ARIES SAFIX

We are eagerly awaiting customer reviews of SAFIX to be published in newsgroups and review sites.

In the meantime, here is a short review by Sol Robbins, of the pre-production version:

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This is hard to describe in words.

I mostly used the SAFIX in SCTs. I guess the best way I can describe
it is the difference between average seeing conditions VS. good seeing
conditions. Obviously the latter description will show a better, cleaner
image. This was apparent to some degree in every scope I tried the SAFIX
in. Quick comaprison was easy due to finding the correct SAFIX setting
and the adjusting it to zero.

This all comes down having consistently better images with the SAFIX.
Additionally, scopes that ranged between 1/4 to 1/6 wave SA showed
the "best" improvement in image clarity. Sometimes folks expect some
kind of optical miracle out of the stuff they acquire. The SAFIX
won't show anything that is not there to see. It will enhance the
clarity of images and make borderline details easier to see.

Thanks, Sol Robbins
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March 7, 2003 SAFIX & Ronchi grating status:

SAFIX sets ($450) and Ronchi gratings ($75) are IN STOCK and AVAILABLE NOW. No more waitlists, at least for the time being.

Note: At the present time, all available SAFIX sets have visible cosmetic blemishes in the paint (chips, scratches, or touchup) of one or more of the three extension tubes. I am trying to resolve this as a potential warranty replacement/repair issue, but until ARIES provides me a satisfactory answer, I must begin selling SAFIX with no warranty on the extension tube cosmetics.

Chromacor-II-O1 is in stock and available for $895 (new, of course)

Chromacor-II-N is available for rental at $150 per month, or purchase for $795 used.

The fine print: Astrobuffet reserves the rights to, at its sole discretion, do any, several, or all of the following:

Wait for, or stop waiting for, a definitive response from any customer regarding their purchase decision, or arrival of their payment
Permit or deny sales to specific dealers without articulating a cause for such decision
Permit or deny sales to specific customers paying other than by timely hard funds (money orders or cashier's checks) in US$. In particular, while I normally accept PayPal, I reserve the right to refuse any specific PayPal payment with or without cause. Often, but not always, refusals are related to either the perceived probability of a chargeback (especially for high-dollar purchases without a confirmed address) or the perceived difficulty of enforcing collection or merchandise return (especially foreign); or of obtaining satisfactory dispute resolution across jurisdictional boundaries at reasonable cost. Regarding personal checks: they are 100% welcome (assuming they are in US$ from an account at a bank in the US) and one of my preferred forms of payment right after hard funds. I have never yet refused a personal check, but reserve the right to do so, and in any case will wait for them to clear before shipment.
Permit or deny foreign sales or shipments to specific customers or locations without articulating a cause for such decision
Raise or lower prices without notice, and without retroactivity or recourse to prior purchasers. (No, I've not planned a secret future price increase, decrease, or sale on SAFIX. But after hearing the whining of (a minority of early-adopting) Chromacor customers when I had a sale and later dropped prices, I thought I'd warn everyone that I will not again respond by offering perks/refunds/discounts to prior purchasers after a sale or price drop, unless they want to sign a contract to pay me all future price increases also!!)
Withdraw the current offer to sell under the stated terms, at any time before accepting a particular order under those terms.
Institute or re-institute methods of waitlisting and/or preferentially allocating product sales quantity among customers or dealers

Product Summary

......

The ARIES SAFIX is a revolutionary new product released in quantity to the amateur astronomy community in December 2002.

In the right hand photo above, from left to right are the SAFIX, the 3 included extension tubes (one with not-included eyepiece in it) and the optional Ronchi grating with yellow filtering built in.

Please also take note of the higher-quality photos of a prototype SAFIX which I took, at the top of this web page. Other than some added engraving, the physical appearance of production models has not changed.

As you can see in the photos above, SAFIX installs much like a Barlow lens, between a 1.25 inch diagonal and 1.25 inch eyepiece. On an SCT or MCT, you can often get away with using a 2 inch diagonal and 2-1.25 adapter, but it is recommended to use a 1.25 inch diagonal to keep the SCT nearer its design focal length. On other scopes there would typically be a greater back-focus issue, similar to the situation with binoviewers. On some scopes, the back-focus issue is more serious than on others. For instance, in Newtonians, a low-profile focuser, or moving the primary mirror up the tube, may be necessary, just as with a binoviewer. On refractors, a shorter focuser, or tube shortening, or diagonal modification might be undertaken to avoid needing to view straight-through with a stock focuser lacking sufficient inward travel.

