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TS-Optics 8" f/12 Cassegrain telescope 203/2436 mm OTA


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The TS 8” classical cassegrain scope arrived today. Impressed with how well,built and finished it is. Feels very solid but not too heavy. Similar weight to the Skymax180 and just slightly bigger. 

The focuser is not bad at all.  Smooth and feels as if it would handle some weight. It’s certainly no Feathertouch but seems up to the job. Drawtube has 50mm travel and spacers can be added between the focuser and scope if you need more backfocus. The spacers are really substantial items with micro baffling on the insides. 

Has a Losmandy plate on one side and a Vixen on the other. Think I will move the Vixen bar 90 degrees around the tube so that when I fit a handle to it it will be easier to hold while fitting it to the alt-az mount. Similar setup to that I had on the Skymax. Seems like it should be an easy job.

Will be using a Baader T2 prisim with it which should be a good match. Although it didn’t come with a “May Contain Clouds” label on the box it seems to have included a generous supply. 😁😁😁

Will look nice on the AZ100. 🙂

 

 

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Edited by johninderby
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It is a lunar / planetary specialist and should outperfom the 180 and also no worries aboit dew. 🙂

Snippet of a review I found of the scope.

”Jupiter was only 14 degrees above the horizon so atmospheric refraction did hinder, but when seeing calmed down I could see more details than I could have painted. The yellow to yellow-brown color of the equatorial zone also came through clearly in those moments. I can´t remember ever seeing Jupiter like that. That was one of the better Jupiter observations in my more than 45 years of observing.”

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Yes I’m well impressed. Far better built than I was expecting.

They are for adjusting the primary mirror. You can get a tilt adjuster for the focuser if needed.but that’s more for the imager.

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p4272_TS-focuser-collimation---Tilting---with-M90-Thread---for-RC-and-Refractors.html

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Edited by johninderby
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Yes, yes, yes a Baader Steeltrack refractor focuser does fit. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

I borrowed the Baader Steeltrack from Big Red and test fitted it. With the stock focuser using the 2” spacer is recommended but as the Steeltrack has nearly twice the focus travel only the 1” spacer would be needed. The Baader refractor adapter has the same 90mm x 0.1 thread so was a straight screw on. Without the spacer the drawtube was just a few mm too long.

The stock focuser is certainly adequate but doesn’t compare with the Steeltrack. Think I will be looking round for a second hand.Steeltrack. 🤔

Don’t you wish a refractor focuser would fit you mak or sct. 😁

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Edited by johninderby
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John, 

Please stop now, it's getting too much of a temptation.
That looks wonderful, as you say better made than expected.
It will look super on that AZ100 when you get it in November 😁

Clear Skies soon so we get a First Light report.

Edited by Alan White
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3 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Just waiting on the ADM mini vixen brackets so I can fit the handle and found a low profile finder bracket at a reasonable price. Hopefully will arrive tomorrow.

I knew the accessorisation wouldn't be far behind 🙂

 

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3 hours ago, johninderby said:

It is a lunar / planetary specialist and should outperfom the 180 and also no worries aboit dew. 🙂

Snippet of a review I found of the scope.

”Jupiter was only 14 degrees above the horizon so atmospheric refraction did hinder, but when seeing calmed down I could see more details than I could have painted. The yellow to yellow-brown color of the equatorial zone also came through clearly in those moments. I can´t remember ever seeing Jupiter like that. That was one of the better Jupiter observations in my more than 45 years of observing.”

Looks great John and I’m sure it’s going to be a very good scope - but I have to question that review - he/she must have been using some bad scopes when Jupiter was very high in the sky.

Edited by dweller25
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First light! First light! ... (I hear the crowd chanting :D )

I can't wait for first light report. Have mentioned that scope in couple of threads where people inquired about good planetary visual / imaging scope, but never seen one or read report on one. However, based on RC that has almost the same construction, and your description - it is indeed solid scope, and if my RC is anything to judge by, it should be very good optically as well.

I'm very anxious to hear how it performs in the field.

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Looks like a soild week of cloudy and rainy nights judging by the forecast. The usual new scope curse. 🙁

Yes it’s based a lot on the RC but a visually oriented.scope with a much smaller obstruction. Rc top iand Cassegrain bottom.

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Edited by johninderby
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14 minutes ago, John said:

That still looks quite a large CO though ?

 

They quote 33% secondary mirror obstruction (linear) which is a little bit less than a C8 SCT so not that bad for a cassegrain. The 8” RC CO is 85mm. 🙀

Edited by johninderby
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27 minutes ago, johninderby said:

They quote 33% secondary mirror obstruction (linear) which is a little bit less than a C8 SCT so not that bad for a cassegrain. The 8” RC CO is 85mm. 🙀

Indeed, but not unusual for astrograph. RC is not as good visual scope for planets, but otherwise quite good.

I think that they might even share some optics, or at least manufacturing process, as Cass has hyperbolic secondary and parabolic primary (primary should be easy as it is same process for fast newtonians GSO makes). RC has both hyperbolic surfaces. I tested mine RC to 94% or above Strehl, so their manufacturing process should be quite good. Not top quality, but not diffraction limited either.

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Looks great John. I have been looking at the original 6" Cassegrain for some while on the TS website. The cost of this at 399 Euros seemed a bargain - https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php?products_id=10748#cs. The only thing that put me off was the total lack of reviews.

So I am looking forward to your review/opinions in due course especially the comparison with the 180 Mak.

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The TS 6” has the old focuser. That was the one complaint about the old version. Probably clearing off the older scopes but the focuser can be changed. 🙂

There is this CN thread on the GSO version of the 6”.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/647095-gso-6inch-f12-classical-cassegrain-it’s-a-winner

Edited by johninderby
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11 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Looks a very pretty scope, and it's clearly you we've got to blame for the hideous weather at the mo!

Certainly a bit of coma and astigmatism in the 6" then?

Does the 33% obstruction include the baffles, or is it just based on the secondary mirror diameter?

That first light is eagerly awaited by many of us I think!

Chris

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Not sure if the CO includes the baffles. Here’s a view down the scope. 

What to do with a spare FLO desicant cap? The front cover is a really tight fit so the desiccant should work. And yes putting the desiccant cap into a prisim diagonal is not a good idea. 😁

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The ADM mini Vixen clamps arrived so was able to sort out the carry handle. The handle is a GSO aluminium low profile one and no longer sold but was able to find one on the ENS website.  A couple of M6 bolts and some spacers, washers and domed nuts and it was ready to fit to the scope. Like having an adjustable handle so it can be moved to the centre of balance.

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Security bolts added to the ends of the dovetail so the handle can’t slide off.

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Edited by johninderby
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