MalcolmM

I have a UNI 8. It is rock solid. Not very high but if I want a bit of extra height I have a pillar I attach to it. What I really like about it is the ease with which I can carry it outside. When the legs are retracted (with the tray in place), it fits easily through doors. When outside, extending the legs is an easy 10 second job! If I were to buy again though I think I would be very tempted to get the taller version and do away with the pillar - assuming it retracted down to a similar small size Malcolm

Great report; really enjoyed reading it. Love the enthusiasm a Tak brings out Call me deranged but there is 'something' about a Tak ... they have a personality Malcolm

One is a thing of infinite beauty, the other is ... a clicklock Malcolm

Just goes to show! The trick for me very often was to completely loosen the right eyepiece and let it 'float'. Despite really liking the WO Binoviewers, I recently bought some Maxbrights. They 'fix' all the foibles of the WO and I have never had any issues merging with them. I think they are brilliant. As for eyepieces; I already had a number of pairs but I love binoviewing so much I've doubled up on my Tak Abbes. I'm looking for some light wider FOV ones now too. My partner groans every time the door bell goes and another package appears At least it's only eyepieces now and not telescopes Malcolm

Nah, it's definitely a crab claw Malcolm

Wow, what a fabulous scope. I'm drooling at the thought of it! I'm sure it'll be a pleasure to use, a pleasure to look at, a pleasure to own and that's all before looking through it Malcolm

I have had nothing extra to pay on delivery so far. The most expensive order included a Giro Ercole so was quite heavy, total cost just over £400. This was in June last year and no extra tax then. Last order was June this year for about £150ish, again, no extra duty on delivery. Delivery was pretty quick too I think, in the order of about a week. Malcolm

Fabulous! I especially like the wide field of Cassiopeia with all the star clusters. Brilliant! Malcolm

Like @JeremyS, I use Tak LEs and find them very good. Also 28mm Tak Erfles which I find very comfortable to use. Unfortunately the above are no longer in production 🙁 My general approach is to keep the eyepieces light! I have always found the magnification with Binoviewers to be more than one would expect given the respective focal lengths. Some say this is an effect of using two eyes. I think it also depends on where the GPC is placed. With my 100DC and Williams Optics Binoviewers, I have to place the 1.6 WO GPC onto the telescope side of the diagonal. I have always felt this seemed more like x2 and a bit rather than x1.6 I have recently got a pair of Maxbrights and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Much easier to use, a pleasure in fact and no merging issues. I know this is not really what your original post was about but the Maxbrights for me have transformed my binoviewing! And that's despite having really liked the WO ones in the first place. I should caveat all the above by admitting I have not yet tried binoviewing with the 76DCU Regardless, good luck! Malcolm

It sounds like you are sorted but for future reference, have you tried here? https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/index.php/cat/c136_Counterweights-Balance-Weights.html/page/2 I've got a number of items from them in the last year or so (including a Vixen counterweight) and found them very good. Malcolm

Congrats on the Tak. I'm sure you'll love it! I occasionally use a 100DC on a Vixen AP and 1kg on the end of the shaft nearly does the job. 2.8kg easily copes less than half way down the shaft so I would guess 6.4kg would be much more than you need. Malcolm

Here's what I have. You've a shorter light path to the prism. I can see the part number from your photo. That's another thing to buy! I'd like the option to use them natively. Thanks again! Had Mars at x280 this evening with the Mewlon. Very steady seeing and some nice detail on Mars. Very sharp, even at that magnification, which I've never been able to use before. Malcolm

Just to keep true to the thread ...

Thanks @HollyHound, that looks like you've attached a Baader part direct to the Mewlon which would explain the difference I think. I'll examine closer later, currently looking at Mars with the 100 and XW5 with music blasting , doesn't get much better Malcolm

How do you connect the Maxbrights to the Mewlon @HollyHound? I use Baader 2" clicklock + 2" to 1.25 " clicklock adapter to Baader prism. I have to use the 1.25 GPC to come to focus! I have not been able to use natively, though I have read somewhere that the GPC corrects for CA (though maybe not necessary at f12? Malcolm

Gotta say I had another jaw dropping moment with the Mewlon when I looked at M42. So much detail and so bright! Was not able to see E and F but I was looking through a lot of atmosphere, Orion being quite low. And congratulations @HollyHound, great photo of a great looking couple. Wishing you many happy years together! Malcolm

Fantastic! That's very impressive! Malcolm

Very nice indeed! Malcolm

I was out at a similar time this morning and took this with my phone through the eyepiece. I didn't notice the 'fox' at the time but I think I see what you mean, though I think I'm seeing a mole Malcolm

I have a couple and think they are excellent. I must admit to using them partly to keep everything Tak I think they are excellent optically, very light, short light path and I like the locking mechanism, though I try to avoid eyepieces with undercuts. Cons are they don't accept standard filters, don't accept WO GPC for binoviewing and they will not grip deep undercuts as has been mentioned. Malcolm

mmmm ... bit of a squeeze! Note I have the full 60CB in. Removing it's lens cell/dew shield would give a bit of extra room.

PS Sorry, just realised I did not put the Q extender in it. It would probably fit at the expense of the cradle, mount and eyepieces. I'll check and post a photo!

I use this. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01MCRTITT?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title You need to separate the tube, but this takes 76DCU plus AZT6 plus cradle, diagonal and eyepieces ... just! It also fits Easy Jets free carry on. I attach a Gitzo Traveller to the exterior tripod attachments. If I use the 60CB rather than the 76 then the tripod also fits inside. That being said, the Airport Messenger @Stu has posted about looks like it can hold more but may not meet easyJet free carry on dimensions. Malcolm

Twotaks this morning on the moon. Mewlon, Maxbrights and 28mm Erfles is a wonderful combination. Very relaxing viewing. Took my best yet phone moon pics, hovering the phone over one of the eyepieces. No post processing. No idea why the colour differences but very pleased regardless! Malcolm

It all depends on the type of travel and how portable/small the kit needs to be. An FS60CB can get away with a very small mount and a photo tripod. The whole lot (plus diagonal and eyepieces) can fit into a small carry on bag if flying. This will do wide field and up to x150 with suitable eyepieces. The FOA is just a little shakier on the same mount/tripod combo. Of course the compromise is only 60mm instead of 100mm. But for me, I value the portability over aperture for travel. Now if you're putting it all in a backpack to hike to a dark site then extreme portability is maybe less important. Maybe what you need is 60CB, 76DCU and the Q module and ... you see how the spiral starts but you'd have all bases covered Malcolm