Show us your Vixen Scope or mount

[radiofm74]

2 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Hi Alan, Tim is correct, the knobs shown on your ED103S manual are different (and I think, better), than the round ones which seem to come as standard on the newer SD range.

I've been in touch with Bresser UK asking about availability of the focuser knobs from the SD, for the benefit of other SD owners, as I found that they are much more solid and easier to use in the dark when rotating the tube in it's rings..

Bresser's representative firstly disputed that the focuser knobs are metal (! - said "as far as she was concerned, they are made of ABS!), so then took 2 days to confirm with Vixen that they are in fact metal (specifically, aluminium!).

I then had to chase her and she did confirm that it is possible to buy a set of knobs (which has to include the pinion) at a cost of £51plus £5.95.UK delivery..so, not cheap!

If I wasn't already sorted with a pair, thanks to Tim's (@Franklin) help, I think I'd be inclined to go for the set referenced above by @The60mmKid.. here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325409930148

Finally..quote by Tim above..

The AX103S, being the Vixen premium scope

Er, that's not a scope, it's an Astrograph!! 

Now THIS is Vixen's Premium refractor...

(IMHO, of course!! 😁🤪😂🤣)..

Dave

That 115 haunts my dreams, but I have to stop amassing gear and focus on using my already extensive arsenal of optical tubes at its best 😅

[Franklin]

1 hour ago, Alan White said:

Interesting about the pinion as my ED103 Lazarus will benefit from a new one.

PM me.

[Franklin]

3 hours ago, F15Rules said:

"as far as she was concerned, they are made of ABS!)

When Vixen scopes changed to white around 2002, the stock pinion knobs were indeed made of ABS but of the same design of the current metal ones. My old ED102S F9 from 2003 that is being passed around the forum at present, did have these "plastic" focuser knobs, but I thought a scope of that calibre deserved better and so put a new pinion with metal knobs on it.

[AlcorAlly]

1 hour ago, Franklin said:

I thought a scope of that calibre deserved better and so put a new pinion with metal knobs on it

I'm extremely fortunate to have your ED102S now. Didn't know it came with the plastic knobs – thank you for upgrading them. It's a beautiful telescope, I think it's just perfect and I've enjoyed every minute with it so far 😊 

[Franklin]

3 hours ago, AlcorAlly said:

I'm extremely fortunate to have your ED102S now. Didn't know it came with the plastic knobs – thank you for upgrading them. It's a beautiful telescope, I think it's just perfect and I've enjoyed every minute with it so far 😊

It's not just a very capable 4" ED F9 refractor but that particular model, the WT version, is actually quite scarce. Enjoy☺️.

[Stu]

Finally got some clear skies and got the Vixen GP out for its first ‘light’ for me. Great to have simple tracking back for both solar and lunar observing.

[Zirkel 2]

F/9 ED102S (mine) with a news Vixen metal Knobs : https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP6EWGPEJUh7YkgIxOuD9foYtm1oJz_Jf2J57gsUxRWib3s4i4SPWAQKYQUjp1ztR6n8SmrE6xXOlNyzkKE27OJKswYiSZwgbpTJxe-sOYHKBSYbaSa8aeOIKYKSJ3gUitdGWIf-tSVxOLs3xB84etv7Yx0PWcawLn9tYEFMDTflXBsRHrs78iDO2/s3179/IMG_20230502_184929.jpg

[radiofm74]

I'll venture a post about Vixen eyepieces, at the risk that it be considered off topic 😃

My personal enabler and Vixen-stuff dealer sold me these four a little while ago… I suspect that they're the ones Roger Vine used in his review of the ED102S:

In a relatively short time frame, and with moderate expense the family has grown considerably!

While I am putting together a Panoptic/Nagler set for my DSO forays, the Vixens are to be used primarily as my planetary, lunar and multiple star eyepieces in town. Having tried them, I'm pretty sure that I'll be taking them around in my trips as well. I like them a lot: clean, crisp images, super-comfortable to use! 

Needless to say, they go especially well with my greeny ED102S – but I'm sure they'll make good friends with my other scopes too ;D

PS: I was about to skip the 40mm in favour of a 32mm Plössl. When a 40mm showed up, however, my completist side prevailed… good call! In my 920mm-to-2000mm focal lengths it's great to have max 1.25" field and a large exit pupil, plus the eyepiece is wonderful. The other night, along with the ED102S, it gave one of the best views I've had of the lunar full disk!

[Froeng]

3 hours ago, radiofm74 said:

I'll venture a post about Vixen eyepieces, at the risk that it be considered off topic 😃

My personal enabler and Vixen-stuff dealer sold me these four a little while ago… I suspect that they're the ones Roger Vine used in his review of the ED102S:

In a relatively short time frame, and with moderate expense the family has grown considerably!

While I am putting together a Panoptic/Nagler set for my DSO forays, the Vixens are to be used primarily as my planetary, lunar and multiple star eyepieces in town. Having tried them, I'm pretty sure that I'll be taking them around in my trips as well. I like them a lot: clean, crisp images, super-comfortable to use! 

Needless to say, they go especially well with my greeny ED102S – but I'm sure they'll make good friends with my other scopes too ;D

PS: I was about to skip the 40mm in favour of a 32mm Plössl. When a 40mm showed up, however, my completist side prevailed… good call! In my 920mm-to-2000mm focal lengths it's great to have max 1.25" field and a large exit pupil, plus the eyepiece is wonderful. The other night, along with the ED102S, it gave one of the best views I've had of the lunar full disk!

