ukskies

Ah that explains things, Ive been looking everywhere for that pier!🤣 Lovely set up by the way.👍

I've finished work now and I have a bit more time. I've just been looking at your setup here John. Is that sat on a Berlebach? What is the pier please?

I don't need super accurate tracking as I'm only visual tbf. Just keep the target in the field of view for 5 mins or so at high power and it would do for me. Alt az with tracking would do nicely. Are there other options does anyone know?

I would prefer an alt az over an equatorial every time, it's just so easy to set up and to use. This is definitely on the short list John.

Thanks John, that's quite an expensive option however poss ideal for the 125 and um something else I don't have yet!

My thinking is I love looking at the moon on higher powers, there's so much to see and every evening it looks different plus I also love planetary views. This does mean a more comfortable session will be had with a driven mount. Equatorials to keep the 125 steady are quite heavy aren't they? A used mount might be worth looking at.

Thanks for posting this Nicos that looks very nice and weighs nothing, the Rowan AZ100 is one under consideration as the dual saddle arrangement might be useful in the future.

As a DZ owner I'm obviously very interested in your views Mike and I hear what you are saying, I'm still right on the fence here tough. My heart want's the FC100 DZ and my head want's the 125. Maybe I should consider the mount weight too?

Thank you everyone for your helpful posts, I'm still undecided though. I do have plenty of time to mull this over as both scopes in question are currently out of stock and I'm still trying to fund the purchase.

I believe there's a couple of 125 owners on here, how are you getting on with your scopes now in the longer term?

Now this another point. I know everyone who owns a Tak doublet loves their scope, there's a few on here and you will all happily recommend the FC100 to anyone and everyone. This doesn't seem to be quite the case with these other refractors. I'm still undecided which to go for. The Altair 125 looks terrific and is a 5" class scope and the Tak is much more expensive and only a 4" class scope but it's a Takahashi. If the two scopes were the same aperture the Tak would be my choice without question but does that extra aperture make up for what may be slightly less quality glass?

Yes, thanks, budget is an issue and I would love the DZ I'm quite sure but the 125 is so much more affordable.

Hi and thanks. Herein lies my problem in a nutshell. Portability is an issue but I'm not sure in my current circumstances that it means the 125 wouldn't be portable. I live in a small town and our garden is rather small and very light polluted. I also have a very limited view of the sky. This means I invariably travel to use any scope. The big dob is awesome and on better nights the lunar detail is quite stunning but it takes a lot of effort to get it in the car and set it up once at my observing site, then cool down is a problem when the temps are dropping fast. Also after observing it's do it all in reverse. It can be tedious especially when just as the mirror is getting to temperature the clouds roll over and then having to pack up without getting even a quick look. This has happened twice a half hour from home at a very dark site. Local weather in the Welsh hills changes quickly. I'm going to have more time on my hands at the end of this month as I'm going down to part time working also we are thinking of buying a motorhome soon too. The thought of parking up somewhere dark, setting up an Apo refractor and just observing without all the current effort would mean much more time at the eyepiece. In these circumstances the 125 wouldn't be much more effort than the 100 but then there's that Takahshi factor. I first looked though one a long time ago and I had the impression of diamonds on black velvet and simply beautiful views of the moon. the crater shadows were jet black and the surface details were just so easy to see. I knew very little about astronomy back then but that lunar view was just beautiful. Ever since then I've wanted a Tak. I don't have an unlimited budget tho so in reality the 125 doublet with it's massive saving has to be considered. I think the mount would need careful consideration tho.

Hi and thank you. I'm completely in agreement with all of your points, the focusser is a big reason to look at these scopes. The Altair one comes with a huge 3.7 inch one which I dont need tbh but a also a test report with a guaranteed strehl of .95. I imagine the Tak will still have a much better strehl, polish and figure however and is also lighter. My thinking is that if the 125 was the equal of the Tak for purely visual then I could have the £1200 difference to spend on some other things like nice eyepieces. I'm having to save carefully for the Tak but the 125 doublet is undoubtedly more affordable. If I'm honest I am still leaning toward the FC100DZ but looking for a good reason to buy the 125 as it looks such terrific value.

Hi and thanks but I really want a doublet and as this scope is very close in price to the FC 100DZ I would take the Tak if I'm honest

Yes thanks for ypour input I just saw the Altair one as being already in the UK tbh.

I always wanted a Takahashi because I believe the quality of the lens would be very hard to beat and the FC100DZ does indeed look very classy.

Hi everyone, a few weeks ago you helped me decide that my decision to save for a Tak FC100DZ was a good one and I'm currently saving for that purchase when I spot this very high spec 125mm refractor. My question is which would be the better visual scope, would any of you consider taking the Altair over the Takahashi and if so why?

Thanks JeremyS, I will try to think of it that way plus I have wanted a Takahashi since I was a young man so think what I have missed out on. It's only money.

Thank you, further reinforcement, I'm hoping that all your positive comments will ease the pain of purchase. I'm convinced that owning the Tak will never be disappointing.

Thank you for this report, it reinforces my thinking.

Thanks Stu, I am glad you say it's your most used scope, that's the main reason for wanting one. I think it will get me out a lot more.

Thanks, they all seem to get a glowing report from owners. I'm glad yopure obsessed with yours.

Thank you everyone for the replies. JeremyS and MalcolmM That's what I thought. Space Hopper and Deadlake. I will be stretching myself to afford the FC100 so no way can I stretch to a TSA 120. In addition I like the idea of the lightweight doublet, it will be quick to cool so give me more opportunities to observe, light to move so less strain to set up and take down and I feel it is THE scope that will get used simply because of this. I have a big synscan dob that doesn't get much light because it's so darn heavy and I know that's the other end of the scale but it's similar in principle. Stu. You hit the nail right on the head, that is exactly my thinking. A lightweight Takahashi doublet that will give awesome planetary and lunar views, very good widefield views and when conditions allow will also take higher magnifications. Surely that is almost the perfect scope. Franklin, yes it is, too easy.

Hi everyone, I'm considering the purchase sometime soon of a Takahashi 4 inch apo refractor. I'm purely visual and IF I ever decide to try astro photography it will only ever be basic stuff. I have always wanted a Takahashi since I was a young man and life just got in the way. I'm considering The FC100 DZ is there any reason I should consider something else?