DRT

2 hours ago, TakMan said:

only 3-4 worldwide at the moment), so we’re quite... ‘unique’!

It's just as well there are no pedants here on SGL to jump on that one  

So, what is the story behind the four year wait? Lost in the post or just a longer waiting list than a 15" Frac?

1 minute ago, RayD said:

What a simple but effective design.  That's great.  I love the fact that the footrest moves also.

This is the first time I've looked at one of these and I'm really impressed.

@FLO sell them cheaper than Berlebach - and with cheaper shipping ? 

the mechanism is shown in the pictures on the Berlebach website https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=99&sprache=english

53 minutes ago, RayD said:

I like that, Derek.  Does the seat move up and down?  It looks like it goes to whatever height you want and then wedges in that position?  Looks very nice indeed.

Yip - the seat and footrest both move up and down and grip onto the back of the front legs of the frame. A very neat design

19 minutes ago, Fozzie said:

Oooo I do like the the look of that chair...

Is the bird table berlebach as well? ?

Sure is, Steve - only available from Feather Light Optics  

Just now, Lockie said:

Very flash, Derek  

I’ll remember that comment when I’m sitting on it in the middle of winter cloaked in various layers of miscellaneous clothing and a balaclava, Chris ??

A new Berlebach chair from FLO/DHL plus a Tele-Optic Ercole collected from @MrsGnomus today to go with my not yet photographed Berlebach UNI 24C Tripod from @Paul73...

56 minutes ago, 25585 said:

Baby Equinox brought by Parcelstork this afternoon. (Whole family photos to appear soon.) 

Tradition says you must now post a family photograph now that baby has arrived safely ? 

It’s now cloudy ?

1 hour ago, John said:

Jupiter seems nice and steady here ATM. Hope it is similar for you Derek

It's like a wobbly orange from here, John

I had a look at the Ring Nebula, which looked very similar in both scopes but was only a faint round smudge.

I would probably be better setting an alarm and having a look at the early morning Moon.

20 minutes ago, Mark at Beaufort said:

I will be interested in the comparison between the two scopes - both look fantastic Derek. If its clear over the next few nights have a look at Mu Librae very close to Jupiter at the moment. It has a separation of 1.9" so a great test with the scopes side by side.

Thanks, Mark - that looks pretty easy to find so I will have a go this evening and report back.

5 minutes ago, John said:

If your seeing is up to it, Jovian features such as festoons are quite a good test. If you are prepared to wait for Saturn, I've yet to see Enceladus with 100mm wheras the 120 has done it plus the Crepe ring can be tough at these apertures.

Splitting Antares (if you have the horizon and seeing for it ?) will really test the scopes as well. Zeta Hercules is well placed.

I guess what you want to compare is the acuity of the scopes, quality of the star image, CA control and any SA present, that sort of thing. The additonal 20mm should make fainter stars and DSO's easier so thats not such an issue perhaps ?

 

Unfortunately Saturn currently tracks just below my neighbour's roof line ?

I'll try some straight up stuff - M13 perhaps? 

6 minutes ago, 25585 said:

How do the 2 focusers compare, Featherlite v Tak + micro?  

1 hour ago, DRT said:

Ok, but we’re not going to talk about focusers in case you two get a bit rowdy ?

?

Just now, Stu said:

you will have three amazing scopes 

“three”?

i might have one or two more than that but whose counting ?

1 minute ago, Stu said:

@DRT has the 120ED earned a permanent reprieve?

While I don’t want her to become complacent, I’ve decided to keep her for now as I’ve almost hit my target in clawing back the cost of the Tak and the APM 150. That said, if she doesn’t behave I’ll be real-fitting the SW rings and focuser and sending her down to ABS UK ?

...and don’t you think they look good together? ?

12 minutes ago, Lockie said:

"this should be interesting" 

Sure will be, Derek, looking forward to reading your thoughts on this one. I'm guessing it's going to depend heavily on the choice of target and the seeing conditions, but I'm sure it will be pretty close in places. 

I’m really limited for targets at this time of year Chris. Deep sky just doesn’t work as it is never dark enough here in the summer. Jupiter will be my test object, but it is very low so I need good seeing to take much from any comparison. 

I’ve just realised that I already own one more small addition to complete this back-end upgrade...

?

2 minutes ago, Stu said:

I reckon it will be pretty close. I'll take John's lead and not comment

Ok, but we’re not going to talk about focusers in case you two get a bit rowdy ?

3 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

hmmmmmm

The 120mm should win as it is FPL53 and has more resolution ?

The 100mm may will win as it's a Tak ??

 

The one that will win will be the one that gives me the best view of the sky ?

ill then keep the Tak because I want a Tak ?

10 minutes ago, John said:

It will be interesting Derek. I've made the same comparison (FC100DL in my case so the FL is the same too) quite a few times but I'll wait to hear about your results with interest rather than chipping in any of my findings prematurely

 

 

Isn’t the DL F9, John? 

I’m comparing F7.5 to F7.4 so not much between them. 

This should be interesting ?

I hope the seeing is better than last night. It was like observing from a steam room!

17 hours ago, 25585 said:

Considering one of these myself.  

 

That looks a bit chunky for the back of an FC100. I considered swapping the stock focuser for a MoonLite and decided the weight would be too back-ended so went for the upgrade shown above, partly to try to stick within the normal design balance of the OTA.

In the short time I have had it I have found that the FC100 is quite back heavy when loaded with a 2" diagonal and EP. I think putting a heavy focuser on the back might be a mistake.

55 minutes ago, John said:

But, hey, thats £350 of accessories that I don't need to get for the Tak 

I don't think we should be straying into the territory of only buying what we "need", John.

Others might be watching and begin asking awkward questions when the postman arrives  

The FQR-1 arrived from Ian King this morning and is now installed on the FC-100...

A high quality item that finishes off the job nicely, but I struggle to understand why they need to charge £98 for it ?

My Takahashi FQR-1 finder bracket arrived this morning...

12 minutes ago, 25585 said:

Thanks. No contact from APM today. Think I'll stick to UK sold products in future even if they cost more. Too much stress otherwise when things go wrong. ?

 

I found APM to be fantastic to deal with. Give them time, I’m sure they will sort it for you ?