Here you will find TMB Optical user customer comments and testimonials, as well as web pages featuring astrophotographs, sketches, observing reports, and equipment reviews.
TMB Optical Customer Comments and Testimonials
“I've looked through many telescopes in my 40+ years as an amateur astronomer and I am very impressed with the performance of the 130.” Larry Owens, from his review of the TMB 130mm f/7 Signature Series Apochromatic Refractor.
“Also, I feel the Paragon is the next step in eyepiece design for wide field observing, and is unique in that it offers also the better light transmission, higher contrast, and sharper on axis images found in narrow field eyepieces.” Eric Jamison, from his review of the TMB Optical 40mm Paragon 2" Eyepiece.
“In short, these are optics to please the most discriminating ‘optophile,’ providing, in my opinion,
views as sharp as you’ll see in any apo refractor.” Alan Dyer, from his Sky & Telescope reviews of the TMB 105mm f/6.2 and TMB 100mm f/8 apochromatic refractors. Click here to read more of his reviews of these telescopes.
Robert Provin provides a testimonial of the
TMB 5mm Super Monocentric eyepiece.
"Thomas M. Back is a superbly gifted optical designer and observer who's
instruments and accessories utilize a richly varied combination of
design criteria. With TMB Optical, you will find equipment made to the
highest standards of manufacturing and optical quality, incorporating
the most challenging and sought after in design goals, and
designed/manufactured to accommodate the practical considerations of
observing and using telescopes that come from decades of hard-won
experience pushing equipment up to and past peak performance levels."
"TMB telescopes are designed like no other instruments in the world. A
design that looks terrific on paper isn't enough for TMB Optical. While
a superb design from an optical design program is a final step for many
(not all) telescope manufacturers, this is only a starting point for
Thomas Back. Before he considers a design good enough, he rigorously
examines all facets of a possible telescope using this lens and then
adjusts the design to maximize the practical aspects and criteria that
are critical to not only getting the absolute best images under a
variety of conditions, but also being able to do so in a way that makes
observing efficient and comfortable to the user. This is a rare and
time consuming element to designing and making telescopes that is so
frequently missing in today's telescopes. TMB telescopes are designed
utilizing all of Thomas Back's many years of experience as a truly
top-notch, world-class planetary observer so as to maximize not only
optical and mechanical perfection, but also to maximize every possible
practical aspect for not only getting the absolute most and best out of
that instrument no matter the observing conditions and accessories
used, but also to make sure the telescope is as easy, intuitive, and as
enjoyable to use as possible. Time with a telescope should be spent
observing, not fumbling about in the dark trying to get the equipment
to work. How many times have you been frustrated by good optics put
into a poorly designed tube assembly, a design flaw that has made some
aspect of observing painfully difficult if not impossible, or even a
wonderful tube assembly marred by poorly performing optics? How many
manufacturers design for and check these things, especially basic
usability with a standard, but diverse set of accessories?
