Please help what scope to get !!

[daveangie0110]

Hi all,

I am looking at getting a new scope, after days of searching on the internet, i have narrowed my search down to these scopes, what are peoples thoughts on these, i will be using the new scope just for imaging with a Canon 600D and next year a cooled ZWO camera, the scopes i have been looking at are:

William optics ZS103 doublet FPL53 710mm focal length

Altiar 80ED-R doublet SFPL53 555mm focal length

Altair 80EDR-T triplet FCD100 480mm focal length

TS-Optics 80 triplet FPL53 480mm focal length

Is there really a big difference between a good doublet and a triplet using the same glass ? 

The guy who runs our local astronomy club said not to get a triplet due to the issues i may have with it (Pinched optics, cool down times) and he said that if he showed me a picture from a good doublet and compared it with one of the above triplets i would not tell the difference. 

Has anyone got these scopes if so can you tell me what your thoughts are on them.

Thanks

[astrosathya]

William optics are known for inconsistent quality between batches. Cost is also high. A highly experienced Astrophotographer who runs an Astronomy Resort up the French Alps  suggested the Sky-Watcher Espirit series, in your case an 80mm. If not, go for any scope which gives you interferometry results.  Since I used to work for Opticstar Ltd, Sale, Manchester, I would recommend their Ascension 80ED Triplet F6 which comes with a strehl of 0.92 or higher and is also supplied with a laser interferometry report. During my time there i've seen some really good scopes. I think Gary Palmer (just google him) could say something about Altair scopes as i've seen him use them a lot.

 

[emadmoussa]

I had the Starwave 102mm ED (Altiar) and sold it to an astrophotographer who thinks it's a wonderful scope for the price. I used it for visual and it was very nice too.