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This is some Instrument! The precision is outstanding. The entire back housing will rotate. This feature is very convenient for framing the image in the camera without having to move it in the focuser after it is locked in position on focus. It's also nice for using the finder scope on opposite sides of the GEM. I haven't got to look through it yet, but it won't be long. Hope to take it out this weekend to Fort Griffin, if the weather is clear. I'm excited!!!
The new refractor was bought in Germany from APM Telescopes, http://www.apm-telescopes.de/, which is owned by Markus Ludes The scope design is from TM Back Optical from Cleveland Ohio. The lens cell was made in Russia, the CNC Tube was made in Germany, and was machined from solid aluminum stock similar to the Astro Physics scopes. The cell is a 130/F-6 Super ED Apochromat Triplet. The test report shows Lambda= 532 nm with a PTV of 0,236; RMS 0,030 with a Strehl Ratio of 0,965. Markus Ludes of APM Telescopes believes this new Triplet Super ED cannot be matched by anyone. It is advertised as having "zero color abrasion at any magnification". The mount is a LXD 650 GEM made by Meade, which I bought with the Meade 5 inch refractor, which I will be selling. The mount itself weighs approx 30-35 lbs. There are two 15 lb counter-weights, which you put on the mount after it is attached to the tripod. The tripod weighs about 15 lbs, so it is not difficult to assemble.
I set it up in the back yard last Friday night for first light. I checked it from low magnification to 173x and found no abrasion looking at Vega through the center, or the edge of the EP. I could see clear diffraction rings around Vega and Deneb. The diffraction ring pattern inside and outside of focus was perfect. The rings themselves were sharp, and well-defined. They reminded me of the rings in my 12 inch LX200. I have never seen a pattern through a refractor with rings this well defined. My Meade 127mm and all other refractors I have looked through have a soft transition between light and dark. It is relatively heavy compared to my Meade 127mm. It weighs 29 lbs. The most convenient feature of the scope is that the entire back focusing cell will rotate. This is very handy when the scopes changes sides on the mount, both with observing and taking pictures. The image can be framed without disturbing focus. I also bought the Field
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