HollyHound

Wow, that’s an absolutely lovely scope you’ve got there 😃

I’ve read the review mentioned above and I recall it was one of the finest scopes he reviewed on that site 👍

Enjoy and welcome to the Tak club… with that one, you might even be able to resist the urge to acquire more 🤣

6 minutes ago, IB20 said:

Be interested if you can focus in your current set-up, click lock etc. May revisit the range if you have success. 

You're in luck, just spotted a small break in the cloud and had 10mins on Jupiter.... bit hazy but able to check focus... with my current setup the XWs focus with around 2cm of outward travel on the focuser and the DeLite needs 3cm (approx). I intend to increase my fixed T2 extender ring from 15mm to 30mm, which will give me a more balanced inward and outward focus range, whilst allowing XWs, DeLites, Masuyamas and my Nagler 3-6 Zoom to all come into focus easily 👍

So short answer, they are within 1cm of the XWs and so easily usable on the FC-76DCU (and presumably FS-60CB) 😁

Had one of these (and an 18.2) two years ago, and as I’m trying to build another lightweight set for my 76DCU, thought I’d try these again (to compare against my XWs) 😃

Thanks as always to @FLO for getting this out so quickly 👍

54 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

The ES24 68 is a cracking eyepiece Gary. I've not used a Panoptic 24mm but I know they are revered on the forums. I think you will like the ES 24, very comfortable, well built and delivers nice widefield views.

Thanks 👍

The comparison reviews I’ve read, seem to indicate that the ES compares more than favourably to the Panoptic… in the time I had mine, it was a lovely, compact eyepiece with a super flat view, but it does have significant distortion and I never thought it was as “vibrant” as my other eyepieces (XWs and Masuyama).

Can’t wait to try it out, and will report back when I can.

I’ve also got a DeLite 13mm on the way… I used to have this (and the 18.2) two years ago, and keen to see how this fares in my small Taks, as I’m trying to build a small and lightweight set for my grab and go refractors 🤔

Nice image... thanks for sharing 🙂

I’ve had the Masuyama 16mm (1.25”) and 26mm (2”) for about a year.

When used in my FC-76DCU (f/7.5) they exhibit quite significant field curvature from around 50% outwards and then astigmatism in the outer 20%. Still fine for “framing” and reference though.

However, these aberrations reduce in the FC-100DC (f/8) and are not noticeable in either the FS-60Q (f/10), FOA-60Q (f/10) or Mewlon 180C (f/12). I haven’t (yet) tried them in my 10” Dob (f/5).

They have really excellent contrast and a certain clarity and vibrancy in colour rendition, which makes them quite special, particularly for clusters and DSOs… for this reason they remain a central part of my eyepiece set 😀

I wouldn’t have them as your only eyepieces though in fast(er) scopes 🤔

Another and unexpected delivery (wasn’t expecting this for weeks)… thanks @FLO and @Dek Rowan Astro 👍

Replacement AZ75 Pan/Tilt Handle… this will make the little mount even more usable than it already is 😃

Few bits arrived today…

Clicklock 2” to 1.25” Adaptor - Got fed up swapping, so now DZ, M180 and FOA60 can all accept 1.25” eyepieces easily again 

Baader ND Filter

ES 24mm 68 - My FC-76DCU has been reverted to 1.25” eyepieces only (keeping it simple) and so this is the new “widefield” eyepiece… I sold my Pan24 last year and long wait for another and Erfle no longer available. As reviews of this one are good, it should be perfect for the role, and slightly better eye relief… it’s also about the same weight as all my 1.25” XWs, so will make scope balancing a non issue 🤞

49 minutes ago, Space Hopper said:

Hope you don't mind me butting in, and not wanting to take the topic off course but,

how do you find the DZ compared to your earlier DC ??  Much difference apart from the extra 80mm fl ?

I'll be completely honest and say that so far, I haven't seen anything in the DZ that wasn't seen in the DC and the views are very much the same (so far)... I'm sure that on a perfect night of seeing, that the DZ will likely get just that bit more detail out that the DC can't, but that hasn't happened (for me) yet 🤔

The extra 60mm focal length is useful, and being f/8, it really does sharpen up the edges on a few of my eyepieces (notably the XW14 and 20), but again these were quite fine already

What is massively different though is ergonomics...

