Show us your Vixen Scope or mount

[Fedele]

[Franklin]

2 hours ago, Saganite said:

Yes , it works beautifully.  The chap from whom I bought it had made a little cardboard battery pack holding 6 AA batteries and to my astonishment it tracked very accurately right where you can see it for nine hours, the setting circle graduations being exactly in line with the elapsed time.  Later that evening I took it into the garden aligned it North with a compass and had a very enjoyable couple of hours. 

 

There are 5vDC to 9vDC center negative, 5.5x2.1 plug, step-up cables available from China which are made to power guitar effects pedals from a rechargeable USB power-bank that also work with these old Vixen controllers.

[Franklin]

 

35 minutes ago, Fedele said:

That looks a bit of a beast!

I can see an AXD2 in your future😁.

Edited October 18, 2023 by Franklin

[LongJohn54]

13 hours ago, Saganite said:

The eyepiece travels longitudinally, in effect, backwards and forwards along the tube.  It now runs very smoothly after a little fettling , and is really very good.  The first time I have seen anything like this.  This scope I believe, was only supplied to the French Astro market, but I could be wrong.

 

The 6in version of this was also made by Vixen for Celestron in black. So it's possible these scopes were more widely available.   Photos here -

 

[tooth_dr]

I bought this on sale and it arrived today.  This is my first vixen product. Looking forward to getting it mounted and to try it out. Comes with a nifty flip mirror diagonal.

 

[Stephenstargazer]

Congratulations! these are excellent cats for either imaging or visual. I had a VMC200L for years but bought a VC200L when the chance arose. Never regretted. A true flat field that works with every eyepiece I have.

[tooth_dr]

Just now, Stephenstargazer said:

Congratulations! these are excellent cats for either imaging or visual. I had a VMC200L for years but bought a VC200L when the chance arose. Never regretted. A true flat field that works with every eyepiece I have.

I read your posts prior to buying it 😊👌🏻

[Fedele]

VMC260

SXD2

PANOPTICS 2" 35 MM

[Froeng]

1 hour ago, Fedele said:

VMC260

SXD2

PANOPTICS 2" 35 MM

Hi Fedele, is this example better than the previous one?

[tooth_dr]

Good looking scope the VC200L, even on my wee old run down LXD75. The whole thing has been on point tonight, centering perfectly some easy targets (m57 m27 m13, planets, alberio) within a 15mm Meade EP every time 

Edited to add, 12:1 focuser knob fitted today also, cheers Tim.@Franklin

 

 

 

Edited October 21, 2023 by tooth_dr

[Fedele]

11 hours ago, tooth_dr said:

Good looking scope the VC200L, even on my wee old run down LXD75. The whole thing has been on point tonight, centering perfectly some easy targets (m57 m27 m13, planets, alberio) within a 15mm Meade EP every time 

Edited to add, 12:1 focuser knob fitted today also, cheers Tim.@Franklin

 

 

 

I'm curious to know what its visual performance is on the Moon and Planets. let us know

[Fedele]

22 hours ago, Froeng said:

Hi Fedele, is this example better than the previous one?

Soon i will write something

[tooth_dr]

15 minutes ago, Fedele said:

I'm curious to know what its visual performance is on the Moon and Planets. let us know

I wont really be able to give you a very meaningful report.  I'm almost exclusively an imager with scopes, and I only occasional take a look.  I was able to get very nice tight diffraction spikes visually on vega last night, and I could separate the ring passing in front of saturn quite easily.  The moon was very low when I saw it, but again looked plentiful in detail.  I was able to magnify Jupiter to 120x easily, but wasnt able to get more mag, because my eyepiece case was in the bedroom and I didnt fancy waking up the other half to grab a shorter EP.  I have no doubt it would have taken more mag easily.  I could see the bands easily and a minute amount of detail within it.  The scope had been outside for several hours at this point and was well cooled.  I chose this scope because the mirror doesnt move unlike the 260, plus it's more suited to imaging.  I dont plan to image with it until into the new year.

[Franklin]

On 25/06/2023 at 21:53, F15Rules said:

Here are a few shots of my 1980s Vixen made, SBS branded 80mm F15 achromat.

A review of the Vixen 80mm F/15, if you haven't already seen it.

Vixen NP POLARIS 80L, Vixen 80/1200, 80 f15 achromatic refractor, Vixen New polaris refractor, Vintage Vixen 80L, LV vixen eyepieces, Vixen Lanthanum, (dark-star.it)

[Joe G]

I just had my recently purchased FL102S out for the first time doing some daytime terrestrial viewing. Also just back in from a short session viewing Jupiter, Saturn & the moon before the clouds finally blanked everything out. Maybe I’m a little “starstruck” at the moment but I believe the optics in this scope is something special 

[Franklin]

21 minutes ago, Joe G said:

I believe the optics in this scope is something special 

Very special, congratulations. 

From the Wigan area?

[Joe G]

Spot on Franklin!!😁

[Franklin]

1 hour ago, Joe G said:

Spot on Franklin!!

Your lovely FL102S is the earlier F/8.8 fl900mm version and with the swivel finder on the focuser and the additional finder shoe on the tube dates it to around 1985. This model continued till 1991 and then superseded in 1992 by the F9 fl920mm version. It's a classic!

[Alan White]

Just a shot of my GP all manual on the new to me Vixen tripod with correct boss from @Franklin. 

Other than colour, a match made well 😀

 

 

[Franklin]

 

1 minute ago, Alan White said:

Other than colour, a match made well 😀

For it to match you should have bought my GP2 when you had the chance Alan😁.

Edited October 25, 2023 by Franklin

[Alan White]

Just now, Franklin said:

 

For it to match you should have bought my GP2 when you had the chance Alan😁

Indeed I should have done, kick myself on that missed opportunity each time I see the green one and it’s white weight!

[Franklin]

Wasn't happy with the GP2 carrying the larger SD115S so was on the look out for a GPD2 which has just landed. Need to find a transparent blue polarscope cover to complete the set up.

 

[Alan White]

From our favourite Japanese site I presume?

[Franklin]

Just now, Alan White said:

From our favourite Japanese site I presume?

Indeed. I thought I'd got a bargain when I won the auction for £230 but it cost a further £250 in shipping and customs charges. Still, it's what I originally wanted and now the SXD2 has sold so all is good.

[F15Rules]

On 24/10/2023 at 15:49, Franklin said:

A review of the Vixen 80mm F/15, if you haven't already seen it.

Vixen NP POLARIS 80L, Vixen 80/1200, 80 f15 achromatic refractor, Vixen New polaris refractor, Vintage Vixen 80L, LV vixen eyepieces, Vixen Lanthanum, (dark-star.it)

A wonderful and engrossing read,Tim!

Thanks for posting.

Dave