Orion Optics (UK) OMC140


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Brand and Model:Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
Price ($USD):£599.00 (GBP)
Type:Maksutov-Cassegrain
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:140mm (5.5")
f Ratio:f/14.3
Focal Length:2000mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:RA/DEC
Mount:OTA only GEM or GP/DX
Tripod:
Weight (lbs):OTA 8lbs lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:FINISH Aluminium High Gloss

MAIN MIRROR Fine Annealed Pyrex 152mm Dia. Strongly Aspheric

CORRECTOR Fine Annealed Schott BK7 & (Multi AR coated both sides)

CONFIGURATION Maksutov Cassegrain Optics, Performance guaranteed 1/8th wave - design capable of 1/15th wave.

DIFFRACTION LIMITED For almost 30mm Diameter field

FOCUSING Mirror focusing to achieve maximum focusing range

SUPPLIED EQUIPMENT 25mm eyepiece, star diagonal

Vote Highlights Vote
Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
I bought the guaranteed 1/6 wave de luxe version but the optical report showed it was at least 1/8 wave over the whole surface. Planetary views were great, no false colour, very high contrast, compared well to an FS102 and MN56.
Baffling works well, little glare when panning near a full moon
for example.
When used with optional full-aperture solar filter, views were
superb, loads of granulation visible and good detail on spot groups. The filter itself is a solid metal screw-in assembly - won't slide off - with a sheet of Baader film.
Focuser was sensitive, I believe a micro-focus option is now available but can't comment. The 6x30 finder supplied was fine for me, I didn't often look for DSOs. The 'optional' dew-shield is really a must, but worked well. Again, solid metal screw-in design.
Adequate deep-sky, limited by aperture, but I don't think that is what this scope is about. Scope light and portable, might make a good travel scope. Easily handled by a Vixen GP. Only negative is cool-down time which I found to be about 45 mins - 1 hour, to be expected with this design.

An attractively priced alternative to a 4/5 inch apo with superb planetary and lunar performance. Superb optics.

(Note; I bought the OTA alone, my comments relate to that.)

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=211987


Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
The optics on this telescope are top class, I have yet to see any problems with distortion or false colours. The image is always faultless unless your stuck with bad atmospherics and then the best optics in the world won't help.
I mainly use this instrument for luna and solar* viewing and it performs everytime, it is easy to move, postion and level taking just a matter of a few minutes before your ready to go.
The GEM mount and tripod have now been replaced with a more substantial EQ5 mount and tripod which on the whole is OK. I feel that at £300.00 it is slightly overpriced but still offers reasonable value for money. The controls are smooth to operate and function well. The only thing I don't really like about the mount is the amount of time it takes the telescope to stop moving, not too bad at low magnfication but slap a 15mm eyepiece on with a camera on the back and you start thinking about some sort of damping. This is more of a moan than a real criticism.
The finish on the OTA is very nice, its smooth and its shiny. There were one or two little scuffs and scrapes on mine but only if your looking hard and in no way have they broken through to the aluminium underneath. I think they are simply as a result of the OTA having being taken out of its packing for wanna be owners to dribble over. The overall quality of build and finish on this telescope is of a very high standard indeed.
The mirror focusing is extremely smooth and very easy to use. Again with a camera and a high mag eyepiece on the backand you have the wish for better damping everytime you refocus.
For your money (£895.95 sterling) you get: OTA, 25mm plossl eyepiece, EQ5 mount and tripod (complete with tray), 6x30 finderscope and a star diagonal. All in all this is a really good quality telescope and is excellent for viewing the loacl area. The Sun* and Moon fill the 25mm eyepiece and with a 17mm the detail is incredible. For planetary viewing pack extra socks as your first pair will be "knocked off". You are able to make out some of the more subtle features of the gas gaints and Saturns rings are not to be missed.
Although the aperture is only 5.5 inches it performs as well as if not better than a good 6 inch reflecting Newt due to the exceptional quality of the optics. It is well made with top quality materials, something that seems to be a rare commodity these days.
This is a telescope that I would happily recommend to anyone looking to buy an easy to use, mobile; easy to pack up and put in the car - to reach those less light polluted areas (although it does very well in our backyard and we have more than our share of street lighting), high quality astronomical instrument.
* NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITH ANY OPTICAL INSTRUMENT WITHOUT THE CORRECT FILTERS IN PLACE - YOU WILL DAMAGE YOU SIGHT BEYOND REPAIR. YES THAT'S RIGHT - BLIND. NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT!

