DirkSteele

I am not a member of CloudyNights (perhaps I should consider it, as there are a lot of knowledgeable members, though it can get a bit emotional sometimes…) but I do find that threads sometimes appear in Google searches I run. I recently came across a thread which I am going to borrow as I thought it was a great idea, “Show us your LZOS scope.” For those who do not know, LZOS (Lytkarino Zavod Optychisovo Sticklo – translates as Lytkarino Optical Glass Works is based in Lytkarino in Russia), was founded in the Soviet-era to manufacture high end optics for military and research use, and also operated as a Zeiss subcontractor. In the late 90’s / early 2000s, a tie-up between TMB in the US and APM in Germany allowed the skill of their opticians to be experienced by the amateur astronomy community. Unlike virtually all other telescope companies, LZOS manufacture the optical glass used in their telescope lenses as well as fabricating the lens cells. LZOS produce their own extra-low dispersion glass, OK-4, which has very similar optical properties as the well-known O’Hara produced FPL-53, though they are able to produce blanks in far larger sizes which allows LZOS to offer triplet refractors of up to 20” diameter. I would love to have a go with one of those! The late Thomas M Back (sadly passing away aged only 50 in 2007) had a lifelong passion for amateur astronomy and a particular interest in optics which saw him become a prolific designer of telescope optics and eyepieces. He started the TMB Optical business selling high-end refractors of his design, sourcing lenses made to his design and specification by LZOS in Russia, optical tubes from APM in Germany and focusers from Starlight Instruments in the US. APM have been in business since 1990 offering a range of reflecting and refracting scopes including large research grade instruments to a variety of observatories around the world. They became the exclusive world-wide agent for LZOS made TMB designed lenses in 1998. After Thomas Back suddenly passed away, APM retained the rights to his designs and continued to offer them in APM branded scopes. APM and TMB scopes are not the only brands to have featured LZOS made lenses over the years. I know that some have appeared in Stellarvue, Officina Stellare, William Optics and possibly more besides. I have also been left wondering about the serial numbers, and the fact there may be more of certain models out in the wild under the stars than the serial numbers might suggest. When the lenses first rolled out of Russia, the lens cell would often state “Made for T.M.B” or “TMB Design” or similar but I have also seen in older scopes (if I recall correctly), Fluorstar, and more recently, “LZOS Made” “LZOS for APM” and perhaps some other variations as well. Given some serial numbers I have seen compared to those on my own scopes and comparing year of manufacture, had led to believe that some serial numbers may have “reset” when the inscription on the lens cell changed. In particular, I am sure I have seen an 180mm LZOS lens with a higher serial number than mine, but produced many years earlier. So, if you are lucky enough to have one (or have had one and still have photos), why not share them here. Just like the Cloudynights thread, include your interferometry certificate if you have it. We could probably start a whole active thread about the usefulness of those certificates, with some suggesting they tell you little and are a bit of marketing. I take a slightly more pragmatic approach. While it is true that a mono-chromatic strehl measurement tells you only a little about an optic (an achromat could have a high mono-strehl), my view is that if the strehl is high in the measured wavelength (532nm for LZOS), it means the optical figure is smooth and given the skill and reputation of the LZOS opticians, a decent degree of confidence can be taken that the optic has been manufactured close to its design parameters which means its poly-strehl should be good (within the confines of the original design limitation of course). For example, the 130mm f/9 triplet Apo, has a design poly-strehl of 0.984, which means that a perfectly executed example, when focused on a central wavelength, would measure a strehl ratio of at least that value across the visible spectrum. Enough with the history lesson. So, to get the ball rolling, here is my APM LZOS 180mm f/7 triplet Apo. Lens cell number 22. It has featured in an episode of The Sky at Night. I am 180cm (5’ 11”) tall for reference. Certificate below:

I could not resist the offer that came via an Astrograph email back in February. A new APM LZOS 130mm f/9.24 triplet apo, a scope I have wanted for years. I placed my order in March and paid the deposit to secure the lens of my choice. At the same time I also ordered a Lozmandy style clamp for my Tele Optic Ercole Alt Az mount. Rupert kept me updated on the progress of the manufacturing of the optical tube. In early July, everything was ready so I paid the balance of the purchase price. A week later, on a day of my choosing, Rupert personally delivered the scope to my door, having checked over everything including the collimation of the lens, not that I think it would have budged based on the the quality of the flight case and packaging. He also delivered the clamp at the same time. A very good service, and given some of the reported shipping knocks we have seen recently, rather pleased to have it delivered by someone who cares about what is inside the box.

