Dave1

Hi everyone Whilst researching the new Tak Abbe ortho eyepieces, I came across this review, in the review he compares the new Tak Abbe to TMB monocentrics, Circle T Ortho's, and Baader Genuine Ortho's. I used google translate to translate the article from Italian, link is here https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.astrotest.it%2Ftest-reports%2Feyepieces%2Ftakahashi-abbe-eyepieces%2F&edit-text=&act=url All in all a good review, and looks like the Tak Abbe are just above all other Ortho's and only very slightly behind TMB Monocentrics on planets. On a side note, whilst reading on an Australian forum, someone had compared the Tak Abbe's to the Fujiyama ( KK ) Abbes. He placed the Tak's just above the Fujiyama in performance. It's nice to see reports coming in on these eyepieces. Dave

Well guys, I've been doing some digging on classic Vixen telescopes, here is an old Vixen catalogue https://web.archive.org/web/20140104002904/http://yumarin7.sakura.ne.jp:80/retrokan/Vixen1981.pdf The price new was 40,000 yen back in 1980, which going by 1980 exchange rate would cost £75.06p. Average wage back then was £5720. I guess for us classic collectors this sort of stuff is interesting, but I guess to you guys that only are interested in new telescopes this is boring Dave

The lack of slow motion control on the Sabre mount is no disadvantage at all. The clutches on the Sabre allow for very good control on both axis, with very carful nudges its not an issue at all. Provided you have balanced properly. The Sabre can also take a number of different mounting plates saddles. Dave

Total weight, I'd say yes. The difference in the weight between the two OTA's might be an issue and cause slight stiction. But that could be said on any AZ mount. I'd compare the weight of both mounts to see how they differ, if they are similar I wouldn't worry to much.

I have a Altair Sabre II mount. Solid bit of engineering, very good. I used it with my 60mm F16.7 ( brass telescope, heavy for size ) and I use it with my 80mm F15, not at the same time. I would think it would be easily be able to handle an 102mm F11. I will soon be trying a 4" F15 on it. Which I'm pretty confident it will be fine with.

Heres some photos of mine.

Yeah even the Soviet era ural were different to ww2 models. Frame, head design, carburetors, alternator. To name a few.

Mine is a 2006. Which is the period when Ural started to update the design a bit more. Denso alternator, Kehlin CVK carburetors. Everything else is Russian. In 2007 there was a whole host of updates again, one of the big years for updates. Then the next big year for updates is 2013. I'll post a photo of mine.

That's only actually true of WW2 era Urals. Since ww2 ural has developed just about everything and made everything better. Engine, frame, electrics, brakes, gearbox, fueling, air filtration....Without going into specifics. The more modern Urals are much better. The new ones are very good, with components from Japan, Germany, Italy, and Russia.

Ah well there are a few of us that are old school in our tastes. I'm purely an visual astronomer. I prefer long focus refractors, just something about the images they put up, and they are good to look at. My main way of getting around is by Ural motorcycle and sidecar. Never tried old cameras, maybe one day.

Yeah got some circle t ortho's, yeah I have it bad lol. Starting to even build up a collection of Brandon eyepieces!

Hello Ed, Yes I had noticed in some Vixen objective cells that they were slimmer, I'm no expert and did not know they were later on in Vixen's production history, so I've just learned something new. I to am a lover of things classic, classic motorcycles, classic bicycles, old school rock and metal! Pipe smoking. Dave

Hi NGC 1502, Thanks for sharing some information on Vixen telescopes. It does indeed have a collimatable cell? So am I out on some of the details? Dave

Thanks guys, I have yet to give it first light. I've very excited to look at the views through it. From what I can gather from the man I bought it from. I think this telescope may of been forgotten in the back of a French Astronomy shop in a storage area. An sat unused for a very long time.

Hello Everyone As I said in one of my previous threads. Here is the reveal thread of my SBS 80mm F15 refractor. What this is is a Vixen Orion 80mm F15 refractor that was sold in France, and is a French rebadge. It also says on the information plate Lunette Astronomique. I believe this to be an 1981-1982 Vixen Orion telescope. The previous owner put the dual speed Crayford focuser on it, which means unfortunately it wont bring a normal eyepiece to focus. It does however focus zoom eyepieces. Which luckily I own a Baader MK3 zoom eyepiece. I will either extend the OTA tube, or buy a focus tube extension. The lens is in 100 % condition, no chips, the coating is even and uniform across the lens. The matt black paint in the OTA tube is very good, way better than Towa. There is 4-5 baffles in the OTA, which look very good. On the plastic lens cover there is even a V in a circle, which is the mark of Vixen! I consider myself very lucky to be able to own what is essentially a like new condition Vixen Orion 80mm F15! In the photo below you can see one of the quality control stamps In this photo below you can see a Hara quality control stamp In this photo is the information plate

I have the 7.7 mm version from 365 astronomy. I have yet to be impressed by it really, in my current line of telescopes. I will be going to pick up my dream telescope next month which is a 4" F15 telescope. I will then test the 7.7mm Super Abbe Otho in that scope, should be a better test. The 7.7mm Super Abbe Otho, will be compared to my Brandon 8mm, and Baader Hyperion Zoom mk3 set to 8mm. When I did a daylight eyepiece comparison test last week, I used an evergreen tree, set against a blue sky. I set my Baader Hyperion Zoom to 12.5mm and compared my 12.5mm Circle T Volcano top Otho eyepiece. I used my Skylight 60mm F15 telescope, knowing they are fantastic optics. I hate to say it, theoretically with 7 elements it shouldn't be this way, but I could see more detail through the Baader Hyperion zoom! Will be interesting to see if that is the case on planets!

