[LVAS] 100mm Table Top Reflector Question?

Mon Feb 15 19:56:43 PST 2010

Hi, Just saw this email. I would say a Refractor is overall the best first
scope. Durability, no need to worry about collimation from time to time. And
for the moon and planetary. They can't be beat. A Refractor on a decent Alt
AZi mount is great. I still use a 80mm Meade I got years ago when I was a
teenager. It wasn't a junky one, holds 1.25 EP's.

On Mon, Feb 15, 2010 at 6:20 PM, roger ivester <drivester at hotmail.com>wrote:

>
> Laura,
>
> Thank you for taking the time to reply. You present a very interesting
> point as I just assumed the larger 100mm reflector had primary adjustment
> screws.
>
> I wrote an essay on my purchase of a Celestron 76mm FirstScope a few weeks
> ago. I wanted to review and see how this scope performed as I thought it
> might be a good "true first scope" for my nine year old granddaughter. The
> 76mm performed really well, especially for $42 dollars, and guess what? It
> was in perfect collimation out of the box, but indeed if the primary was out
> it could have presented a problem. I just thought that the 100mm with better
> EP's and a parabolic mirror versus a spherical mirror would be a significant
> improvement in performance, worth the extra $50 dollars alone. I was also
> hoping that my son might enjoy observing again and this would be a superior
> scope as compared to the 76mm.
>
> I have been collimating reflectors for almost 35 years and have never owned
> a laser collimator, not even a Cheshire. An f/8 reflector is very easy using
> the star test but a rich field scope such as an f/4.5 is a bit more
> difficult. I normally collimate my 10-inch before each outing, taking only a
> few minutes. The more you do it the better you get.
>
> You have indeed presented something that I will need to think about before
> making a purchase. I was planning on ordering the 100mm in the morning, but
> am now going to hold off.
>
> Something of interest that I want to share regarding permanent
> collimation. My 4-inch Vixen refractor does not have an adjustment on the
> objective lens. The cell is fabulously built and the entire assembly just
> screws onto the OT, but I have never seen a more perfectly collimated
> refractor objective. I myself don't know how they do it.
>
> I have read many reports from other Vixen owners sharing the same story.
> S&T did a review on this scope many years ago and experienced the same
> perfect collimation with their test scope. However, I know that you are
> thinking that the 100mm reflector is not built to the same tolerances of the
> Vixen scope and there is quite a difference in the price. You would be
> correct on both accounts.
>
> Laura, thank you again. You are for sure to be commended on your most
> thorough research.
>
> I am now a bit disappointed as I am not sure what I should get Zoe. I would
> really like to get Zoe a 66mm ED Astro-Tech, but this scope cost
> near $350 dollars. This would make me a great portable scope. It is for
> sure too high tech for a nine year old. I would then need to purchase a
> couple of EP's pushing the cost toward $450 or more, and then it needs a
> finder also. I think that my son has a HD tripod that would work well with
> this scope.
>
> I may need to consider an economical refractor as you suggested. A
> refractor is so much more durable, and a 3-inch refractor is superior to a
> 3-inch in performance as we both know.
>
> Oh well, thanks again for your valuable information.
>
> Roger
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:22:41 -0800
> From: laura.w.kelm at gmail.com
> To: lvas at lvlug.org
> Subject: Re: [LVAS] 100mm Table Top Reflector Question?
>
>
> Hi Roger,
> I don't have any experience with any of the beginner scopes, but I was
> asked by someone at work to make scope recommendations for a first scope for
> a 7 year old.  After checking out the Orion website, I have come up with a
> short list, which will include the Sky Scanner 100mm reflector on the list,
> and the Orion GoScope 80mm refractor (both $99.95).  From reading the specs,
> they both sound like decent scopes, but my issue with the reflector is that
> it doesn't appear that you can collimate the primary mirror, which could
> lead to issues.  I read some reviews obviously by people who have been doing
> this for awhile that they were able to modify the tube so they can collimate
> the primary, but this isn't something a beginner would do.  Refractors don't
> have the collimation issue, which makes me think it might be a better first
> scope.  As I said, I don't have experience with either of these scopes, so
> maybe someone with more experience has some input?
>
> Laura
>
> On Mon, Feb 15, 2010 at 7:21 AM, roger ivester <drivester at hotmail.com>wrote:
>
>
> One more thing, the 100mm has a true parabolic f/4 mirror, rather than an
> f/4 spherical in the 76 Celestron. A huge difference.
>
> Roger
>
> ------------------------------
> From: drivester at hotmail.com
> To: lvas at lvlug.org
> Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:00:48 +0000
> Subject: [LVAS] 100mm Table Top Reflector Question?
>
>
> All,
>
> I had sent an e-mail earlier saying that I wanted to get my nine year old
> granddaughter a 76mm Celestron FirstScope. Since that time I have noticed
> that Orion has a *100mm "SkyScanner 100mm Table Top Reflector for $100
> dollars. *Looks like the same Chinese factory makes both scopes.
>
> It is not much larger in size, better EP's, and a red dot finder. It has a
> spider holding the secondary, rather than a single stalk attached to the
> focuser. *The price is only $50 dollars more. *
> **
> *I would have to get a finder for the Celestron, so that is extra money
> added to the initial cost of the 76mm. *
>
> I am hoping that maybe a better scope might also inspire my son Brad to
> start doing a bit of observing.
>
> *Question: Has anyone every seen or had any experience with this scope?  I
> know that it is not going to work as well as my 4-inch refractor, but I do
> believe all the messiers and more would be possible with this scope. *
>
> I know that I could buy a tried and proven "StarBlast", but that is another
> $100 dollars. If I could be for sure that the scope was going to be well
> used, I would get the "StarBlast". The "SB" might also be too big for Zoe to
> handle.
>
>
>
> Thanks, Roger
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *    The moon and stars to govern the night.....   Psalm 136:9*
>
>
>
>
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