Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
I collected this scope from Orion Optics factory in Crewe and was shown it on the test bench before I took it away. The scope is tested on a laboratory "star" using a Vixen Lanthanum 2.5mm giving a magnification of 800x and it showed a perfect airy disk in the eyepiece. Bad weather has stopped me testing extensively, but the occasions of clear weather have given me views I didn't think would be possible with a telescope of this aperture. I have a Celestron C9.25 as well, and the view in the OMC140 bettered it on the moon due to the exceptional contrast it gives you - planets will have to wait until later in the year. I could see mountains and rilles that I though would require a much larger scope and they looked real - not like a washed out picture. I bought the OTA only and am mounting it on my existing CG5 mount which is more than ample for the 8lb tube. Overall at this price you can't go wrong - buy one, you won't be disappointed. Who needs an APO? I'm quite happy with the superb OMC140 and anyone who tells you it isn't comparable obviously hasn't looked through one.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40447

Reply
>I collected this scope from Orion Optics factory in Crewe and was shown it on the test bench before I took it away.  The scope is tested on a laboratory "star" using a Vixen Lanthanum 2.5mm giving a magnification of 800x and it showed a perfect airy disk in the eyepiece.  Bad weather has stopped me testing extensively, but the occasions of clear weather have given me views I didn't think would be possible with a telescope of this aperture.  I have a Celestron C9.25 as well, and the view in the OMC140 bettered it on the moon due to the exceptional contrast it gives you - planets will have to wait until later in the year. I could see mountains and rilles that I though would require a much larger scope and they looked real - not like a washed out picture.  I bought the OTA only and am mounting it on my existing CG5 mount which is more than ample for the 8lb tube.  Overall at this price you can't go wrong - buy one, you won't be disappointed.  Who needs an APO? I'm quite happy with the superb OMC140 and anyone who tells you it isn't comparable obviously hasn't looked through one.
The OMC is an excellent scope but is not comparable with an APO in terms of FOV. The widest field you are going to get with a 1.25" eyepiece (24mm Panoptic) on the OMC is only 0.8 degree, whereas a 4" F6.5 apo will give you 2.5 degrees. Can't think how the OMC could have more contrast than a C9.25 - each has similar % central obstruction. Could be the old story of smaller scope just gathering less light resulting in darker background and the illusion of better contrast against a bright object. A truer test is to examine low contrast target like Jupiters festoons rather than stark highlight/shadow on moon.

Back

[Click Here to Login]
Don't have a login? Register!