So, any thoughts? Worth it? Not worth it?
6-inch Mak?
- pakarinen
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6-inch Mak?
In the random churning of my idle brain, I’ve been thinking about a 6-inch Mak. I have 80mm and 120mm ST fracs and maybe a slower Mak would be a nice addition for lunar and ???. I still have my vintage C8 but I’m going to sell or donate the OTA . I already sold off the pod, wedge, and fork. I like the idea of a Mak since collimation appears to be straightforward.
So, any thoughts? Worth it? Not worth it?
So, any thoughts? Worth it? Not worth it?
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
Between your 120mm frac and the 150mm Mak, I don't think you'd see much of a difference. How about something large and fast?
Cheers,
JT
Cheers,
JT
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
I have had my Intes MK 66 for 16 years now and I love it. It is hard to get a Rutten Maksutov Cassegrain anymore though. The Rutten Maksutov design has a secondary that isn't just a spot on the corrector plate, it has an independent curvature. That allows a much tighter spot diagram and better correction in the optics. In addition stray light is really well controlled by knife edge baffles.
They used to cost more than Chinese spot Maks and were clearly better. Since the Putin redirected the companies that made them into defense production they have become hard to find.
Here is a link that has some Santel and Intes Micro scopes
http://www.hoo-germany.de/index.php/cat ... grain.html
https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/in ... copes.html
I've dealt with Teleskop-Express happily.
Of course if you are budget minded the Chinese spot on the corrector Maks are the way to go. But my Rutten MaksutovCass has really spoiled me over the years. Great contrast and terrific on small DSOs and planets.
They used to cost more than Chinese spot Maks and were clearly better. Since the Putin redirected the companies that made them into defense production they have become hard to find.
Here is a link that has some Santel and Intes Micro scopes
http://www.hoo-germany.de/index.php/cat ... grain.html
https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/in ... copes.html
I've dealt with Teleskop-Express happily.
Of course if you are budget minded the Chinese spot on the corrector Maks are the way to go. But my Rutten Maksutov
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
I think it is worth a go. If you could pick up an Intes like not_Fritz that would be great, but the cheaper Chinese ones should still give great contrast and be excellent for moon, planets, and a lot of dso 's. The best view I have ever had of Saturn was with an ETX125... I always remember my first view of the Swan through a lowly ETX90, and it blew me away because of the clarity and contrast.
I assume your ST120 is the Orion, and is not anApo ? I think a good 6" Mak would be a big jump in planetary performance.
All the best,
Dean
I assume your ST120 is the Orion, and is not an
All the best,
Dean
Telescopes: 12" f5 dob, Celestron CPC800, 150mmf5 Celestron achro, Tak TSA102, TV76, ETX125...
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
Yes, it’s an Orion F5 ST.
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
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I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
I think if the 120mm is F/ 5 then a 6" Mak will be a very different type of beast. I have a 127mm Skywatcher Mak (one of those Chinese ones) and am very pleased with it.
If your 120mm is anAPO or longer focal length achromat, you might not get much gain.
If your 120mm is an
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
You would gain the ability to get high magnification views of the Moon and planets that are free from chromatic aberration. Nice as a 120mm ST f5 scope is they don't take high magnification well. Whether the preferred Rutten or Gregory (spot on corrector plate) design, a Mak will open up a whole new range of observing possibilities.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
IOptron also makes the Rumak type. I would like to have one of these. :-)
iOptron 150mm Rumak Maksutov-CassegrainOTA - 6101
https://www.highpointscientific.com/iop ... n-ota-6101
Is this the type, nFA?
iOptron 150mm Rumak Maksutov-Cassegrain
https://www.highpointscientific.com/iop ... n-ota-6101
Is this the type, nFA?
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
It claims to be and might be. I'm not sure because I can't see the collimation screws on the secondary. So here's what I glean from careful examination of the photo.Don Quixote wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2019 4:48 pm IOptron also makes the Rumak type. I would like to have one of these. :-)
iOptron 150mm Rumak Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA - 6101
https://www.highpointscientific.com/iop ... n-ota-6101
Is this the type, nFA?
At first glance it looks like it's just a silvered spot on the corrector which would make it NOT a Rumak. But if you look closely it might just be a shiny covering over the collimation screws. I can see evidence of baffles around the secondary which indicates IT IS a Rumak. So does the f12 which is a little fast for a Gregory Mak. (f13 or slower, f15 is better for them.)
