SAW

Hi, Planetary observing and imaging with a Tak 76DCU or 100DC worth it or not ? am I wasting my time with this size aperture and in the UK they are very low at the moment. I have a SW72ED for imaging but had a quick view of Jupiter the other night with 2.25x barlow and 12.5mm eyepiece and it was pretty disappointing it's the only eyepiece I had and it's not a good one, I don't know how much difference a good quality will make the image ? I also tired my 224MC with the barlow and the image was tiny so I am dubious about getting either of these scopes now. I also want to use it for lunar observing/imaging but if I'm wasting my time on the planetary side of things with these scopes I might ask as well go for the FS-60Q and save some cash. I do go to Fuerteventura each year and I could take the 76 with me but if the image is going to be like my 72ED there's no point

Will the reducers be back in stock Friday as well ?

Roughly how much spacing will I need to get focus with my 183MC and NO reducer/flattener ?

So I'm looking at getting another one of these, sold my last one and regret it now 🙄 I did have the SW reducer but think I was using a 600D, this time I'll be using a 183MC. Am I going to need a reducer or flattener if so which one and what's the back distance needed and where is it measured from ?

Haven't decided on the Tak yet 🤷🏻‍♂️ I have a Berlebach 212 but could really do with another tripod to use for observing and to take on holiday, the 212 is just to big and bulky to pack. I'm thinking the 055 would be more suited for I aging as well.

Hi, Anyone using either ? There's 500g difference in weight between the two so wondering is it better just to go for the 055. I'll be using at home and taking it holiday packed in suitcase. Will have maybe a refractor or two mounted for visual or my Fornax Lightrack II and a DSLR. Thanks.

Hi, Which model Berlebach tripod is that ? I can see the 'Report' but not sure which size, I have the 212. Thanks.

Hi, Which model Berlebach tripod is that ? I can see the 'Report' but not sure which size, I have the 212. Thanks.

Hi, I have few Canon L series lenses and already had a 183MC cooled, just got the ZWO mount to connect them https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-accessories/zwo-adjustable-eos-lens-to-t2-adapter-for-all-asi-cameras.html Is anyone using this type of combination on their GoTo mount ? how have you got it all mounted ? I'd like to add a finder/red dot as well. Pictures would be a great help.

This is probably why I'm finding it so hard to decide as it's an expensive purchase, 3 or 4 times more than what I normally spend on a scope so I want the right one, I can't just buy another if it's not right.

Hi, I've been trying to decide which Tak to buy for 2 weeks now ! I've had loads of help trying to decide yet I've still not ordered one. As I'll be using it on a Fornax Lightrack quite often for lunar imaging I THINK I've ruled out the FC100 due to size/weight even though I will also be using a HEQ5. Looking around on astrobin there are some excellent lunar images using the FS60CB and with my 178MM gives me a full disc without doing a mosaic but I'd probably use the 1.7 extender giving me f/10 BUT then I can't get a full disc using my 178MM ! If I upgrade to the 174MM this gives me a full disc using the extender BUT now I can easily get a full disc using the FC76DCU with the 174MM at f/7.5. I can't seem to find many images on astrobin using the FC76 ? The FC76 isn't much bigger or heavier than the FS60. I would also like to use it for observing on a alt/az mount and I have the Altair Astro Starwave mini mount so I think the FC76 with 1.7 extender is going to be the maximum payload, I think the FC100 is going to be too heavy ? I'd also like to do some planetary imaging but I know it's going to be limited due to aperture, with my 224MC and the FS60Q it's a reasonable image even better with a x2.25 barlow obviously it's better with the 76 but how much better ? Am I going to be disappointed with the planetary imaging/observing with a 60 or 76mm aperture ? On my Lightrack I normally use the Manfrotto 410 geared head which allows me to move my dslr to get perfect framing, I'll probably need to use the counterweight kit with the 76 so framing things will be a bit fiddly unless I use something like the ADM mini max guider mount which will allow me to fine tune my framing but this is just more cost and weight then I'm up to the cost of the FC100. I could probably just use the FS60CB and Q on the 410 head ? How does the FC76 compare to say a cheaper 100mm ? Will I be wowed looking through the Tak ? I thought I had decided on the FC76 and extender then if I got a 60 I've already got the extender if needed plus I could use the 60 for wide field DSO. The 76 and 60 are also much easier to travel with if needed. I don't normally have this trouble deciding !

Hi, I think I'm going to purchase either a FS-60Q or FC-76DCU with x1.7 extender making it f/12.5, I'm more inclined to go for the 76 but I have no idea on eyepieces to get. I will be using the scope for imaging as well but I'd like some eyepieces for lunar and planetary viewing. I have owned a couple of Baader Hyperion's but no longer have them I only have the Baader x2.25 barlow. I was looking at the Baader zoom but even at 8mm that just about fits the whole disc of the moon in so I really not sure which sizes I need ? Thanks.

Hi, Anyone using the Tak FS60 or FC76 for imaging, I'm looking to get one for visual but have a ZWO183MC that's looking for a small refractor to image with. Read the FS60 is a bit poor for imaging for the price ?

Just been flicking through this thread as I can't decide on the FC-100DC or FC-76DCU with the extender. Would the FC-100DC be ok mounted on one of these, https://www.altairastro.com/Starwave-Mini-AZ-Mount.html hope it's ok to link to another supplier but it's the same one as I own. Driving me nuts trying to decide which one to go for !

Hi, Any got a picture of one next to a HEQ5 tripod for example ideally collapsed ? Give me an idea of scale. Looking for something a bit smaller when collapsed down compared to my Berlebach 212. Thanks.

Oh and I emailed sas before I came out but never got a reply ?

I've just come back from the Goldcoast ! I was staying with my partners auntie in Broadbeach, we were out there for 3 weeks. I tried looking for astro clubs and things to do astro related but there was nothing going on that I could find 😞

Mostly used it on the HEQ5, I wish it had a rotator for the camera BUT apparently there is one due out soon for it.

Yeah they aren't exactly quick with the email replies.

So the FC76DCU with extender at f/12.5 will work with the Quark ? Looking on astronomy tools with that set up definitely gets me close up.

The Quark manual recommends f/4-f/9 so the FC76 would be ok as it's f/7.5 and with the Quarks barlow puts it in the recommended best focal length of f/27-f/32 but if I use the extender it makes it f/12.5 taking way over to f/59.55 ! Something like the Altair 80mm f/7 be ok ? but that's not really going to give me my lunar focal range ?

I'm going to use the Tak for lunar observing/imaging as well but also have the option to add the extender making it f/12.5.

First image is wrong, I used the 183MM.

I'm thinking of getting the Tkahashi FC76DCU for solar observing and imaging with a Quark. Is this the correct FOV I'll get when using this combination with the 178MM and 174MM ? I think the Quark manual states it's a 4.3 barlow. Is the focuser on the DCU model going to suitable when using the Quark ?

Using the FC-76 and quark gives me a focal ratio of around f/31.5. Do you not think the focuser is suitable on the FC-76DCU with the Quark ?