[LVAS] 100mm Table Top Reflector Question?

Mon Feb 15 23:46:16 PST 2010

Yup the guy with the brown jacket!

On Mon, Feb 15, 2010 at 8:17 PM, Rob Lambert <scopegeek at gmail.com> wrote:

> Matt,
>
> Were you one of the Matts at Valley of Fire this weekend?
>
> Rob
>
> Sent from Rob's iPhone!
>
> On Feb 15, 2010, at 19:56, matt starr <xsmatt81 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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>
> 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>laura.w.kelm at gmail.com
>> To: <lvas at lvlug.org>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>
>> 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>drivester at hotmail.com
>> To: <lvas at lvlug.org>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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