There are too many combinations of scopes, focusers, diagonals, and eyepieces, to generally give a definitive answer on exactly what actions, if any, will be required to reach focus on a particular scope. As more customers announce results on their various scopes, expect us to develop and post reference materials.

SAFIX is provided with three different-length extension tubes, for telescopes of different focal ratio ranges. See the photo above.

SAFIX allows you to vary the spherical aberration of your telescope. Obviously, most people will want to "vary it" right down to zero, after a suitable period of playing with the device.

Markings on the SAFIX allow you to switch the SAFIX between all your different scopes, and dial in the proper correction on each of them to the null setting for that scope without the original amount of fiddling around.

Key Features

Dial out that nasty spherical aberration, typical of many consumer telescopes including SCTs!
Sometimes mass-produced telescopes have great optics, but more often, there are a few problems which make "diffraction-limited" a borderline claim. There isn't much you can do if your scope has a zone. You can stop your scope down slightly if it has a turned edge. But until now, there has been no cost-effective solution if your scope was undercorrected or overcorrected for spherical aberration, something which measurably exists very often even in very fine scopes of every brand. SAFIX changes this!
Physically similar configuration to a Barlow lens.
The SAFIX goes between your diagonal and eyepiece, just like a Barlow lens.

What could be simpler?

Value-added benefits of buying your SAFIX from Astrobuffet
ARIES admittedly does the "heavy lifting" by producing this breakthrough product in the Ukraine.

Astrobuffet provides additional value-added benefits beyond simply drop-shipping or receiving and forwarding the products to our customers.

Here is what you get from Astrobuffet, with each SAFIX purchased:
- SAFIX and 3 extension tubes for the different focal ratio scopes: f/5-f/7; f/8-f/9; f/10-f/15. Note: some extension tubes have cosmetic blemishes which might or might not be addressed under warranty. If requested, I will pick out the best remaining one for one customer-specified length and email a photo of it for approval.
- For US customers: import hassles, duty, and customs brokerage charges all taken care of. Imported to the USA by international air courier fully insured, with customs clearance completed, and payment of import duty and customs brokerage fees already taken care of. Even in the large quantity of my first shipment, these costs were VERY significant. For an individual importing one themself, the costs could easily be $100 to $150, plus faxed powers of attorney and/or trips to a port of entry. I deal with the USA import hassles. You just receive a UPS air shipment from Massachusetts, of an item legitimately imported with all paperwork in order, and NO chance of owing USA import duty. I've paid it for you.
- For foreign customers: as with all self-imported items you buy from elsewhere, your own country may charge you duty, fees, and taxes when you buy and import items from outside your country. I try to minimize these problems for you, by recommending USPS Global Express Mail EMS service. Unlike UPS and other air couriers, most countries' post offices do not charge a significant customs brokerage fee. This does not, however, mean that your government will not charge you import duty or taxes such as VAT. I can't control what your own country's laws and taxes are, and I must declare the actual value of the merchandise on US Government forms when exporting it to you.
- For US customers: No unexpected charges or unknown amounts due to credit-card currency conversion, international bank fees, unknown shipping charges, etc. There is no question of whether duty will be due, or how much, as when you receive an expensive international shipment at the post office. There is no duty or (often amazingly high) customs brokerage fees, due as when you receive an international air courier shipment via DHL, UPS, or FedEx. Most Americans don't deal with this "UPS Customs Brokerage" shock very often, but just ask any Canadian!
- For foreign customers: some additional fees are involved, but I try to subsidize them somewhat. For instance, I get charged $30 per incoming bank wire transfer, but charge only $15. International shipping/insurance is priced at my estimate of actual cost, or at the exact actual cost if you wish to wait while I figure it out.
- Sturdy, protective, and reusable individual packaging is included. It is suitable for carrying and storing your SAFIX in, and adds significant physical protection during shipment also.
- SAFIX consists of 4 pieces, or 5 with the optional Ronchi grating. Each is put in its own zipper-seal plastic bag of appropriate size, or plastic-wrapped as appropriate. A reusable box is provided with room for the 4-5 pieces, two of them assembled to save space. During shipment, additional protection is given by liberal use of plastic wrap, tissue paper, etc. I have recently switched to trying out divided plastic food-type containers instead of a box. I might also try out tin boxes if I can get the right size. Depending upon customer reaction and box/container/tin availability, I might ship your SAFIX any of these ways.
- My standard shipping method for SAFIX is UPS 2nd Day Air for only $15 to the 50 states, fully insured and trackable online. Depending upon what state you're in, I'm making a little or losing a lot on air shipment, but it saves the work of pricing each shipment! In almost no case does it cover my out-of-pocket packing and shipping costs. And yes, I've already had a (Chromacor, not SAFIX yet) customer in Alaska if you're wondering where I lost the most money on shipping.
- Optionally, you may choose UPS Ground, UPS Next Day, or any other mutually agreeable shipping method, with appropriate adjustment of shipping cost. For customers in the Northeast, UPS Ground can be as fast as 2nd Day Air, and usually will save you $5 or so depending upon your zipcode. To the UK, Global Priority Mail EMS is about $33, and to Japan it is about $40.
SAFIX pricing

