Posts Made By: James Adams

I recently purchased a 6" Zerodur flat [1/10 lambda] with which to fold an 8.5" f 12.5 refractor. I'm wondering about getting it dielectric coated to reduce light scatter; I'll be using the central 5" diameter only.

Will the extra expense be worth it, and who could do it?

Thanks

I have a Meade [Japan] 6mm. EP labeled: Meade OR6mm [in white, and MULTI-COATED [in blue]. Is this a Research Grade ortho, or something else?

Thanks

James Adams

I've seen a few posts on this and other Burgess-centered forums from folks who apparently have no investment in Burgess products, but who carp, cavil, and snipe at Burgess' new products. I'm wondering, why? What's it to you?

I understand getting frustrated at Bill's poor communication with us. I've talked and e-mailed him about this, and it's just what he does [doesn't] do.

I'm one who sees the potential for great values and innovative products from Bill. Maybe he's more of a visionary than a businessman, I don't know. But, is he a scammer, a flim-flam man? Hardly. He's one of US, who has seized the opportunity to provide products of high value to cost ratio to other amateurs. No cynicism, no exploitation, no real "hype", only enthusiasm.

I have a set of BO WA and SWA eyepieces for evaluation [see Burgess yahoo groups]. There is a clinker, and a couple of [IMO] SUPER values among them. The poor one may be the result of a manufacturing glitch, or the Chardonnay. But the good ones were compared against some pretty good eyepieces.

But, back to my point, while I can understand the frustration of those who waited SOOOOO long for their scopes, what axe is being ground by those who haven't had to wait, or been disappointed with the product?

I have my 1278, #18, and have found it more than satisfactory. Still waiting for the 1026, but I have other scopes, and I had one to evaluate, and was very impressed with it. BTW, my friend William, who was set up near me last week with his AP 7" said, upon viewing through the BO 1278, "hey, nice image!" And it was.

So, before you take some of the critics very seriously, maybe ask yourself what their motives might be.

Herbert,

I purchased an optical flat mirror on AM [cheap] intending to use it in a folded refractor design. No claims were made as to its quality.

I sent it to two different testing services; one came back saying it was quite good and the other said it was poor!

James Adams

According to Orion, the 130 Spaceprobe f 7 is diffraction-limited, with its spherical primary. So don't worry about soft images with an f 9!

This from their tech dept.

James Adams

Suppose you have a VERY nice 8" f 8 mirror for Newt or Dobsonian, with a Strehl report of .996.

What is the optimum setup for all-around vs. mostly planetary scope? Vis-a-vis, spacings, secondary size and manufacturer, spider, coatings, focuser, tube, fans, insulation, cell, and so on?

I have such a mirror [Mark Harry] and am planning a hexagonal tube of 1/4" ply lined with cork.

James Adams

I can't blame anyone who wants to bail. Please do. I've certainly been frustrated with delays, but the product I've seen has been well worth the wait. Others have disagreed.

I've signed up for a binoviewer, and will order two Maks, for myself and my girlfriend. Also, a set of wide angle EP's [I had them to evaluate, and they're keepers!]

Anacortes has sent me notice that they've shipped the 2" diagonal.

Now, if I decided I'd had enough, I'd just say so, ask for my money back, and go away. Maybe I'd post a warning to newbies not to expect prompt delivery from B.O.; but then, I'd cut my [perceived] losses and disappear like snow on the water.

I don't think I'd make a vendetta out of it and hang out for month after month posting warnings, dire expectations, and vitriol against B.O.

But, then, I have a life.

I tried finding O Centauri from latitude 37 on the Calif. coast, at about 1200 ft. altitude, lookins southwest over the ocean. I think it was too low to see through the atmosphere, though it was dark and clear.

Is there a "best time of year" at which to observe this? Time of night?

TIA

James Adams

I have some closely held beliefs, politically. [Surprise!]

I think most of us here have similarly cherished feelings and ideas, the reasonableness of which should certainly be clear to the meanest intelligence, being based in fact and unassailable by logic.

Our country is polarized to an extent unknown since the Viet Nam War. There will be no "meeting of minds", only disappointment and resentment for one side, no matter who wins the upcoming election.

It's important that we acknowledge that no one's mind is going to be changed in these debates, nor will any problem be solved here, without such a spirit being brought to the discussion.

It's easy to become passionate and use words that smoke, especially at the remove of the internet, where we sit comfortably in our dens and can taunt the "enemy", afraid only of a sharp word in retort, and not the actuality of a spear.

No matter what the outcome, we're going to have to live together, liberal and conservative, and work out solutions to some very serious problems which won't wait until we've convinced the other side of the flaws in their reasoning.

James Adams

I sense here a theme which might bear some [bitter] fruit.

On THIS topic, the ones I can think of are: Meade Mega-Vista 10.5's; I tried them in a number of scopes, and they were unacceptable. I dumped them for cheap on AM.DESPITE the glowing review on CN. Bogus, IMO. The 16.8 mm.'s are keepers, though.

Russell 18? mm. WA's, no coatings, lousy performance. BUT, I have purchased other things from him which were stone bargains!

The Siebert Standard 7 mm. WA's were ALMOST worth the price.

The Super EasyView 5.5 mm. were a waste of +$200. For a pair for Binoviewing.

The Zeiss 25 mm.'s were excellent; the Meade 26 mm. [Masuyama designed, Japan, smooth body 1992] are SUPER! Also the RGO 20 mm. Erfles!


The UO Orthos I have are excellent. The StellarView 2" X 26 mm. is a stunner. 3 elements, super light throughput, black background. The Burgess SWA's almost all, great.

All, IMO.

James Adams