Altair Lightwave 72ED, what can you tell me about it?

[Gfamily]

Hi, I've been loaned an Altair Lightwave, and am trying to find out more about it.

I have to say it's a beautiful scope to use under dark skies. Mounted on my AZ GTi it gave me great views of clusters, nebulae and the planets we were looking at earlier in the year. It's the first scope I've really been able to use with my 6.4mm eyepiece, so I'm beginning to see why people love their 'fracs.

I can't see any references to it being on sale any more, so what would be its current equivalent? 

[vlaiv]

Direct replacement would be this scope:

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p8866_TS-Optics-Doublet-SD-Apo-72-mm-f-6---FPL53---Lanthan-Objective.html

Both Altair Astro and TS source their scopes from same manufacturer and there is a number of scopes that are basically the same scopes between these two. One of these scopes is scope in question and its TS equivalent linked above.

There are cheaper alternatives that might have slightly worse color correction but that really should not show in purely visual, maybe only in imaging:

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p1151_TS-Optics-70-mm-F6-ED-Travel-Refractor-with-modern-2--RAP-Focuser.html

and

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/pro-series/sky-watcher-evostar-72ed-ds-pro-ota.html

Other differences would be slightly worse "build" quality:

- poorer focuser unit (2" crayford vs 2.5" rack&pinion)

- fixed dew shield in case of SW unit (although it can be removed - I'm not sure I would remove it for transport - I prefer retractable dew shields).

[Paz]

On 11/11/2020 at 20:38, vlaiv said:

Direct replacement would be this scope:

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p8866_TS-Optics-Doublet-SD-Apo-72-mm-f-6---FPL53---Lanthan-Objective.html

I've got one of these as a travel scope, it is a fine little scope, good views, easy to use, and everything works like it should. Here's an action-photo!