Deadlake

Interested to see how you antique TSA120 holds up, have you for a Tak 100 to compare with??? 😀

Here is a list of carbon fibre mounts, some can carry quite a load SuperMount Act seriesGitzo systematic 5 series Gitzo systematic 4 series Gitzo systematic 3 series Photoclam Astro tripod K-Astec PTP-C22 Leofoto LN-404C Xiletu L-404C Innorel RT90C however the Gitzo comes out ahead due to its damping properties, otherwise Leofoto, but damping not as good. However reading this https://thecentercolumn.com/2019/10/24/tripod-weight-ratings-are-meaningless/ makes the choice harder...

The HR range where built for the AX100S. Vixen claims on access Strehl close to centre 1 and off axis of 0.97. So I can see it’s total system. I should send my SD103S back and get the matching AX103S or save up get a TSA-120???😁 This is the refractor game...

In e-mail from Rothervalley, apparently there will be another shipment of HR planetary’s mid September. Guess it’s wait and see....

Unfortunately Vixen Europe is out of 3.4 mm HR EP's, not sure about the others in the range yet. I've gone for the Tak 4 mm TOE EP. I suspect I'll also end up with either the 4mm Delite or 3.5 mm Pentax in the future, larger FOV, eye relief and seeing everyone else's EP collection's. 😀

At the moment I’m using a Scope Tech zero mount, has slow mo’s however wider field of view would be good. Main use case would be planets, I’d revisit later with different EP’s for other cases. Looks like I’m going to have several EP’s of the same size for different applications. Also these, Pentax XW 3.5mm Vixen SSW 83° 3.5 mm

In the time taken to post above Vixen EU are out of 3.4 mm HR and will not be getting any more in (source: FLO) Back to original question, which of the below: Tele Vue Delite 62º Eyepieces Takahashi TOE Eyepieces Or any others I should look at?

I've gone for the 3.4 mm HR planetary, hopefully I'll be able to get hold of one. Thanks for the advice.

I’ve got on order a Vixen 4 mm SLV, however the delivery time has gone out to 30-40 days the same as a HR planetary 3.4 mm. One reason to go with the SLV was 20 mm eye relief and deliver of 7 days. Other options are 4 mm versions of: Tele Vue Delite 62º Eyepieces Takahashi TOE Eyepieces Is the planetary HR that much better then the others, worth the wait? This I imagine is the last opportunity to aquire them new?

Clearing the history etc would help the most... This link has a list of what needs to be deleted: https://beebom.com/safari-running-slow-macos-catalina-update-fix/ Also how full is your file system, even on SSD this can slow down.

Why do you keep it when you have the Talk 100? Presume it cannot cope with as high magnification?

Anyone know how the 2.5 mm SLV and 2.4 mm HR Planetary compare, when looking at planets (Jupiter excluded) or bright doubles? I’m presuming better colour correction on the HR planetary due to the higher Strehl ratio. Does it give any flexibility with the scope it’s being used with, the SLV I presume would decrease sharpness as having a lower Strehl ratio? The SLV Strehl ratio is about 10 % less then the HR planetary. At the same time the HR planetary was designed to work with the AX103S, does it add that much as no point getting any HR planetary’s if using a SD103S? Both would have a theoretical useable magnification of 217, 2.4 mm HR would deliver a magnification or around 341.

Does anyone know what the correct adapter is for a Vixen SX & GP HAL-130 tripod to 3/8 thread? I have a Astro Essential EQ5 adapter, which will not accept the locking bolt, here: Would the EQ6 adapter work or should I just spend the extra and get the Vixen Camera Platform Adapter for HAL Tripod? I do not want to follow this approach...

Apart from the lettering you can hardly tell the difference, inside different glass and baffles (to give imaging circle of 44 mm). Wonder what they would look like side by side?

Is it a Takahashi thing the lack of handles when new? 😀. See handle provided fresh from the box below.

The vixen SD81S is not turning up to September, all sold out. However Vixen SD103S are available, from the YouTube video I’m presume SD103S will behave like the Tak-100 as far as balance, etc...

Thanks for clearing up around the clutches. I’ll give the ScopeTech Zero a go.

I think this has been linked elsewhere, but gives a good overview. In Japanese, but subtitles in English. A Vixen SD81S, I suspect the Porta II would do, however any heavier...

Defeated by wobble/nudge test, certainly takes longer to recover in review on YouTube pitted against Scopetech Zero.

From the site: "Unclamp the axes and you can reach any point on earth or in the sky with fast pans. As soon as you have set the target, fix the axes with the knurled screws." Looks like a clutch... But yes, looks good...

I have a Scopetech Zero on order. The only other mount I could find without clutches and with slow motion controls was the Vixen APZ around £530. Vixen APZ is 2 kg heavier but can take 1 kg more payload, so Scopetech Zero weighing 2 kg less won. Any other mounts with those features?