Wait times for AP refractors

In recent history, the wait time has been ~ 3-5 years. If you need an apo
sooner, you can either buy a new TMB (one blessed by Tom Back) or a new TEC.
If you prefer the AP over the other two scopes, you can always sell the
latter.

You might also consider posting on AstroMart for a used AP (or TMB, TEC or
Zeiss apo). Not everyone charges more than does AP. For example, I sold a
used AP155 f/7 EDF in excellent condition for what I paid (for a previously
owned scope) even though the price of a new one (which I purchased from AP)
was ~ $700 more.

If you can give up a bit of the FOV. you might consider a used AP 155 f/9.
You can check with Roland, but it might have better color correction than
does the excellent 155 f/7.


"Dragan" wrote:
How long is the wait for a 130mm or 155mm AP APO? If I put myself on
the list today, how long before I can order one, then how much longer
before delivery?

I realize noone can give me an exact time frame, not even Roland, due
to the demand. I'm sure it constantly changes. I'd be happy with
just an estimate of how long the total wait is. From putting myself on
the list to first light.

What have recent buyers experienced with one of these two scopes?

You are an idiot. You could get an 8" dob and pay lots less, see lots more
and have it in 2 weeks. Thank you so much for revealing your stupidity.

You are an idiot. You could get an 8" dob and pay lots less, see lots more
and have it in 2 weeks. Thank you so much for revealing your stupidity.

I have seen a $300 6" f/9 newt blow away an AP 130mm on planetary views. How
sad is that. The owner of the AP was quite embarrassed.
I think you should use your money to help the needy instead of buying
something you don't need.

I have seen a $300 6" f/9 newt blow away an AP 130mm on planetary views. How
sad is that. The owner of the AP was quite embarrassed.
I think you should use your money to help the needy instead of buying
something you don't need.

Dragan,

If you want an AP as much as you tell us you do, then you should have one.
The way you worded your original post (below), I thought you had serious
questions as to whether or not an AP scope is worth the wait. I got the
feeling you were on the fence and needed some help to go over completely or
to fall back.

There is no question that an AP scope is among the finest in the world, but
it is not the absolute finest, as there are others which are just as good if
not better. The price...well, not too long ago the low price of an AP as
compared to other scopes in that class, made the AP scope _very_ desirable,
actually a must have scope compared to the others. I always looked at the
relative low price of an AP as a trade off of what a potential owner must
endure in order to buy one:

*First of all, there seemed to be a perpetual line of buyers waiting to get
on an official company list to buy. This part of the wait alone could burn
up more than 3 years. (By the way, one important reason for all these
buyers waiting for a scope is the relative low price of the AP)

*Second, the telescope buyer is required to finance the manufacturer with
half the value of the scope in order to build the scope for you. Even after
paying half the value, you still have to wait up to 9 months for the scope
to be manufactured and get into your hands.

In spite of this, there seemed to be a more than willing and endless pool of
buyers...a little smaller, I believe, than it was a few years ago...or a
little smaller than it would have been without the heavy price increases
over the past few years. Nevertheless, the AP is still lower in price than
the competition and the long waiting lines persist. So, if you want a fine
telescope, and you also want to save a few dollars (very few these
days)...and if you don't mind waiting as long as 4 to 5 years, and you don't
mind financing the manufacturer to build your scope, then an AP telescope is
for you.

Al


"Dragan" wrote in message
om...
Al,

Noone appreciates "instant gratification" more than I do, believe me!
But I wouldn't mind a wait for an AP.

Currently I own a 20" f/5 Obsession, TV 101 along side a C8 mounted on
a G-11. I have all the scopes I need. J/K! My question was posted
more out of curiousity than anything else. Would I want to own an AP?
Of course! Do I need one? Wouldn't hurt having one, ya know?
Buying one of these instruments is more of an investment than it is
splurging. Even my Televue I picked up used 2 years ago for an even
two grand would sell on Astromart for that much. Essentially, I've
paid nothing for it.
I'd like to go a bit larger in the APO category though, and AP to me,
would be the best option. I've seen these scopes doing what they do
best and you can't deny their quality. They're superb! Everything
about them screams perfection. I'm not knocking other manufacturers,
Im just really impressed with AP.

