HollyHound

2 hours ago, PatientObserver said:

Thanks for the response. Glad to hear you are still pleased with it.

I would like to avoid active cooling if possible, but could use a small battery pack powered fan if needed. Mostly hoped to keep things simple.

I just started researching binoviewers. The Maxbright seem to be highly rated. I will keep that in mind for a future purchase.

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 😀

2 hours ago, dweller25 said:

If I bring the M180 out of a 20’C house temp out into a 5’C garden temp, the scope - with active cooling - takes a good hour to cool before I can do high power 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 👍

18 hours ago, Stu said:

It either reflects my laziness, or perhaps the relatively short times I have available for observing but I more often use my Leica Zoom than my fixed length eyepieces. On axis I find it doesn’t lose out in any way to XWs for example. If out for a longer session then yes, I do use my XWs/Nags/Morpheieieieiei but that is fairly infrequent currently.

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 👍

2 hours ago, bosun21 said:

Didn’t I give you one of these with the Maxbright II binoviewer?

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 😀

7 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

We've got some fairly thin hazy high atmospheric clouds tonight.  The moon doesn't appear to be overly troubled by them so I'm going to head out and try and figure out what is where.

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 🤞

13 hours ago, Stu said:

Tried something unusual tonight, and it worked very well, namely the FC-76DC side by side with the FS-60Q on my ScopeTech Zero mount. The mount coped just as well as with only one scope.

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👍

18 hours ago, Rainmaker said:

I am trying to understand why people get so enthusiastic about Taks…..

 

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 👍

7 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

Green with envy here Jeremy. Do tell all about it when the clouds eventually clear. Secretly I hope you don't like it then I can make you a insultory offer. 

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 👍

11 hours ago, John said:

Apologies if I have missed some discussion on these but I wonder if anyone has them and, if so, what they think of them ?

I'm just "tyre kicking" really - pondering the option to move from my current mixed collection of Tele Vue and Pentax eyepieces to a simplified all Pentax line up of:

23mm, 16.5mm, 10mm, 7mm, 5mm and 3.5mm. I already have the 4 shorter focal lengths in the series.

Each time I think about "rationalising" my eyepieces I seem to talk myself out of it but I'm feeling a stronger will to actually make some moves now and a Pentax XW set, although not perfect (of course) would seem to be a pretty good compromise to happily live with based on my experiences with the XW's that I currently own.

I suppose the main thrust of my question is to find out if the new 85 degree Pentax's have any major issues that I ought to be aware of. I don't wear glasses when observing 

Thanks in advance for any feedback 🙂

 

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 👍

On 15/03/2023 at 14:07, Saganite said:

I have been irresistibly drawn to the Maxbright II binoviewers since they arrived on the market, particularly because of the eyepiece holders and the dioptre adjustment, and so ,on Saturday at PAS when I saw Mike buy his and with a few pairs still for sale, it tipped me over the edge, and I too bought one. The arrival of stock replenishments sell instantly, and I had missed out several times in the last year, so to find some for sale at the show was very unexpected...but very pleasing !!

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

On 12/03/2023 at 03:22, JeremyS said:

Don’t forget Tak FOA 😊

Fluorite Ortho Apochromat 

I've always found it pretty unforgettable for sure 😁

On 09/03/2023 at 22:14, Stu said:

With sincere apologies for the unashamed, attention seeking ‘Look at me’ post!

Can you tell that;

a) It’s cloudy

b) Mrs Stu is away

c) I’m bored 🤪

Thought this might give an easy way of comparing the three scopes. The AZ75 handles them with ease and the balance is good. Look forward to giving it a go!

Left to right in the first image:

FC100DC ; FC-76DCU ; FS-60Q

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 🤔😆

On 06/03/2023 at 14:44, jetstream said:

I might buy a 100mm Tak doublet and see some different models available- what are the differences and are the optics the same across the model line?

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 👍

1 hour ago, Telescope40 said:

Hello. A couple of pieces of Takahashi gear recieved over the last week for my FS128. I think I am done as I am considering it is now back as stock. 

New objective dust cover.  The original "dustbin" design was missing when I bought the scope. This is actually for a  TOA 130 N. Sourced from Takahashi Europe with some help from FLO. It's in Tak green and is an excellent fit too !! 

Also a Takahashi finderscope Reticle illuminator. Had a generic one fitted but felt I had to " finish the job" so to speak. Silly / bonkers amount of money for what is it I guess but hey.  Sourced from RVO. 

 

John  

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

8 minutes ago, Alan White said:

@HollyHound nice lens, my wife owns the same one.
Always liked the look of the GX8 myself, but ended up wedded to Olympus m4/3.

Indeed a lens that should be lots of fun. 

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 😁

15 hours ago, Stephenstargazer said:

Mine looks exactly like the one on the leaflet...... (and is up for sale, but not economic to Serbia).

16 hours ago, BGazing said:

The rest of my delivery has arrived...completely confused with that EQ5 adapter. here are the pics of its top and bottom. Bottom is flat, M10 gets into it only a centimeter - different from the photo on the leaflet, which has that EQ5 bottom

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 🤞

1 hour ago, Don Pensack said:

The 30mm XW should use the same setting.  Its focal plane is at the shoulder, just like the XW85°.

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

12 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

I'll stick with the current 70 degrees, any larger and I get nausea as I feel like I'm falling into space 😂

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

2 hours ago, nicholasastro said:

Does anyone know the Paracorr type 1 settings for the 16.5mm and 23mm XWs in case I decide to give either of these a try at some point?

I wish the 30mm XW setting was the same as for the 1.25" versions but I find I need to shift from setting 1 to 5 for the 30mm. I'm aware however that the tunable top parfocalizes eyepieces within the range.

Thanks

 

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 🤞