Refractor question

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ffellah
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Refractor question

Post by ffellah »

Hello all: does it make any sense to "upgrade" from a 152 mm achromatic refractor to a 130mm triple APO refractor at approximately double the cost ? It would mean sacrificing 1" of aperture for a sharper image, I guess.

Interested in hearing your opinions...

Thank you,

Franco


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marktownley
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Re: Refractor question

Post by marktownley »

Hi Franco.

For solar, no, not at all. Quite the opposite.

If you are looking for decent night time yes the apo.

Mark


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ffellah
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Re: Refractor question

Post by ffellah »

Thanks a lot, Mark, I am glad I asked.

Franco


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DeepSolar64
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Re: Refractor question

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Franco,
I don't think it would be worth it unless you choose to use it for nighttime as well. The narrow band filters used in solar usually remove the chromatic aberration of an achromat. If the lens is of good quality I would not sacrifice the aperture of the larger achromat for the smaller APO unless you choose to use the scope on objects outside of the Sun.

I am weighing the Celestron C6-R achromat against the Astro-Tech AT130EDT triplet apo and have came to the same conclusions.

James


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: Refractor question

Post by ffellah »

Thank you, James, I was thinking of the same Astro Tech 130.

Franco


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Re: Refractor question

Post by DeepSolar64 »

ffellah wrote: Fri Jul 09, 2021 10:43 am Thank you, James, I was thinking of the same Astro Tech 130.

Franco


They make nice instruments, Franco. I have their little AT72EDII and it has practically no chromatic abberation. It's a doublet with a lanthanum element mated to an Ohara FPL53 element. Both ED glasses.

SharpStar would be another good option for an affordable ED/APO. They are really nice too.

But if it's just for solar a good achromat is more affordable.

James


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: Refractor question

Post by ffellah »

Thank you James


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Re: Refractor question

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Glad to help, Franco. Good luck with your choice.


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

Image Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
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