Starfield 102 ED F/7

[cajen2]

(or Altair / TS Optics equivalent with FPL-53 glass). I'm seriously considering getting one of these and using it as my everyday scope, plus I hope it's light / small enough to be ok to lug around to star parties, etc.

Any comments from owners, pluses and minuses?

 

[bosun21]

Buy one!. They are great scopes and great value. In fact I am getting my second one delivered today, as I foolishly sold my first one. The views are crisp with little to no CA visible.

[Mr Spock]

Excellent build quality. No false colour; inside and outside of focus is even. Mine is a joy to use - I'm only selling due to buying a Tak  otherwise it would be a for life scope.

[Coco]

6 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Excellent build quality. No false colour; inside and outside of focus is even. Mine is a joy to use - I'm only selling due to buying a Tak  otherwise it would be a for life scope.

Selling it already! how much do you want for it

[Mr Spock]

The no selling on the forum applies to me too  It will be advertised shortly, probably for the usual sort of second hand mark down - with or without the Baader ClickLock clamp as that was a fair price on its own - haven't decided yet.

[Coco]

26 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

The no selling on the forum applies to me too  It will be advertised shortly, probably for the usual sort of second hand mark down - with or without the Baader ClickLock clamp as that was a fair price on its own - haven't decided yet.

Affirmative 😁

[cajen2]

58 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Excellent build quality. No false colour; inside and outside of focus is even. Mine is a joy to use - I'm only selling due to buying a Tak  otherwise it would be a for life scope.

A similar-sized Tak (i.e. FC-100)? I considered one, but wondered whether spending so much more would give me 2 1/2 times the quality over the Starfield....remember, you have to add the cost of tube rings / clamshell, dovetail, etc.

Edited March 21, 2023 by cajen2

[Mr Spock]

33 minutes ago, cajen2 said:

A similar-sized Tak (i.e. FC-100)? I considered one, but wondered whether spending so much more would give me 2 1/2 times the quality over the Starfield....remember, you have to add the cost of tube rings / clamshell, dovetail, etc.

There isn't 2½ performance difference - allegedly (I'll find out) the Tak can reach higher magnifications better with a cleaner image. We shall see. Apart from the dovetail and and tube rings (I've ordered More Blue), the Starfield has a much better focuser. I already have in my hands a MEF-3 dual speed focuser for the Tak - that was extra too  The Tak is really primitive by comparison - you are paying for the fluorite, basic needs are extra. So when you have done it's more like 3x the price... 

[John]

4 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

There isn't 2½ performance difference - allegedly (I'll find out) the Tak can reach higher magnifications better with a cleaner image. We shall see. Apart from the dovetail and and tube rings (I've ordered More Blue), the Starfield has a much better focuser. I already have in my hands a MEF-3 dual speed focuser for the Tak - that was extra too  The Tak is really primitive by comparison - you are paying for the fluorite, basic needs are extra. So when you have done it's more like 3x the price... 

If possible it would be worth hanging onto the Starfield ED 102 and comparing it directly with the Tak for a while. A report of your findings would make interesting reading on the forum 🙂

[Mr Spock]

I've just realised my finder shoe won't fit. Is there anything Takahashi which isn't messed up?

Though I believe I can get my Baader RDF to fit if I have a couple of correct size bolts...

[mikeDnight]

43 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

I've just realised my finder shoe won't fit. Is there anything Takahashi which isn't messed up?

Unfortunately not. It's a real Alice In Wonderland nightmare world of screws, screw hole seperations, bolts, silly screw-on extensions, and focusers from the 1960's. I think Tak do it on purpose!

Edited March 21, 2023 by mikeDnight

[Stu]

54 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

I've just realised my finder shoe won't fit. Is there anything Takahashi which isn't messed up?

Though I believe I can get my Baader RDF to fit if I have a couple of correct size bolts...

I put a bracket on top of the MoreBlue rings, works ok.

[Mr Spock]

33 minutes ago, Stu said:

I put a bracket on top of the MoreBlue rings, works ok.

Excellent suggestion 👍 Provides more clearance too.

[cajen2]

Anyway, getting back to the Starfield 😉, I note that no-one's had anything at all negative to say. Really? On SGL? 🤣

My tentative plan is for a go-to alt/az mount. My garden suffers from extreme nearby light pollution so finding stuff is a nightmare. I'm a dob man with no ambitions for AP, so alt/az makes more sense to me. I initially thought of a SW GTi but its load max of 5kg seems a bit short. My second choice is for the GTiX, which has an extra kilo of weight tolerance plus the ability to counterbalance the scope with another.....All this to be mounted on a Berlebach Report tripod. Any comments?

[Mr Spock]

I've never heard of anyone being critical of the Starfield - it really is that good! My only gripe was the twist lock clamp which I replaced with a Baader.

[Stu]

56 minutes ago, cajen2 said:

Anyway, getting back to the Starfield 😉, I note that no-one's had anything at all negative to say. Really? On SGL? 🤣

I don’t think there is anything to be critical about. I’ve not used one, but all the feedback is very positive; it’s a very good quality refractor both optically and mechanically for an excellent price.

[cajen2]

1 hour ago, Mr Spock said:

I've never heard of anyone being critical of the Starfield - it really is that good! My only gripe was the twist lock clamp which I replaced with a Baader.

Aha! My plan too, as I already have one.

[happy-kat]

Synscan app. If your light pollution inhibits finding stars what I do is level mount, point OTA  north and horizontal. Turn on, connect, dual encoders on (I like freedom find), 1 star alignment chose a star that theoretically the telescope will see and goto the mount will slew there, fine tune and confirm. Repeat on several more stars. I've found the other alignment options do not auto slew to the first star.

[Mr Spock]

I have a text this morning to say a parcel is arriving today. I wonder what that could be 

Maybe we will have (weather permitting) a Starfield v Tak comparison soon 

[cajen2]

15 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

I have a text this morning to say a parcel is arriving today. I wonder what that could be 

Maybe we will have (weather permitting) a Starfield v Tak comparison soon 

Look forward to it.....as long as it's totally objective, that should be really interesting.

[Littleguy80]

15 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

I've just realised my finder shoe won't fit. Is there anything Takahashi which isn't messed up?

Though I believe I can get my Baader RDF to fit if I have a couple of correct size bolts...

I think this is what you’re looking for https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetails-saddles-clamps/more-blue-universal-finder-base-for-tak.html

[RobertI]

On 21/03/2023 at 11:42, Mr Spock said:

Excellent build quality. No false colour; inside and outside of focus is even. Mine is a joy to use - I'm only selling due to buying a Tak  otherwise it would be a for life scope.

☝️What he said (except the bit about the new Tak!). 

[bosun21]

On 21/03/2023 at 21:12, cajen2 said:

Aha! My plan too, as I already have one.

The clicklock that fits the Starfield 102 is the M63 version for 2.5” focusers. It’s fitted with the M63 adapter, hence the price of £110-125.

[cajen2]

1 minute ago, bosun21 said:

The clicklock that fits the Starfield 102 is the M63 version for 2.5” focusers. It’s fitted with the M63 adapter, hence the price of £110-125.

Ouch! Thanks for that: I thought the CL I bought for my dob would fit (2"-1.25" adapter).

[cajen2]

I could just keep the twist lock for 2" and the Baader for 1.25", no?