Posted by Lawrence Regira (209.214.157.170) on March 09, 2003 at 09:48:48:
In Reply to: Horrible optics!!! posted by Gaetan Cormier on March 06, 2003 at 00:16:53:
Not all Cave telescopes are created equal. It seems that in the 1970's the quality control was not there especially the later into the 70's you go. I got my telescope from them in January of 1980. It was ordered in August of 1978. Not long after I got mine (minus the focuser and finderscope) they went out of business. I used mine for 20 plus years not knowing any better. I remember in 2000 setting up my 12.5 inch Cave next to my RV6 Dynascope and viewing Mars. They showed about the same detail. I figured it was seeing or the fact that the RV6 coatings were 7 years old and the Cave mirror had the original coatings. I finally decided to get the Cave mirror recoated and sent it to Steve Swayze to test it. He found it to be very poor. You can read the results by going to 6/13/02 threads about my 12.5 inch mirror test. I still have not used it since I got it back. One day I will. When I do, I will inform the group of my findings.