Note: The TEC APO160FL ships as the OTA (Optical Tube Assembly) only. Mounting rings, plates, and other accessories must be purchased separately. Please see our "related" section below for quick links to all the additional accessories available for this telescope. The price of this scope also reflects a $99 packing and insurance fee (shipping will be calculated at checkout). The TEC APO160FL F/7 is a truly remarkable telescope. With outstanding color correction and crisp, contrasty images, TEC's APO160FL is one of the premier telescopes available on the market today. If you are looking for the very best in apochromatic refractors, look no further than Telescope Engineering Company. Telescope Engineering Company (TEC) began in 1994 as a distributor/subcontractor of optics and optical materials. Initially, their primary products were zero-expansion Sitall blanks from LZOS, large mirrors and optical systems from LOMO, and optics for Maksutov telescopes made in Kiev, Ukraine. In the late 90's, TEC decided to start its own production line of optics and telescopes. TEC began by producing a line of Maksutov telescopes ranging from 6" to 10" diameter and continued to work on special optics for professional observatories. At the turn of the century, TEC began working on a new product: apochromatic refractors. In 2002 they started regular production of smaller refractors, beginning with the APO140 F7 ED. Later on, TEC added larger models including the APO160, APO180 and APO200. Apochromatic refractors make up the majority of TEC's ongoing present and near future production. The TEC APO160FL is the next step in size after APO140ED. There is, however, quite a difference in price between the two due to the improvements in color correction in the APO160FL. This scope is, essentially, a scaled version of the APO14O, but is of different optical design, is slightly longer and heavier, and will require a larger mount. The APO160FL achieves excellent color correction due to a Fluorite middle element. The APO160FL will please both the visual astronomer and the astrophotographer, and will be a scope you surely keep in your collection for years. Please note: If this item shows "out of stock," please give us a call to reserve your order. TEC produces telescopes in limited production runs, so we recommend getting your name on the list as soon as possible. TEC requires only a small deposit to hold your spot, which is refundable. Final shipping costs to be determined after checkout Clear aperture 160 mm Focal length 1120 mm Focal ratio 7 Resolution (theoretical) 0.75 arc sec Tube diameter 6.42" / 163 mm Tube length (dew shield retracted) 39.4" / 1000 mm Tube weight 24 lb / 11 kg