Astrobuffet offers the full package deal of SAFIX, 3 extension tubes, and the items/services listed in the above bullet points, for just $450 + $15 shipping (via 2nd Day Air) in the 50 states, for a total of just $465 delivered. Sales tax applies only for customers/shipments within MA. Credit cards normally accepted via PayPal.com, with n

Note: some extension tubes have cosmetic blemishes which might or might not be addressed under warranty. If requested, I will pick out the best remaining one for one customer-specified length and email a photo of it for approval.o surcharge for US customers, and a small adjustment for exchange-rate losses internationally.

Ronchi grating pricing

For the optional, recommended custom Ronchi grating (254lpi = 10 lpmm) mounted in a 1.25" barrel, please add $75 with the purchase of a SAFIX or Chromacor, with no additional shipping. The grating is also available separately for $80 delivered (48 states) to the general public, now that the initial rush for them is over. (That's only $5 for insured shipping in the 48 states, typically less than it costs me.)

Variable spherical aberration correction

SAFIX allows you to vary the spherical aberration of your telescope. Obviously, most people will want to "vary it" right down to zero, after a suitable period of playing with the device.

To make the "playing phase" more fun, and to positively confirm the exact setting where spherical aberration is minimized, ARIES and Astrobuffet recommend the purchase of a custom Ronchi grating. It goes into the scope just like an eyepiece. The lines which will be visible in it become straight when spherical aberration is zero. Valery has taken care of all the details on this custom grating, from the line spacing to the ratio of widths of the light and dark lines, to adding some color filtering to make the result on achromatic refractors more accurate without affecting results on other scopes.

In short, I believe this is the finest and most versatile Ronchi grating ever produced for use in amateur telescopes which take 1.25" eyepieces or larger.

Markings on the SAFIX allow you to switch the SAFIX between all your different scopes very easily. You later just re-dial the proper correction for each scope without the original amount of fiddling around.

SAFIX weight

A few customers have asked what the SAFIX weighs, so they can figure out their balance situation. If you do the algebra, you'll find that the following numbers must have a couple of grams of total roundoff error, so are probably accurate to approximately 1 gram:

1. All 4 pieces of SAFIX kit: 332 gr.
2. SAFIX itself : 198gr
3. SAFIX with F/5-7 tube: 236 gr
4. SAFIX with F/8-9 tube: 244 gr
5. SAFIX with F/10-15 tube: 248gr

SAFIX barrel, eyepiece diameter, weight carrying capacity:

Standard 1.25 inch barrel and 1.25 inch eyepiece holder.

At low power with 2" eyepieces, SAFIX would serve no useful purpose. Also, a 2" SAFIX would have cost much more.

Not designed to carry the weight of cameras, etc. although an accessory to do so (with SAFIX enclosed in it) was earlier said to be under design consideration.

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