[SJAAboard] Loaners: "my original poor quality wide field refractor"

[Nelsonastro at aol.com]

Rob,
 
  Several of us were a bit surprised (as we have said) with the
sell-off of both the small "wide field refractors" at the auction.
Your post of 5/20 makes it clearer why that decision was made
(particularly if the refractors were exactly the same as the
scope you started with as a beginner and sold in 2002).
 
  I believe that there have been several reviews of this  'generic'
type of short focus acromat that have given them good reviews
[of course review is specific to a particular OTA and design].
The reviews I remember - talked about how the basic design
philosophy was to 'forget about violet-far blue' correction and
to just concentrate on the mid-visible.  This is NOT the  classical
f/12 design goal.  It works best with a slight minus-blue filter
(this gets rid of the annoying far blue fringe).
 
  The latest issue of Sky & Telescope has a cover article
reference to a 'grab and go' scope and there is also another
article inside mentioning the same category of scope.  I
was wondering what Rob and Rich's take is on a 'better'
version of this type of beginner scope. (still in beginner
price range and small size)
 
Steven Nelson



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