HollyHound

Just to jump in here quickly... I have had the Canon IS 50x50 for a few months now, and they are nothing short of revolutionary for me 👍

Quick (or even fairly prolonged) looks at the moon are now something I can do instantly and (importantly) really see quite some detail. Jupiter's moons are now easy targets (amazing how quickly they move around in such a short time). Don't even get me started on how beautiful Pleaides has now become, I'm seeing stars and detail in just this that are worth the price of the binoculars alone. Same for M42 😮 Cruising the Milky Way is just stunning down here on the farm too 😀

I'm happy to extol it's virtues even further, but my vote would be an "upgrade" to these. @JeremyS has pointed to to that review site, which covers most of the models, and Roger Vine does seem to agree that the 15x50 are just that bit more usable even than the 18x50, without sacrificing much in magnification.

I also love that you can lock the image stabilisation on (for 3mins at a time), so don't have to keep holding the button (although you can do that too).

The only small criticism, is that they don't come with objective end caps (but standard camera ones work perfectly).

Currently 8... which is probably too many 😬

• Bresser 10' Dob
• Takahashi Mewlon 180C
• Takahashi FC-100DZ
• Takahashi FC-76DCU(Q)
• Takahashi FOA-60Q
• Takahashi FS-60CB
• Skywatcher Mak 127
• Celestron C5

I'm downsizing a little, so the FS-60CB is up for sale, but although I (very) rarely use the Mak127 or C5, I just can't bear to part with them, as they were my first "serious" scopes, and they are still incredibly good (Mak for lunar, C5 for DSOs and daytime spotting) 👍

My stepsons best mate is just getting into astronomy, so he's likely to get one as a gift sometime... just not one of the Taks 😁

1 hour ago, Stu said:

I have my ScopeTech Zero and Gitzo GT5542LS tripod permanently in our garden room, normally with either FC76Q or FC100DC on it. Either case is a single handed lift out into the garden, even with a CoolWedge and Binoviewers fitted to the 4” so it can be set up in about 30 seconds.

Strangely the FS60C gets less use!

That’s one of the reasons I love the FC100DC so much. Fantastic performance in a really lightweight package.

Good to hear the FC-100DC works well on the ScopeTech 👍

My DZ is just that extra bit heavier and makes it less than ideal... however, that's where the AZ75 (or AZ100) come in, and I'm more than happy with the FC-76DCU as a grab and go... so much so, I've even removed the saddle and dovetail now and it's mounted permanently to the ScopeTech directly with the Tak clamshell, to save a bit more weight 😁

13 hours ago, Stu said:

This little beauty arrived yesterday, thanks to Gary. I’d forgotten what lovely eyepieces they are, nice and compact for 22mm 82 degrees. It’s in excellent condition, pretty much as new. Of course it’s raining……

Quite fancy a 17mm now 😱🤣

Glad you like it @Stu here’s hoping for clear skies soon, to give it a try 🤞😀

3 hours ago, Surfer Chris said:

Postman didn't actually bring this - I collected it yesterday afternoon whilst popping out for a quick Friday afternoon surf. Decided I wanted to go a little bigger for my grab & go set-up, so treated myself to a nice new Tak.

So glad you were able to pick this up (rather than wait) and get it setup… looks great 👍

We now have almost identical grab and go setups and you will use this more than your other other scopes 😃

I list my stuff at between 65% and 70% of RRP (depending on age and condition).

Bear in mind the RRP may have increased significantly since you actually bought it, but the current RRP is usually the right baseline to use (I have made exceptions where the price has increased dramatically 😮)

Usually if something doesn't shift at that price, then a (gradual) price lowering, can help, but best not to "give it away", so always have a lower limit at which you'll stop or even withdraw from sale 

I’ve owned the StellaMira 80mm… it was a beautiful, super solidly built (and heavy) scope. Superb on the moon and planets (I had my best views of Mars during 2020) 👍

It was also fine for deep sky work, but will be noticeably dimmer than a 100 or 120 scope.

if your primary purpose is solar system objects, then this is a scope to go for.

One small point, as mentioned earlier, it is significantly heavier than my Takahashi FC-76DCU as an example, and the AZ-GTi “might” struggle with it… best check the payload.

Oh and @FLO have one on offer if it is of interest… https://www.firstlightoptics.com/offers/offer_stellamira-80mm-ed-f10-refractor-telescope-with-rp-focuser_329571.html

10 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

Well, F12 would be a lovely focal length..about 10-12 years ago I had a Pentax Japan J80 F12 achromat..it was a truly wonderful scope, and gave me a view of the double double in Lyra which has only been matched my my FS128 and a D&G 128mm F15 achromat..a 2 metre long scope!!

The ED80 is a very nice scope, so at 50mm  F12 it should be a very interesting comparison!

The FC-76DCU with Extender is also f/12.5, and that has been a great scope for me (and @Stu too I believe) 👍

I've only dropped mine back to normal configuration (f/7.5) as I'm wanting it to be super portable again, and I'm intending to use my FOA-60Q (f/15) a lot more now (can't believe I thought about selling it 😬)... particularly as I'm moving on the FS-60CB 😁

8 hours ago, IB20 said:

Get a 3” Tak and never look back. 😅 Seriously, the 76DCU is heaven, I wouldn’t be without mine. 1.9kg of bliss and stunning views; it shows plenty. It’s a cracking scope and excels at planetary, lunar, doubles and WL solar in my bortle 6/7 skies.