There is a YouTube video that shows what my MK66 looks like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHlpPp-nbz4
The Intes has wonderfully effective knife edge baffles that the iOptron doesn't seem to share. I'll see if I can post a pic later that shows the
My take is that if I were in the market, I'd give the iOptron a go.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
http://www.ioptron.com/v/Manuals/6101_MAK150_Manual.pdf
http://www.ioptron.com/v/Manuals/6101_M ... mation.pdf
It is unusual for the collimation on a Rumak to be done back at the primary but not impossible.
There is also a CN review where the owner of the iOptron misidentifies the corrector as the objective but seems sure about the difference between a Rutten and a Gregory Maksutov.
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/4743 ... -mak-cass/
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
Well I tried to get a photo that expresses the care in the baffling of my MK66 but it just doesn't work well. You have to be there. Anyhoo FWIW here goes
I like the design on the Internet Micro baffling a little better with knife edges just behind the corrector to the tune of 6 to 7. The Intes baffling has a very long Cassegrain baffle sticking up from the center hole in the primary.Then there is a knife edge at the end of the cone. In the picture there is very large circle (the primary), then a smaller one which is a reflection of the secondary in the primary, and emerging from that down and to the right is a dark conoidal cylinder terminating in a cutoff bright circle. That last is the front end of the baffle illuminated from the visual back.
I like the design on the Internet Micro baffling a little better with knife edges just behind the corrector to the tune of 6 to 7. The Intes baffling has a very long Cassegrain baffle sticking up from the center hole in the primary.Then there is a knife edge at the end of the cone. In the picture there is very large circle (the primary), then a smaller one which is a reflection of the secondary in the primary, and emerging from that down and to the right is a dark conoidal cylinder terminating in a cutoff bright circle. That last is the front end of the baffle illuminated from the visual back.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
The 6” mak is a totally different beast from the ST. You will love it. I have a 7” Mak, and it is tack sharp and lots of power. You may never go back!
Devout bino lover and Lunaholic! Scopes - Celestron RASA 8, Orion 180mm Mak-Cass, 6"f8 dob, ST80. binos - Orion 7x50, Oberwerk 8x56 LW, Oberwerk 10x50 Deluxe, 15x70 Deluxe, Oberwerk 100mm ED Binocular telescope.
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
I also think that a 6" Mak would be an big improvement over the 120ST for high power viewing.
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
My 150 Mac is about the same as my 8 inch dobs on planets so for that purpose yes , not good for DSO 's , can handle 250X on a very good day
Reflectors GSO 200 Dobs
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Mak 150 Bosma on a EQ5
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
Hello pakarinen. I started with a SkyWatcher C90 Mak, later moved up to an Orion 127 Mak, and finally to the Orion 170 Mak. The long focal length of the Mak telescopes make it possible to reach maximum magnification with a 12mm or 9mm eyepiece, instead of a 4mm or 5mm eyepiece with a "pin hole" eye lens. Although good for splitting doubles, they are not well adapted to DSO work, due to their very narrow field of view. And, they are not too friendly with "focal reducers" as are the SCTs. However, they are lunar/planetary killers. nFA covered the difference between the Gregorian Mak and Rutten Maks. The Gregorian uses a silvered spot deposit for a secondary mirror, as the Rutten uses a center secondary mirror button, which allows the optical engineers to use a different curvature than the corrector plate (meniscus) for more correct optical correction. The down side is you now have more central obstruction, but you gain with the finer detail of objects. The Maks are noted for their excellent acutance (sharpness, as in an acute pain). Don Quixote (Mark) and I had a telephone conversation last year about the IOptron 150 Rumak telescope. And, It seems to come with lot of nice refinements and accessories, however the link states of course, that it is for the OTA only, and you would have to buy suitable mount. Having said all of this, I think the IOptron 150 Mak and your fast wide field 120ST would be a great "1-2" punch for you. I hope this helps pakarinen, and the best of wishes on your telescope decision.
Marshall
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Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
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Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
>)))))*>
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Re: 6-inch Mak?
I think it is worth considering.
While doing that you could consider the OMC140 as well. (5.5 inch)
https://www.orionoptics.co.uk/OMC/omc140maksutovca.html
I have the normal 1/4 P/V one, but Wolfgang Rohr tested the 1/6 P/V version:
http://r2.astro-foren.com/index.php/de/ ... tografisch
On Planets it equals my 120mm DoubletAPO , maybe a tad better for it has no visible CA anymore. Sensitivity to seeing is a bit worse though, if not isolated.
While doing that you could consider the OMC140 as well. (5.5 inch)
https://www.orionoptics.co.uk/OMC/omc140maksutovca.html
I have the normal 1/4 P/V one, but Wolfgang Rohr tested the 1/6 P/V version:
http://r2.astro-foren.com/index.php/de/ ... tografisch
On Planets it equals my 120mm Doublet
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
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