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To whom
it may concern ...
I'm writing
this note to describe the reasons I purchased a SpicaEyes from
Tom Osypowski. I've been in astronomy for about 20 years, and
professionally, work with very high-end, high-tech equipment.
In the early '80s, I started Elliott Laboratories, very likely
the premier EMC testing laboratory in the country at this time.
This isn't an effort to "beat my chest," but rather
to state that I'm accustomed to using - and pushing for - the
highest quality results and equipment possible.
In astronomy,
I've always been passionate about tack-sharp, high-contrast images.
Photographically, I pursued Schmidt Cameras and the best small
refractors I could afford. I currently own a 6" Astrophysics
Starfire. However, after years of working with all the paraphernalia
required to produce images using hydrogen-hypered 2415 film, I
wanted to take a step back and spend more time observing - instead
of photographing - the night sky.
I've known
Tom for many years and have been EXTREMELY impressed with his
telescopes, having spent many evenings with Tom and his friends
at Riverside, star parties and his house. Half of why I would
chose Tom above ALL others is because of Tom. Setting aside any
reference to technology, you have to have absolute and total trust
in someone custom building a telescope because in the end, you
can't go back to the corner astronomy store if something isn't
to your liking. Tom Osypowski is "family." No, we're
not related, but a handshake with Tom means more than all the
legal documents that could ever be contrived by the Stanford Law
School. My trust in Tom and his work is absolute.
What he builds
- is "Old World" in his extreme attention to detail
and design execution. But his technology is constantly evolving
to take advantage of the best that is available at the time. I
ordered a 16" f4 SpicaEyes in March of last year. Tom completed
the scope by late July. Lightholder Optics, who made the mirror,
did an incredible job. Having looked through telescopes with handmade
mirrors from the likes of Kevin Medlock, I have to say the image
quality I saw the first night I used this telescope was clearly
the best I have ever seen - without exception. For its size, I
cannot image how the optics could possibly be more finely tuned
to produce a better image. And the telescope itself - is commensurate
with the exceptional optics. Mechanically it's far better than
any of the other DOBs that I've seen or used. It has no peer.
So, I would
conclude by saying that the build-quality is excellent in the
extreme. The views produced are the finest I''ve ever seen (from
equipment this size). And you can trust Tom to do exactly what
he says he will do. Knowing everything I know now, I would re-purchase
the SpicaEyes from Tom in a heartbeat. It is the best telescope
I've ever owned - and I've owned quite a few ...
Thomas Parker
Chairman, Elliott Laboratories, Inc.
www.elliottlabs.com
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