William Optics RedCat 91: First Look

[@gerald2112]

I ordered one. Looking forward to using it. I'm in Utah also, Eagle Mountain.

[@SensorSensibility]

Fantastic! That's great to know. It's cloudy again tonight in North Logan. Tomorrow night looks like a possibility for first light.

[@stecchris9547]

I can't wait to see your full optical review!🎉

[@SensorSensibility]

We can't either. We'll be using our full-frame monochrome camera (ZWO Asi 6200 MM Pro) and filters for the review. We wish we had a full-frame one-shot color camera (ZWO Asi 6200 MC Pro) for the review. Then we could not only test for star roundness but also chromatic aberration.

[@swagonman]

I pre-ordered it a week ago. I’m hoping I’m in the second build and get it soon! Seems awesome. I bought it for the size and spot diagram.

[@SensorSensibility]

So did we. The spot diagram is absolutely amazing, and we love the size - very portable but powerful.

[@Baker504]

I've been waiting to see reviews of the 91. I'm very interested in this scope and look forward to see what you two think after you get the chance to use it. 👍🏻

[@blufferblue1599]

Nice first video for new channel! Would be interesting to compare to just released Askar SQA 106. Both of these seem to have really excellent spot diagrams if I am reading them correctly.

[@neilhankey2514]

And does this one also need BlurXterminator??? The real Tak killer is the Askar SQA106 if their spec's prove to be true? Good luck with first light.

[@Phillyo118]

What's the maximum back focus distance for this scope? Is there room for an OAG, Rotator and filterwheel before camera?

[@SensorSensibility]

I don't know, but as soon as the clouds disappear, we'll find out if we can reach focus with our ZWO OAG and 7-element 2" filter wheel in the image train.

[@velaastro904]

It’s got plenty of room it’s a petzval group there is no specific back focus , it will support almost any set up

[@Phillyo118]

@@velaastro904 'almost' is the problem. My redcat51 doesn't support OAG, rotator and filter wheel with my risingcam imx571. I don't NEED OAG at only 250mm but for a tidier setup it would've been nice. The 91 looks nice, but so do the new ASKAR SQA scopes.

[@AlexN-Astro]

I will wait till I see real world results. The Tak FSQ106EDX4 is a phenomenal optical system, and I'd be very surprised... VERY VERY SURPRISED if the WO scope can match the FSQ106, let alone provide actually better images. The other thing to mention is the fact that the FSQ106EDX4 is the newest FSQ106, not the best FSQ106. the best FSQ106 was the FSQ106N which used a fluorite lense, not an ohara fpl-53 synthetic fluorite, but an actual fluorite optic. The marketing material for a scope should never be taken at face value. Plenty of manufacturers want to say their scopes match the Tak equivalents, thus far, nobody has come close in actuality...

[@SensorSensibility]

Well stated. That is interesting background on the Tak. Certainly, spot diagrams are not the end of the story, or even the beginning of the end. But they might be, as Winston Churchill said after the first victory of the war, "the end of the beginning."

[@AlexN-Astro]

@SensorSensibility agreed.

[@neilhankey2514]

Agreed, I own 4 Tak's myself and only a very special Skywatcher 250 Quattro has come close to matching their image quality. I'm hoping the the Askar SQA106 will match it as I have one on order.

[@Dustin17-w1v]

How much of an import tax did you pay shipping directly from WO?

[@gspinin]

WO says it’s 10% of the invoice value.