Tak FC100DL F9

[BGazing]

Tak clamp rocks, it is great for balancing. That said, DF is so back heavy, even with T2 diagonal I have to get the clamp back a lot.

[Timebandit]

38 minutes ago, Highburymark said:

Redesigning the Tak clamp would make as much sense as Mercedes ditching its three point star  - or Televue moving to a new colour scheme. It's among the most recognisable features of one of the most iconic brands in astronomy. Agree it's not really a thing of beauty - more a piece of functional design that over the years has become a classic - like a Zippo lighter or Maglite torch 

 

Drive a 67 Merc and a modern Merc and you tell me what has not been redesigned and updated apart from the three point star badge. I am not asking for Tak to change its trade marks. Just come up to date with some modern design's to keep there scopes justifying its premium price Tag. I thought the most recognisable thing about the Tak is the quality optics that it uses on its scopes and prides itself  on. I am sure people do not spend thousands of pounds on a Tak scope, so they can have a clamshell . 

While we are on the subject of design , I am sure i tend to see a lot of people changing the standard focuser? Maybe its time for Tak to redesign this also ? ???. 

 

 

 

[25585]

I have on order a couple of DVPA-TAK-D saddles which attach to the bottom of a clamshell using the latter's M8 holes. The saddle clamps to either a Vixen or Losmandy D bar. It can be slid and on a long enough bar, 2 clamshells can be fitted for an OTA. 

The saddles can also be used for attaching to weights for balancing. None seen on UK sites, but can be purchased for US $40 each from ADM's own site. 

http://www.admaccessories.com/product/dvpa-tak-d-series-or-v-series-dovetail-adapter-for-takahashi-mounts/

[25585]

1 hour ago, Timebandit said:

 

Drive a 67 Merc and a modern Merc and you tell me what has not been redesigned and updated apart from the three point star badge. I am not asking for Tak to change its trade marks. Just come up to date with some modern design's to keep there scopes justifying its premium price Tag. I thought the most recognisable thing about the Tak is the quality optics that it uses on its scopes and prides itself  on. I am sure people do not spend thousands of pounds on a Tak scope, so they can have a clamshell . 

While we are on the subject of design , I am sure i tend to see a lot of people changing the standard focuser? Maybe its time for Tak to redesign this also ? ???. 

 

 

 

A proper hinge for the clamshell, gloss white colour, satin black focuser (as DL 1st run) and a right angle diagonal finder scope option. 

 

[mikeDnight]

I've a suggestion!

Why not sell the Tak scopes you hate so much to those who will appreciate and use them? After all, Tak's focusers are so poor, the direct finders so old hat and the clamshells so weak and ugly, they've only been in production for 50+ years without issue. 

With the exception of a FTF, De Taking aTak is akin to buying a Porsche then trying to convert it into a Nissan Micra! 

 

[BGazing]

Yeah, I was wondering about 'spongy' MEF focuser I've read about here. I have two FTFs (C8, Borg) and MEF appears to be just as precise. You KNOW when it is in focus.

Ditto clamshell...very utilitarian, very handy. A bit difficult to source dovetails.

Extenders...now, that is a different story, but I guess I could have saved some headache by going directly to 2 inch BBHS instead of T2.

[Pig]

Ugly clamps, poor focuser and out of date design and a hefty price tag ...... they must be a right load of old junk ?

I think I am going to sell mine because this light weight scope that is welded in place by a rock solid vibration free clamp with a focuser that accommodates huge magnifications whilst delivering precise pinpoint stars and commands a very high used market price.... its hard to justify buying one ...... but hey it’s only my money ? ?

[25585]

20 minutes ago, Pig said:

Ugly clamps, poor focuser and out of date design and a hefty price tag ...... they must be a right load of old junk ?

I think I am going to sell mine because this light weight scope that is welded in place by a rock solid vibration free clamp with a focuser that accommodates huge magnifications whilst delivering pinpoint stars and commands a very high used market price.... its hard to justify buying one ...... but hey it’s only my money ? ?

They pimp-up a treat though! ???

Focuser porn?

