Posts Made By: David Bugeye

Today I went into a scope shop who specialize in meade to look at 2" widefield eyepieces for my daughters 10" scope.

Everything above 25mm had a dark spot in the centre field of view and the shop owner said that it was the central obstruction and was a function of the scopes short f ratio.

Are there any eyepieces that have a high focal length (30mm and above) that will not show the central obstruction on a fast 10" dob?

Is there any use for a polarizing filter besides the moon?

Also, in the conversation of the moon and polarizing/ND filters, what are their advantages over stopping down the scope? Most scopes come with a cap that has a stopping down hole in it from the factory.

Thanks

David

Hi

I have a Synta 120mm refractor which I am pleased with overall.

However, the focusser is stiff and not a light touch by any means. I have disassembled it, cleaned it and replaced the Chinese grease with some light ceramic grease.

While this helped greatly, I am still not wrapped in the feel or the tolerances of this focusser. I have looked at many other Chinese scope focussers and it seems to be very common.

My question is, is there a replacement 2" focusser for the Synta refractors that improves the use?

Standard focussers that I have seen, even for refractors do not seem to have a long enough draw for the Synta scopes.

Clear skies

Dave

Eugene, The shop owner said that it would be visible at night, so it was not just a worry on my behalf. Unfortunately also, I know of no shop owners who are prepared to allow me to use them at night and return them if I am not satisfied. As well, unlike many on this forum, I cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars on something that may or may not work properly.

Thank you all for your replies. They have been most helpful

David

I do not know if Mr Burgess is being honest with his customers or not.

However the latest Sky and Telescope hints that his promise of an economical apo might indeed be in the pipeline.

This would indicate however that he himself is neither designing nor "modifying" any of his imported ideas but is relying upon the Chinese manufacturers for optical and mechanical designs. He is likely simply echoing the promises of his overseas suppliers.

The entire incident seems to me to smack of an importer inexperienced in the Chinese way of doing business.

His complete ignorance of emails sent to him also seems to me to be a fatal flaw in his business plans since the internet will play a large part in whether or not he succeeds. Ignoring a query to his own web page (pleasent initial contact) is surely a way to get a great deal of potential clients offside.

The fact that purchasers who actually visited him and recieved "good" goods is no indication of decent business practices. It should not require someone to be in person to check the scope, it should be possible to rely upon him for prompt delivery of quality controlled equipment from a distance without ever seeing him (or his family) in person.

So far I am not sufficiently confident to purchase anything from BO and I suspect many others feel the same.

The fact that a large percentage (anything over 10%) of potential customers feel trepidation over buying from him is quite a bad sign.

JMHO

David

Dob : Dobsonian mount ie a large alt azimuth mount usually made out of wood with teflon for bearings

TAK : short for Takahashi, a brand name of a high end scope manufacturer

AP : Astro Physics, arguably the best manufacturer of apochromatic refractors in the United States.

Clear skies
David