The Long Refractor Thread!

[refractor2345]

I wanted a thread for the long refractor (f/9 or more!) because it is linked to me. I remember when when my grandad bought me a 70mm f/10 scope, the moon was crystal sharp, Jupiter showing its band in some detail, and, most important of all, no CA. (You know there was a little bit of CA but not much to ruin the experience) And so I thought to see your story of the long refractor, so post it below! ( I also had a 60mm f/11.5-ish telescope!)

[Franklin]

I've got a 102mm at f/11 which I like very much but its very long and needs quite a substantial mount. 

Good topic, I'm sure there will be plenty of replies from all the refractor lovers on here shortly.

[johninderby]

Here is Big Red my homebuilt 100mm f/13 refractor using Japanese Carton optics. 

And my ScopeTech 80 f/15. A fine new Japanese scope in the classic style.

[John]

Hello and welcome to the forum

There are quite a few fans of the long refractor on here who will chime in soon I expect.

For me, this one was just a bit too long and heavy - a 150mm F/12. I had dreams of being like the Victorian observers, at the end of a large, long elegant instrument.

The scope, though excellent, was just too much of a handful and needed a very heavy duty mount. Once setup it was there for the night. A nice idea but it turned out to be a little impractical. Really a scope of this type needs to be on a permanent mounting in an observatory I think.

It was fun for a while though

Now my longest refractors are a more modest F/9 and F/9.2.

 

 

[JeremyS]

Takahashi FOA 60Q, f/15

[refractor2345]

11 hours ago, John said:

Hello and welcome to the forum

There are quite a few fans of the long refractor on here who will chime in soon I expect.

For me, this one was just a bit too long and heavy - a 150mm F/12. I had dreams of being like the Victorian observers, at the end of a large, long elegant instrument.

The scope, though excellent, was just too much of a handful and needed a very heavy duty mount. Once setup it was there for the night. A nice idea but it turned out to be a little impractical. Really a scope of this type needs to be on a permanent mounting in an observatory I think.

It was fun for a while though

Now my longest refractors are a more modest F/9 and F/9.2.

 

 

Thanks for the welcome! And yes, that scope belong in a observatories!

 

12 hours ago, johninderby said:

Here is Big Red my homebuilt 100mm f/13 refractor using Japanese Carton optics. 

And my ScopeTech 80 f/15. A fine new Japanese scope in the classic style.

That f//15 must be heavy and views must be awesome! If anyone mentioned a telescope, this would come in my mind!

 

[GalaxyGael]

10 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Takahashi FOA 60Q, f/15

That's what I want for visual someday, the most perfect optics, or maybe the fs 60q for adaptability. Lovely. 

[refractor2345]

4 hours ago, GalaxyGael said:

That's what I want for visual someday, the most perfect optics, or maybe the fs 60q for adaptability. Lovely. 

Yes, the 60mm's are very underrated they perform good, they are transportable and one one of the best optics!

[neil phillips]

Reduced down to two refractors now. Both cheap. Both excellent performers 

Sw 70mm F12.9 Achro. Bresser 127L F9.5 Achro 

[neil phillips]

Your notifications are still not working John

[Dave scutt]

My 127 f9.5 .

No mount for it yet so I haven't had a chance to use it .

[neil phillips]

1 hour ago, Dave scutt said:

My 127 f9.5 .

No mount for it yet so I haven't had a chance to use it .

its as above the lenses are good for mass produced

[Dave scutt]

4 minutes ago, neil phillips said:

its as above the lenses are good for mass produced

What's the focal length on yours Neil 

[neil phillips]

4 minutes ago, Dave scutt said:

What's the focal length on yours Neil 

Same as yours. yours is a bresser rebadged 

[Dave scutt]

What mount would you recommend. 

Thanks dave 

[johninderby]

Skytee II perhaps. 🤔

[wookie1965]

I have 3, 2 f10s and a F9. 3, A Tal 100rs a celestron C-102 and a Meade 127 emc. 

Edited November 22, 2021 by wookie1965

[Stu]

A few from me over the years. Not in the right order I’m sure but in there somewhere are:

Carton 60 f16.7

Vixen 150ED f9

TAL 100r f10

Vixen 102mm f10

Zeisa Telementor 63mm f13.3

Scopetech STL80A-L f12.5 80mm

Scopetech STL80A Maxi f15 80mm

Vixen 80mm f11.3

For someone who supposedly prefers widefield scopes, I’ve had a few long ones! The two Scopetechs are on loan from FLO, I should do another side by side with them again sometime soon.

 

[Dave scutt]

4 minutes ago, Stu said:

A few from me over the years. Not in the right order I’m sure but in there somewhere are:

Carton 60 f16.7

Vixen 150ED f9

TAL 100r f10

Vixen 102mm f10

Zeisa Telementor 63mm f13.3

Scopetech STL80A-L f12.5 80mm

Scopetech STL80A Maxi f15 80mm

Vixen 80mm f11.3

For someone who supposedly prefers widefield scopes, I’ve had a few long ones! The two Scopetechs are on loan from FLO, I should do another side by side with them again sometime soon.

 

One for each day of the week🤣

[wookie1965]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

A few from me over the years. Not in the right order I’m sure but in there somewhere are:

Carton 60 f16.7

Vixen 150ED f9

TAL 100r f10

Vixen 102mm f10

Zeisa Telementor 63mm f13.3

Scopetech STL80A-L f12.5 80mm

Scopetech STL80A Maxi f15 80mm

Vixen 80mm f11.3

For someone who supposedly prefers widefield scopes, I’ve had a few long ones! The two Scopetechs are on loan from FLO, I should do another side by side with them again sometime soon.

 

What is the white mount you have the two scopes on one being the Atlux please. 

[Stu]

5 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:

What is the white mount you have the two scopes on one being the Atlux please. 

It’s an AZEQ6 Paul. This picture shows it better.

[refractor2345]

7 hours ago, Stu said:

Vixen 150ED f9

Wow, That was a beast! How did it perform to the TAL?

[Saganite]

Welcome to SGL.

A great idea for a thread !!.

Here are are my two.

D & G Optical 5" f15 and recently restored AE Luton Ltd 4 1/2" f14.....

Edited November 23, 2021 by Saganite

[John]

I forgot that I still have this one !

F/13.3 60mm - my 1960's Tasco achromat on it's rather wobbly alt-azimuth mount and with .965 eyepieces !

Optically its actually very nice scope

My old TAL 100 RT was a nice scope, but at F/10, possibly a little short for this thread ?:

This is currently my longest refractor. 130mm F/9.2 triplet apochromat:

 

 

 

[John]

Just to give an idea of the scale of a big, long refractor, this is the 150mm F/12 optical tube that I posted earlier in this thread alongside a 120mm F/7.5 and a 102mm F/6.5: