Looking for a Refractor

[planecrazzzy]

I'm looking to buy my FIRST refractor...
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I'll want to try astrophotography with it...

So I'm thinking THIS model might fit a beginner?
It will work on my Celestron AVX

Explore Scientific 102mm f/7 Essential Apochromatic ED Triplet Refractor Telescope (OTA Only)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... ml/reviews

,
any thoughts ?

Know any better that I should look at and compare ?
For the price , This one should make the low end of GOOD ones.
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Gotta Fly...
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[Lady Fraktor]

It will likely do a good job for you.
Depending on what you are primarily trying to image a 80mm or 90mm may work as well.

[Gordon]

I have the 80mm version of that and use it for astrophotography.

I've been very happy with mine. I know we have a few other members that use that particular scope so hopefully they will chime in also.

[planecrazzzy]

It will likely do a good job for you.
Depending on what you are primarily trying to image a 80mm or 90mm may work as well.

Funny you should say that... One of the reasons I started looking for a refractor was because one of your comments I found.
Saying you'd rather have a 100mm refractor over the other scope ( I don't remember the scope )
Then I looked at your scopes and they are all refractors... and High "F" numbers.
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So that helped me determine a Minimum of 100mm,
I made it by 2mm .... I was stopped by money...er , lack of it
.
THIS time , I made sure my mount would handle it...
I try to keep it under 1/2 the load capacity now.
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[Lady Fraktor]

Well refractors are the best

For visual f/7 and slower is good but for AP a f/7 or faster helps.
The f/5 - f/7 range will give you a wider field for DSO and f/7+ is good for imaging planets.

For example the max FOV of my 80mm f/6.9 is 4.95° but my 150mm f/8 is only 2.28°
So for faster imaging you would want the shorter focal length.

The AP gals and guys can explain the nuances better though.

[Makuser]

Hi planecrazzzy. You have made a great decision. I have a short focal length 6" f/5 Fraunhofer doublet achromatic refractor which I love for observing. It provides high contrast with a wide field of view on deep sky objects, but it's chromatic aberration renders it not suitable for much astrophotography. Going to a smaller aperture apochromatic refractor should give you excellent results and work easily on a Celestron AVX mount. Congratulations on your choice of the ES 102 f/7 ED triplet planecrazzzy and don't forget to post a first light report on here.

[planecrazzzy]

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For the faster one I have the Orion 6" at F/4 , Newtonian
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That one was the reason I had to buy the AVX.
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But I want a refractor...

and not one that needs replacing right away...a good one.
and can be used visual and astrophotography
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Thanks for the imput ...
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[helicon]

Good luck with the choice. I only have a 6" Achromat. It's fine for DSO's visually but not perfect for planets. I've been thinking of getting a Mak for planetary work. But I haven't pulled the trigger yet.

[planecrazzzy]

Yeah...the trigger
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As I thought about it , this would be my most expensive one.

Under a Grand for the 10" DOB

The 6" Orion was about $500

$ 2-3 hundred in a 90mm ( I think it's a MAK ? )
.

.
But...IF done NOW ( the trigger ) it should be plenty of room before Christmas to recuperate
to buy presents...Although...There's other accessories needed .
Still....I think I can do this.
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Wife thought 4" was small.... Or.... maybe that's the way I described it next to my 90mm
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Santa's gonna bring me COAL for THAT ONE.

[Lady Fraktor]

90-105mm is a sweet spot for visual refractors, f/7 is a good mid range general purpose focal ratio for visual/ AP so the ES you first linked to should do you well.

[planecrazzzy]

BANG

[SkyHiker]

The 102 mm ES Apo exactly the right choice for an AVX. I have a 127 mm Apo that is too heavy for it. If you want to check, look at Jim (Juno)'s beautiful images. Good luck with it!

[planecrazzzy]

Link ? I don't know where to look... I'd like to see them.
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Yes, we went through my overloading an EQ-1 ( What a joke )
The weight was always in play now.
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Plus , I plan to use some equipment later...
There still should be plenty of usable payload left.
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I really like the AVX... Still a beginner. ( Almost to level one )

[jrkirkham]

I have the 80mm version and have always liked it. I think the 102mm version would make a nice scope.

[planecrazzzy]

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I haven't read any bad reviews...and it seems to be a lot of people's first refractor
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Yes , I was looking at the 150mm and the 127mm
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and my wallet said No no no...
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Also , my AVX thanks me for not overloading it.
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[Bigzmey]

Carbon fiber version of ES 102 was my first APO scope. It was a well built scope and good performer. I assume that aluminum tube version has the same optics. However, I am not a big fun of the mechanical features on ES essential.

If I would not have my Stellarvue, I would go for Astro-tech over ES 102 essential.

https://www.astronomics.com/astro-tech- ... ublet.html

[planecrazzzy]

, I would go for Astro-tech over ES 102 essential

.
That would have been good info BEFORE the "Bang"
But I didn't give it much time ,
There's a lot to learn...
This scope will be a good tool for MY beginner status.
maybe not as good for intermediate and up.
.
I did learn about Mono and color... Color cameras lose 3 times the light that a Mono collects.
Knowing that will REALLY help... it's only 102mm , no need to make it act like a 60mm (ruff guess)
Dodged an expensive mistake there... it's just more work in photo edit apps , I'll take it.
.
Gotta Fly...
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[Bigzmey]

, I would go for Astro-tech over ES 102 essential

.
That would have been good info BEFORE the "Bang"
But I didn't give it much time ,
There's a lot to learn...
This scope will be a good tool for MY beginner status.
maybe not as good for intermediate and up.
.
I did learn about Mono and color... Color cameras lose 3 times the light that a Mono collects.
Knowing that will REALLY help... it's only 102mm , no need to make it act like a 60mm (ruff guess)
Dodged an expensive mistake there... it's just more work in photo edit apps , I'll take it.
.
Gotta Fly...
.

You are still getting a nice scope and ES support is great.

[The Wave Catcher]

Good luck with the choice. I only have a 6" Achromat. It's fine for DSO's visually but not perfect for planets. I've been thinking of getting a Mak for planetary work. But I haven't pulled the trigger yet.

If you haven’t done so already, you may want to try an aperture mask. I use a 60 mm mask with my el cheapo 102 mm Bresser achromat refractor and it turns it from a wide field comet hunter into an “APO like” planetary scope for visual use. At high powers, the resolution with the mask seem greater than without because if all the colors don’t focus at the same point, things aren’t sharp either.

[helicon]

Good luck with the choice. I only have a 6" Achromat. It's fine for DSO's visually but not perfect for planets. I've been thinking of getting a Mak for planetary work. But I haven't pulled the trigger yet.

If you haven’t done so already, you may want to try an aperture mask. I use a 60 mm mask with my el cheapo 102 mm Bresser achromat refractor and it turns it from a wide field comet hunter into an “APO like” planetary scope for visual use. At high powers, the resolution with the mask seem greater than without because if all the colors don’t focus at the same point, things aren’t sharp either.

Thanks Steve. I have not tried that yet. Will have to give it a go. I suppose the effect basically is to increase the focal length.