BGazing

Thanx guys. I have limited tools at my disposal here, away from home, so I'm either going to take breaks or make some crude cardboard shield. I don't plan to observe a lot above 30 deg alt anyway. 

8 minutes ago, 25585 said:

@Pierowhat size bolts for attaching your dovetail to the Tak clamp do you use please?

I am also considering using washers between clamshell base & my dove bar. 

I think the standard is M8.

What a teaser, I had a chance to do some Jupiter with this cope, short report here. Wonderful impressions so far. But straight away, we got soaked, it's raining heavily, which does wonders for my hay fever but leaves me wanting for more...observing. A big thank you for everyone who contributed in this thread and helped me decide, and especially to @Piero and @mikeDnight who I bothered in PMs as well.

Moved to countryside over Orthodox Easter and clear nights are scheduled ahead, yet we are here near the river and in a valley...how does this little Tak handle dew? I expect British observers to be expert in fighting soggy conditions...yet I see no dew shield extenders or dew heaters in the pictures. Dew shield looks to be only 10cm from the objective, which is less than the doctor recommended. SCT experience was a constant fight until DewBuster, little Borg seemed immune (possibly also due to short sessions), but this little gem will probably have me glued for hours...

was not happy with the in focus with Baader zoom and Hyperion barlow earlier today, so got to measuring focal points for my various eyepieces.

gave it a dry run now on trapezium from the balcony, such an easy split, pinpoints at 30 although it was low in the city boil...

looks like, when using tak 74mm extension on df and t2 bbhs diagonal with 1.25 clicklock, focuser travels from the completely retracted position approximately

- 4mm out for Delos 17

- 5mm out for Baader Mark IV zoom at 16mm setting

- 13mm out for ES82 8.8

- 17mm out for Nagler T6

When using Baader zoom with Hyperion barlow, I am almost running out of in focus.

Looks like swapping 74mm extension with that recommended 47mm Baader clicklock or Moonlight 50mm is a pretty safe bet for my EP lineup. Focuser travel is 64mm, so present zero point will be 27 mm out. Nagler will be the fartherst at 40mm out, still enough remaining if a kind soul wants to drop by and try his/her ethos.  

32 minutes ago, vlaiv said:

Well it looks like I'm going to have a chance at taking a peek thru your new FC 100 DF (I guess that is new scope? ) if you are planning to come to Messier Marathon on 14th/15th?

Weather permitting we were thinking of going to Debelo brdo on those dates, the sky is much better than Letenka (where I assume MM is taking place).

In any case, we are close enough, planets are getting higher every evening, so yes, you are very welcome. DF it is...

14 hours ago, vlaiv said:

Hi, no not yet. Did not get much chance to observe this winter, weather was bad so purchase is postponed until further notice

TS photoline 102 F/7 is still main candidate for me, I have 80mm F/6 apo triplet (also photoline) but I use that only for imaging. For visual I wanted something with a bit more light grasp and a bit more FL.

I'll probably do sort of review with testing when I purchase scope, so you will get the chance to see my impressions, unless of course, you make your purchase first.

But that is why winter is best used for planning and purchasing.

You are welcome to have a look through my new 100mm acquisition to see whether you like the 100mm/f7ish combo. 

Back to FC100, those who use dew strips with it, where do you put them? I note that the dew shield is somewhat short when one actually looks at the front lens element, and that lens elements are widely spaced. Hence I have a feeling that my SCT reflex to place the strip behind the corrector (in this case the back lens element) would not really do it for the front element.

1 hour ago, Timebandit said:

 

Yes. Best bang for buck is in the eye of the beholder. But if SW can produce a 150ed that is optically as good as the 80ed, 100ed and 120ed , then they must be onto a winner. For around £1700 for a quality 150 ed then this opens up the market for the average Joe. Need a second mortgage for a Tak 150 ?. And then I would be to scared to use it ,in case it got scratched or damaged, would end up a wall hanger.

 

If the weight of the SW 150mm is sensible ( and from initial feedback , it will be )then I would not have no problem setting it up without a permanent Obs. And just think of those views of the moon and planets through a quality 150mm lens ?. The 100mm Taks would still have a use though, as a finder?

 

 

 

Along comes someone who will explain you rationally that better views are to be had with 8 in dob, let alone 12 inch, etc etc...

6 minutes ago, GavStar said:

What has surprised me is that even though they are the same weight (about 12kgs) I find my C11 much more awkward to mount than the 160.

could be the width...

1 hour ago, GavStar said:

I use a 160mm refractor as a portable scope. It can be set up and taken down in around 10mins. Not as grab and go as the 100mm frac but still pretty good.

i salute your spine and your back. alas, i am a lanky crooked guy who has to go light.

Best bang for the buck is in the eye of the beholder.

150mm refractor is a dream scope for permanent mounting in a suburban home for the Moon and the planets.

It ain't portable for sure. But I'd love to have it in my collection.

2 minutes ago, Piero said:

Which berlebach do you have?

Excellent tripods btw!

