pragmatist Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Finally after a 10 week wait I received a scope I have been dying to obtain for a long time. Price wise yes I could have bought another amazing heavy to lug all singing all dancing set up but I’ve been there and done that and now just like to have a quick look at the moon, planets and some double stars and be back indoors in time for a JD & coke and bed. This thing is just beautiful to look at and the views are stunning for such a small aperture. Will do a full equipment review later. Matty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niallk Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 Congrats + Enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtreemchaos Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 a work of Art. well done mate, heres wishing you clear skys. charl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfian Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 A stunning piece of equipment and a thing of beauty and, depending on what it cost you, maybe a shrewd investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 As much an American icon as the Coke bottle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1 Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Congratulations, what a wonderful telescope, with a long illustrious history. I look forward to reading your first light report?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Oooooooooooh that looks.good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul M Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 A long time ago a family acquaintance used to lend me an odd old copy or two of Sky and Telescope (which was very rare in the UK in the 70's). I was stunned by the adverts for Questar. Still just as out of reach now as they were in my childhood and still a joy to behold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruud Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Congratulations Matty, it looks so pretty! I tried to find a manual because I'm interested in the finder function and the hand controller. No luck so far, but I found a nice pdf from the Chester County Astronomical Society that describes the Questar 3.5 on p. 3 and 8-9: CCAS-2015-03.pdf It explains there's a finder mirror below the tube and I wonder: is there a lens in the side of the tube that acts like an objective for the finder? I'm also interested to know everything about the hand controller. Looking forward to your next post on the Questar 3.5. Happy observing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwetherell Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Still remember these from drooling over them in magazines as a kid! looked through a friend's Questar once and it was a very nice instrument! I always thought the alt/az to equatorial conversion with the little legs and the clockwork drive were such a neat idea. Great to have the whole observing package in one unit like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RT65CB-SWL Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 I am still drooling over them, (the pictures that is, not the 'scopes). ? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pragmatist Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 5 hours ago, Dave1 said: Congratulations, what a wonderful telescope, with a long illustrious history. I look forward to reading your first light report?! Shouldn’t be too long Dave, the new scope curse has struck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pragmatist Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 3 hours ago, Ruud said: Congratulations Matty, it looks so pretty! I tried to find a manual because I'm interested in the finder function and the hand controller. No luck so far, but I found a nice pdf from the Chester County Astronomical Society that describes the Questar 3.5 on p. 3 and 8-9: CCAS-2015-03.pdf It explains there's a finder mirror below the tube and I wonder: is there a lens in the side of the tube that acts like an objective for the finder? I'm also interested to know everything about the hand controller. Looking forward to your next post on the Questar 3.5. Happy observing! Hi Ruud, yes it’s an incredible concept. You flick a switch and hey presto a Finder. The control box near the eyepiece has a lens which looks down onto a mirror at the base of the scope. I’ll send a photo showing how it works but it can all be done without taking your eyes from the eyepiece. Truly amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruud Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 1 minute ago, pragmatist said: I’ll send a photo I'd love that! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien 13 Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 A truly beautiful scope, still on my bucket list as an example of how scopes should be made. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pragmatist Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 3 hours ago, Ruud said: I'd love that! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15Rules Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 Lovely scope, lovely engineering, lovely looks, lovely overall..did I say that your new scope is lovely?? Congratulations! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibbo! Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Remember looking at theadverts for these in S&T all those years ago and lusted after one. looking forward to a review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pragmatist Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 3 hours ago, F15Rules said: Lovely scope, lovely engineering, lovely looks, lovely overall..did I say that your new scope is lovely?? Congratulations! Dave You are right about the engineering Dave. The optics are pretty damn sharp too. Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pragmatist Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 1 hour ago, Ibbo! said: Remember looking at theadverts for these in S&T all those years ago and lusted after one. looking forward to a review. Ibbo, the review is on its way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RT65CB-SWL Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 10 hours ago, Ibbo! said: Remember looking at theadverts for these in S&T all those years ago and lusted after one. looking forward to a review. I did too! ...and the TeleVue Ranger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkSteele Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 There is no scope more worthy of inclusion in an art gallery than the Questar. Fortunately, having looked through a couple, the views are pretty good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAsun Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Quote HI Pragmatist, I have in my collection of scopes a Questar 3.5" with a quartz mirror dating to 1964 according to Questar. I remember speaking with David Nagler at Astrofest in 2017 and telling him I had a 1964 vintage one, and he replied that he and Al also had ones of the same vintage. They very nice scopes to look at as well as to look through,, and the engineering is wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 It's ok, I guess. Seriously though, it looks a beautifully put together piece of kit. I hope the views are equally impressive. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Drew Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Very nice all round, I've had a few pass through my hands long ago. I ended up making similar items professionally, they became known as "A poor man's Questar" in some circles. The optics were good but nowhere near the fit and finish. Or the price! ? . I have a 90mm ETX which can give a Questar a run for its money, not an "objet d'art" though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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