A slight rant

[Ted Hauter]

Going into the new year, equipment wise, the tools needed are still not reality or appear to have any hope to be on the horizon. It is very frustrating knowing this, year after year, that despite all that the hobby has accomplished it is really lacking serious punch and will definitely lose new people left wanting much more and those of many years holding strongly to contentment. 

May some risks be taken soon or growth will be at doubt.

We need large ED doublet refractors.

We need large Mak Cass reflectors.

We need ortho eyepieces that have not been made for over 20 years.

We need that first beefy Alt Az mount that can hold 60 lbs.

We need a mount that does not need 60 lbs of counterweights.

We need a correct image diagonal that really works that isn't $800. 

Binoviewers need to be revolutionary, again. Correct image?

May all that is good flow to those who strive to learn, grow, and know in the new year.

[Joe Acosta]

How big ED refractor and mak are you looking for?

There are strain wave mounts that support that capacity and they do not require counterweights.  You just have to shell out a bit of $$$$ for it 

• iOptron HAZ71 Alt-Az Mount: This mount has a payload capability of 68 lb (around 31 kg) without requiring a counterweight. It is designed for flexibility in handling a variety of instruments.
• iOptron HAE69/HAZ69 Mounts: These mounts are rated at 69 lb (31 kg) capacity and can operate in both equatorial and alt-azimuth modes.
• WarpAstron WD-20: This mount can support a substantial payload of up to 66 lbs (30 kg) with the addition of counterweights.
• iOptron HAZ130: This is a very high-capacity alt-azimuth mount, with a payload rating of 132 lbs (60 kg). 

[Ted Hauter]

Hi Joe, thanks for this.

These mounts without counterweights are all satisfying the request, thank you. Options are becoming available if in very short supply. What I actually meant to say was about a straight up Alt Az with motion handles / clutches that can handle some actual heavy weight.

A 180mm Mak cass goes a very long way and is all I use at night at the moment. A TV85 and NP 101 to support its amazing deep sky abilities are 90% solar.

A larger mak. Glad you ask. Well I saw Rolands custom big Mak cass at Neaf for 15k and was shook up about it. A scope half its size was $750. I all just doesn't seem to he reality.

Sky watcher was to make a 10 inch model but it was not a mak cass and they ultimately couldn't do it somehow.

The ED doublet.

Markus at APM was to make a hundred  7 inch ED doublets with SFPL 51 that he said was going to somehow be a crazy low price if the 100 were made and sold. I went to Woodland Hills for the financing and they were supportive but ultimately backed out. I went to CN about his offer and they backed ME out. So we are at a junction where this can be done and now 10 years later we should be able to get an 8 inch going for similar but there is no support for this old offer and now he is saying not in this lifetime.

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[Joe Acosta]

I have seen an askar 8 inch 

https://www.highpointscientific.com/askar-203apo-triplet-ed-refractor

[Ted Hauter]

It's a triple lens but yes that is an amazing accomplishment getting that scope out there for well under 10k. As for a much lighter doublet that can be nearly as good with the right glass types, Askar might be my bet to do it at f9.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sf-bay-tac/18a66f84-e72f-47a8-a4fd-bc2f24a0c1f7n%40googlegroups.com.

[Ted Hauter]

I dug a bit and found the reason. Thank you Vahe.

[Ted Hauter]

I might die looking at puny views or iffy stars. Needs to change.