A very nice set of LVs indeed. You are only missing the 2” ones (30mm and 50mm). And of course, the 1.25” ones are brilliant in binoviewers, so you are only half done 😁😎🤣

Edited April 19 by Froeng

[Zirkel 2]

Greats Vixen eyepieces 👍

With my ED102S i use Scopetech Ortho/Plossl and Takahashi prism diagonal for lunar observation.

Planetary : XW, Nikon SW and Baader Classic Ortho.

DSO : XW and Nikon .

Edited April 20 by Zirkel 2
edit

[wookie1965]

My Vixen 102M. Just need to tidy up the dovetail. 

Edited April 20 by wookie1965

[osbourne one-nil]

It was always a matter of when rather than if.....

 

 

[radiofm74]

1 hour ago, osbourne one-nil said:

It was always a matter of when rather than if.....

 

 

Dream set-up!!!!

[F15Rules]

On 24/05/2024 at 12:03, osbourne one-nil said:

It was always a matter of when rather than if.....

 

 

Simply gorgeous!! Sublime design, great engineering and superb optics all in one delightful package!

And that's the first of the very latest 115SII series I've seen 'in use".

The only other 2 115"s I know of in the UK (but I am sure there are a fair few more) are mine and Steve's (@Saganite), and they are the previous generation (although both almost new scopes).

I believe the only difference is the presence of traditional "foil spacers" between the objective elements, while the Series II 115s has no foil spacers but a plastic spacer ring between the elements..I understand that this is a slightly better arrangement for imaging ( I'm visual only)..see photo of my objective below..

Perhaps it's time to set up a Vixen SD & ED owners' section..(only joking, this thread does the job just fine, for all Vixen stuff -including eyepieces!!..).

..and with that thought in mind, here is my full set of Vixen LVWs..sadly discontinued a good few years ago, but still wonderful eyepieces😊👍.

Dave

[osbourne one-nil]

It's my first big refractor; if I enjoy using it as much as my SD81Sii then I'm in for some great nights. 

 

You're right about the spacers. Here's the lens cell on mine. 

 

 

I had the SD81 with the foil spacers for a bit, and they did show up on brighter stars, such as here.

and I "upgraded" to the SD81Sii, which I love.

The idea is to replace my rather beaten-up R200SS. While they're vastly different scopes, for me it's as much about enjoying the process of setting up and taking the images as it the image itself. To not have to fret over whether the scope is collimated, or remains collimated throughout the night, will be lovely. It should also be so much fun visually with my little one, especially with the lovely Star Book Ten to navigate with. 

Next Sunday is looking promising. Sob. 

Edited May 26 by osbourne one-nil

[Deadlake]

On 16/04/2024 at 20:46, Stu said:

Finally got some clear skies and got the Vixen GP out for its first ‘light’ for me. Great to have simple tracking back for both solar and lunar observing.

Genuine question, what advantage does the Vixen GP have over the AZ100 when used for tracking?

[Deadlake]

Since EP’s are in the thread here is a full set of HR’s, and they are not going anywhere 

 

Edited May 26 by Deadlake

[Stu]

4 hours ago, Deadlake said:

Genuine question, what advantage does the Vixen GP have over the AZ100 when used for tracking?

I guess because it’s lighter and quicker to setup; just plonk down level and North and turn the tracking on, no alignment necessary. Easier for solar and for quick lunar:planetary sessions. Plus it has a handset for easy slewing around the target, and yes I know Rowan are bringing one out but I don’t have that yet.

[Mr Spock]

On 25/05/2024 at 12:56, F15Rules said:

..and with that thought in mind, here is my full set of Vixen LVWs..sadly discontinued a good few years ago, but still wonderful eyepieces

My little bit of eyepiece nirvana...

[osbourne one-nil]

I managed first light with my SD115 overnight and....I'm quite happy. I only managed to get about an hour and a half, due to cloud and the time of year, but I got something.  According to astap, there's some pretty severe tilt, but that would be because I was using a cheap rotator and hadn't locked it down. 

This is a very quick edit in Pixinsight. 

https://astrob.in/titx68/0/

[900SL]

Very nice set up Piers!

 

[F15Rules]

On 28/05/2024 at 09:38, osbourne one-nil said:

I managed first light with my SD115 overnight and....I'm quite happy. I only managed to get about an hour and a half, due to cloud and the time of year, but I got something.  According to astap, there's some pretty severe tilt, but that would be because I was using a cheap rotator and hadn't locked it down. 

This is a very quick edit in Pixinsight. 

https://astrob.in/titx68/0/

Great image!

Forgive my visual only ignorance, but what is "tilt"?🤔

Dave

[osbourne one-nil]

9 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Forgive my visual only ignorance, but what is "tilt"?🤔

Well I don't really know but I've heard people on the internet use it. It's probably the astronomy equivalent of a "false 9" in football parlance. 

I think it might mean where the plane of the camera sensor isn't perpendicular to the light landing on it. 

[Coco]

Here is my Vixen 90M 

Wonderful on doubles, solar system and not to shabby on bright DSO's

Factory fresh, I'm still looking for an original wooden tripod and mount.

 

[radiofm74]

The ED102S set-up you've already seen on here (sorry), now complete with half-pier and all-Vixen accessories (down to the green box!) save for a nice Baader diagonal with helical focuser. 

The half pier makes viewing much more comfortable, but amplifies the vibration of the rather flimsy tripod a little. Before looking for wooden legs – which might be a good solution – I'll try simple vibration suppressor pads. But emphasis is on comfortable viewing: I was very happy to be able to observe at zenith without lying on the ground yesterday night ;D