I was just wondering as to what the wait time is to help me decide if
I want to commit. The longer the wait, the better. I'd like the time
to put aside money for it, that way when the time comes to pay up, it
wouldn't be that much of a financial hit.

As far as GOTO goes, I prefer starhopping the old fashioned way as
well as astrophotography. GOTO wouldn't be right for myself now,
unless it was on an AP1200 in my own personal observatory! But I don't
have either, so that'll have to wait :-)

Thanks for the feedback,
Dragan
Chicago, Il



"Al" wrote in message
.net...
"Dragan" wrote in message
om...
How long is the wait for a 130mm or 155mm AP APO? If I put myself on
the list today, how long before I can order one, then how much longer
before delivery?

I realize noone can give me an exact time frame, not even Roland, due
to the demand. I'm sure it constantly changes. I'd be happy with
just an estimate of how long the total wait is. From putting myself on
the list to first light.

What have recent buyers experienced with one of these two scopes?

Clear skies,
Dragan
Chicago Il

I can't give you an answer to your question except to tell you it will
be a
long time...probably 3 years, if not more. However, would you pay more
for
a similar APO if you needed to wait only weeks or months instead of
years?
If yes, why don't you look at a Tak or TMB? How about aperture, does
super
seeing power ring your bell? Would a 14" SCT with GOTO and all the
bells
and whistles be a good substitute in your mind over a 6" APO? If this
gets
a rise out of you, one of these scopes can be purchased for less than
half
the cost of a 6" APO OTA alone.

I'm taking the time to post a response to your post because I've waited
on
an AP line for almost 3 years before my name came up. When my name
finally
came up, I realized that the scope that I signed up for only 3 years ago
had
increased in price by a factor of more than 40%. If I had accepted the
increase, I would need to immediately pony up 50% of the scopes value
and
then wait another 6 to 9 months before I got my scope. I took a pass on
the
scope. I don't know about you, but in my mind there is much to be said
for
instant gratification.

Al

Dragan,

If you want an AP as much as you tell us you do, then you should have one.
The way you worded your original post (below), I thought you had serious
questions as to whether or not an AP scope is worth the wait. I got the
feeling you were on the fence and needed some help to go over completely or
to fall back.

There is no question that an AP scope is among the finest in the world, but
it is not the absolute finest, as there are others which are just as good if
not better. The price...well, not too long ago the low price of an AP as
compared to other scopes in that class, made the AP scope _very_ desirable,
actually a must have scope compared to the others. I always looked at the
relative low price of an AP as a trade off of what a potential owner must
endure in order to buy one:

*First of all, there seemed to be a perpetual line of buyers waiting to get
on an official company list to buy. This part of the wait alone could burn
up more than 3 years. (By the way, one important reason for all these
buyers waiting for a scope is the relative low price of the AP)

*Second, the telescope buyer is required to finance the manufacturer with
half the value of the scope in order to build the scope for you. Even after
paying half the value, you still have to wait up to 9 months for the scope
to be manufactured and get into your hands.

In spite of this, there seemed to be a more than willing and endless pool of
buyers...a little smaller, I believe, than it was a few years ago...or a
little smaller than it would have been without the heavy price increases
over the past few years. Nevertheless, the AP is still lower in price than
the competition and the long waiting lines persist. So, if you want a fine
telescope, and you also want to save a few dollars (very few these
days)...and if you don't mind waiting as long as 4 to 5 years, and you don't
mind financing the manufacturer to build your scope, then an AP telescope is
for you.

Al


"Dragan" wrote in message
om...
Al,

Noone appreciates "instant gratification" more than I do, believe me!
But I wouldn't mind a wait for an AP.

