Nakedgun

That's quite an extension on your finder, certainly moves it up out of the way. What sky atlas is that on the table?

Having heard much about the three-inch Tak I thought adding one to my backyard arsenal a good idea, so in April 2014, I did. My Borg 76ED stays in, and is used when, I take the travel trailer out to the desert alongside my dob (or if the sky conditions preclude setting up the dob at all), and unpacking it for use at home is more trouble than bringing this Tak from the house. I have no complaints about the views the FC-76 DC f/7.5 provides. Tak 6x30 finder in blue. Here it rides on a Meade LX70 mount, a nice lightweight and smooth GEM, they could be had at substantial discount during the recent discontinuation of them. Pictured is the Baader prism diagonal, but I would like to try the Tak 5/4" prism to see if it differs at all. Last image with the Tak Extender Q 1.6x for nights when the seeing is best.

The matching color scheme throughout is pleasing to the eye.

William Optics products have a visual appeal to me entirely separate from the item's function.

I have two Kowa spotting scopes, both 20 years of age, one kept on a tripod ready for instant use, the other in a case with other items ready for transport. New, both had a somewhat spongey exterior surface which aided grip, and at around 15 years the surface of the exposed scope became a sticky mess but it is slowly drying out, the material shrinking slightly in the process, the cased scope not having this problem. Clearly seen in the images are permanent fingerprints and dust and lint stuck to the body. I never tried any chemical solution, and any silicone-type product would not be an improvement, in my view, as I hate the slick surface they leave behind. Kowa produces extremely fine optical systems but how they got this part wrong baffles me. Perhaps long-term testing of this skin was not conducted prior to adoption.

I'm going backwards in aperture with this post as this scope just came back into my possession. It is the same 60 f/11.7 achromat as the road find I posted elsewhere, and though a different mfr. it is the same, optically and mechanically, as that other. This was a birthday present given to my younger brother by my folks during the mid-70s, and it had the same wibbly-wobbly mount that was common, and frustrating to use, like most of that period. When my brother went to his reward some time back I took this and passed in on to a neighbor woman, in her 70s, to whom I introduced observing the Moon and planets. Vixen U.S. is blowing out their 70mm alt-az package currently, so I bought one and gave it to her this week. Using the Vixen is much easier than the old scope so the classic comes back to me.

A 10" dob can provide a lifetime of objects to view. My recommendation, as well.

The tripod in the night shot is unlike anything I've seen before, curious as to its make and vintage.

After looking at what was available in my price and experience range at the time I decided to buy my first Borg scope, the 76ED f/6.6 in June '01. It has never ceased to provide pleasing views, and like all Borg scopes I have owned, its light weight means mounting options are numerous and uncomplicated. I think I found this Tele Vue Up-Swing mount at a star party swap meet soon after the scope came to me and is quite convenient. All but one of my Borgs have helical focusers which are robust, without creep and keep the design tidy and sprightly. The focuser range is increased by a drawtube section to which it is attached. Chrome knobs on either side of the OTA secure the drawtube at the desired location. The handle came from an old tripod and I made the attachment for it from a piece of scrap aluminum. At ~4lbs. without diagonal/ep my Tak Sky Patrol easily carries it when I want tracking.

Thank you, an informative read.

Have a link to the issues encountered here?

I assume an angled spotter is what you are contemplating. I have one on a tripod ready to deploy at a moments notice to observe day or night. My 20 - 60x zoom is very handy and will show Saturn's rings. Although I have a semi-permanent red dot finder on mine, I agree that a Rigel Quickfinder would be the best option. Good luck.

Yes, a nice looking scope, to be sure. If the performance equals its looks you've got a winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Do you plan to mount them for use, if so, how will you attach them?

I elected not to get the Q module but don't know if that was the best decision - never looked through one with it. Whether my joy could be increased sufficiently through its acquisition will remain unknown, for now.

Last year, quite a bit of internet buzz had been generated regarding the Tak FOA-60 & Q, which prompted me to get the f/8.8 version in May '19. The reports are true, this thing is sharp and lacks unwanted color transmission on anything I point it at. I am completely satisfied with the performance at this aperture. If Takahashi would produce a 5-inch version I'd add it immediately. Here, getting ready for some Lunar action: Tak 6x30 finder attached.

Wow! An evening with that rig could have one entertaining the idea of selling off everything else.

Enlightenment. Better late than never. Welcome!

I was going to suggest a Manfrotto product, but no need. Repurposing can be far cheaper.

Paz, Nice eval. Thanks for taking the time to do so.

Another 56er, here (August). Too bad, Dave, these are no longer available: OK, so there not waterproof, optically very nice, indeed.

These 10x50 Ultima are the only set of this Japan mfd. line I own. Every time I use them I kick myself for not buying the entire line when they could be had. Nothing quite like a missed opportuniyt!

Truly, grab-n-go.

Just a piece of scrap aluminum I had collecting dust in the garage.😎

Moving up from 50mm aperture, I added this Borg 60ED f/5.8 to my group in July 2005: A very fast ED doublet, it is intended more as a photographic tool and less as a planet killer, but the eyepieces I use with it get me to a little over 100x, so it is not pushed terribly hard for my astronomical pursuits. I carry it in my Tacoma, as it is not one of my primary observing instruments and keep an erecting prism diagonal handy for daytime use as a spotter, also. I mount this featherweight on a Vixen Mini-Porta, for which I made an adapter, allowing attachment to a Manfrotto tripod.