JeremyS

I am not completely dismissing the Telegizmos hood - it has the advantage of being waterproof and longer. It's just that it's aesthetically challenged. Also the draw string doesn't really hold it tight, so there is a chance it could come off. I bought it from FLO. I bought the LensCoat Hoodie from Wex. You mentioned extra protection when carrying. I think the LensCoat would afford more protection from a bump and the material is thicker and there is a nice semi-rigid insert made from some high density foam plastic (which is removable) at the base, which would give bump protection to the end of the Tak's dew cap. However, knowing your keenness not to take chances when protecting your telescopes, you could always use both

I'm going to try it with my Tak FS102. The Tak cover is like a manhole cover: superbly engineered, but a bit heavy. It's fits for storage, but when I want to cover during an observing session break i need something lighter that won't unbalance the system on the mount. I use a TeleGizmo lens cover for this purpose, but I have to say it's a bit crudely made, looks awful, and the draw string doesn't hold it on very well. Thanks again for the suggestion, John. The LensCoat Hoodie arrived this morning. Brilliant - just what I needed! Easy to forget that camera suppliers sell kit that is useful for telescopes.

Just delivered a LensCoat Hoodie Lens Cap (XX Large) - Black. This is to use on my Tak FS102 when I need to cover it during an observing run. The standard Tak "manhole" cover is wonderful, but it's a bit heavy, so upsets the balance. The LensCoat weighs almost nothing. And is so much nicer looking than the Telegizmos cover I have been using, which is a really tacky, if not downright ugly, piece of kit.

How does this work then, Stu? Not in the obsy, so still portable And no counterweight needed

Looks like your Tak FS60CB has come with the wider ring clamp, Chris - looks wider than mine, anyway. It means I still have some space on my tube for a few Primaluce rings

Looks lovely. I use mine on a Vixen Porta

I'm going to try it with my Tak FS102. The Tak cover is like a manhole cover: superbly engineered, but a bit heavy. It's fits for storage, but when I want to cover during an observing session break i need something lighter that won't unbalance the system on the mount. I use a TeleGizmo lens cover for this purpose, but I have to say it's a bit crudely made, looks awful, and the draw string doesn't hold it on very well.

Great suggestion - just ordered one!

Going Downunder soon 25885?

5 inch stainless steel ruler?

But it's not Japanese, 25885!

That's a wonderful mount, Doc. Looks really sturdy and stable. Sorry to ask, by what's in the small wooden box on the edge of your patio?

Good to hear you are keeping an eye out for the HR 3.4 mm, Piero! Hopefully it will be available later this month.

I don't think I would have ever left that shop! I wonder if the guy in the baseball cap who is slapping his mouth is shocked by the quality or the prices.... The pic gives good opportunity to compare the Tak green with the Tak blue. I have to say that I still prefer the green. And the blue and green definitely don't go together at all well. Still,I dare say I could put up with it

Well done Ade. I'm sure you will enjoy it. I've got one of those which I use with either my Tak FS102 or my C9.25. It's a lovely piece of kit.

Maybe, but the Borg 125 I owned when I lived in the Far East was not that good visually (OK, I might be a bit picky!). I had much better images with my FS102 - which also has much better construction quality. Hence I stuck with the Tak. The Borgs do have the advantage of breaking down into smaller parts, though.

Any clues on the eyepieces 25885? I can’t believe they are the last. After all, we’ve got the Vixen HR 3.4 mm to look forward to next month

They are not waterproof DeepSkyMan. The closure is a zip. They'd provide protection from dew and damp, though. They are actually designed to hold GoPro cameras, but you can configure them as you wish by plucking the foam cubes. I don't have a Nagler T4 so i don't know if that would fit. I have a set of 1.25 inch Pentax XL's and they are too fat.

The blue one is listed here, Alan.

I've started to assemble a dedicated case for high power viewing. Comprises Fujiyama HD-OR 4, 5, 6, 7 mm, Nagler 3-6 mm zoom, Takahashi 2x Barlow. Plenty of room for some more All housed in a CamKit case - it's the second one of these that I've got - this one is blue to differentiate it from my Takahashi LE collection contained in a black version. These CamKit cases are great for standard sized 1.25 inch eyepieces (not bulky ones, though, and certainly not 2 inch)

Fujiyama HD-OR 5mm and 7mm eyepieces CamKix case for eyepieces - my second one of these, this one dedicated to high power viewing Tracer LiFePO4 16 Ah battery

Pics please :-)

True: aperture is king in the planetary imaging game as Damian Peach's images with SCT in the 9.25 to 14 inch range show!

Congrats!

I very much like your style Marcus. One can never have too many Taks!