Welcome to Gemma, the Takahashi FOA 60Q

[JeremyS]

24 minutes ago, IB20 said:

Not jealous at all!

Out of interest, if at hypothetical gunpoint and you could only keep one, which would it be? 

Now you are asking my to pick my favourite child 🤣

[JeremyS]

OK if a gun is involved I probably go for the FC 76 DCU. Large enough for many types of observing, yet the fact that it breaks into two means I can take it anywhere. It’s been all over the world with me.

And I still have a coulple of other larger scopes (non Tak) to fall back on. These weren’t included in your gun question 🤣👍🏻

[IB20]

I was hoping you were going to say the 76 DCU. I'm a huge fan of a smaller scope and from what I've read about it's performance I don't actually think its price is too silly. One day... (No guns will be involved in acquiring one!).

[Alan White]

3 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Errm….let me see.
 

Tak FS 60, FS 60Q, FOA 60 Q, FC 76 DCU, FC 100 DZ, FS 102, TSA 120

i make that 7 🤔

Looks like a 60mm thing going on.
Nice family though.

 

[JeremyS]

1 hour ago, IB20 said:

I was hoping you were going to say the 76 DCU. I'm a huge fan of a smaller scope and from what I've read about it's performance I don't actually think its price is too silly. One day... (No guns will be involved in acquiring one!).

There is a used one on ABS. I have no connexion with it.

[HollyHound]

2 hours ago, JeremyS said:

OK if a gun is involved I probably go for the FC 76 DCU. Large enough for many types of observing, yet the fact that it breaks into two means I can take it anywhere. It’s been all over the world with me.

And I still have a coulple of other larger scopes (non Tak) to fall back on. These weren’t included in your gun question 🤣👍🏻

I would agree, as an all rounder the FC-76DCU is the one... portability, optical quality, light gathering and usability... but, there is a real thrill getting the FOA-60Q out that I still love, even after many months.... it really is a little jewel (sorry "gem") of a scope 😀

 

 

 

[Andrew_B]

What a beautiful little scope and a fantastic addition to your collection.

I bet the views are razor sharp and unless I'm imagining it, having a longer focal ratio seems to do a better job of cutting through less than brilliant seeing. Isn't it great that Tak decided that they were going to make their corrected best scope ever, because they can? Mr Yuyama really pulled out the stops with his design and I can't imagine many companies these days that would have green lit a product so unashamedly targeted at the visual observer.

Don't forget to coat that precious lens with toothpaste after every use to replenish the fluoride!

Edited August 28, 2021 by Andrew_B

[JeremyS]

2 hours ago, Andrew_B said:

What a beautiful little scope and a fantastic addition to your collection.

I bet the views are razor sharp and unless I'm imagining it, having a longer focal ratio seems to do a better job of cutting through less than brilliant seeing. Isn't it great that Tak decided that they were going to make their corrected best scope ever, because they can? My Yuyama really pulled out the stops with his design and I can't imagine many companies these days that would have green lit a product so unashamedly targeted at the visual observer.

Don't forget to coat that precious lens with toothpaste after every use to replenish the fluoride!

I really wonder how long Tak will continue to make this model, given how specialised it is.

[reezeh]

On 25/08/2021 at 13:46, JeremyS said:

And I now own a family (herd?) of Taks.

Could that be a flock? Or is that just inside the tube? 😉

[JeremyS]

Much better transparency last night for Gemma’s second night out. Particularly for the deep sky objects. Sprinkling of faint stars in M13 and M57 nicely delineated. Jupiter very good again, but pity GRS hasn’t been on view the last couple of evenings. But what I enjoyed most was the exquisite stellar diffraction rings, esp on double stars (both eps Lyr separated at x100, but only one cleanly split at x79, N9 and N13 respectively).

Spent a bit more time comparing the Pan 24 and APM UFF 24. Similar analysis as before. Can’t decide which I prefer. Makes no sense to hold onto both 🤔

I guess EP compromises are inevitable, but I’d rather not have to make them given the no comprise FOA 60Q. Although one might argue that 60mm of aperture is itself a compromise 😊

[JeremyS]

6 minutes ago, reezeh said:

Could that be a flock? Or is that just inside the tube? 😉

I read “flock” as “fleck” Robert. what, a fleck on my lovely new lens? 😱

🤣

[reezeh]

21 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Errm….let me see.
 

Tak FS 60, FS 60Q, FOA 60 Q, FC 76 DCU, FC 100 DZ, FS 102, TSA 120

i make that 7 🤔

That reads like a full house on the euromillions lottery draw. Probably need one too to pay for that lot! 

