Any experience with this scope ? TS 80mm f/4.4 Imaging Star APO Astrograph

[axle01]

Has anyone got or know anything about this scope, it will be mostly used for imagining with a Sony A7s

TS 80mm f/4.4 Imaging Star APO Astrograph - aperture 80mm / focal length 352mm

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p7224_TS-80mm-f-4-4-Imaging-Star-APO-Astrograph---aperture-80mm---focal-length-352mm.html

Alan

[ronin]

I think you will find it is the William Optics GT 81 with an inbuilt 3 element reducer/flattener.

WO do similar (GTF-81) but only flattens, not reduces, and the WO is a 2 element corrector, and the focal length is longer on the GTF then the GT.

No idea if they use the same tube - would make somne sense -  and flattener as WO with an additional element. I would guess they have a complete drop in flattener/reducer assembly. The objective will be the same.

It was initially made by APM, came out on their site about 6 to 8 months before the TS offering.

APM are good, very good.

I looked it but have the WO GT-81, so no reason to change, and just me but I would prefer it with APM on the side not TS.

It is primarily an imaging scope.

[KyleStoke]

I was looking at this scope yesterday but could find no images taken with it or a review anywhere, would be interesting to here from someone who has taken the plunge

[axle01]

Bumping this back to the top if any one can help I would appreciate it.

Got the oppitunity to purchase a Tak 106ED but if this little 80 is any good I would settle for it as it's better than half the cost.

Alan

[ronin]

Doubt there are many of these around. People bought the WO GTF-81 then the APM scope appeared later.

WO didn't really offer the GTF much in Europe, most I know of imported from the US, one retailer made the effort to import a few on special order.

In the US people bought the GTF-102 more then the GTF-81, then they bought the Star-71, the 81 sort of got missed.

I only read of it from the US CN forum, not mentioned in Europe, then it disappeared from the APM site, or was difficult to locate, then appeared with TS on the side on the TS site. So it was never really brought to peoples attention here, really still is almost unknown.

Produced images may be available on the TS site or the APM one.

Nothing on the APM site, nothing on the TS site either in the way of images.

There may be some out on the net but you will have to search for the TS name and the APM name, I see one says 80mm the other 81mm.

Personally if I were to go imaging and if I did not already have a GT-81 then it is likely the one I would go for, it ticks all the boxes. But of direct experience I have never seen any from anyone. Although a nagging feeling I have once - Olly perhaps ???

Maybe ask in the Imaging section although I would have expected people to have seen your post here.

[axle01]

Thanks that's a big help much appreciated.

Alan

[KyleStoke]

Alan take the plunge if it works out for you i will follow

In all seriousness, i was considering this scope or the TS Star 71, There is lots of evidance that the 71 works well or at least the WO version.

My question is to anyone who knows, how much difference would the extra 9/10 mm of aperture make? also the .5 faster F ratio. Obviously gives a slightly wider field of view

[axle01]

Alan take the plunge if it works out for you i will follow

Sorry Kyle you'll have to go it yourself I just bought a Tak 106ED

Alan

[KyleStoke]

Id like the Tak 85 version but i wouldn't grumble with the 106

Enjoy Alan