TEC 6

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Brand and Model:TEC 6
Price ($USD):1800
Type:Maksutov-Cassegrain
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:152mm (6")
f Ratio:f/12
Focal Length:1800mm
Finder:8X50
Electric Power:
Mount:NA
Tripod:
Weight (lbs):10 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:Fan for cooling

Vote Highlights Vote
TEC 6
Briefly, I've owned a TEC 6 for more than a year now. It has excellent fit and finish and is a very attractive scope. It's focuser is very nice and I've noticed little, if any mirror shift. The scope has an internal fan that is powered by a small handheld unit that connects to the scope via a jack in the Mak's back plate. The dew shield is large and fits snugly over the business end of the scope. The interior of the TEC 6 is well baffled and is coated with a dark anti-reflective coating. Overall, the construction quality of the TEC 6" Mak is excellent and is significantly better than other Maks I've seen that were produced in Russia and China.

Optically, the TEC 6 is outstanding. It produces excellent lunar and planetary images with plenty of fine detail. DSOs are similarly detailed. Stars appear as very tight points of light with no evidence of bloating or optical defect. This Mak performs as well as a 4"-5" apochromatic refractor, in my opinion...very well, indeed!

Although this fine scope is lamentably out of production, used examples in good condition are still to be found. I would unhesitatingly recommend a TEC 6 to anyone looking for a top drawer Mak.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=567170

TEC 6
The TEC 6's optical performance and workmanship are both very good. It consistently delivers detailed views of the gas giants, and lunar performance is outstanding. On a night of good seeing, I was able to see six Trapezium stars at only 59x (31 Nagler). Planetary views were not as bright as I expected them to be, but closer examination revealed excellent surface detail on Jupiter and Saturn.

Small size and light weight makes the Tec easy to set up. All of the widely available dovetail plates (Losmandy, Vixen/INtes, AP dove08) bolt directly to the TEC 6's mounting block. Micrometer focuser enables fine adjustment and facilitates hitting the sweet spot. The internal recirculating fan settle down the view somewhat, though I'm not sure how effective it would be on a night of rapidly falling temperatures. I live in a climate that seldom experiences rapid temperature changes, so thus far I have not had cooling problems with my TEC.

The TEC 6 delivers pin point star images and would be an excellent choice if you like splitting close doubles. I use my TEC 6 primarily for planetary and lunar viewing and I'm quite satisified.

The TEC 6 is an outstanding small Maksutov. Supply is very limited and they are no longer being produced, so getting one will be challenging. But it will be worth the effort.
Rex

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=345956

TEC 6
This is a very fine telescope that is worth the price. When the scope has reached thermal equilibrium the optics are superb. However, on cold nights with steadily decreasing temperatures you may not see this happen before you freeze. The internal fan helps on milder evenings.

Otherwise this scope is flawless. It's intelligently designed, providing attachments for two finders (get the AP quick release bases) and a "steering wheel" on the back end for moving the scope around.

It will outperform 90mm apo refractors that cost hundreds more. If you want a six-inch Mak this is a good choice.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=47410

TEC 6
Well, I just received my TEC 6 a couple of weeks ago and all I can say is WOW!
The build quality is absolutely first class. Re the focuser: internal focusing with precision micrometer and ruby ball, and the focusing movement is sweeet! No image shift seen. I checked over the entire ota and there are no signs of any "mistakes"...it is built to perfection. The optics speak for themselves. Superlatives like superb, picture perfect come to my mind. On nights of good seeing, stars present a perfect airy disk with a nice faint, uniform first diffraction ring. Training on Mars, the gibous disk was sharp and if it were not for the dust storm that dominated this apparition, I'm sure a wealth of detail would have been visible even at Mars' present size. Can't wait to give the gas giants a try. ;^)

The scope comes with a front baffle, dust cap, 2" adapter, and internal fan with hand controler and has the hardware for an AP Quick Release finder bracket and base to be attached. The optics are minimum 1/8th wave at focal plane, 1/40 RMS or less and the primary mirror is Quarz. Please, don't let the US$1800 price tag scare you off; you'll be getting your money's worth, imho.

Best regards,
Bill

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41206

TEC 6
Simply superb.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Optics:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=565985

TEC 6
I was willing to give this scope 9 and 10 ratings, but then I looked through a LOMO Astele 150MC that sold for a fraction of the TEC 6 price. Optically, I could tell no difference to speak of between the two. The TEC 6 has a little nicer construction and a bit better focuser, but the LOMO 150MC comes with a better finder scope. For the price, I'll take the LOMO, no hesitation, but the TEC 6 is a fine scope if you want to spend the money. Both scopes are out of production now, and both are better than an Intes-Micro 615, which is a damned fine scope anyway. I think only about 50 TEC 6 scopes were built. It will be far easier to find a used LOMO Astele 150MC, I would think, and the price will be half or far less than what the TEC 6 will go for.

Overall Rating: 8
Optics:9 Ease of Use:9 Value:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=565485

TEC 6
I received my TEC 6 about one month ago. In that time I have had a couple of nights of decent seeing but nothing outstanding. In spite of this, the scope has already shown its potential.

I was fortunate to get a fairly good look at Jupiter at about 200X. Even at this maginification a great deal of detail was seen (the GRS - no problem, some ovals and festoons). But what really amazed me was the color it rendered. Often compound telescopes are said to wash out color, this is not true of the TEC 6. The variation in color between the two main equatorial belts was very aparrent as was other colors on the globe.

This was also true on double stars. The scope was able to split Antares, Gamma Virginis, and the made easy low power work of the double double. Even here the scope showed subtle color variations amongst the four stars, hues if you will.

I am convinced I have still not seen the most this scope has to offer because of the mediocre seeing conditions. But even with limited seeing the scope just soaks up magnification like it just didn't matter how much you wanted to use, particulalrly on double stars.

Workmanship is clearly first rate and I don't think I have ever used a smoother focuser. And there is absolutelt no image shift, NONE!

The price has gone up since I got mine, but, if you are looking for uncompromising quality (optically and mechanically) in small package the TEC should be on your list of considerations.

Take care all,
john

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=247086

TEC 6
Simply the best telescope I have ever owned. Now that isnt many scopes but the quality of the competition is significant. WO 105xF6.2, Questar 3.5, Vixen VC-200L are what I am comapring this scope against. Light,easy to use and wonderful viewing are how I would characterize this instrument.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=157489

TEC 6
Ich bin total begeistert. Quality ist verbluefend! Very gut!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=108242

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