Cheers
ps Started a thread under "equipment discussions" for those who want to discuss on these scopes here :On Tue, Sep 14, 2010 at 5:01 PM, ISTAR Optical EU Office <ales@istar-optical.com> wrote:
Hello dear James,
Well, actually we DO some special rates for certain countries and your idea is nothing to laugh at... really! You can actually openly tell them that any member of local astronomy community, any student will get additional discount of 6 percent. We offer 5 percent on SOME items (for example two lenses on CN) but we can do this for the entire country, especially for students and club members...
We are producing a great new line of 6" achromats, namely 150 F/5 (Phoenix WFT 150-5) and Perseus AT 150-8, Perseus AT 150-10 (those are all done and ready for shipments), Perseus AT 150-12 (in production now) and Perseus AT 150-15 (longest version in 6" models, must be shipped partially disassembled but assembly takes about 2 minutes, only to attach the dew shield).
We are nearly done with our new Forfax SAT 160-12 which is top of the line SUPER APO Triplet, optimized for medium to high magnification visual applications - distant nebulas, galaxies, binary star systems and also the best scope for planetary, both visual and photo use, incredible resolution and a VERY small spot size (one pixel size, around 6,5 nm), at 2775 for lens in cell combo, you can not beat it.
Also our new APO 177 F/8 will be finished in two month time, but all these APOs are now being patented and we can not sell a single piece until the patent is in effect, I am sure you understand. Our new optical designs are truly revolutionary, saving tons of money to amateur astronomers since we found way how to create a Super APOs and APOs without going into the most expensive ED glass types...the single most important design in the history of refractors... I am sure you and everyone else agree... there was an attempt by Russian optician Duplov, but his system (even though with world-wide patent since 2008 or so) can not really be used in real life.. for example his 170mm F/5 astrograph (true APO using common glass types) is about 3 meters long including the dew shield... I would not want such scope... we took this idea, played around with it for about 7 months and came up with a truly new, unique solution.. APOs and Super APOs made of non ED glass types... so wish us luck!!
Based on this new idea, we have created 160mm and 180mm Super APO Sextet in F/5,6 Petzval type astrograph.. spot at fraction of pixel size!!!! If all goes well this should be the best and least expensive Astrograph on the market.. will see once we produce first few pieces and test them.. the only problem can be with glass quality.. nothing else..
I must run for now, please stay in touch,
cheers,
Ales Patrick Krivanek
ISTAR Optical
PO Box 3985
Page AZ 86040-3985
USA
http://www.singastro.org/viewtopic.php? ... highlight=
Thank