ever compare side by side?
Clear skies
Tom

Help with advise from those that have compared!
I have to get rid of a few scopes. I need advise on what 2 to own. I have a Meade 6" AR5 refractor (2? years old, never used), and older Orion 120MM (decent), an Orion 100MM short tube (wife's) and Orion 80MM ST with Baader solar filter.
I am thinking of keeping the 100mm for grab & go & trade all others for a 5" with the longer f ratio. Or should I keep the 6", even though it is bigger/heavier than the 5" and a shorter f ratio?
Is there much resolution difference from 5" to 6" on the planets and bright stuff? (I have a large SCT for deep sky). What would you suggest? What brand? I will stick with an achromat, due to cost. What about the American companies: Celestron, Meade, Stellarvue. The yellow tubes from Russia? And all the others.
Are nearly all made by Synta and therefore nealy all the same? Heck, I can't even decide on a tube color.
Too many choices! Need your thoughts to get the best of the achromats.
Many thanks!
Tom

Help with advise from those that have compared!
I have to get rid of a few scopes. I need advise on what 2 to own. I have a Meade 6" AR5 refractor (2? years old, never used), and older Orion 120MM (decent), an Orion 100MM short tube (wife's) and Orion 80MM ST with Baader solar filter.
I am thinking of keeping the 100mm for grab & go & trade all others for a 5" with the longer f ratio. Or should I keep the 6", even though it is bigger/heavier than the 5" and a shorter f ratio?
Is there much resolution difference from 5" to 6" on the planets and bright stuff? (I have a large SCT for deep sky). What would you suggest? What brand? I will stick with an achromat, due to cost. What about the American companies: Celestron, Meade, Stellarvue. The yellow tubes from Russia? And all the others.
Are nearly all made by Synta and therefore nealy all the same? Heck, I can't even decide on a tube color.
Too many choices! Need your thoughts to get the best of the achromats.
Many thanks!
Tom

Now that Mars is out, how much detail will be lost dropping down from 6" - 5" achromats for planets & stars? (Or, how much more detail seen from 5" - 6"?)
I have a Meade AR 55 6" and the views are quite sharp, but I may want to step down to a Meade 5" for more of a grab & go scope. I read all the statistics, but how about real user's opinions? Will I really lose that much detail resolution on planets? Any noticable difference on color of stars? Any noticable resolution when separating doubles? (I have a 12" LX200 for DSO's, etc. so the refractor is not used for them). Has anyone compared the Meade AR 55 5" & 6"?
In fact, I have owned the 6" for over 1 year, but last night was the first time I ever used it. I compared it to a 4" Orion achro last night, and the detail difference is very noticable on Mars (seeing maybe 5-6, transparancy maybe 6 at times). I sold an AR 55 5" before buying the 6", and never compared them side by side.
Whomever bought my 5", if you want to sell it back.....)
There is a good discussion on 4 inch vs. 5 inch. Surely 5" vs. 6" has been discussed at some time, but I can not find it.

Thanks!

Darn you guys! I had to buy one too. Ordered today, out of stock, they will get in 6-9 business days. Double confirmed price, and with shipping only $156.40. Also confirmed not seconds, comes straight from Celestron.
To compare, Astronomics advertises at $420 list, $229.50 their price!
Now to sell my Meade 2" 32mm SWA.,
Thanks,
Tom

Thanks for asking this question! It has been one I wondered many midnights behind the eyepiece. I will take the advice of experience and look for one of the premium ones. Seems to me this is the last chance to keep or degrade the view.
Tom

Just was called Tuesday by Binoculars.com that the eyepiece was in. I agreed to ground shipping. They were nice enough to FedEx overnight for no extra cost. And I was billed as quoted.
Binoculars.com is now at the top of my list for straightforward dealing and customer accomodation.
I will go to them first for my next purchase.
Tom

Has anyone used this scope before? Is it a decent "cheap" scope?
The price is appealing. I'm considering as a finder for my dob, plus just as a toy. Wanted to hold out for the 90, but may go for this instead.
Thanks
Tom

I had to buy one for that price.
What is a good sun filter for this scope?
Also, does anyone make a dovetail bracket gizmo that I can use this as a finder on my LX200 and dob?

Hope I brought rain only to my yard!
Thanks
Tom