[Timebandit]

 

?

As I have said before, Tak are well known for there quality optics and hopefully this will continue. But they do seem to have sat in the past. 

When I read matters concerning the Tak and a scope for life at a premium price. Then I would of thought they would just move with the times . And have a forward thinking and a bit more of a keep well ahead of the competition attitude. You have SW nibbling at there heels with some great ED and Triplets and at great bang for buck prices, and SW are seemingly continuing to develop and design there products. The Esprit which for the money does seem to get excellent reviews. And the likes of the ED150 coming on the market for around £1700 I understand, could be a game changer if the quality of the scope is just a beefed up version of the ed80, ed100, ed120.  Maybe I am just missing the point and the Tak is just " vintage" and wishes to stay that ,and the owners are happy with the "vintage " aspect? On my second yellow now???

 

 

 

 

 

[BGazing]

Tonight's Mare Serenitatis was flabbergasting. Straight to the rubbish bin, you Japanese weirdo.

[25585]

2 minutes ago, Timebandit said:

 

?

As I have said before, Tak are well known for there quality optics and hopefully this will continue. But they do seem to have sat in the past. 

When I read matters concerning the Tak and a scope for life at a premium price. Then I would of thought they would just move with the times . And have a forward thinking and a bit more of a keep well ahead of the competition attitude. You have SW nibbling at there heals with some great ED and Triplets and at great bang for buck prices, and SW are seemingly continuing to develop and design there products. The Esprit which for the money does seem to get excellent reviews. And the likes of the ED150 coming on the market for around £1700 I understand, could be a game changer if the quality of the scope is just a beefed up version of the ed80, ed100, ed120.  Maybe I am just missing the point and the Tak is just " vintage" and wishes to stay that ,and the owners are happy with the "vintage " aspect? On my second yellow now???

Very conservative and loyal Japanese home market I expect. Vixen seem to be moving back to Japanese made lenses on certain models, looking at FLO's Vixen refractor page. I have no issues with my Tak's OE focuser operation, need to test it with the heavy 2 inchers and diagonal though....?

 

 

 

[mikeDnight]

27 minutes ago, Timebandit said:

 

?

As I have said before, Tak are well known for there quality optics and hopefully this will continue. But they do seem to have sat in the past. 

When I read matters concerning the Tak and a scope for life at a premium price. Then I would of thought they would just move with the times . And have a forward thinking and a bit more of a keep well ahead of the competition attitude. You have SW nibbling at there heels with some great ED and Triplets and at great bang for buck prices, and SW are seemingly continuing to develop and design there products. The Esprit which for the money does seem to get excellent reviews. And the likes of the ED150 coming on the market for around £1700 I understand, could be a game changer if the quality of the scope is just a beefed up version of the ed80, ed100, ed120.  Maybe I am just missing the point and the Tak is just " vintage" and wishes to stay that ,and the owners are happy with the "vintage " aspect? On my second yellow now???

 

 

 

 

 

[25585]

Moonlite CF dual speed red focuser (Sky 90 flange) will look well with Primaluce red, no clash. Enhanced functions, enhanced looks. ?

Tele Vue clamshells manage to look right and are a nice satin black, looking part of an OTA, snugly wrapped around, my Genesis lives in its clam. Takahashi only has to do a little re-design to be as cool.

[F15Rules]

11 hours ago, 25585 said:

Tak needs the Vixen aesthetic, not SW! Clamp looks like a Skytee 2 accessory made downtown, not one for a high end, high class refractor. 

I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree on this. I love the tube clamp on my FS128 and although I also love Vixen scopes and like their simple tube rings style, I switched my Vixen rings for a Tak clamshell, mainly for functional reasons so I can use my ED103s on my Tak mount, but I also genuinely like the look of the Vixen with the Tak clamshell too.

I attach an ordinary short dovetail to the clamp when I mount it on a CG4 mount.. And believe me, the clamp holds my Vixen rock solid, on whichever mount it is on. "Low rent? "Tacky??" No way!☺

Dave

 

[marcus_z]

Using a dovetail which is longer than the saddle of the mount usually does not make sense. The geometrical moment of inertia of the FC-100D tube is much higher than that of the dovetail. So basically you allow your setup more flex if your dovetail is too long.