The DZ is significantly heavier than the DC, but I'm using it on an AZ75 or AZ100 and it's not my grab and go scope (the FC-76DCU does that), so not an issue anyway.

It has a focuser with a much longer travel (no need to worry about spacers quite so much) and it feels a tiny bit more robust.  I also love the metal rather than plastic focuser wheels, although this is really nothing important.

The sliding dew-shield is very convenient when carrying it in and out, and seems to be much deeper, so should give more dew protection.

If you want to have that extra bit of optical perfection, for when it might just be usable, then by all means get the DZ, but you're losing very little (or nothing on normal nights) with the DC, and might also be able to use a lighter mount too 👍

I had my DC in that configuration for a short while before I got the DZ… it was also had a slightly stiffer focus action, but never felt it was overloaded 🤞

It’s great in this configuration if you love binoviewing 😃

15 minutes ago, jjohnson3803 said:

Update - I took out my 102ED this morning for some lunar observing and while the image was spectacular, the mount / tripod combo are really too jittery for my tastes.  It was rather cold and maybe that had some effect, and maybe it was partly due to sticky grease in the focuser, but I have to seriously consider a different mount (Stellarvue M2C?) or using lighter scopes.      FWIW.

 

I've always found the ScopeTech Zero (on Report 472 tripod) works perfectly with my grab and go setup of either the FC-76DCU or FS-60CB... however my FC-100DZ I feel is just a bit too much for this mount and although it will carry it, their is too much jitter as well for me 😬

Switching down to an 80ED might indeed by a good solution, as this is intended as a lightweight mount... or indeed looking at another mount 🤔

FWIW, the AZ75 carries my FC-100DZ perfectly (on a Uni 28 tripod) and it jitter free, although it is considerably heavier than the Scopetech!

Lovely image of Mars 😀

1 hour ago, Dave scutt said:

My favorite was ES 82 14mm , but just sold it😔.

And brought an Telvue Ethos 13mm instead😁

I suspect this will be a highly regarded replacement 😃

I’ve posted another quick observing “report” here

One think I did notice… I’ve been using the eyecups extended, but not been able to see the full field completely. I tried the eyecups rolled down, and that works nicely, but then it’s easy to get too close and get some “darkening” of the view.

The solution was simple… eyecups extended again, but I just push my eyes fully into the rubber and suddenly the full field is visible and also it seems to help “stabilise” my eye view too, and view is even more relaxed 👍

Simple and quite basic information I’m sure, but just thought I’d record it 👍

Another quick session with the Canon IS 15x50... this is becoming a really nice treat, just being able to pop out for 10mins (in cloud breaks) and have a quick whizz around 😁

Jupiter (three moons tonight) - No real detail on the surface at this mag, but lovely nonetheless (I had views of both South and North belts, plus all four moons on Saturday night with the FOA-60Q and FC-100DZ)

Saturn (and I think a moon) - Rings are visible (as discernible bumps)

Pleiades - These binoculars are made for this... just frames it beautifully and I'm seeing more and more small sets of stars each time I look

M31 - Was easily found, a relatively small "smudge" initially, but as my eyes became dark adjusted, it became larger and a tad brighter (averted vision helped here)... first time I've seen this with these binoculars

Finally had a few minutes sweeping around the Milky Way... the moon hasn't risen yet and it's quite obvious from our farm site here. but stunning detail through these binoculars 😀

I'm a massive fan of IS binoculars now, especially after a long day and with small windows of clear sky right now 👍 

Managed two whole hours tonight (longest for a good while) 😀

AZ75 on UNI 28 with FOA-60Q and FC-100DZ… this is proving to be a great setup, and quick to setup and take down again 👍

29 minutes ago, Don Pensack said:

I did not compare every eyepiece, so there could be some exceptions, and I did not compare socioeconomic factors like a cost of living which might make the UK citizen capable of paying more than a US citizen.

Umm, without straying too much into "political" territory.... let's just say things aren't too bright over here right now on that front 😬

Thanks for the price comparison 👍 It's almost worth picking up a set of Ethos in the US if one was over there on a long(ish) business trip for example... assuming duty doesn't get involved on the way back in🤔

Very brief (25 mins only), again due to lots of cloud... but a sudden clear area popped up, just as I was taking the dog out before bed, so grabbed the Canon IS 50x50 and had a quick look...

