New scope suggestions please.

[Albastars]

I have around £2000 to spend on a new telescope and need some help choosing.  

It’s for imaging DSOs only on a Zwo AM5 mount. Presently, I have a WO Z73 and I’m using a modded Canon 800D but am looking at upgrading to a Zwo ASI2600 in the near future. 

I prefer a refractor over a reflector. I’m looking for as long a focal length as I can but I think up to 800mm is affordable and within my mount’s capabilities. I guess I will need a 1x Flattener too. 

I’ve found a few 115/f7 scopes including - 

Ts-Optics Photoline - £1299

Altair Starwave - £1299

Altair Wave - £1899

Starfield Gear115 (from FLO) -£2098

The cheaper ones appeal obviously but will I have to spend on upgrades?

Do any of these scopes stand out as the best or are there alternatives, perhaps longer options? 

If anyone wants to suggest a reflector my main worries are its size for transportation, repeated colimation and the need to upgrade parts and fettle. Open to persuasion though - I was looking at the Vixen R200SS.

Thanks

[Clarkey]

12 hours ago, Albastars said:

Altair Starwave - £1299

I recently purchased the Starwave 115mm and I have been impressed with the optics. In theory the FPL53 in the Wave should be better, but I have not noticed any false colour with the Starwave which I believe is FPL51 - although I don't think it is quoted in the sales blurb. Overall, it seems pretty well made and good value for money. The only negative for me is the focuser is not as good as some. It is certainly useable, but there is a small amount of play in one axis. Using spacers, I am keeping the focuser racked in as far as possible to eliminate it - but I will probably get a replacement at some point. The dew shield was also slightly loose, but this was easily rectified by adjustment of the tension screws. I would suggest that the TS-photoline version is virtually identical optically and from experience their focusers can suffer from some movement too. For info, I have been using the standard Stella Lyra FF as I already had one and it works pretty well and saved a few ££'s over the 'official' one.

StellaMira 2" Field Flattener with M48 Adapter | First Light Optics

Have you considered a Ritchey-Cretien? Can be a bit tricky to collimate initially, but once dialled in they do not really move. Good value for aperture and FL. You would probably need a replacement focuser and a FF (for the RC6) - but still a lot of bang-for-your-buck.

HTHs.

Edited March 12, 2023 by Clarkey

[Albastars]

3 hours ago, Clarkey said:

I recently purchased the Starwave 115mm and I have been impressed with the optics. In theory the FPL53 in the Wave should be better, but I have not noticed any false colour with the Starwave which I believe is FPL51 - although I don't think it is quoted in the sales blurb. Overall, it seems pretty well made and good value for money. The only negative for me is the focuser is not as good as some. It is certainly useable, but there is a small amount of play in one axis. Using spacers, I am keeping the focuser racked in as far as possible to eliminate it - but I will probably get a replacement at some point. The dew shield was also slightly loose, but this was easily rectified by adjustment of the tension screws. I would suggest that the TS-photoline version is virtually identical optically and from experience their focusers can suffer from some movement too. For info, I have been using the standard Stella Lyra FF as I already had one and it works pretty well and saved a few ££'s over the 'official' one.

StellaMira 2" Field Flattener with M48 Adapter | First Light Optics

Have you considered a Ritchey-Cretien? Can be a bit tricky to collimate initially, but once dialled in they do not really move. Good value for aperture and FL. You would probably need a replacement focuser and a FF (for the RC6) - but still a lot of bang-for-your-buck.

HTHs.

Thanks @Clarkey , that's really useful.  I was wondering about the quality of the focusers.  It is a larger focuser on the Wave 115mm but I guess that doesn't necessarily mean its of a good quality.  I think the Starwave is at the top of my list and if I need to upgrade the focuser, I can afford it.  I will keep in mind the StellaMira FF, its looks a good option..

Ritchey-Cretien?  Well, I hadn't considered them at all.  More research needed!

Cheers