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:8 Ease of Use:10 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=127866


Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
I like my OMC-140 very much even for deep sky objects.
I bought a 0,5 reducer and it fix the OMC-140 to about F:7.
OMC-140 is an excellent telescope for DSO's with the reducer!
As it is for planets and the Moon without the reducer.
I sometimes put the OMC-140 on my CGEM.
Usually, it is on my Easy Touch Alt-Az mount,
always coupled with the Megrez 90 in that case.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Ease of Use:9 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=604351


Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
Excellent scope, provides views almost indisinguishable from a top 4" apo refractor. Pinpoint stars out to the edge of field, better contrast than most SCTs, wonderful detail on moon and planets. But is less tolerant of poor seeing than a refractor, has a minimum 1 hour cool down time on a cold night, and the 2000 mm focal length means you won't be doing any wide field viewing. But purely as a planetary/lunar/double star scope the OMC is unbeatable for even twice the money.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:8 Mount:6 Ease of Use:8 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=594833


Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
Best views per pound/dollar you are going to get. Very, very close to a 4" Tak APO, for a third of the cost. Let down by the GEM mount though, stick it on an HEQ 5 or something to do justice to the OMCs optics, which are superb.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:8 Mount:4 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=592444


Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
I ordered up one of these OMC-140 Mak' telescopes back in the middle of May. It took quite a long time for the equipment to be put together and delivered, about 12 weeks! I did however order the Deluxe version which has a higher optical specification and HiLux coating to improve light transmission.
The telescope is well made arrived in excellent condition - absolutely no collimation was necessary as the optics were well aligned. The whole thing is mounted on a Vixen Sphinx mount with the StarBook controller. This is a real boon and very easy to use. Although I wouldn't suggest a GoTo mount such as this is a substitute for knowing at least a few key stars. One point to mention is the mount and tripod together are pretty heavy which is excellent for stability but makes carrying it around quite hard work.
Having spent a little time now looking at the heavens I reckon this is telescope has very good optics. Trying out the classic star test confirms this and looking at the moon is very impressive. Focusing is handled by a micrometer screw which is very smooth even with a high magnification eyepiece, 7.5mm (f/14.3 scope with a 2000mm focal length giving x267 mag). I am not convinced the 6x30 finder scope is ideal but only because a right angled one would be a much better option. With the telescope pointing up vertically you'll give yourself neck strain with a straight through finder scope.

I would recommend this telescope to anyone but you might have to wait a while for it to be hand built. And don't forget to ask for a right angle finder scope so you only pay the difference.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Mount:8 Ease of Use:9 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=389701


Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
Further to my earlier comments, I've had the OMC140 for two years now, and continue to be impressed.

Firstly,I've managed to overhaul the GEM mount to make it smoother and reduce the motor backlash.
Secondly, Orion now offer an improved mcirometer focusser. This mod waas dione free of charge at the factory, and I now have a finer focusing action with no backlash. It has also virtually eliminated image shift, that old enemy of the Mak Cass design.

Overall, much improved with a oupleof tweaks, but still not perfect so only a 9 for the OTA, and an 8 for the mount

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:8 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=227905


Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
Superb Scope, its a bargain!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=123114


Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
Excellent portable planetary scope.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Ease of Use:9 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=99754


Orion Optics (UK) OMC140
Having ordered my OMC140 at Astrofest UK in February, I had to wait a couple of months for delivery. I asked for a GEM mount, bigger finder (7x50) and dual drives. Optically the scope is superb for its size. Star tests with an 11mm TV plossl and 2x barlow show good airy disks either side of focus. Recent views of Mars have been impressive, given that at 51 degrees north the planet never rises very high above the southern horizon. My observing site (back garden) doesn't have the darkest of skies, but with my TV plossls I get reasonably contrasty images on the few DSOs I've been able to locate. In this respect the (Vixen) 7x50 finder is a great help, and a vast improvement on the standard 6x30 provided. The mount is imported (from China I believe) and after careful fitting of the drives seems relatively stable, able to keep an object in the 11mm for a good half hour or so. The improvements that I would like to make are to reduce the motor backlash, and have a more sturdy pier available in my normal site to replace the slightly lightweight tripod provided. Of course, I could have gone for a GP or GP-DX mount and skysensor, but this would virtually have doubled the price. My 9 rating for this scope is really based on the OTA, the GEM mount probably slightly less, even allowing for its economical price.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40455

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