Favorite RFTs?Posted By Bill Byrd |
[COLOR="Purple"]I love wide-field viewing! In light of the discussion about the definition of RFT, how about some discussion of your favorite RFT.
At various times I've used: an 80mm short tube refractor, a 4.25" f/4 reflector, a 5" f/5 refractor, a 6" f/4 reflector, an 8" f/4.5 reflector and a 10" f/4 reflector. Not to mention various binocs from 7X50 up to 16X80. All have their advantages and trade offs as far as light gathering and portability are concerned.
My current favorite RFT is an 8" f/4 Meade SN used with a Paracorr and a 26mm Nagler giving 36X, with a 5.7mm exit pupil, a true field of 2.3 degrees and stars sharp to the edge of the field. Views of the MW are awesome!
My second favorite RFT is the 5" f/5 which gives 24X, a 5.2mm exit pupil and a 3.4 degree true field of view.
Both of these scopes are used in addition to my main scope when I'm fortunate enough to be able to travel to really dark skies.
Sooooo....what scope do you like for richest-field viewing, and why? Inquiring minds want to know! 8)
Bill in SA[/COLOR]
At various times I've used: an 80mm short tube refractor, a 4.25" f/4 reflector, a 5" f/5 refractor, a 6" f/4 reflector, an 8" f/4.5 reflector and a 10" f/4 reflector. Not to mention various binocs from 7X50 up to 16X80. All have their advantages and trade offs as far as light gathering and portability are concerned.
My current favorite RFT is an 8" f/4 Meade SN used with a Paracorr and a 26mm Nagler giving 36X, with a 5.7mm exit pupil, a true field of 2.3 degrees and stars sharp to the edge of the field. Views of the MW are awesome!
My second favorite RFT is the 5" f/5 which gives 24X, a 5.2mm exit pupil and a 3.4 degree true field of view.
Both of these scopes are used in addition to my main scope when I'm fortunate enough to be able to travel to really dark skies.
Sooooo....what scope do you like for richest-field viewing, and why? Inquiring minds want to know! 8)
Bill in SA[/COLOR]