jock1958

19 minutes ago, Franklin said:

Doesn't the DL have a removable extension tube between the ota and focuser? My old DC did and was able to bino at native when removed from the path. edit. Actually, I'll take that back, it was the old FS78 that had the removable part, the DC just had extensions after the drawtube.

Unfortunately not, just double checked in case I was missing something 🤔

1 hour ago, Franklin said:

It's not a clicklock though, just compression ring and three clamping screws, APM and TS make a similar product which has 60mm Vixen and 68mm Zeiss threads, I have them on my Vixens as I tried the full clicklock and found it took too much of the focus up. f/7.7 mine though so maybe the faster optics on the op's scope would make a difference?

I have the ultra short clamp on my Tak FC-100DL which saves quite a bit of in focus, there’s another adapter which would have saved even more but current bino-viewing setup works fine with and without barlows or GPC’s. 

8 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

Yes, agreed.

A 2" nose is a must, and ideally a Baader Clicklock to hold it securely.

 

Initially I bought the Baader prism diagonal with the 1.25” nose piece and adjustable eyepiece holder and added the 2” nose piece and click lock later. The Baader system allows all sorts of options and is so easy to swap bits around, the design and function of the click lock is brilliant. 

On 26/02/2023 at 22:19, Second Time Around said:

Initially, I used a Nexus push to with encoders, but have now switched to Celestron's Starsense Explorer.  I've since adapted the latter to fit into a standard Synta finder shoe and so it can be used with all my scopes.  A search on the forum will show lots of ways to do this.

Two reasons why I prefer Starsense Explorer to the Nexus is that the former can be moved around my garden without needing realignment.  I also find I can set up Starsense Explorer quicker in the first place, especially in part cloudy skies.

Hi Steve can't believe I've missed this piece of technology, thanks for the heads up!  

From what I've read it seems so easy to use and would really suit my style of observing, it's just a pity they don't sell the phone holder and unlock key separately then I'd carry out a DIY job and attach it to the spare side of my Skytee 2.

As a purely Alt / Az visual observer it’s more of a push to the target then slo mo controls to track it. To find I use maps, apps, star hopping, optical & red dot finders. 
 

Very enjoyable read on the Tal 100's Dave @F15Rules also didn't realise you owned so many, I think you've just lined yourself up as the new Tal 100 SGL super guru 😉 

I bought my RS on the back of Astro Baby's review and was hoping it would have similar quality to the Tal 1 reflector I bought in the mid 90's, sadly it wasn't to be possibly due to what you have alluded to and others have said, never mind it is what it is and and when they were launched a big bang for your buck! 

Not familiar with the AR 127 but it does sound strange 🤔, only things I can think of has previous owner modified it in some way IE: have they shortened the tube? are the targets you are looking at some distance away IE: celestial or a distant tree?

As far as diagonals go I know my prism diagonal has a shorter light path than my mirrored one.

Maybe some photos and more info might help?

2 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

Yet another lunar atlas. 😁

Must admit I’ve never heard of this atlas and looking at some of the sample pages online there seems to be more detail than my 21st century atlas of the moon, and with maps for all types of scope makes it very appealing. 

36 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

I've always liked our postie, "Tim", he's a lovely chap..

But after this morning, I absolutely love him!!😂😂..

..a welcome to my home gift for my new Maxbright II binoviewers 👍

Dave

Well that’s you well and truly sorted now Dave!! looking forward to some first light feedback on what must be a visual observers dream come true 👍

On 06/02/2023 at 13:22, MalcolmM said:

Very very nice! The FS60 as a finder really gives an indication of the size. It looks enormous!

Malcolm 

As I already own an FS-60 I was going to say the same thing!
 

Just wondering @lardy do you need a finder for your finder 🤔

22 hours ago, Roy Challen said:

Interesting, I'm not that bloke, but I did own both R and RS at the same time and thought of swapping the lenses over. However the R tube is about 50mm longer than the RS. It might not have been an issue with the RS's better focuser, but I didn't want to have to chop anything. Either way, I'm glad I didn't, the RS was simply the better telescope.

The Skytee 2 easily copes with two Tals, I doubt an ED instead of one of them would make any difference.

 

Nice setup Roy and goes to show how capable the Skytee 2 plus a good tripod is! 

Think I was a bit unlucky with my RS, being one of the later ones it seems the quality of mine is borderline ok...ish! 

Fellow SGL'er AndyH found an excellent piece on the history of Tal telescopes some years ago which says the factory in Novosibirsk was concentrating its efforts on state defence orders (after 2010?) if that's correct probably explains how the quality is a bit mixed on later examples of the RS?

No personal experience of the 100R but own a (2011) 100RS since 2016, unfortunately my second hand example arrived a bit roughed up due to clumsy couriers!!

I haven't used it since I bought my Tak FC-100DL but from memory the views through it were pretty good, although the star test wasn't that great. Quality wise not nearly as good as the Tal-1 I owned in the mid 90's, the crayford focuser would slacken off when racking out seems the machining tolerances were out from one end to the other, a fellow SGL'er had the same issue on his and I've sorted that now. 

Like Roy Challen I found the finder very good, also the adjustable diagonal & 25mm Plossl that it came with, the OTA itself can be described as agricultural and rough round the edges. 

From what I've read the early 100R's were really nice with the purple optics, nice wooden tripod, EQ mount and big wooden box, limiting factor being the short range of the focuser. There was a bloke on UK ABS last year who already had a 100R but was after a 100RS with damaged optics so he could swap the lenses over, be interesting to see if he found one to try it out 🤔

Anyway I've just weighed it and it comes in as 3.5kg with tube clamps etc, no finder though and its more or less same weight as my Tak. I'm sure the Skytee 2 would cope with a 100R & 100ED mounted side by side though it would be too much for an oldie like myself with a dodgy back.

