HollyHound

Same here in Thornbury... however, this was my first full session with my newly adapted grab and go setup (the FC76Q), so enjoyed a good hour taking in more doubles in Orion, then M42, Pleiadaes, Hyades and general cruising around 😀 Adding the CQ 1.7x Extender (which I moved from the FS-60CB) has turned this from an already great grab and go scope, into a fantastic grab and go scope.... field has been flattened (even when using the notorious XW14) and stars seem to have become just that little bit sharper, all at the expense of the scope being a tiny bit longer and minimal weight gain. Rigel and others were easy of course... I did try Sirius but no joy, but no surprise given the sky conditions... I have no doubt this scope will split it when it's better conditions 🤞

There are some that might argue, owning all these Taks makes no sense either, but I am certainly not one of them 🤣

Lovely setup 😀 Interestingly, I've never tried my DZ on my grab and go setup (which is the same as yours)... is it reasonable steady and usable, I'm guessing so 🤔

Got out again last night.... my favourite pair of FC-100DZ and Mewlon 180C dual mounted on AZ100 again. Settled on a routine now, where the DZ is usable after 10/15mins, but the Mewlon really does need over an hour to really settle down. No rush, but I may investigate using a small fan to speed that up sometime 🤔 Spent a load of time just exploring doubles in and around Orion, plus of course M42, which was most enjoyable. The Mewlon really does extremely well on doubles, for a catadioptric it really does seem quite a bit less "fuzzy" than others I've had, and the extra light grasp (7" vs 4") is very noticeable. I had the BBHS mirror on the Mewlon and was able to use both the Pentax X40 and X30, which were great for exploring Pleaides and Hyades 👍 Despite being almost full, I was able to explore some of the moon too... the binoviewer works superbly well on the Mewlon with a pair of X20s and much easier to view without being excessively bright (I've found it easier to view without filter if I use both eyes). The DZ of course was sublime as always... just keeps taking magnification and remains an awesome view 😁

A "litter" perhaps 😁

Lovely 👍 Just had a short session on exactly the same target, with my FC76DCU.... great to get out again, after a few busy weeks 😁

Every time you pick it up to take outside for a viewing session, you will know you have one of the best scopes around 😀 People spend far far more, for far less in hobbies… golf, watches, cars etc! This scope should last a lifetime and will never “go out of fashion” 👍

Still is… I’ve had this ScopeTech and Berlebach combination for almost two years now, with various scopes onboard… it is my most used mount/tripod setup as my primary grab and go 😀 I had one of the very first ScopeTech Zero mounts and it developed a fault within hours, but was replaced ( I believe they identified a fault in the very first batch🤔) and this one has never skipped a beat. Occasionally need to tighten the nuts on the end of the slow motion gears, but takes seconds and very infrequent 👍

Ah ha… so that is where they come from… a Takahashi tree… they grow them and presumably pick them when ready 🤣

I’ve had the FC-100DC and now have the FC-100DZ… both superb scopes. I think the Takahashi 100mm fluorite doublets represent a pinnacle of size/portability versus performance 👍 There is very little difference between the DC and DZ optically, but small advantages for the DZ ergonomically… larger focuser with longer travel and sliding dew shield. However, it does weigh an additional kg. Of course that is not to say that other scopes don’t, but if you have your heart on a Takahashi, then do get one… you won’t be disappointed 😀

Regarding the OPs original question… check out my signature… it’s fair to say that most of my scopes are Takahashi, and yes I would consider a model from that brand before looking elsewhere… however, I’ve had (and still have) scopes from other brands, and they’re great too 👍 For eyepieces, it’s mostly Pentax and TeleVue, but I have plenty of others, also superb. Baader are great for accessories etc… consistent quality and pretty have anything you might need 😀

Agreed, they give beautiful views, but I have swapped for RACI, simply because I find the straight through awkward to use… Mewlon 180C is built in and so I do use that one 😀

Same… although I’ve added MEF-3 fine focusers to the FS60CB and FC100DZ, Feathertouch Pinion to the FC76DCU… they still retain the lovely blue focuser assemblies though… I love the look and they operate smoothly 👍

I really need to start to learn and so some imaging of the moon... my Mewlon 180 is "only" being used visually right now, but these image are very inspiring 😀

Oh wow… lost for words… awesome 😀 Can’t wait to read the first light report 👍

Had an hour earlier this evening, comparing my new binocular acquisitions on the Neweer camera crane mount (which is great for binoculars). Ran through the usual suspects… Orion Nebula, Pleiades, Hyades, the moon and just some touring around the sky (mostly cloud free) 😀 Pentax 20x60s were as I remembered… a narrow field of view, but very sharp and loads of magnification. Super impressed by the Lunt 16x70s… great combination of wide field, magnification and aperture… such an immersive experience 👍

These actually arrived on Saturday, having only bought them from here on Thursday. Superbly packed and in excellent condition, thanks @SteveNickolls👍 A pair of Pentax 20x60 PCF WP Binoculars, to replace those I sold last year and have missed ever since😄

My first (I had one of the very early batch in Summer 2020), did had an alt axis that locked solid, but it was replaced and I’ve been using that as my grab and go mount, with new issues whatsoever ever since 👍 Great, lightweight and reliable mount 😀

Nice one 👍 Love mine and wish I had more… a really lovely eyepiece 😀

A very quick 30min session, between clouds, testing out the new (to me) Lunt Magnesium 16x70 binoculars, that arrived today. They mount very well on my Neweer Camera Crane and I was able to get some lovely views around Orion (including M42 of course, which looked so much better than my 8x56), Pleiades, Taurus and some general cruising around 😁 These are going to be very useful either on their own, or setup alongside a scope or two 👍

Only bought these late Friday and they’re here already. Superb condition and beautifully packed… thanks @scarp15👍 Lunt Magnesium 16x70 binoculars, to provide a bit more reach and aperture over my Nikon 8x56 pair😃

Do half sets count... I'm lucky to have managed to get both the 1.6 and 2.0 Vixen HR in recent months.... awesome in the FC-100DZ 😁

It's a very nice eyepiece... I used this as a "finder" eyepiece in my little Tak (FS-60CB) until recently. It's now got a home on the ST80 which I donated to the local Scout Group a few months back, and they love it too😀

And significantly heavier too, I suspect 😬

Yes indeed.... I have been contemplating getting a 5" class refractor for a while now, but between the FC-100DZ and Mewlon 180, I feel I have all bases covered currently... nice though it would be, I'm not sure whether it would add anything 🤔 For sure, the 5" refractor would give (slightly) better resolution than the DZ, but then it could never compete with the Mewlon on DSOs, and when cooled properly (which does realistically take over an hour) the Mewlon is superb on lunar 😀 I haven't ruled out the bigger refractor, just being cautious (yes, you read that right 🤣)about adding another scope into the mix right now for no real reason, especially as I'm really enjoying those that I have 👍