Highburymark

Welcome back! I wasn't around when you last posted, but good to hear you're back in action

Didn't realise that James! Always a sucker for that type of thing.

Thanks Derek. The problem was just that the threads linking the helical focuser to the scope had seized. Not sure how they separated them - it was beyond the combined efforts of the builders and plumbers who are working here at the moment. I have read of similar problems from other owners. I would definitely recommend the upgrade to those having problems with their focuser - though prices differ for the Moonlite and the feather-touch so worth shopping around. FLO price for the FT for example is cheaper than some other retailers

Here's my Lunt 50, recently returned from a painful operation at the scope doctor to have its old focuser removed, smartly kitted out with new Moonlite - with big thanks to previous owner Jabeoo

Delos binoviewing - it doesn't get much better than that. Very nice indeed Alan.

Very nice Avtar - keep hearing great things about SLVs but haven't had the chance to look through one yet.

Thanks John. Haven't properly road tested the Naglers yet but they are a remarkable package considering when they were designed. I'm expecting them to be marginally outperformed by Delos in the Tak but who knows?

As if to illustrate the discussion above, I have completed my new lightweight EP case - Pan24, Pan15, Nagler 11, 5 and 3.5, Delite 7 and Nagler zoom 3-6 for my Tak but also useful for Equinox 80ED and Lunt solar scope. Heavier case for C8 Edge. Leica zoom for everything. Pentax XF zoom and TV plossls for solar. No doubt I have far too many eyepieces, and lots of 'double-ups', but before I decide which ones to sell I'm going to enjoy having them all for at least the next six months.

Nice post ipeace. Like men-only golf clubs, cheque books, and five day cricket matches, maybe astronomers' upside down/reversed images of the night sky will be an anachronism by 2040

Great collection of scopes - why bother going to an astronomy store when you can make your own?

Hmmm - I might start thinking like that and reclassify the Delos as a slightly porky lightweight - in which case no need to contemplate offloading it ?

Precisely the problem John - but a nice problem to have. I also have Delos 6, 10 and 17.3, Ethos 13 and a Leica zoom (8.9mm-17.8mm) - so lots of doubling up. I don't like rebalancing the scope in the middle of a session, so can justify having separate light and medium heavy sets. The Delos now look like the most vulnerable EPs in the case, except the 10 and 17.3 are perhaps the finest eyepieces I've ever looked through - so crisp and colour free in the FC-100.

Blimey you're right Derek. My standards are slipping

Not yet be-cased, but here is my new lightweight EP team, bought for use with Tak FC-100 on light alt az mount and camera tripod after selling off lots of other kit. Thanks to Steve (bomberbaz) for the Delite and Derek for the lovely little Panoptic 15. Very predictably green and black - I know. I did start out with plans to look at ES/SW/WO options, but they just didn't offer the right focal lengths, fov and light weights I was looking for. Despite their age, the Nagler T6s still provide a unique combination of wide field and compactness. Can't wait to try them all out.

Not so much a grab and go case as a grab and pull ?

What the hell does he know?

Hi Joc - if you don't know whether to fiddle further with your EP cases, you're on the wrong forum. Fiddling further is mandatory here, even if it means spending vast amounts of cash unnecessarily, or spending a cloudy weekend refoaming. So fiddle away.

What did your 'modding' involve Philip? I'm just about to sell my 105 ETX - despite it having the most superb optics. Just have too many telescopes! But yours looks very nice indeed

Thanks John, and good to know about the Nirvanas - they seem like great value against the WOs.

PS - here's a pic

Have been building a lightweight but hopefully sturdy set up for new Takahashi FC-100. Ercole mini mount - a big step up in controllability over the mini giro. Subtle adjustments of the clutches provide precise levels of grip, and operation becomes intuitive the more you use it. Got idea for non-Tak finder and shoe from Gavster on this forum - thanks to him - Baader red dot finder is that rare thing, an astro bargain at around £30 and very decent quality. Baader Zeiss prism with quick changer system - found I need a T2 spacer to reach focus with certain eyepieces. The excellence of the diagonal is well known. What's less appreciated is the vulnerability of the prism to damage when using EPs with long barrels. Even with a 1.25" clicklock EP holder, EPs like the 3-6 Nagler zoom will hit the prism surface. One solution is to add the T2 spacer between the diagonal and EP holder. I've got a Gitzo tripod on the way. Some big savings to be had if shop around for clearance stock at the moment. Final additions will be a couple of light, widefield EPs for planetary. ES 4.7 and 6.7mm look best bets, though wondering if SW Nirvanas 4 and 7 are worth considering? Sweeping the zenith with this telescope is an absolute pleasure - have been addicted to tight stars since my first look through an 80ED. Now a confirmed fracaholic.

And very nice cases

Tempted to go for the ES 4.7mm as I need a couple of light, widefield EPs. Delos and XWs too heavy. Naglers overpriced. Delites perhaps too narrow, particularly at higher magnifications. The 4.7mm looks perfect - light, 82 degrees, under £100. How do you rate yours Dave?

Thanks for all your comments - I certainly will post my thoughts once I've got the package together. Though I must say John if I'd known my new 4" scope was only 3.9" I'd have asked for a discount..... (great service by Lee at Green Witch by the way). It isn't cheap, but it's also not as pricey as some other premium scopes. Following the recent increases, the TV 85 is £2500. By comparison the FC-100 is only £500 more than an Equinox 120 , but at under 3kg, far lighter, and the only scope in its class to offer the sort of portability I was looking for.

Rather exciting delivery early this morning - frustratingly had to be left unopened until we'd returned from a lunch date this afternoon. But it was worth the wait. A beautiful Tak FC-100DC. Thanks to other owners on the forum who helped me make the decision - Stu, Mike and James in particular. Now for a slightly more robust tripod and mount.....