HollyHound

They do indeed... all tricked out now... FeatherTouch Pinion focuser and a 6x30 right angle finder (don’t worry, the Takahashi finder has moved to the FS-60CB). One handed carry, with a small eyepiece carry case, so can roam around the farm a bit with it 👍

I agree, the consensus does seem to be that 100mm is an ideal aperture for detail vs size, but I’m tending to have two types of sessions these days... shorter ones where I just want simple and the ability to roam around a bit, for this the small Taks are perfect, and the other where I’ll either get the 10” dob or the CC6” for a longer, more detailed looks (especially for the faint stuff) 😀

An ED120 is a lovely scope, lots of aperture and likely won’t gain much going smaller 🤔 I have found that for grab and go though, the FC-76DCU really does work well, really lightweight but still very capable and has allowed me to roam around on the farm a lot more than I’ve ever done before, to reach parts of the sky just obscured by the roof sometimes 👍

It won’t help if I say that since getting the FC-76DCU, I can’t stop just taking it (or it’s little brother FS-60CB) out almost every night when it’s been clear and have just been enjoying the simplicity and superb views. The moon in particular has been fantastic in both 😀

Thanks, it’s really perfect for my grab and go needs 😀 The Meade 40 has a 44 degree FoV, so doesn’t really give much more than the Panoptic 24, but what it does does do is give a larger exit pupil, brighter image and bit more relaxed (finder like) view, which I like sometimes, especially as it does get quite dark here at my home (we’re on a farm) 👍

I can attest to that, as the buyer of your CC6”... it arrived in perfect collimation and has remained so ever since 👍

How timely... I finally got myself sorted with the ideal (for me) mini “grab and go” set of 1.25” eyepieces that work perfectly with both my Tak FC-76DCU and FS-60CB 😃 Meade 3000 40, TV Panoptic 24, TV Panoptic 15, Baader Genuine Ortho 12.5 Baader Hyperion x2.25 Barlow, Fujiyama Ortho 9, TV 3-6 Zoom ES 4.7 82 (Late addition as this gives fantastic lunar views) Moon Filter and small Red Led Torch All this goes in a very small Geoptik case, which I can carry out in one hand with either Tak on the ScopeTech Zero and Report tripod combo in the other 👍

FLO do still have both the normal and “low profile” 2” visual backs available, but no Clicklock 56i in stock right now unfortunately 🤞

It’s good they got some stock in, but as you say, supplies are still very limited and will likely remain so for some/most of this year 😬 Will be very interested to hear your report on your FC100 when it arrives 😃

This is my finding too, over the last two night I’ve had both the FS-60CB and FC-76DCU out and been focussing primarily on the moon. They both cool down pretty much in minutes and both give sharp, contrasty images, free of any noticeable CA. What amazed me is just how much magnification each could take and still enhance the view. At one point I had the FS60 at 166x (ES 5mm 82 deg with Hyperion 2.25 Barlow), and it was still giving a lovely usable view 😮 The FC76 takes it one step further and of course brightens the view further, whilst eeking out more detail still 👍 Both scopes are also just so lightweight and easy to carry and mount too, for quick or extended sessions. These Taks are superb scopes and I would imagine that he FC100 takes it to the next level still 😃

Nice... another FC-76, but this one’s a little different, not the DCU variant... presumably it’s the same apart from the split tube 🤔 Either way, I love mine and I know quite a few are getting these now... Superb grab and go scopes... enjoy 😃

Another FC-76DCU... welcome to the club, they’re awesome 😃 If it’s clear, don’t waste anymore time on here, get it setup and get out there 🤞👍

It was such a long time ago and different scopes, so couldn’t make an honest comparison. All I can say is the Ethos and Delos (and Pentax XW) have some improvement on contrast and scatter compared to eyepieces I had previously, but couldn’t quantify it objectively.

I’ve had the Panaview 32 at the same time I had the 38 and it was pretty much the same as I recall. It’s a lot lighter and doesn’t have that massive top that the 38 has. Funnily enough, I recall thinking at the time, how on earth anyone can use an eyepiece any larger, and yet here I am with an Ethos 21 🤣 I only really used it in f/10 or higher scopes, but do recall using it once in the ST120 (f/5) and seeing some FC, but that’s expected.

