Piero

Just for completeness. According to this http://starlightinstruments.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=405 the FT focuser is FTF2025BCR and the adapter is A20-304 (Scope specific tube adapter for TAKAHASHI FS78/ and all versions of the FC100 Telescopes). FTF2025BCR Focuser specs: Draw Tube Travel 2.5"/63.5MM Lifting Capacity 8-10 pounds Reduction Ratio 10:1 Draw Tube Drive Mechanism Crayford Weight of focuser 1.218 pounds Racked In from Mounting Face 1.405"/35.687MM Racked Out from Mounting Face 4.005"/101.727MM (source: http://starlightinstruments.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=53)

Thanks for very informative feedback GavStar! When you have a chance, could you let me know the weight of your Tak with FT and without accessories (rings, finder, etc), please?

I don't think so. The reason why I thought about upgrading the focuser is due to weight essentially. If the FT weighs 0.5kg less than the DF focuser, I'd be interested. The move would cost about £200 on top of the DF model.

I am considering this telescope as a step up from my TV60. The dilemma is DC or DF, and so this thread. Briefly, I want the option to use my 2" equipment (in particular filters). This would make the choice rather easy: DF version. As often happens we then have doubts... can we get better for a life-time scope? The DC is noticeably lighter than the DF (~0.7kg less). Strategy 1 - DC with adaptor: 1a. Is it convenient to get the DC model and separately buy the adaptor for 2" equipment? (if I am not wrong, this is the same of the 76DC). 2b. What is the clear aperture for this adaptor? Strategy 2 - DC and replace the standard focuser with a FeatherTouch: 2a. What are the weights for the DC standard focuser and the FT focuser? or in another way, what is the weight of the DC with the FT focuser installed? 2b. Is this (https://www.firstlightoptics.com/starlight-instruments-feather-touch-2inch-crayford-focusers/2-crayford-focuser-for-takahashi-fs60-and-fc76.html ) the compatible FT focuser ? 2c. What are the draw-tube lengths for the FC-100 DC and FC-100 DF ? Strategy 3 - DF 3a. Do these eyepieces reach focus without 2" extension tube? (Ethos 21mm, 31mm Nagler, ES30mm 82) 3b. Does the TV 24mm Panoptic reach focus using a 1.25" diagonal? More general questions: a. Apart from aesthetic tastes, what are the pros and cons of getting a cradle or tube rings? b. Where did you buy your Tak in the UK? Any suggestion / consideration / experience is welcome of course! Thanks a lot, Piero

I like that! Have clear skies and a lot of fun!

I never had any issue with Ludes or any other sellers mentioned on SGL. APM-telescopes sent me my Lunt 20mm HDC very quickly and the package was excellent. Anyway, I think it is a good time to go back to the topic of this thread! So, Gerry, how does this Lunt perform on galaxies under your dark skies?

It would be great if they redesign the mount of their dobson line, so that it is lighter, smaller and smoother. Plenty of designs are out there already to get inspiration.

Great job Gerry! I am looking forward to reading your next comparison on galaxies now! I really like my 20mm Lunt HDC. Happy to hear that it is working very well under your exceptionally good skies using a well corrected fast telescope. I know I said this many times already, but weight is another aspect where the 20mm Lunt wins hands down against the 21mm Ethos.

Well done, Gerry! Congratulations! Did you get an Astrosystems? Looking forward to seeing the pictures and reading your thoughts about it! Pretty sure it will be a terrific hunter of faint fuzzies! Regarding the Lunt 20mm, I can see the whole field of view with the eyecup up (without spectacles of course). No problem at all. Very comfortable.

I'm very happy with mine. It is optically very good and ergonomically comfortable. It is rather light compared to the 21E or 20ES.

Thanks Actually, the previous owner got the end caps for the Docter. It's quite strange that the Docter is sold with a case but no lens caps!

Very nice case for a very nice dob!

Thank you. It took a lot of research and savings, but it was worth it!

Hi Paul, Optically, it might likely be equivalent to the Myriads line. If so, John tested with his F5.3 dob : On CN, there are comments by users using F5 here and there. As far as I know, Gerry is the first one to use it in a very fast telescope (f 3.8).

A bit of information: Optical design for the Lunt 20mm HDC (as provided by apm-telescopes.de): HDC20mm.pdf Here is a size comparison between the Lunt 20mm HDC vs ES 30mm 82: Weight comparisons: - Lunt 20mm HDC: 677.6g (source apm-telescopes.de) - Ethos 21mm: 1020.6g (source televue.com) - ES 30mm 82: 1032g (source explorescientific.co.uk) - Docter 12.5mm UWA: 525g (source agenaastro.com) - Zeiss zoom 25.1mm-6.7mm: 490.0 g (source bhphotovideo.com) And here a pic showing how it fits on my 8" dob:

Hi Mark, I bought it from APM-Telescope for £248 inc shipping and currency exchange. Very good service. I am not aware of any supplier in the UK.

I bought the Lunt HDC 20mm because it received very positive comments AND I consider the current cost of the Ethos 21mm outrageous.. As far as I know the new HDC version is nitrogen filled and the eye cup can be removed. The eyepiece seems better than the ES 30mm that I have. In my F6 Dobson the field is clean until the edge. I could spot a bit of coma in the last 10% but that is due to the Newton. Using the NPB on nebulae I preferred the Lunt to the ES 30. Essentially the views seemed a bit cleaner and the contrast seemed a bit higher. The eyepiece is very comfortable and light. Its weight around 650g. Maybe it is my face, but I could see the whole field of view quite easily without spectacles, which I don't use for observing anyway. As I never looked through an Ethos 21mm and my Dobson is not too demanding with eyepieces, my comment is a bit limited. I really look forward to reading about how it compares against the ethos in fast dobsons. Even if it doesn't work well, it is still a valid alternative for medium slow telescopes, currently at a bit less than 1/3 the price of an ethos. That's a bargain to me..

Thanks Gerry, particularly because you helped me a lot in this!

Yes, I read about it on SGL (estwig started a thread too) and on CN. That is a very sad news. I read many of his posts and found them very very useful. One could really tell he loved to share his knowledge to people.

Hi Louis, That is the 2"-1.25" Glatter laser collimator (650nm) which is inserted in the Glatter tuBlug. Instead, the circle in the plastic bag near the filter case is the square holographic attachment used to collimate the secondary offset. Jason D provided templates for this and described a step by step procedure on CN. I believe one can also check the collimation in refractors using the laser and the square holographic unit. I used this once with my TV60, and a square reticulum was projected with the light beam placed exactly in the centre of this reticulum. I like the Glatter's tools a lot. They completely changed my feelings about collimation at nighttime. Piero

Here is my heavy weight eyepiece case. My light case is waiting for a new member from Japan.. hopefully it will be ready within 1-2 years

6 months??? Oh dear..!

That's a great news! Hope this won't take too much time! Piero

Very nice presents!