Few pics below for comparison with my Tak and with Tal focuser fully racked out, shiny bit is where I flatted it out to sort machining inaccuracies.

5 hours ago, Surfer Chris said:

Initially was thinking I should get a 2.5x (1.25") Powermate to use with my existing range of eyepieces. I was forgetting that there is actually a 3mm Delite available which I could add to my collection.

Another SH buy I haven't regretted. It's a bit longer and heavier than my Celestron & Baader Barlows but works so much better IMO.

There's loads of online reviews about them, Powermates v Barlows,  also they come up fairly regularly SH and might be a cheaper option than buying another eyepiece?

Edit: Just seen one on UK ABS 🤔

7 minutes ago, Don Pensack said:

Slow sales.  The minimum quantity they had to make took too many years to sell to make it worth stocking.

Shame that, I have seen them come up SH once or twice but always missed the boat as far as buying one goes!

2 hours ago, rl said:

If you don't need the eye relief I'd look at a S/H Nagler zoom 3-6mm which might see a lot more use. I bought one off ABS and have not regretted it; they generally go for about £270 used. 

But the Delites do really live up to their name....

Plus one for the 3-6 NZ can't rate it highly enough, when I'm not bino-viewing I use it all the time in my Tak FC-100DL & FS-60. It's small, lightweight, brilliantly engineered and really easy to use while clicking up through the powers. Bought it a few years ago off a fellow SGL'er for about £225 I think? the only slight negatives are the 50 degree AFOV & 10mm eye relief. Why they stopped production of the 2-4 NZ I'll never know 🤔😩

3 minutes ago, MalcolmM said:

I used some sticky backed felt for covers for the extender module for the 60CB. It turned out to be quite hairy and moulted all over the module. I ended up using this (link attached, velvet material) which is quite nice but needs gluing and is tricky to work with, but doesn't leave my lenses covered in hair!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07PZ1DXZD?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

Malcolm 

Cheers Malcolm 

Thanks for the link.

Been looking on the Bay & Amazon and didn’t realise there so many choices of fluffy tape, if it was an ordinary plastic cap I wouldn’t be too worried but apart from the shonky tape it’s a work art for a dust cap 🤣 

Cheers Iain 

1 hour ago, mikeDnight said:

I think I'd be tempted to buy some felt and cut it to size, then trying it for smugness before gluing it in position. Even three felt pads may be all you'll need?

Thanks for suggestions Mike, I’ll check on the Bay & Amazon for something suitable.
Just looked inside the cap of my FC-100DL and it’s the same type of tape but in three segments about 65mm long. 

Hi All

The black felt like anti-rattle tape inside the rim of my dust cap is worn resulting in a loose fit, what I'm worried about is it dropping off in the dark and getting damaged.

Has anyone replaced this tape before and if so with what? Its approx 12mm wide and I reckon under 0.5mm thick, maybe thicker? 

Some pics below.

Thanks Iain

2 hours ago, F15Rules said:

You know the saying.."As rare as Hens Teeth"??

Well...😁😁😁

Pristine Maxbright II Binoviewers with 1.7x Glasspath corrector.

So chuffed to find these..

They arrived mid last week but due to family bereavement I've not yet had the chance to use them..just a few pics for my good friends on SGL.👍

Dave

 

Nice one Dave! Looking forward to first light reports, I’m sure they will be excellent 👍

32 minutes ago, Telescope40 said:

Hello @jock1958 

Akready splashed out on a Tak MEF 3 focuser unit before Xmas, so that is sorted. 
Only one thing left to add really - an original Tak reticle illuminator for the Finderscope. RVO have them but a lot of dosh for what it is. Nothing wrong with the one that’s fitted ATM. 
 

At some point the wallet may allow it as a pure indulgence!!! 
 

John 

Hi John

Sorry totally forgot from your previous posts & pics you've already got an MEF-3...dughh!

Ive got a FT micro-pinion focuser on my FC-100DL and love it to bits and a More Blue precision focuser (similar to MEF-3) on my FS-60C/Q which is very nice.

If I had the readies I would go for a TSA 120 or if they were still production one like yours!

Iain

45 minutes ago, Telescope40 said:

Hello. Couple of deliveries for my 7x50 Finderscope on my Tak 128. 
Set of dust caps from FLO  and a Takahashi FQR-1 quick release bracket from ENS Optical. 
Think I’m done for now on the kit front.

Look to use it all as much as possible now. 
Clear skies all 

John 

Lovely, lovely…what’s next on the list for your beautiful Tak? Maybe a nice FT Focuser if you don’t have one already 🤔😉🤣

8 hours ago, Pixies said:

Just popped out with the binos and the comet E3(ZTF) is well placed now, without having to get up at silly-o'clock!

Pretty faint and fuzzy, but visible with direct vision. Didn't have to do much star-hopping, just pointed in the rough area and found it.

Using 10x50s. The North East direction for me is nice and dark, as it's over the sea.

For some reason I was awake at silly o’clock and decided to give comet 2022 E3 a go, using my Olympus 8x40 bins and a couple of guide stars in Hercules was a fairly easy spot. 
All I can describe it as was a fuzzy blob, bigger and fainter than the M13 glob cluster which I used for comparison. 

Very sad to hear about John, his posts were always exceptionally informative, good humoured and ones that I paid attention to. R.I.P. 

Excellent work Geoff, I bet that took ages to do!! 

Congratulations on seeing the ‘Pup’!!

I’ve had no joy myself but I’ll keep on trying. I think the key elements for me are seeing and latitude, neither which seem to be in my favour 😩