Nakedgun

5 hours ago, robbymain said:

I bought the Vixen adapter not realising the mismatch and ended up drilling and tapping the hole to 3/8"-16 UNC to match the stud on my new Manfrotto 055. 

I wonder why Vixen chose a 1/4"-20 hole when the mount would clearly be screwed directly to a medium to heavy duty photo tripod?! Seems odd to me!

Does seem odd.

11 hours ago, Peter77 said:

Played around a little during daytime today, tried out eyepieces + camera afocal mode. Couldn't resist to take a picture

There is something beatiful with a refractor all setup in daylight. Much more photogenic than during the time they normally come to life.

 

//P

How rural are you? Dark skies, there?

In another thread I posted images of the oldest scope I own, a Tasco 60 f/11, made, perhaps, as far back as the 60s. I found it April 2015.

My smallest astronomical scope, the Pocket Borg (posted previously), a 25mm f/7, came to me February '07.

I have a 40mm PST but will not include it here since everyone knows what they are, so that brings us to my next largest scope, a Borg 50ED f/10, owned since September '09.

It use it on a Manfrotto tripod with 410 geared head. Very sharp views from this little guy!

My smallest refractor, the smallest one made by Borg, called by them the Pocket Borg, is a 25mm f/7 doublet.

A novelty, I mount it on a slo-mo alt-az for views of the Moon or planets out as far as #6 for entertainment.

A 25mm Plossl acts as a finder while the TV zoom gets me up to 58x, enough to see Saturn's rings.

Focus is achieved by sliding the objective section.

Always fun to get something new.

Look forward to your impressions.

Here is the oldest scope I own, made perhaps during the 60s.

As shown in another thread, it came into my possession as a road find almost five years ago, and after some cleanup provides enjoyable views of the heavens.

I have many sizes/types for a variety of purposes, from a lowly 2.3x up to 32x.

For handheld astro use, from dark skies, for the last 20 years I have been continually satisfied with these 10x50s:

I had completely forgotten about this thread.

This was a toss-away, found with some other road-side trash.

It did clean up and provides views expected from its genre.

I even have a .965" observing set to use with it.

On 02/12/2019 at 12:47, Jiggy 67 said:

This discussion has got me a bit worried, my wife has got me the 40mm for Xmas, she's withholding it to Xmas Day though 😯

The TV32 will show the same true field as the TV40, but, at higher magnification, which makes it preferable, in my view. I sold the 40. 

Been only a few months since the DZ has been offered so it may still be a bit early but has anyone conducted a side-by-side shootout yet? Search came up empty.

I went for the DC specifically to have the lightest version of their 4" as I wanted to downsize not only my scope herd, but my mounting requirements, as well (sold my TSA102 when I got the DC). I'm as susceptible to marketing as anybody else, but in this case I think it would have to be a side-by-side comparison to get me to bite.

I do no imaging.  

And, I'm with  Stu on the 5-inch doublet request!

The short-throw focuser on the DC can make finding the right combination a trying experience. Diagonals from different manufacturers will not all have the same focal length, nor will all barlows. I found this shorty barlow to be helpful. To use a "regular" length barlow I have to change extension combos.  An observing associate with a variety of ep/barlow/diagonal choices can save some time and aggravation.

Delivered day after New Year's and I haven't had the opportunity to properly star test it, though Friday night I had a look through increasing cloudiness and saw nothing amiss. At f/7.5 it is at the length-limit for the pictured mount. Damping time, with pads, was just acceptable.

I sold off near half of my scopes a few years ago leaving me with a 4-inch as my largest refractor. Sold the G-11 also so when I recently had a hankerin' for more aperture* it had to be compatible with the GM-8, CG-5 and Vixen Porta. Suited up, the SW120 tips the scale at about 14 lbs and with their end-of-year price cut my decision was made. I am hoping this will prove a satisfying acquisition negating any more monetary outlays.

*The five and six-inch refractors I previously had were cumbersome and just didn't get used enough to keep around anymore.

That's what we call them at Caltrans (California Department of Transportation).

Salvageable? We'll see.

Saturninus,

You did not mention which diagonal was in use, and they do not all have the same focal length. Some experimentation at, say, the next star party may find you one that will accommodate your ep collection. 

Good luck.

BTW, if you think that ES refractor has a short-travel drawtube, try the Tak FC76 or FC100. All of one inch!

This is a new model from him and I wonder if there are many out there being evaluated, just now. 

Whoops, clicked post too soon...The Vixen adapter has a 1/4-20 threading, which will attach to any standard camera tripod head where one would normally place a camera. I suspect the center-column of the tripod you're contemplating has a 3/8-16 stud for attaching a photo-visual head. You can drill out and tap the Vixen adapter for this threading or get one of these: http://www.manfrotto.us/adapter-for-tripods-3-8-to-1-4

Yes, it looks like Vixen was thinking of you.

I used my Vixen 100ED with great success on a William Optics EZTouch with the surveyor's tripod. They do show up for sale from time to time. After selling my 100 I acquired the Vixen Porta II with their HAL130 tripod, which would probably be a good match for your scope. Neither of these mounts will attach directly to the tripod you indicate, however, without fabricating some type of adapter.

I have not used the AZ4, which seems to me would not be stable enough for a 100 f/9. Their HDAZ, similar to the EZTouch, would be a better match, in my view. I have no knowledge of the SW mount/tripod interface.

Good luck.