Got UNI 18 for AYO, and I have Evolution tripod and mount as alternative when I need to share and people are not that great at hand tracking...or when Mars needs it. This tripod is Induro carbon fiber, bought it to pair with Borg 71 and DSV-M mount. It can handle AYO and Tak but is definitely the weakest link here. 

Nice thing about Ayo is that it has Vixen GP mounting which unscrews to reveal 3/8 mounting for photo tripods. Awesome.

Brass finish was chosen just because.

2 minutes ago, Piero said:

Nice one! Great setup mate!

Berlebach is in the car trunk...this is just for the balcony.

As you can see, environment is not as conducive as is English pastoral setting.

Not sure if this counts as first ligtht, 99% moon through haze...beggars are not choosers, but then again Tak owners do not qualify as beggars...

Finder not needed when the Moon is out 

Well, the dovetail sorted itself out thanks to Beat of AOK who is graciously sending it to me for free, as well as a free second clamp which I wanted but he forgot to include in the order and I did not pay. Talk about Easter presents!

It's cloudy here, as expected.

Thanks, guys. I have tried cannibalizing AOK dovetail from my Borg and it works. So there are options, although Tak options really seem to be...weird.

Talk about frustration. Ayo arrived but without the second saddle, it got lost somewhere in the ordering process. But worse is that I realized that the dovetail I have ordered and mounted on the clamp

https://teleskop-austria.at/TKP71423_Takahashi-Prismenschiene-185mm-fur-Vixen-Level#m

is actually too narrow to be gripped properly by the Ayo claim. DSV-M grips it but is puny to handle FC100, and Evo mount grips it but barely. It's 41mm at the widest point, I apparently paid no attention.

@Piero I tried the link for the dovetail you ordered but nothing's there now...anyone has any recommendation?

1 hour ago, Piero said:

I'd ask FLO, or Baader directly, for suggestions. They reply very quickly. 

A 2" clicklock would also enable you to use 2" eyepieces (up to ~33mm field stop without vignetting).

I have 2 in and 1.25 adapters on the eyepiece side for t2, did not plan on going wider than 31mm (which is as much field stop as t2 would allow). No biggie, will test it first in various configurations. Cannot wait.

The size is just about the limit of handling a tube comfortably with one hand and mounting it, I guess. 5 inch refractors are a different league...

23 hours ago, Piero said:

Congratulations!  

 

According to the specs on Baader website (https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/baader-t-2-bbhs-r-mirror-diagonal.html , https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/baader-2"-bbhs-r-mirror-diagonal-with-2"-clicklock-clamp.html), the light paths for the T2 and 2" BBHS mirror are 43mm and 112mm, respectively. You will need an extension tube to reach focus with the T2 model.

With a clear aperture of 33mm, you might just marginally notice some vignetting with a 20mm Lunt HDC, when the T2 is fitted with a 2" nosepiece. The T2 will also make your life easier if you intend to binoview at some point.

Well done! 

Thanks! If only the sky will clear, even full Moon will do it.

T2 is indeed 43mm, but 1.25 eyepiece clicklock is additional 33mm, I believe, and 2 in nose additional mm or two...altogether around 77. I am short of 35mm, and 100mm Tak extender is too much. Any ideas for a well-baffled 35mm extension? Not sure I can find anything in Baader section.

I can alternatively use Baader clicklock 2in and disregard the nuances in performance.

Well, what can I say, DF is a thing of beauty.More detailed report to follow, I have picked it up but proper testing will hopefully take place once I drive it home.

Got t2 BBHS mirror diagonal with 1,25 clamping on the nose part, but quick test with 4.7 ES eyepiece could not get into focus without 2inch extension being used...that sort of surprised me. Either it is the eyepeice (which I  doubt) or I foolishly thought that T2 is sufficiently comparable in light path to full 2inch BBHS (which appears to have no problems).

Pulled a trigger on FC 100 DF. Can't wait for it to come!

53 minutes ago, Piero said:

I don't disagree with you (how could I ?! ), but just want to add that a lot depends on sky conditions. My Tak 100 here in Cambridge roughly reveals the same amount of nebula detail as my 8" dobson in Venice Area (Italy). Of course, the dob bests the Tak on E and F trapezium quite easily.  

Well yes, smaller scope under darker skies will sometimes be just as good as the bigger one under more light pollution.

Moon and LP yesterday and not so great seeing...just got a hint of E and did not get F at all. Under steady skies at 20.0 sqm I managed both easily in 8in. 

Northern Italy is one big LP soup, right up there with the Benelux. Odd hobby, this one, nights are longer when it is less comfortable to observe, earning enough to splash on equipment usually means living under light pollution, etc etc. 

Just now, iPeace said:

Just drop the Borg out there and enjoy!

Well, I wanted 'something bigger' on M42.

Observe as much as you can with your scope...well i took that advice, braved the cold and 'enjoyed' half Moon obliterating most of the targets. More importantly, helped me rationalize my resolve to get that Tak, setting up Evolution is great for all-nighters, but such a pain for relatively short observations, especially in bitter cold. Wires everywhere...

I am 190 cm tall, observing standing would require a very tall column and a very tall tripod. Its sitting for me, period.