Currently I own a 20" f/5 Obsession, TV 101 along side a C8 mounted on
a G-11. I have all the scopes I need. J/K! My question was posted
more out of curiousity than anything else. Would I want to own an AP?
Of course! Do I need one? Wouldn't hurt having one, ya know?
Buying one of these instruments is more of an investment than it is
splurging. Even my Televue I picked up used 2 years ago for an even
two grand would sell on Astromart for that much. Essentially, I've
paid nothing for it.
I'd like to go a bit larger in the APO category though, and AP to me,
would be the best option. I've seen these scopes doing what they do
best and you can't deny their quality. They're superb! Everything
about them screams perfection. I'm not knocking other manufacturers,
Im just really impressed with AP.

I was just wondering as to what the wait time is to help me decide if
I want to commit. The longer the wait, the better. I'd like the time
to put aside money for it, that way when the time comes to pay up, it
wouldn't be that much of a financial hit.

As far as GOTO goes, I prefer starhopping the old fashioned way as
well as astrophotography. GOTO wouldn't be right for myself now,
unless it was on an AP1200 in my own personal observatory! But I don't
have either, so that'll have to wait :-)

Thanks for the feedback,
Dragan
Chicago, Il



"Al" wrote in message
.net...
"Dragan" wrote in message
om...
How long is the wait for a 130mm or 155mm AP APO? If I put myself on
the list today, how long before I can order one, then how much longer
before delivery?

I realize noone can give me an exact time frame, not even Roland, due
to the demand. I'm sure it constantly changes. I'd be happy with
just an estimate of how long the total wait is. From putting myself on
the list to first light.

What have recent buyers experienced with one of these two scopes?

Clear skies,
Dragan
Chicago Il

I can't give you an answer to your question except to tell you it will
be a
long time...probably 3 years, if not more. However, would you pay more
for
a similar APO if you needed to wait only weeks or months instead of
years?
If yes, why don't you look at a Tak or TMB? How about aperture, does
super
seeing power ring your bell? Would a 14" SCT with GOTO and all the
bells
and whistles be a good substitute in your mind over a 6" APO? If this
gets
a rise out of you, one of these scopes can be purchased for less than
half
the cost of a 6" APO OTA alone.

I'm taking the time to post a response to your post because I've waited
on
an AP line for almost 3 years before my name came up. When my name
finally
came up, I realized that the scope that I signed up for only 3 years ago
had
increased in price by a factor of more than 40%. If I had accepted the
increase, I would need to immediately pony up 50% of the scopes value
and
then wait another 6 to 9 months before I got my scope. I took a pass on
the
scope. I don't know about you, but in my mind there is much to be said
for
instant gratification.

Al

"Shawn Grant" wrote in message
...
You are an idiot. You could get an 8" dob and pay lots less, see lots more
and have it in 2 weeks. Thank you so much for revealing your stupidity.



That's right!! And you could buy a 2 1/2 ton truck (brand new) for only a
fraction of the value of an Italian sports car...and you could carry a
hundred times the payload of the sports car. Anyone who buys an Italian
sports car is revealing his stupidity.:-)

"Shawn Grant" wrote in message
...
You are an idiot. You could get an 8" dob and pay lots less, see lots more
and have it in 2 weeks. Thank you so much for revealing your stupidity.



That's right!! And you could buy a 2 1/2 ton truck (brand new) for only a
fraction of the value of an Italian sports car...and you could carry a
hundred times the payload of the sports car. Anyone who buys an Italian
sports car is revealing his stupidity.:-)

Not knowing at the time if I would have the finances in the future to be able
to afford one, I nonetheless put my name on the notification list in the Fall
of '99 for a Traveler. I thought I may as well at least get on the list.

Still haven't rec'd notice that they've made it down to my name yet! Either
that or I deleted the e-mail by mistake.

Todd

http://www.backyardastronomy.com
http://www.skynewsmagazine.com
http://www.members.aol.com/tdcarls/s...otography.html