Just Dropped! William Optics Pleiades Septuplet WIFD Refractors | High Point Scientific

[@mglikeabossplaysMC]

Beautiful scope from William Optics! I was just about to purchase a zenithstar, so I'll hold out a little longer to see how this new line performs. Appreciate the spec overview, nice and condensed video!

[@rehon101]

for the 111 it will have a focal length of 532mm (Aperture x Focal Ratio = Focal Length, we can assume that the aperture is 111 based off its name)

[@AstroWhatForum]

After the headaches I had with my WO ZenithStar 103mm... I'm very hesitant to get back into any of their options, many of which are available cheaper in similar quality elsewhere. Once I got my Z103 fixed (which I had to do myself using JB Weld since what I needed to fix the manufacturing default was no longer available) I am fairly happy with it... but if I can grab similar equipment for 1/3 to 1/2 the price... why pay for a few "tweaks" that end up getting removed (like a focuser temp gauge).

[@cigarnationwarriors]

Tegan, you’re killing me with yet more fantastic toys! I’m not sure my marriage can handle yet another great telescope!🔭👍

[@wadehustad9447]

I am really interested to see if they release an optics report on this!

[@derekbaker3279]

Excellent point! IMHO, WO & a few other brands really dropped the ball when they decided that they would not offer an optics report free with the scope!

[@efx245precor3]

Just ordered one.

[@Baker504]

Do you like it?

[@DelGeeZee]

Again, do you like it?

[@Nico.75]

Hi Could you provide first light pictures for this beast?

[@briankotak403]

Wow that looks beautiful! WO is hitting it out of the park! Dr B from Manitoba, Canada 🇨🇦

[@blanejnasveschuk6351]

Sounds fantastic! Will keep an eye out for use reports on this one. Very interested in hearing about the 110mm f4.8!

[@holzfass_astrophotography]

Nice Refractor! 👍🏼

[@PilotPhteven]

Interesting scopes. But not sure I'll upgrade any of the current rigs.. As it's too similar to my current rigs (redcat, SW Esprit) that I doubt I'd really see a difference without pixel peeping. Which, kinda seems to be a William optics "issue".. So many different scopes that all fall within the same range. redcat 51, 61, 71,.. the whole GT line.. zenithstar line.. fluoroscar line. With the differences being the amount of lenses and levels of pixel peeping.. kinda have to wonder if it is really worth it.

[@grandmasteryoda9893]

I will say no , Askar 300 is 600 buk less for more less the same scope

[@derekbaker3279]

@@grandmasteryoda9893 Askar does not use FLP53, and their quality control is not great. Furthermore, to get an Askar down to F4 or faster requires one of the Askar reducer-flatteners, and they are well known for having poor colour correction. To a large degree, you get what you pay for when dealing with optics.

[@poruatokin]

So the 111mm is 530mm focal length, that much we can deduce.

[@AstroDenny]

Interesting scope. I'm not sure how I feel about that focuser design and I feel like that's a lot of elements- I'm sure some are for correction/flattening. How many ED elements? It's fast, but is there a reducer available? Looking forward to see what the image quality is like once these are in the wild!

[@imode1969]

It's Petzval (7 elements) so the reducer/flattener is built-in

[@cryhavoc38]

its already 260mm. That is a widefield scope. Plus it's a sextuplet, so the reducer/flattener is inherent in the system.

[@paullinski9867]

For the 111mm one, at f4.8 and an aperture of 111, wouldn't the focal length be 532mm? You said, "we know it will be increased focal length". I took that as nobody is sure what the focal length will be. But, if you have the f ratio and aperture, I would say the focal length would be 532 if my math serves correctly. Maybe I am missing something? I like this telescope! I wonder how much it will be with having 7 elements. I am very interested in either the 68 or the 111. Thanks for the update!

[@paullinski9867]

Disregard. They have the 68mm listed on the High Point Scientific webpage for $1,998 US. That 111 is probably gonna be in the realm of $3,000 - 4,000. I guess we shall find out soon enough.

[@derekbaker3279]

I have a hunch that he meant 'an increased focal ratio' (as compared to the Pleiades 68).

[@highpointscientific]

Hi Paul! Yes, given the focal ratio of f/4.8 and an aperture of 11mm, the focal length should be around 533 or so!

