HollyHound

Even though it's an open tube design, mine does still take a good while to cool down sufficiently before it starts to outperform my FC-100DZ... however, even after 30/40mins, the extra aperture is still very useful and usable for DSOs. Once it's fully cooled however then it really does outperform the DZ for sure 👍 This is one of the reasons why I'm setting up a dual mount solution for my longer sessions, so I can get started with the DZ after 15/20mins maximum and let the Mewlon keep cooling. I suppose it would be possible to pop it out sooner and just leave it so that it's already cooled when I come out to observe.

Having never tried binoviewing, let alone using a wedge too, on my FC-76DCU, and given @Stucomments… it might be a risky choice for that purpose unfortunately ☹️ As a grab and go refractor for “normal” mono viewing, I still highly rate it 👍 Good luck with your choice 🤞

Mewlon 180 is pretty decent too 👍

I also have the FC-100DZ and Mewlon 180C, both fantastic scopes and they complement each other very well… I have started dual mounting them on the AZ100. For a recent comparison, check out this session report from last week (copied the text here, as the link doesn’t seem to work)…

There is a noticeable difference in resolution between the FS-60CB and FC-76DCU on the moon. Contrast is about the same. As you can see from my photo, there is quite a difference in size, however unless you want to travel with them (and both are very portable) and given that you are selling your FC-100DL, I think the FC-76DCU would be my choice for grab and go… in fact it already is 😃 It’s a great all round versatile scope and fewer limitations that the FS-60CB.

Great… Hoped this might help 👍 The FS-60CB is tiny isn’t it 😃

Forgot to mention in the photo above… the FC-76DCU has a camera rotator and field flattener (x1.04) attached. You don’t require these, I’m just experimenting with them visually right now 🤔 I normally just have the Baader Clicklock on the scope (like the FS-60CB).

Hope this helps with the size reference… I’ve included my Mewlon 180 (which you also have), so should help understand the relative sizes better 👍 Mewlon 180 FC-76DCU FS-60CB (without extender)

Not strange at all, its quite a long scope and totally understand 👍 In my opinion, the FS-60CB is an excellent scope, but I’ve never tried a TS60 🤔

Mak127 gives the most detailed view, but takes a while to cool… C5 I found disappointing on planets, and the FS-60 is superb, not quite as detailed a view as the Mak127, but more contrast and it’s ready to go in minutes of course 👍 There’s an interesting comparisons between C5 and FS-60Q here… http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/CelestronC5XLT.htm I rarely use the C5 or Mak127 these days, but can’t bear to sell them, as they were my second and third scopes 😀 Given the scopes you have already (assuming you keep the FC-100DL), the little FS60 would complement them nicely and is such a delightful little scope (also a wonderful finder on a dual mount). However, you really do need to try and FOA-60Q sometime too… @JeremyS is right, it’s perfection 👍

I’ve never tried a binoviewer on it… the focuser has quite a short travel, but a FeatherTouch might work 🤔

It is the ultimate grab and go… lives permanently on the ScopeTech Zero and Berlebach Report… I can pick it up very easily and carry it outside about 10m very quickly… I’m observing within a minute and it cools down within 5/10ish too. I have no immediate aspiration to travel with it, but as you say, it can be separated into two parts of required 👍 Its my most used scope, taken out for even the smallest sessions, even if I’m super busy… highly recommended 😀

I have used this exact setup on my FC-76DCU… Baader T2, 2” nose, T2 Clicklock for eyepieces and Clicklock on the Takahashi itself 👍 Although I only use 1.25” eyepieces now and use the smaller Baader 1.25” eyepiece clamp now.

I’ll agree with Jeremy on this, the FOA-60Q is a superb scope and perfection… just keeps taking magnification and delivering (although 60mm will always have a limit). However, the FC-76DCU is also a lovely, versatile scope and arguably the extra 16mm aperture makes it a touch more useful for a bit of deep sky work too 🤔 The little FS-60CB (with or without extender) is also very capable too. You can’t go wrong with any of them 👍

At first I thought it was massive compared to the M180, but I think it's perspective... the better comparison is with the FC-100DL... Awesome setup you have there👍 Thank you for posting this, that is a truly aspirational scope... not for me you understand, but I'm sure someone will be inspired 🤔😁

My FS-60CB from last night… such a cute but effective setup 👍

I have a feeling that watching this thread is likely going to end up being potentially expensive for more than just @Fedele 🤔 Must keep repeating "a Mewlon 180 is more than enough..." 🤣

That is a seriously impressive scope 😮👍

Oh wow, so without realising it, pretty much going to the only real area of interest on an otherwise too bright lunar surface, me and the little FS-60CB managed to bag a couple of really interesting Lunar 100 targets... I thought they looked particularly beautiful 😁 Thanks for that really useful information👍

Thank you… these are exactly the group of craters I was exploring with my FS-60CB… such an interesting little area 😀 Time for me to hit the lunar atlas too and do some exploring too 👍

Clear again, so just did a couple of hours out… but this time with the little FS-60CB (sans extender). Forgotten how amazing this scope really is 😀 A few craters on the very edge of the moon were a good test for the Vixen HR2.0 and 1.6, still giving great detail at 177x and 222x, and CA only when not quite I’m focus. The Masuyama 26 works perfectly as a wide field “finder” eyepiece and matches the XWs both for balance and focus. Also tried all the Ethos (13 thru 3.7) on M45 and M42 and gave very impressive views, but perhaps excessive for this scope 🤣 The moon wasn’t helping, but there was a bit of nebulosity visible on M42, which is impressive for 60mm, although this isn’t a scope for DSOs. Was happy to see that I was able to easily split Rigel, and it’s little companion was quite visible in both the XW5 (71x) and XW3.5 (101x)… faint, but nicely visible just outside the diffraction rings… quite a difference in both size and magnitude😮 Seems almost a shame to keep this scope mainly as a “finder” on the AZ100 alongside a “main” scope… it really is a very capable instrument. I’ve decided to keep it configured without the extender again for now, as I miss those super wide views 👍

Awesome scope… thanks for sharing 😀 Interesting commentary in the advert about the (presumably new) usage of Fluorite in refractors… presumably Takahashi, or were others using it too 🤔 Although I actually have the space for a scope like this, it would have to be permanently installed, otherwise it would be a struggle to setup every night 🤣

220kg payload… over twice the Planet… but that price 😮

Agreed… the Planet and Tri-Pier have the same payload capacity and weigh about the same too 👍

Already posted on night setup thread, here’s my new AZ100 setup… it’s been moved onto my iOptron Tri-Pier… rock steady, whilst focusing or even pressing my eye firmly against the eyepiece. A noticeable step up from the Uni 28 (which is now home to the Vixen GP) 👍