HollyHound

I haven’t used active cooling yet, but I’ve heard it can make a difference in reducing ool down times 🤔 The MaxBrights are great on the M180C… I use mine with a pair of Hyperion Zooms (8-24mm) and they’re fantastic on lunar and planetary 😀

I have similar results… I usually don’t do any critical observations until an hour, although the scope is usable after 45mins. It’s one reason I usually mount the M180C alongside the FC-100DZ, so I can observe with that during that hour 👍

I'm in the same position right now... my time for observing has been much limited the last few months (due to a busy work contract, involving customers in late time zones) 😬 The grab and go setup with the APM Zoom permanently attached, has been great for grabbing short sessions when I have time... I don't see any meaningful loss of image quality in that configuration either 👍

You did indeed, thanks 🙂 I was so impressed that I wanted to setup a quick change on one of my other scopes too 👍

Arrived safely and superbly packed… thanks @AndrewRrrrrr 👍 Baader Heavy Duty T2 Quick Change System…. I’ve been after one of these sets for ages 😃

I'm just happy to have the HR 2.0... sits perfectly below the XW3.5 and (when conditions allow), is a beautiful eyepiece for lunar in the my 100mm refractor 😍

Nice one… I’ve had the 15x50 since last September, and they’re excellent for astronomy… magnification isn’t much of course, but viewing the Moon, Jupiter and Pleiades with these is amazing 👍 They’re also great for terrestrial viewing too. Enjoy 😀

I've just come back in after an hour observing the moon... started just before dark and things were remarkably stable 😀 Just the "grab and go" FC-76DC this evening, as I have to be up super early for a business trip 😬 Enjoy the evening everyone and good luck 🤞

That's a pretty impressive load on the ScopeTech 😮 I'd be worried about vibration with that setup, but if it worked well enough... nice one👍

Simply awesome 😮 You win this completely 😆

Same here... I have other eyepieces in those focal lengths (Pentax XWs), but the Nagler 3-6mm zoom is used as part of my lightweight "grab and go" setup, along with an APM Zoom and ES 24mm. It's also really quite useful for planets, just allows you to get just the right amount of magnification when required 👍

Ha ha... @mikeDnightof course you have the 16mm sister of this very eyepiece 😁 I'm sure (unfortunately perhaps for you), that @JeremyS is going to love it... I did too, but I'm settled around an (almost) perfect set of XWs now 👍

I have the XW16.5, and will be getting an XW23 very soon.... I've not used the XW16.5 as much as I'd like (in fact been super busy with work for months, so very little astronomy 😬). My earlier (initial) report on the 16.5 is here... On the basis of using this eyepiece, I have already sold my XW14, XW20 and XW30, and have consolidated my eyepiece as follows XW40, XW16.5, XW10, XW7, XW5, XW3.5... the XW23 will be slotted in there as well and then I think I have just about the perfect primary set of eyepieces (for me) 😀 I've had TeleVue (of all types), Masuyama and loads of others, but for me, the XW range just seem to work perfectly. I wouldn't say their image rendition is any better than those, but the ergonomics (eye relief, comfort, physical handling of the eyepiece) just work perfectly for my needs 👍

Congratulations... these are tricky to get hold off, but when you eventually get a pair, they are superb binoviewers 😀

I've always found it pretty unforgettable for sure 😁

Oh wow... that's super impressive and actually looks quite a useful setup 😀 You're giving me ideas now... Mewlon, FC-100DZ and FS-60Q in a triple arrangement 🤔😆

Some great answers already, and having owned both the FC-100DC and replaced it with an FC-100DZ, I can concur that there is very little difference between these two optically under normal conditions... however, the DZ should pull ahead slightly when conditions allow 🤞 Ergonomically they are quite different though... the DZ is of course significantly heavier, but then has a fantastic sliding dew shield, much better focuser (stronger and longer travel)... it just feels a step up in operation. Either, or indeed the DF or DL (if you can find one) would be a fantastic scope, and likely all the scope you'll need for most observing. There are great reviews (and comparisons) here: http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/TakFC100DC.htm http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/TakFC-100DL.htm http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/TakFC-100DZ.htm Loads of other reviews of other fantastic scopes there too... just be careful, as I started out reading that very site and then discovered SGL... may not be great for your wallet long term 😆

I'm very happy having access to a decent "Push To" system now (AZ100 with Nexus DSC)... it makes short(er) sessions much easier and allows me to view stuff that would be quite onerous to find manually... If I had more time and fancied a challenge, then would be happy (and have) to star hop. I have got my iOptron AZ Mount, which is full Goto (and tracking), which I use less now, but did use quite a bit when I first got started. Having said that, most of my sessions these days are using the Tak 76 on the ScopeTech, grabbing a quick session when I can. All methods work and have their place 👍

That has to be one of the best scopes out there, and lovely to it restored to all original kit too 😀

Thanks... been having a go on some birds on our bird feeder today, and it's brilliant 😀 The GX8 is great... I got a very good used copy (no longer made) which was in immaculate condition. Coupled with some of the MFT lenses, it's been excellent as a camera to take on walks with, and this telephoto is super lightweight too, so should be able to do the same. I've also bought the fixed Leica Elmarit 200mm f/2.8 (with 1.4x teleconverter) to use for static work. Funnily enough, I'm currently looking at getting a (slightly) larger MFT camera to use alongside this one, and am torn between the Lumix G9 (which would be a logical step) and some of the recent Olympus (OM Systems)... the OM-1 looks amazing, but not sure if too much camera for me right now 🤔 Let's get some hours with this one first and see how it goes... at least I have something to mess about with in the daytime as well now, and when we get bouts of cloudy skies 🤞😁

Well this arrived yesterday, as part of my renewed interest in photography... I'd previously bought a Micro Four Thirds camera (Lumix GX8) for doing some bird/wildlife photography, alongside my existing Lumix S5, but needed a significant amount of extra reach... so this new Panasonic Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 should do the trick nicely (equivalent to 200-800mm in 35mm full frame!). However, I popped out last night for a quick look in (partly) clear sky, thought I'd give it a go on the moon, and got this shot (unedited, apart from a slight crop), 400mm f/6.3 1/500 sec, ISO 400, handheld (the built in lens/body stabilisation is just incredible 😮). I think I'm going to have some fun with this combination 😁

I have one of these too, and it also looks exactly like the picture on the leaflet as well... no idea what that mount adaptor you've received could possibly be for 🤔 I'm sure Rowan will help you out 🤞

If and when I get another Paracorr, that is very useful information... thanks, as always Don 👍

Sounds like me with the Ethos 😁I'm finding that 85 degrees is the perfect sweet spot 👍

I no longer have the Paracorr unfforunately, but do recall having to shift for XW30/40 and the 1.25" variants 🤔 No easy way of knowing if the new XWs align with the 2" or 1.25" variants.... perhaps one for @Don Pensack, as I've read a few posts of his talking about Paracorr, and he's also tested these new XWs 🤞