A thoroughly enjoyable read! Thanks for sharing that with us all.

Thanks! Did not know it was going to be on the cover so was quite a surprise when it arrived on my doormat.

It is a great scope. Mine has traveled south of equator and provided some memorable DSO views under dark skies. And so easy to transport as well.

A stunning array of Takahashi scopes on display in showrooms. But I wonder, have any of them seen starlight? No Tak should be denied what is was designed to do.., Just like this one.

That is a beautiful scope. I always enjoyed looking at Richard's creations at Astrofest. Shame he has not attended the last couple.

Here you go: http://alpha-lyrae.co.uk/2014/10/25/vixen-sg-2-1x42-binoculars-review/ I love them.

@FLO, any thoughts how one might either mount this on a small dovetail for use on a small telescope mount or directly on to a photo-tripod thread?

I might treat myself to this as a tiny travel scope when even the Tak FS-60 is too much...And there was me thinking I was done purchasing equipment

There is one on display on the Skywatcher stand at Astrofest. Had a quick look and seemed to have a very solid build quality.

That looks fun! I like small scopes (guess it is the traveler in me that appreciates being able to take them to dark places). Will it come to focus with a diagonal in place or is is straight through only?

I love that photo of the EM-3500 mount with the person next to it. It provides context to how large that mount is which suddenly gives insight into how large some of those scopes are! Especially the FCT200 and 250.

So much eye candy! And a great historical record of the development of Takahashi scopes. I really want the FC-50! And one of its far larger brothers....

Amazing! I have a feathertouch on my C11 (it is great) and that looks just like it.

I took my Takahashi FC-76DCU (the split tube version) on Honeymoon with me to Vamizi Island (off the coast of Mozambique) in May. This was captured in the courtyard of our villa.

Your interested public demands photos! Very interesting first report. Look forward to reading more about your experiences with it. As you say the weight is a bit much for airline cabin transport, but the idea of a 12" scope that could go to a dark site is a very intriguing one...

For years, my girlfriend now wife has actually used the lure of astronomy to get me to go to some interesting places that I might otherwise have had some trepidation about. Very smart on her part! She even checks when new moon is so it sits in the middle of a two week vacation to maximise darkness. I am lucky! The most extreme example is our recent wedding and honeymoon. We worked backwards from a new moon to determine honeymoon departure (6 days after the wedding) and the actual wedding day which fell around full moon. However, unless it a specifically Astro focused holiday as some of the trips to Namibia have been, I try to keep it to just three sessions during the holiday, early evening, around midnight and early morning, so I get a shot at all the interesting DSOs.

Good choice of tripod and mount as well! Enjoy!

They really are good fun to use and your experience mirrors my own with the 12" LX200 I have used extensively in Namibia. The Meade electric focuser had issues on that one as well and was replaced with a third party crayford to avoid having to deal with mirror flop, backlash etc. I know what you mean about the noise though! Glad I am in the middle of the desert when I use it. I used a 10" LX200 for my astrophysics masters project and the noise meant I went with the Celestron Nexstar 11 for my own scope after graduating as it was a lot quieter when slewing and I did not want to upset my neighbours.

I have a variety of travel kits, which really depend the on the journey to be taken. A single flight with a major carrier probably sees the APM LZOS 105. The big consideration is the mounting solution needs to be more robust and that takes up more of the checked baggage allowance, Just before sunrise in the desert in Oman. If I have smaller connecting flights then the Tak FC-76 DCU (split tube) can come, as it did on my honeymoon last month. If the connecting flight is really limited, as it was in 2015 which involved a helicopter, the the Tak FS-60 comes. Or the FS-60Q in Namibia in 2016