Jupiter - Beautiful with four moons strung out (two per side)

Mars - This is getting brighter each time I see it now, so can't wait for opposition (FOA-60Q and Mewlon I think)

Pleaides - These binoculars are absolutely the perfect tool to view these - It frames them nicely and I've never seen so much detail in binoculars before

Moon (of course) - Had a good 10 mins on this exploring - Again, I've never seen to much detail in (hand held) binoculars before, really cool to view without mounts, tripods etc!

As I said, it was only quick, but well proves the value of these binoculars for quick looks 😁

4 minutes ago, Dave scutt said:

I'm sure i will enjoy using it for you 

I absolutely know you will 😁

51 minutes ago, Don Pensack said:

For me, it's the 6mm TeleVue Ethos

Aggh... I just sold this one 😬

Never mind, I really did enjoy using it, but I'm super happy with my XW5 at this focal length... I prefer the eye relief, FoV and ergonomics in my scopes. But I can attest, the Ethos are superb eyepieces for sure 😁

51 minutes ago, Don Pensack said:

That more Ethos eyepieces haven't been mentioned here is probably due to the fact you guys on that side of the pond pay more for them than we do.

And pay less than we do for the APM XWAs.

That's a fact... they're super expensive, which is why most over here buy used!

31 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Help arrived from FLO 🤞🏻

Interested to hear how you get on with the Dioptrx... it's a great little bit of kit 🤞

17 minutes ago, JTEC said:

I find it interesting that, unless I missed something, not a single Ethos, wonderful though they are, has yet received a mention 🤔  

I’m not rooting for the Ethos, just a little surprised given their exceptional capabilities. My favourite eyepieces for the mostly lunar and planetary observing that I do are pairs of Tak orthos in the binoviewer.  This combo outperforms anything mono I’ve used, including single current top line models like, for example,  the 10mm TV Delos and Pentax XW 5 and 7mm. For wider field mono, I have a soft spot for the 22mm Nagler - inexperienced users also seem to enjoy the views through this eyepiece I’ve found.

 

 

 

Ethos are wonderful eyepieces, but some don't get on with the hyper wide FoV.... I've loved mine but am moving them on, as I find that my XWs and Masuyamas do everything I need across all my scopes.... so for me my favourite eyepiece would be any from this case, plus the XW 30 and 40s 😁

If asked to pick just a couple.. then the XW 5 and  7 would the ones for image quality, but the Hyperion Zoom 8-24 for sheer versatility (I have two in my binoviewer) 👍

54 minutes ago, IB20 said:

One of these? It would be good to know what to get if it happened again. I was thinking about clicklocking eventually too.

Here's my setup, which includes two 2" ClickLocks (an M56i for Takahasi end and T2 for diagonal with 1.25" ClickLock adaptor), a Baader T-2 Prism Star-Diagonal and a 15mm T2 extension ring... works for all my (current) eyepieces (XWs, Nagler 3-6 Zoom, Vixen HR) and various others I've had over the years (not sure about the Delos 14mm, that had infocus issue I recall 🤔).

Perhaps overkill, but it's my most used (grab and go) scope 😁

Hope this helps 👍

11 hours ago, Stu said:

Perfect excuse to pop a Feathertouch on it 😉. Focuses with the 24mm Panoptic using a T2 prism (or mirror if I recall correctly). Also copes with binoviewers with a cool wedge which needs plenty of inwards focus. Tak used to do a 105mm SV tube (vs 127 or 145mm for the CB or C (nm era from memory), and this gave more info is, wish they still sold them. 

There's almost as much focuser as scope here.... nice one 😁

12 hours ago, IB20 said:

You’re dead right, I did have to pull it up slightly to focus. That set my OCD off though and it was one of a few reasons I got rid; eye relief mechanism was another. It was a fantastic EP though but I think the XWs are better.

As mentioned earlier, you may find that the simple addition of a 7.5mm extension ring before the diagonal would allow sufficient focuser movement either side to allow all your eyepieces to focus 🤔