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Orion Apex 90 Mak/Cass

I have owned this scope for about three months. I owned a Dynascope RV-6 as a child, then used a cheapo KMart 50mm 12-40x zoom scope on a simple camera tripod for years. Bought an Orion 60 mm refractor off EBay (.096" focuser) about 5 months ago. I gave that to my nephew for his birthday.

Optically, this scope has performed flawlessly. The planets look like smaller image versions of the 8" and 10" Schmidt Cassegrains in our local astronomy club costing 4-plus times more. It is simply spectacular on the planets and moon. No false color.

My chief complaint with the scope is the field of view, which, at 13.9 f/l, is TINY. It makes using this scope a lot of work for anyone not VERY familiar with astronomy. I actually purchased a ShortTube 80 since and have found the combination a godsend. In the ShortTube 80 I find objects, then, being more familiar with that portion of the sky, I can zero in on them with the StarMax.

The mount is more than adequate for the weight, but there are no instructions on the worm gears and what one should do to re-wind them as one gets to the end. I am left with a non-functioning precision gear. Anyone got any suggestions? This is apparently a problem for ALL Orion mounts except the VERY expensive and weighty SkyView Pro with its 360 degree gears. There's probably a simple solution, but I haven't figured it out yet.

As for stability, the EQ-1 is VERY stable for this light-weight scope. No complaints, even in the west Texas wind.

I want to buy a 90 degree finder. When using this scope toward the zenith, it gets rather difficult to find objects -- much easier in the ShortTube 80. But the StarMax 90's contrast and detail are spectacular. No major reflectivity problems, either.

I live at 33.5 degrees latitude, and got it in late May, so I have no experience, as of yet, with its cool-down time. But that's not really a big issue for me anyway, since it doesn't stay real cold (sub 30 degrees) that much in west Texas anyway, and I don't go outside then either (wait a couple of days for it to be warmer -- even in January).

For Deep Sky objects, this Mak-Cass does NOT perform as well as a good SC or Newtonian reflector, but, if one is patient, it does provide nice views of M13 and the like -- better than the ShortTube 80, but with more effort.

For beginners, I would recommend the ShortTube 80 over the StarMax 90 initially. The FOV is narrow and takes some patience & familiarity best learned on an easier to use scope (like the ShortTube 80)

Generally, this scope gets a 7 and is a good value. Orion should make another version (or have the Chinese manufacturer build them one) with a slighly shorter focal ratio to make finding objects easier. That being said, the optics in mine are superb with NO image shift whatsoever in my model. It handles high power very well on clear nights and the collimation as shipped and since, has been dead on.

I think I want a bit more aperture for getting more detail out of DSO's, but I guess I'll just have to buy me a reflector, too. Three scopes! Go figure.

Got mine on sale for $200. Heck of a deal!

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:10 Mount:6 Ease of Use:6 Value:7
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date: 09/15/2002 11:16:41 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.1.92)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=134268

Hi,
Thanks for your detailed but highly readable review of Starmax 90mm. As for the drive gears are concerned, when you reach the end, is it possible to loosen the corresponding screw, rewind the slow-motion knob and re-tighten the screw? Just a thought.
Best regards.
Niladri.

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