Hi guys, thought I would post a photo or two of my current set up. Towa 339, Berlebach Uni 28 tripod, Altar Sabre 2 Mount.

Hi MZack, I can vouch for Edmund Optics RKE, I have the 15mm, on slow telescopes it is very good. There has been a number of tests comparing TV Plossl to GSO Plossl, and to Brandon eyepieces. One of those tests was conducted by Chris Lord of Brayebrook observatory. It really was a very good test, in both medium speed and faster telescopes the consensus was the GSO Plossl performed better than the TV Plossl. http://brayebrookobservatory.org/BrayObsWebSite/HOMEPAGE/PageMill_Resources/Comparison test of TVPlossl vs Brandon.pdf Although I don't think of the GSO or TV Plossl as being modern eyepieces, they are just symmetrical 4 element 2 group design, which is really quite old now. I now own the 32mm GSO Plossl, I have yet to use it, will report back what I think when I do!

Hello @MZack, only just saw your post! that is a thing of beauty. Congrats. Yes I think I saw Marks comments/thread over at Cloudy Nights on the restoration of your telescope. A cherished telescope indeed. @philj thanks for your comments. Yes that is what I suspect regarding the Vixen 80mm Vs 80mm Towa. Which is why I will flock and add the extra baffle to the Towa lenses end, so it is a fair shoot out between the too. My only concern at the moment with the Vixen, is it comes with a modern Crayford focuser, which might not bring a normal eyepiece into focus with out a OTA tube extension. The seller assure me he's been using it just fine with a zoom eyepiece, and the Crayford 5cm out. The Vixen is on its way to me. Can't wait to use it. Dave

Well guys believe it or not, I haggled with the guy for the Vixen 80mm F15, I got it down to £186. I did some more thinking last night and today. I really like working with 80mm telescopes. I also thought, when is the next time I am going to see a Japanese Vixen 80mm F15 telescope for sale? In like new condition? Not only does it have Vixen optics, it also has 4 baffles in the tubes, and a modern dual speed focuser. This telescope has the potential to be great. So in short I will compare the two 80mm's and keep the best one! Tonight I have flocked the focuser end of my Towa, I will flock the other end tomorrow, and maybe add a baffle as well. Dave

If its a clear sky tonight, I shall point my Evostar 120mm towards the Orion nebular to see how it compares to the 80mm.

That's great the 150mm F8 are good, but surely they are more suspectable to chromatic abbration? The only modern Ed telescope I have any interest in and would buy in a heart beat if I had the money is the Frt 120 Ed F12. 5. That to me is the perfect telescope design, has everything I want. http://www.frtelescopes.com/frt120ded.html Thanks for the eyepiece recommendations. I ordered an eyepiece last night which was the GSO super Plossl eyepiece in 32mm. I nearly ordered the Vixen NPL 30mm. Both eyepiece get good reviews especially in slow telescopes. I will look at the eyepiece you mentioned.

Hi Dave Yes the focuser tube has indeed had the baffle knocked out. From what I understand magnesium coatings have worse light transmission than modern coatings but less light scatter. So horses for courses, no complaints from me though. I already own a 120 F8 Helios refractor. Whilst it is good, I don't actually use it much, I guess its just one of those things. I think I will probably buy an Bresser AR102/1350 F13.2. I'm going to get a longer eyepiece for wider views, for use with the 60mm and 80mm. Dave

Thanks F15, yes you've shown me those wonderful telescopes before. I've been out with my Towa 80mm F15 tonight. Its a lovely scope to use. Seen some marvellous views tonight. Tonight is the first night I have use the Towa 80mm F15 on my Berlebach tripod and Altair Sabre 2 mount. A match made in heaven I have to say, very intuitive and very very easy to use. The Standard focuser is just fine with a 1.25" Parks prism diagonal and 1.25" eyepieces. Think I may now only flock the tube and maybe add a baffle towards the rear. Its put up some wonderful views of Sirius, Orion Nebular, Ainitak, Alnilam, Mintaka, Aldebaran, Pleiades.

I have wrote the H.N. Irving telescope off, the seller has changed his mind on people being able to arrange a courier to collect it and deliver. He's now stating it is collection only. I am very torn between the Vixen 80mm F15 and the Bresser AR102/1350. The Vixen should be better than the Towa 80mm. If I get the Vixen 80mm F15, I will sell my Towa F15 80mm. The Bresser of course has bigger aperture and good optics, I should be able to see more than an 80mm telescope. The 80mm Vixen is tempting because of its size and portability, and the fact it has very good optics, the fact its already fitted with a dual speed Crayford focusers is also tempting me, it's basically what I am gradually doing to the Towa. I have through comparing photo's satisfied myself that it is definitely a Vixen lenses in that telescope. I tend to use my smaller telescopes more than my 5"! Hmm