[reezeh]

1 minute ago, JeremyS said:

I read “flock” as “fleck” Robert. what, a fleck on my lovely new lens? 😱

🤣

I should hope not! I'd be gutted with the slightest flaw 

[reezeh]

19 hours ago, IB20 said:

Not jealous at all!

Out of interest, if at hypothetical gunpoint and you could only keep one, which would it be? 

That'll be like asking which of your children would you keep in a like situation!  😮

[Alan White]

It’s good the Pan 24 and APM UFF 24 are so hard to make a call between Jeremy as I have on on its way to me.

I replaced the Pan 27 with the APM 30 and I thinks it’s as good if not better and works well with glasses.

 

[Pete Presland]

In a world that seems to be dominated by aperture, it is great read your first views through the new "family member". Great optics are always going to be than just great size. I was going ask about planetary views, but you have already answered my question, the views of Saturn and Jupiter sounded like they were superb!

I also like many ohers here grew looking through the old Tasco's.

 

[Deadlake]

20 hours ago, JeremyS said:

OK if a gun is involved I probably go for the FC 76 DCU.

If the scope did not need to portable, just take out to the garden which one would be your pick?

[JeremyS]

43 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

If the scope did not need to portable, just take out to the garden which one would be your pick?

I see where you are going with this 🤣

Tak TSA 120.
 

I’m not that daft 🤣

[Deadlake]

51 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

I see where you are going with this 🤣

Tak TSA 120.
 

I’m not that daft 🤣

The lightest 120 mm APO out there, unless you FT it. 😀 

Do you need a 100 mm APO now you have the 76?

If there was a ScopeTech (like) mount that could take the 120TSA then I guess not.

[JeremyS]

55 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

The lightest 120 mm APO out there, unless you FT it. 😀 

Do you need a 100 mm APO now you have the 76?

If there was a ScopeTech (like) mount that could take the 120TSA then I guess not.

First things first. The question is do I NEED TWO 100mm Apo? 🤣

[Alan White]

54 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

First things first. The question is do I NEED TWO 100mm Apo? 🤣

In your case, do I need so many 60mm Taks? 
Obvious answer is no, but I can have one less by posting it to me, I try to help 🤪

Edited August 27, 2021 by Alan White

[HollyHound]

7 hours ago, JeremyS said:

But what I enjoyed most was the exquisite stellar diffraction rings, esp on double stars

Agreed… I continue to be amazed how cleanly these are portrayed in this scope… better than anything else I’ve got access to 👍

[Andrew_B]

10 hours ago, JeremyS said:

I really wonder how long Tak will continue to make this model, given how specialised it is.

Hopefully they won't stop making it any time soon but I can see it becoming a collector's item like the FC-50 in years to come with its no compromise design in a relatively tiny package.

Not long ago I wouldn't really have understood why someone would want multiple scopes of the same aperture but I totally get it now! I've got my little WO Z61 which I bought primarily for imaging and recently got an FS-60CB for visual which is a stunning little thing. I've also got the Q-Extender module so I can use it as an FS-60Q and both versions of the little 60mm are brilliant in their own way so really I'd like to have both without having to swap pieces in and out and the extender is really for my FC-76 so I'd have to buy the full FS-60Q (and not just because I want that red nameplate). 🤣 On top of that there's the FOA-60Q which anyone into small refractors would want because it's the most perfect little telescope ever made.

[JeremyS]

1 hour ago, Andrew_B said:

Hopefully they won't stop making it any time soon but I can see it becoming a collector's item like the FC-50 in years to come with its no compromise design in a relatively tiny package.

Not long ago I wouldn't really have understood why someone would want multiple scopes of the same aperture but I totally get it now! I've got my little WO Z61 which I bought primarily for imaging and recently got an FS-60CB for visual which is a stunning little thing. I've also got the Q-Extender module so I can use it as an FS-60Q and both versions of the little 60mm are brilliant in their own way so really I'd like to have both without having to swap pieces in and out and the extender is really for my FC-76 so I'd have to buy the full FS-60Q (and not just because I want that red nameplate). 🤣 On top of that there's the FOA-60Q which anyone into small refractors would want because it's the most perfect little telescope ever made.

Spot on Andrew. Couldn’t have put it better myself!
Sounds like you are well down that slippery slope. It only gets steeper and more slippery 🤣

[HollyHound]

4 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Sounds like you are well down that slippery slope. It only gets steeper and more slippery 🤣

Believe this… these Taks are very addictive indeed 🤣