 

Exactly... this (for me), has been the optimum grab and go scope setup 😀

1 hour ago, F15Rules said:

this will give you at 60mm an almost F12 focal length - plenty sufficient for you to see how good stellar images especially can be at a long focal length..sure, the fov will be narrower, but for observing doubles etc and planets this won't matter at all. Just remember, aperture always rules on fainter objects, but on nights of poor seeing but good transparency you may just find that that " it's not worth going outside tonight" night might just become very worthwhile indeed!

This makes me really glad I've chosen to keep my FOA-60Q (60mm f/15) 😁

Thanks for the really great reports 👍

46 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Yes, I normally have it the other way up, Gary - I had just been testing in another configuration.

Ah thanks, apologies... I thought you had some special configuration and was very curious... situation normal, nothing unusual to see here 😁

5 hours ago, PeterC65 said:

The session has reminded me what little can be seen visually compared to EEVA and how hard it is to be sure that I am pointing at a target without plate solving

EEVA does sound like a real boon to observing DSOs 😀

However, bear in mind that you're using a Mak127 (5" obstructed aperture)... I still have mine, and it was the second scope I bought (after a Mak102)... I remember looking in awe at M42 through both these scopes, but being disappointed with M31. That changed when I got a 10" Bresser Dob... the increase in aperture does make a real difference in what and how you see these things (I first spotted Trapezium E and F clearly in this scope). Of course, visual will never compare to EEVA (or night vision), but definitely it is an area where an increase in aperture does pay dividends 😁

2 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Fully Tak baby blue livery on the FC 76DCU, now restored that’s to proper colour finder handle

Looking good, glad it's all matching again now 👍

I've just noticed that you have your tube cradle "upside down" compared to how I have mine... I normally loosen mine for balancing (not so much now with a limited set of eyepieces), and would worry that the screw knob might fall down in this configuration 😮 However, I suppose there is little chance that the cradle would actually open with in your configuration... intriguing 🤔

2 hours ago, badhex said:

How are you getting on with the APM so far? I had a lot of fun with it around the end of last month when I was under darker skies for a week. Great for globs and faint fuzzies! 

Only an hour with it so far last night (between the clouds) on Jupiter, Saturn and a couple of clusters… seems to work very well… good FoV, eye relief and very easy to change up/down magnification 👍

Really sorry to hear this Alan… we’ve all had a few scares, but when the worst happens, it must be awful 😬

Looking forward to seeing the new scope… I’m sure it will be a very suitable replacement 👍

Used a short spell of clear (ish) sky to test my new “grab and go” configuration… I’ve been using my FC-76DCU with the extender (954mm FL) for the last eight months, but have dropped it back to its normal (570mm FL), for a more portable setup again 🤔

I’m trialling a set of just three eyepieces with it… new ES 24mm 68, APM Superzoom 15.4-7.7mm and TV Nagler 6-3mm… apart from some initial issues with getting all eyepieces to focus together (now resolved), it looks likely to be a good setup 🤞

15 minutes ago, SzabiB said:

- I love my new MAK 127

- I need to throw the supplied red dot finder in the bin

Get a Telrad… it fits perfectly onto a Mak 127 and works perfectly 👍

18 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Edit: before anyone asks, yes I do realise it looks green in this pic 🤔

Just like my sales post... it's a tricky little thing to photograph and show the colour properly 🤔

Glad it's going to finally remove that mismatch on your FC-76DCU... post a photo when you get the chance... enjoy 😁

Thanks, Gary

1 hour ago, Don Pensack said:

Just be aware that it can cut into the field unless it is used near the exit pupil position.  Since it is only going to be used by non-glasses wearers on a very long eye relief eyepiece, the eyecups are going to be raised up quite a bit anyway.

It rests on the rubber and helps the novice find the exit pupil when the exit pupil is high above the glass.

More experienced observers or glasses wearers would not need it.

Thanks for the useful information @Don Pensack 👍

I primarily use XWs and DeLites (which have excellent eye relief), plus some Masuyamas (also decent)... it was really curiosity as to what that little device was for 🤔

Tele Vue really do thing of (almost anything) 😁

Duplicate post!

On 04/08/2022 at 20:55, Philip R said:

Assuming you purchased your TeleVue Radian new, did it include a pupil guide in the box? [image and instructions below].

TV Radian Eyepiece Instructions.pdf 938.47 kB · 130 downloads

I too would get a blackout when using my 6mm Radian with my ETX105 before I added/re-modded the rear end/visual back.
Using the supplied pupil guide should eliminate it. 

Just happened upon this thread... I had no idea what that little black disc was in the Nagler 22mm box (I've just packed it all back for sale) 🤔

Now I do, thanks very much for this snippet of information 😁

Wow... great image, thanks for sharing 😀

As my Baader Zooms are now permanently fixed to my binoviewer, I thought I’d give this APM Superzoom a try, as reviews have been generally good 🤞

It’s smaller and lighter than I thought it would be, so this could be left on my grab and go scope, and along with the recently acquired ES 24mm 68, and my Nagler Zoom 3-6, might be a great little portable (travel) set 🤔

8 hours ago, bosun21 said:

Has anyone else bought an eyepiece that they had previously sold?

Yep… just bought the DeLite 13mm, having sold one two years ago… go figure 😬🤣

56 minutes ago, Alan White said:

Congratulation on a fine scope, nice aperture and focal length.
Looks super on the AZ100.
Enjoy.

I might have similar news tomorrow if all goes well.

Can’t wait to see what you’ve got coming @Alan White 🤔😃