[@bricktrainfan]

Just ordered an 111, the price is $3750

[@Stefan-Astro-Art]

Amazing, i am thinking to sell my William Optics GT81 from 2022 with reducer, for the WO pleiades 68mm.

[@SpaceRocksandStardust]

WO: New release! A footlong cylinder of solid fpl3 😂 Beautiful looking scope though for sure!

[@jongroubert4203]

There are TWO HUGE PROBLEMS with the design of the scope, and a third problem with the case. First is that the location of the focus knobs in relation to the dovetail prevents you from dropping this into a mount that has a recessed dual saddle - like an AVX or a CGEM - where the Vixen-sized receptacle is lower than the Losmandy-sized receptacle. You MUST buy some risers - at a cost of $30 - to lift the body of the scope up far enough so the focus knobs clear the side walls of the saddle. Oh, you want those risers in blue, to match the scope? Sorry, WO only makes them in red. The second problem is the location of that focus lock. It's right in between the two rings, and at the bottom of the scope, snugly between the scope and the dovetail. It's almost completely inaccessible; practically impossible to reach. So, let's say you buy those red risers for $30 and put 'em on your scope so you can use it with your mount. Great. Now the scope won't fit back inside of the pre-cut foam of the case. Wow, William Optics, you really dropped the ball on this. You did not think this design through AT ALL. Very disappointing.

[@wadehustad9447]

I think you really need to consider more of the engineering angles of this approach. Did you catch this supports full frame cameras? What is the #1 problem with full frame? Tilt....Having the rack and pinion that far in is going to give WAY MORE stability and greatly reduce focuser tilt off axis from the elements. I can tell you this is heavily driven for astrophotographers...I guarantee no one else will complain about that focus lock location.... I think the best approach with ANY SCOPE is to evaluate and optimize the scope's lens performance, pixel scale, and optics and pairing it with your best camera and filter wheel. Doing the math this scope is heavily undersampled and will require 2x or 3x drizzling even on the smallest pixel cameras.

[@derekbaker3279]

Your concerns are not as significant as you seem to believe. Consider the following: (1) Many or most astrophotographers use an EAF, which makes the focus lock unimportant. It just needs to be switched off of 'locked' once, and never used again. (2) It's quite possible that WO will be offering risers in a matching blue colour. It's just a matter of waiting for the manufacturer to machine enough risers to make anodizing them blue in bulk profitable. (3) Another option to deal with the need for risers with recessed dual saddles is to attach a Losmandy 'D' style dovetail bar to the bottom of the Vixen bar provided with the scope. Since Askar and other manufacturers do offer Losmandy dovetail bars in blue, everything will match with this solution (and QHY EAFs are a slightly darker blue, which should look fine as well).

[@jongroubert4203]

@@wadehustad9447 I get it that the focus knob isn't critical, but it's still a terrible placement. I notice, however, that you didn't address the issue that the scope simply WON'T FIT on many mounts without the risers. That's bad design, too. They were not thinking when they did this.

[@bricktrainfan]

I have a SpaceCat 61 which uses the same focus system. I have no problems with my AM5 mount. Just ordered the 111 I am sure it will work just as well. Cheers

[@sethjchandler]

I am not sure the current absence of the color blue on a telescope riser constitutes a HUGE PROBEM.

[@Leopez02]

Just in Yesterday dropped William Optics Redcat 51 WIFD BEAUTIFUL Red colored Telescope, I was a really SURPRISED to see a new Video about of a new Telescope WIlliam Optics Redcat 51 WIFD BEAUTIFUL Blue colored Telescope. LOVE both colors Red and Blue so it's a really HARD to choose which one I should buy but somehow I like more that Blue one what have Blue and Black colors blend. How much those WIFD Telescopes cost? Oh and By the way TONIGHT is a Last Chance to see THE GEMINID Meteor Shower, HOPE to see it but i'm afraid because there is a lot of clouds up in The Sky. High Point Scientific like Yesterday that Video was a GOOD too. I've been Your a new Subcriber for a Months, THANK YOU for an AMAZING Year of Space watching and learning, You are THE STAR up in The Sky! 🌠🌌🔭🌏🌍🌎

[@ten101337]

It's kinda picky with backfocus so a no-no for me.