Posts Made By: Ron Scarboro

I've never experienced a discernable difference between a dedicated MaxScope and a properly tuned SolarMax combined with a high quality refractor.

There are many experts on this forum. You have a better chance of getting meaningful advise if you answer the following questions...

Have a Tscanner?
Adapter plate made by Coronado?
Adapter attached to Dew Shield?

I have a SolarMax and WO Refractor which is similar, but not exactly your scope, Tscanner and Adapter attached to the dew shield.

My experiences...
Fiddling with the adapter plate making sure the adapter plate is optimally situated is critical to good views. The situation you've describes appears in my unit when either the adapter plate isn't optimally situated and/or the Tscanner isn't properly tuned.

Interestingly, my best views occur when the adaper plate isn't exactly straight on the dew shield maybe due to some imperceptable sagging in the dew shield.

Most people (IMHO) prefer the views in a MaxScope because Coronado tunes from the factory and that scope is compared to an improperly tuned SolarMax scope.

That gets me to thinking. Given all the discussion on the quality of optics and the field results therein, what is the effect of eyeglasses on the optical train?

I would guess the wavefront error isn't very great on eyeglasses.

IMHO...Limited experience....

I think double stacking 40s is probably better than a single 60, but the 90 rules.

The 90s I've looked through can just resolve so much more than the 40s and even my 60.

You may want to contact S&S Optika. They deal in both used and new scopes and are involved with the local observation clubs.

You may also want to call TEC (in Boulder CO) or JMI (in Denver). They may have leads for you as well.

I live in Denver and I'll meet you somewhere dark whoooohahahahaha. Give me notice so that I can clear some room in my basement cooler though.

Cecil Meeks said:
So, I want a GoTo scope. I also don't have a ton of money like most people.

As far as objectives, I want to get into photography with the DSI.
I would like to both visually and photographically observe:

cbmeeks

I owned and sold an ETX125. IMHO, the mount has limitations as far as what weight it can handle and serious limitations regarding clearance under the mount.

I think a EQ-GOTO / 8"SCT would be a much better solution.

8"SCT will better handle 2" accessories
EQ-GOTO will better handle longer exposure photography and has no clearance issues.

You probably already know this, but imaging DSO's is not a cheap endeavor to do it right w/o significant frustration.

Regards,

Ron

The $1,000 premium for the FSQ is all related to photographic qualities (flat field, extra glass to correct color on a faster scope, etc).

Both are great scopes and it is unlikely that you would ever notice any advantage between them.

$1,000 would buy some great eyepieces and accessories for planetary viewing.

My $0.02 priced for value.

Regards,

Ron

I grew up near Charlotte, NC (the cradle of NASCAR). My problem with NASCAR is that it already stinks IMHO because none of the cars are stock.

A Ford Fusion is a 4 door, front drive vehicle with no V8 option.

Other than headlight graphics and rear deck lid there aren't any differences in the cars. You can paint Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes, BMW whatever you want on the vehicle and it would be fine with me.

If they ran stock front and rear bumpers, stock A, B & C pillars, I'd be much more enthusiastic about the sport.