Edmund Optics thinks they're Celestron of the 1980s

"RichA" wrote in message
...
Anyone catch their ads lately in Photonics/Spectra magazine?
-Rich

Edmund is a very good company. They can be expensive, yes, but their
equipment is first class and always backed up by the firm. Several years
ago, due to the outrageous costs of RGB filters, I decided to construct my
own using Edmund dichroic 25 mm filters. I ordered an RGB set of unmounted
dichroics and simply dropped them into 1.25" holders. I compared them
directly with Astronomik and a few other brands. Light transfer from the
Edmund was actually 20% more or equal than all other brands tested and in
none of the tests was it less. I mounted the filters and have been using
them ever since, and saved $200 over Astronomiks. Oh, and the initial
dichroics I received from Edmund were scratched and I had to return them for
another set. No questions asked and my new set arrived without incident.

Back when they were making mirrors and telescopes on a regular basis, their
mirrors always tested as 1/8 wave or better and performed wonderfully in
telescopes. A friend of mine constructed a Dob based on an Edmund custom
made 16" mirror. That was 30 years ago and he still has the Dob and uses it
on a regular basis.

It was tough for a company like Edmund to go head to head against the
biggies like Meade and Celestron, but for many years they held their own and
can receive credit for that. Now, although they still have mirrors, they
have added a huge assortment of other goodies to their stock and some
components can really be a bargain for the amateur who is a DIY type.

Rich S