John Posted August 8, 2023 Share Posted August 8, 2023 (edited) Anyone else glimpsing furtively from time to time at that lovely looking Istar 150mm F/8 refractor that has gone onto UK Astro Buy & Sell today ? I know I am ! 🙄 (I can't really do anything other than look just now though 😌) I've no connection to the advert of course. Edited August 8, 2023 by John 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertI Posted August 8, 2023 Share Posted August 8, 2023 All major astro purchases start with “just a look”! 😆 Good luck resisting the temptation. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyS Posted August 8, 2023 Share Posted August 8, 2023 I wasn’t until you mentioned it, John. But looking at the weight, I think of my back 😳 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15Rules Posted August 9, 2023 Share Posted August 9, 2023 John, Write out 100 times.. "Been there, done that, got the T shirt, been there, done that, got the T shirt.." Dave 😁 2 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted August 9, 2023 Author Share Posted August 9, 2023 32 minutes ago, JeremyS said: I wasn’t until you mentioned it, John. But looking at the weight, I think of my back 😳 My back is not that good either , come to think of it 🤔 @F15Rules / Dave has hit the nail on the head, as usual - refractor aperture fever gets rapidly bad for the wallet and the physical well being 😌 If only the darn things didn't look so good 😬 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightfisher Posted August 9, 2023 Share Posted August 9, 2023 Nice scope but not for me, wallet, back, and mount and storage, im just happy with my little skymax 127 for the odd time i get to indulge 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franklin Posted August 9, 2023 Share Posted August 9, 2023 and also an APM 6" ED refractor. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulastro Posted August 9, 2023 Share Posted August 9, 2023 I had one of these for a while some years ago. It was good, but I mostly remember how heavy it was, I swear, it's for ever etched into my memory. The tube tube walls were so thick I'm sure if you'd driven a car over it the tube wouldn't have squished. And no, I never actually got round to putting this to the test 🙂. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTom Posted August 10, 2023 Share Posted August 10, 2023 Mind you it is an Achromat, for that f8 is a bit fast. The f15 would be great for planetary. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted August 10, 2023 Author Share Posted August 10, 2023 (edited) 34 minutes ago, GTom said: Mind you it is an Achromat, for that f8 is a bit fast. The f15 would be great for planetary. I believe that the Istar R35 objectives handle CA as well as a conventional achromat with a focal ratio 35% slower so it should be the equivalent of an F/10.8 conventional achromat. This is what Istar claim - I've not tested one personally. Edited August 10, 2023 by John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Spock Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 Nice scope 👍I keep looking at the APM 152 on sale. However I've no way to mount it and mounting options would take me back to the reasons I sold my last mount and downsized! I'm sticking with the 12" Dob and the 4" Tak. Seems like the best combination for me. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moggi1964 Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 Here's a picture of a customer 152 setup from back in 2009. And then a picture of one mounted as a 'guide scope' on the beast. If I recall, the beast sold to a chap in South Korea. I hope he had a good back 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkSteele Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 I can resist everything, except temptation… And holy cow, that beast is the temptation! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadlake Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 46 minutes ago, DirkSteele said: I can resist everything, except temptation… And holy cow, that beast is the temptation! Does it fit in the back of a taxi? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Spock Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkSteele Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 3 hours ago, moggi1964 said: Here's a picture of a customer 152 setup from back in 2009. And then a picture of one mounted as a 'guide scope' on the beast. If I recall, the beast sold to a chap in South Korea. I hope he had a good back 😀 I recalled there was a Beast (though looking a the pic, I would say smaller than your one so let’s call it Beast Jr) at AstroFest about 10 years ago. Though I think there was some smoke and mirrors (should that be smoke and lenses?) going on as I do not believe the actual objective was installed. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadlake Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 1 hour ago, DirkSteele said: I recalled there was a Beast (though looking a the pic, I would say smaller than your one so let’s call it Beast Jr) at AstroFest about 10 years ago. Though I think there was some smoke and mirrors (should that be smoke and lenses?) going on as I do not believe the actual objective was installed. When was the last time you bought a scope? Maybe all those scopes that would of been yours can be pooled into one last one.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirkSteele Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 17 minutes ago, Deadlake said: When was the last time you bought a scope? Maybe all those scopes that would of been yours can be pooled into one last one.. 2018. And you will get me in trouble with the CFO! Would love to observe through one and if I thought I had somewhere to mount it permanently with skies that would allow it’s full potential to shine through…. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 29 minutes ago, DirkSteele said: ....somewhere to mount it permanently ...... That was what I realised after I purchased my 150mm F/12 Istar refractor. Scopes like that need to be permanently mounted in an observatory. Still, it was fun finding out ....... 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Hopper Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 6 hours ago, Mr Spock said: "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it" Michael.....and you should know this After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true. 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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