Good point, I did used to have a Panaview 38 and it was a decent eyepiece indeed 👍

That’s lovely to hear... such a nice book and we both have sentimental attachments to them too 😃 What is even more amazing is when you think, that when these were published, only a few people had been into space and man hadn’t yet set foot on the moon 😮

That’s is interesting and no apology necessary re expense, as I already have Ethos 6, 8, 13 and indeed 3.7SX and 21 too anyway. I hadn’t really considered trying these in the FC-76DCU, but now just might... although I suspect this will be mounted on the AZ100 rather than ScopeTech, due to the balance issues that may present themselves. I’m still thinking really that I want to keep the this Tak setup as simple as possible though, but if the views are good 🤔👍 Just received another Baader 2” Clicklock for the FS-60CB today, so am thinking of trying the XW30 in that... no doubt it will be lots of FC, but the view will be super wide and may lead onto using the XW40 in this for “binocular” wide viewing. My Nikon 8x56 binoculars give 6.2 degrees, and the XW40 would give 7.8 degrees 😮

I should add that it’s not really my intention to use anything other than 1.25” eyepieces on the FC-76DCU in normal use, so the Panoptic 24 is a perfect wide angle eyepiece most of the time 👍

Absolutely, I use all of them regularly in my FC-76DCU, StellaMira 80mm f/10 and 6”CC. Despite some FC in the Tak, remember this is still a relatively short focal length refractor and they’re all very usable. The XWs give superb, contrast, sharp views and they are the most comfortable eyepieces to view through and also don’t feel cold to the touch when swapping them. I have the whole set, except for the XW40 (yet) and wouldn’t swap them... the XW14 is the weakest (for FC) but even then, I can and do swap between that and the Delos 14, simply because sometimes the XW does (just) show a little bit more the the centre... it might be subtle but it is there (for me). The XW30 gives a huge expansive view and although the Ethos 21 gives the same FoV, there is no way I’m going to hang that successfully on the back of a small refractor on a lightweight mount, so it’s the best eyepiece for that job 👍

Ok, just popped out for 20mins to check this one thing... Unfortunately, I can report that with the XW30 on my FC-76DCU, there is noticeable FC in about the outer 30% of the field. If I focussed on stars towards the edge and then moved those back to the centre, they would become blurry and vice versa. I do also see astigmatism, but that’s because I have removed my Dioptrx to test on another eyepiece and have found my eyes have about 0.75 dioptre of astigmatism anyway. When using the Panoptic 24, I see neither FC or astigmatism in this scope. If I can find a way to get focus then I will try with my Tak Flattener, but given I’m already using a Baader T2 BBHS mirror diagonal, that might be tricky. The only thing to bear in mind. Is that supposedly the XW40 has less FC than the XW30 🤔 Hope this helps.

I’ve got the Pentax XW30 and a Tak FC-76DCU, but haven’t yet tried them together and examined closely for FC. I’ll try next time I’m out, as I’m also considering the XW40 to complete the set again 👍 I can confirm there is noticeable FC on the this scope when using both the XW14 and XW20. I do also have the Tak 1.04x Flattener, but I can only get this to focus with 1.25” diagonal and eyepieces, otherwise I’d check if that helped with FC too. It was really for photography but have tried it visually too on the FS-60CB, and works well.

I bought this exact scope from @johninderby and it’s fantastic for lunar. I have only used it visually so far and not had a chance to use it on planets. I also have Mak 127, and whilst that is a great scope (I still use it for binoviewing), the 6”CC is just that bit better 👍 It is significantly larger and heavier, so I use it on the AZ100, whereas the Mak127 did also work on the ScopeTech Zero. The other big advantage is that it doesn’t dew up, which both the Mak and my C5 will do, without dew shield and heater (needed some nights). It’s a great scope 😀

Not from the postman, but my dad was sorting through some old boxes and found this book of his, which I remember reading avidly as a kid (when I last had a small telescope). He’s now given it to me, to add to my collection of astronomy books. The Observers Book of Astronomy by (Sir) Patrick Moore, from 1962 😃 Unfortunately my sister seems to have scribbled on the front and back page, but it’s pencil and adds to the charm 🤣

I was fully expecting to switch to tube rings on my FC-76DCU, but I love the tube cradle. So easy to just loosen with a single knob, very slightly and adjust the OTA back/forth for balance if needed. I also like that they bolt directly to my ScopeTech Zero mount so no need for a saddle or dovetail. I can just swap between FC-76 or FS-60 very easily and quickly 👍 I have got the other tube cradle attached to a Tak dovetail so can use that on the AZ100 or AZ Mount Pro, if I want.

Arrived safe and sound today from @Mark at Beaufort, thanks 👍 A Fujiyama 9mm Ortho 😃