Criterion RV-6 Dynascope

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Criterion RV-6 Dynascope
I have mine for 36 years. It is the best telescope I have ever owned and I've had SCT's, Schmidt-Newtonians, and refractors (including a 4 inch apochromat). No 8 inch SCT or 4 inch refractor will equal the optical performance of the RV-6.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:7 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=217203

Criterion RV-6 Dynascope
This is one of my favorite telescopes. I had one as a youngster but it was stolen and I had always wanted to get another and so I finally did (took me nearly 30 years!). The one I bought had to have some restoration work done on it but it was well worth the effort.

It's hard to beat this scope for visual use on the Moon and planets and double stars. If you're lucky enough to live in dark sky country, this telescope will also give very pleasing views of deep sky objects but of course is limited in it's light gathering power.

The only thing that needed improvement was the focuser. Mine would grab and bind and whenever I needed to change eyepieces I would quite often end up "slewing" the telescope as I pulled on the eyepiece. I finally stopped it by replacing the stock focuser with a JMI RCF and that works well.

Optically these telescopes normally perform just beautifully. Saturn is absolutely gorgeous, Jupiter shows 6 belts/zones with much detail visible within the belts and the Moon is awe inspiring. I routinely push the scope up over 300X on good seeing nights without complaint and the star tests are nearly perfect.

The mechanics of the scope are certainly adequate for the task they were designed for and for the price would be hard to beat. To set up or store the telescope, it's easiest to remove the OTA from the mount and make two trips. However, I can pick up the entire scope and move it around to clear trees and other view blocking objects if I need to.

If you like the style and performance of a well made "classical" 6" f/8 reflector, you can't go wrong picking up one of these scopes.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:7 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=307018

Criterion RV-6 Dynascope
I have had my RV 6 since 1980. Upgraded it with a set of TeleVue Plossls in the late 80's and a Lumicon O III Filter. Have always been pleased with its great performance.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=406767

Criterion RV-6 Dynascope
Due to the modifications I've made to the telescope I've elected to only vote on the optics in order to be fair.
This is my 2nd RV6. Sold my first back when I didn't know what I had. About a year ago purchased an MN61 hoping to duplicate some of that magic. It was not to be. While the MN61 gives sharp images and very flat field considering its short focal length its light thru put seemed to be somewhat restricted. Therefore it was sold and a very used RV6 ota was purchased for $190. All parts on the RV6 have been replaced and the mirror has been recoated by Spectrum. The parts list includes the following: crawford 2" focuser, curved vane spider with 1" secondary, Russell 60mm right angle finderscope, tube end rings and dust covers from Parks, and mounting rings from Orion. The focal length was figured to be around 1250mm so the primary was moved forward 1.5" inorder to maximize the 1" secondary and provide more in travel for Speer and Whaler's fabulous 82 degree eyepieces.
Under the sky the scope performs very well. Festoons continued to be visible on Jupiter while using a 4.8mm eyepiece with only average seeing conditions. The scope's star test had nearly identical symmetric patterns on either side of focus. And last but not least my RPD 30mm 80 degree field of view eyepiece displayed no sea gulling or field curvature when used with this scope. Don't get me wrong, this may in part be attributed to the F8.3 focal ratio, but only in part since this eyepiece has been used with other F8 scopes with not nearly the same results.
So needless to say I'm very happy that my efforts have been rewarded. This would not have been the case had the RV6 optics not lived up to their lofty folklore.
Larry

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=443026 

>Due to the modifications I've made to the telescope I've elected to only vote on the optics in order to be fair.
>     This is my 2nd RV6.  Sold my first back when I didn't know what I had.  About a year ago purchased an MN61 hoping to duplicate some of that magic.  It was not to be.  While the MN61 gives sharp images and very flat field considering its short focal length its light thru put seemed to be somewhat restricted.  Therefore it was sold and a very used RV6 ota was purchased for $190.  All parts on the RV6 have been replaced and the mirror has been recoated by Spectrum.  The parts list includes the following: crawford 2" focuser, curved vane spider with 1" secondary, Russell 60mm right angle finderscope, tube end rings and dust covers from Parks, and mounting rings from Orion.  The focal length was figured to be around 1250mm so the primary was moved forward 1.5" inorder to maximize the 1" secondary and provide more in travel for Speer and Whaler's fabulous 82 degree eyepieces.
>     Under the sky the scope performs very well.  Festoons continued to be visible on Jupiter while using a 4.8mm eyepiece with only average seeing conditions.  The scope's star test had nearly identical symmetric patterns on either side of focus.  And last but not least my RPD 30mm 80 degree field of view eyepiece displayed no sea gulling or field curvature when used with this scope.  Don't get me wrong, this may in part be attributed to the F8.3 focal ratio, but only in part since this eyepiece has been used with other F8 scopes with not nearly the same results.
>     So needless to say I'm very happy that my efforts have been rewarded.  This would not have been the case had the RV6 optics not lived up to their lofty folklore.
>Larry

Where can I get additional lensese for my 6" dynascope.  I have an 18mm and a 12.7mm and would like something stronger for planetary viewing.  ALso, I would like to tighten the scopes movements, it swings to much.  Any suggestions?

I purchased mine about 25 years ago, still have it, still works great.

Thanks.

Ed
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope
I own one since 1976. It was the "apo" of the seventies.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Mount:9 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=584310

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