Tectron 15 inch

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Brand and Model:Tectron 15 inch
Price ($USD):$2950
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:381mm (15")
f Ratio:f/5
Focal Length:1905mm
Finder:Telrad
Electric Power:None
Mount:Dobsonian
Tripod:NA
Weight (lbs):100 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):24x23x23 inches folded
Description:Folds to a compact cube less than 2 feet on a side. Only the truss poles do not fit within the cube.



http://www.icstars.com/tectron/scopes.htm

Vote Highlights Vote
Tectron 15 inch
Tom Clark designed the most portable big dob on the market that I have seen. All the metal parts he makes himself and are very nice. These scopes are a great value for the money.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Mount:8 Ease of Use:9 Value:9
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=112366

Tectron 15 inch
Actually, only aquired my Tectron 15" (Galaxy Optics) three
months ago. It's more or less a vintage model dating back to
1995 i think. Performance wise, i'd have to say superb value
for the investment. A small inconvience on my part is the
weight. Unfortunately this puppy weighs almost as much as
most 18" competitors !! None-the-less, this one's absolutely
a keeper !!!

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Mount:8 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=296406

Tectron 15 inch
I've had my 15-inch Tectron now for almost 10 years and have found it excellent value for the money. Mine features a Galaxy Optic mirror which is a terrific performer. Cool down time for the mirror is typically 30 to 45 minutes when moving from a warm to a cool environment. Set up time is typically under 10 minutes, collimation of the primary mirror included (this alone can be accomplished sometimes in as little as 30 seconds). The secondary mirror support is superb. I've only needed to adjust this twice in 10 years, despite frequent trips in the back of my Honda over less than ideal roads. I find the telescope extremely well balanced and it balances well with either 1.25-inch or 2-inch eyepieces. No finderscope is provided, only a Telrad, but with a 40 mm 2-inch eyepiece yielding an 82 arc minute field of view the 15-inch IS your finder. The mirror box, which weighs in at about 70 pounds, is kind of heavy to load in and out of a car single handed, that is really my only complaint. It's too bad these scopes aren't made any more. I think they lost out in the "aesthetics" sweepstakes compared to Obsessions or Starmasters. Nevertheless Tectrons performed every bit as well and at hundreds to thousands of dollars less in cost. Evidently, only 160 were ever built and you almost never see them on the open market. That alone tells you their true worth. Lucky owners simply refuse to part with them. I'll never let mine go...

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:9 Ease of Use:10 Value:9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=114345

Tectron 15 inch
This really is one amazing telescope. The optics are first rate and the views are unforgettable. Spiral arms and color in the Orion Nebula are a regularity when using this scope. I've had mine now for about 10 months and all I can say is WOW!! First off, the craftmanship is second to none. Tom Clark (the owner of Tectron) really knows what he's doing here - the telescope is a work of art! I can easily set it up from scratch in under 10 minutes. After it's all assembled, all I can do is step back and enjoy looking at it. It moves very smoothly on its axes and is balanced very well. However, if you want to add a traditional finderscope or if you use heavy eyepiece/barlow combinations, you will have to provide a counterweight. Collimation can also be somewhat tricky at times, although I can usually get it in near perfect collimation in under 10 minutes. But the main part of the scope: THE VIEWS!!!! Go to a star party and look through someone's scope - you will not believe your eyes! Everytim I go to a star party I have a line of people waiting to see what I will pull up next. Trust me, this telescope is one that you will love to death from the day you first get it. It also is priced a lot lower than the Starmaster and Obsession scopes - despite the fact that it performs just as well. Also, one nice bonus is that it is extremely portable - the secondary mirror cage sits inside the mirror box, which sits inside of the rocker box. With the top on, your entire telescope (minus the truss poles) is contained in a small box that measures 22x23x24. I have been able to take this scope to star parties in the back seat of my 2 door sedan! Trust me on this one - this scope is one hell of a scope that will perform better than you can imagine!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38669

Tectron 15 inch
Simply stunning views of deep sky objects. Moves easily, but unbalanced by a heavy eyepiece -- corrected with a home-made counterweight. Mirror cell hard to adjust, alignment wanders a bit. However, a great buy for the money. Optics are first rate. Star test is nearly perfect. Mount is extremely stable. No shakes at all with focussing or motion. Telrad is adequate, but DSC would be an improvement.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38668

Tectron 15 inch
The optics are first rate and the motions are smooth with no sagging when using heavy eyepieces. The focuser needs to be able to be rotated like a JSL focuser when using the scope near the zenith. The focuser isn't as smooth as a JSL, either. The mirror cell needs to be removeable. The mirror box weighs 65 to 70 pounds and throws my back out each time I lift it by myself. The lower truss clamps are great. The upper ends are just bolts through holes instead of clamps and can be difficult to line up. The secondary cage has a flimsy white tube material that I always worry about breaking during assembly. No tube shroud is included in the price, nor is a there any cloth tube for storing the truss tubes. The primary and secondary covers are nice. The ground board is triangular to save weight and size, but it lets grass bind against the rocker box when moving in azimuth. The f5 focal ratio makes this scope much taller than an f4 or f4.5 scope. Collimation is probably easier and views might be sharper, though. An allen wrench is needed for primary collimation and an ordinary screwdriver is needed for secondary collimation. The secondary holder is very hard to adjust compared to an AstroSystems one. It just doesn't respond to small adjustments very well. Allen head screws would have been preferable since the screwdriver keeps slipping off the screw and a flashlight is needed to line up it up with the slot in the screw.

The woodwork and finish is first rate and very solid and stable. The metal machining is very nicely done as well. Azimuth movement near the zenith is nearly impossible without tipping the scope over. DSCs are essential.

Great views of Jupiter and Saturn as well as the ring nebula and the veil nebula. Aperture really makes a huge difference.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38666

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