[25585]

1 hour ago, marcus_z said:

Using a dovetail which is longer than the saddle of the mount usually does not make sense. The geometrical moment of inertia of the FC-100D tube is much higher than that of the dovetail. So basically you allow your setup more flex if your dovetail is too long.

I have a 495mm Geoptik Losmandy saddle, the same length as the dovetails I use, Geoptik is for the 120 Equinox. Primaluce + Tak weighs less and will not flex, very rigid. 

[John]

24 minutes ago, 25585 said:

I have a 495mm Geoptik Losmandy saddle, the same length as the dovetails I use, Geoptik is for the 120 Equinox. Primaluce + Tak weighs less and will not flex, very rigid. 

So you will be using a half metre (nearly) long Geoptic Losmandy saddle on your Skytee II mount and a similar length Primalucelab Losmandy DT plate with 4 tube rings on the Tak FC-100 DL ?

 

[Stu]

7 hours ago, John said:

So you will be using a half metre (nearly) long Geoptic Losmandy saddle on your Skytee II mount and a similar length Primalucelab Losmandy DT plate with 4 tube rings on the Tak FC-100 DL ?

 

One thing is for sure, the scope is not going to escape! The mount may sink into the ground under the weight of it all, but the scope will definitely still be attached to it  

 

[iPeace]

I've tried it, it's overkill

[25585]

7 hours ago, John said:

So you will be using a half metre (nearly) long Geoptic Losmandy saddle on your Skytee II mount and a similar length Primalucelab Losmandy DT plate with 4 tube rings on the Tak FC-100 DL ?

 

Primaluce Losmandy saddle is shorter, but also has 3 locking plates. I have 2 Skytee2 mounts, 1 tripod. Each of the Losmandy saddles is on a separate head, on the top mount. 

The heaviest part of it all, is the SW extension pillar, steam pipe thickness, it weighs more than a Skytee 2! On grass a plank under the tripod feet is needed, before a scope is mounted. 

[25585]

22 minutes ago, iPeace said:

I've tried it, it's overkill

You need black rings! If only rings were sold singly, not in pairs. 3 would be sufficient. 

It's the number of locks that count most to me.  

[John]

32 minutes ago, 25585 said:

Primaluce Losmandy saddle is shorter, but also has 3 locking plates. I have 2 Skytee2 mounts, 1 tripod. Each of the Losmandy saddles is on a separate head, on the top mount. 

The heaviest part of it all, is the SW extension pillar, steam pipe thickness, it weighs more than a Skytee 2! On grass a plank under the tripod feet is needed, before a scope is mounted. 

Thanks for the clarification.

I think the weak point of your setup could be the junction of the Geoptic clamp with the Skytee II head. I use the 8mm bolts on mine, rather than the 6mm ones for this reason. Having broken a Skytee II once by dropping the head onto soft carpet I do wonder occasionally about the quality of the alloy casting in the mount and the strength of the 3 small bolts that hold the black puck onto the altitude axis when I'm using my LZOS 130 F/9.2 triplet on the Skytee II - the OTA weighs more than twice as much as the Tak FC-100DL and is somewhat longer too. The arrangement has worked well enough so far though. I guess the APM Maxload mount would a higher level of alt az security and stability. Matthew (member here) uses one to carry his APM/LZOS 180 triplet:

[25585]

Good idea John. I completely agree with your concern about the junction. 

For Primaluce, it's holes are only M6 width but widening is not an issue. Ditto the Geoptik. I might drill another hole in Skytees pucks as well, in for a penny... Hopefully there will be less pull on the metal using the top rather than side. 

No worries for my Tak set-up, the 120 Equinox one is heavier. 

 

[BGazing]

1 hour ago, iPeace said:

I've tried it, it's overkill

Impresive humidity...

[iPeace]

2 hours ago, BGazing said:

Impresive humidity...

It happens; we're on a patch of reclaimed ocean floor.