RC Optical Systems & new Astrographs

Hi
Anyone on the forum looked at “RC Optical Systems website” lately? I see they have a new line of “Ritchey-Chrétien Astrographs” which cost less than their typical RC systems. Some models will be available from January 2007 other models will follow over the coming months.

Quote from their website: “For the past several years, Star Instruments has been developing a low-cost alternative to our professional series of Ritchey-Chrétien optics. Our goal was to design a system with as flat a field as possible, no color and a system that could be produced less expensively. With these goals in mind we designed a system using Pyrex mirror blanks, a 50% central obstruction and a short back focus”.

Carbon Truss 10RCA f/7 Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph, release date January 2007, base cost is $8900 as compared to Carbon Truss 10RC $14,920
www.rcopticalsystems.com/10inchtrussRCA.html

Carbon Truss 12.5RCA f/6.6 Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph, release date March 2007, base cost is $10,500 compared to Carbon Truss 12.5RC $17,370
www.rcopticalsystems.com/12inchtrussRCA.html

Is there anyone else on the forum that owns a true RC or is considering purchasing an RC / RC Astrograph mentioned above?

Clear skies
Mike

That's all very well (for those who can afford it) but how much will a mount cost? It's not included.

Quote from their website: “...a 50% central obstruction and a short back focus”.

Are these two points supposed to be positive characteristics??????

Hi John
Unfortunately the mount is not included in the price, nor is any of the nice CCD cameras sitting pretty at the end of them.
A matching mount such as “Paramount ME” or “AP1200” that RC systems recommend for their scopes will set you back around the $10 – $12 k dollars mark.
Matching CCD cameras of good quality listed on RC optical website start from a few thousand dollars to multiples thereof!
Now where did I leave that chequebook! :lol:

Hi Anthony,
Would a RC-Astrograph be considered a poor mans RC :

Clear skies
Mike

Hi Anthony,
Would a RC-Astrograph be considered a poor mans RC :

Hi Mike,

These new offers are about 2/3rds the price of the more "serious" versions. As a result, I am not sure it is really worth the difference and, as a result, one may as well spend the extra 1/3rd and get the "serious" toy.

I am not very impressed with comments like "50% obstruction" and "short back-focus". Such comments are suggesting trouble for the end-user ... the former means a lack of contrast and the latter means equipment turnover to find the proper combination of equipment that can be mated to it. Also, if there is a 50% obstruction, what is the real aperture (glass) one will be using to image?!

For example, Russ Croman has listed during the past 36 hours his 14" RC for $18,500 and which includes various accessories. This is a great deal and especially in light (excuse the pun) of the new offers from OGS ( www.astromart.com/classifieds/list.asp?c...mp;view_btn=View+All ).

It is similar to spending a lot of money on an expensive suit and then going barefoot to the wedding.

PS. Theoretically I can flip my AP160, add a few thousand dollars, and pick up Russ' RCOS.