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Old 12-02-2015, 10:48 PM
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toranasaurus71 (Stephan)
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Rare takahashi scopes for sale

Hi everyone
I am in the market for a small grab n go planetary scope and i am very keen on the fc60
As you all know, these are very difficult to find so any suggestions would be appreciated
I came across this site
http://www.astro-century.com/telescope/
I sent them an email
They seem a little dubious
They accept PayPal but don't have their own
The guy tells me i can make payment to his 'friends' account
With no credentials or reviews anywhere, does it seem dodgy?
Any suggestions or info on their credibility would be great
Unless of course, you want to sell me your fc60!
Thanks
Stephan
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  #2  
Old 12-02-2015, 11:00 PM
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barx1963 (Malcolm)
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Odd that it says "Last update Jun 16 2015"

Hmm!!

Malcolm
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Old 13-02-2015, 05:53 AM
Kunama
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Caveat Emptor
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Old 13-02-2015, 06:47 AM
N1 (Mirko)
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Hi Stephan, if it's for visual, and you really do want s small scope, what's wrong with an FS60? At least you can get that one from non-dodgy vendors
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Old 13-02-2015, 05:34 PM
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toranasaurus71 (Stephan)
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Thanks for the reply guys
Mirko i do have a fs already and i love it to bits
I really would like a visual planetary scope though
I would love to look through the fc for myself but have not had the oppostunity
From the reports i have heard and read the fc is a little cracker
This is only for grab n go gear hence the preffered smaller size
Of course we all want a toa150!
My other options are the q module for the fs60
Or i have come accross a carton 60kt f15 for $35 ( plus $120 post )
So in the end im a little lost as to what to do
I dont want to spend a million bucks but if id it will be for a keeper like the fc
Any suggestion?
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  #6  
Old 13-02-2015, 05:36 PM
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toranasaurus71 (Stephan)
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The seller (see original post) has qouted me $900usd plus post
Which is no small sum
I dont know if i wouldd spend THAT much but 80mm aperture is the largest i would go for this particular setup
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Old 13-02-2015, 05:49 PM
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Ask at least for a dated photo of the scope showing today's date on the image.

I had a "dodgy" deal once. Not sure how it would have played out but it was pretty odd. A guy was selling an AP160
on astromart. I won the auction. I found that the scope was in his father in laws possession not his because he was a bankrupt and he was trying to keep it out of the bankruptcy court proceedings. So he wanted me to pay for a scope US$14,000 not in his possession.

I told him I would pay him if he shipped it to me to reverse the trust seeing as I had a large number of 5 star ratings on Astromart. He was outraged at the suggestion yet it was Ok to trust him.

I told Herb York who promptly cancelled the transaction and banned the seller from Astromart.

I wonder if it would have gone OK. Chances were it would not.

Greg.
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Old 13-02-2015, 05:56 PM
Kunama
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Quote:
Originally Posted by toranasaurus71 View Post
Thanks for the reply guys
Mirko i do have a fs already and i love it to bits
I really would like a visual planetary scope though
I would love to look through the fc for myself but have not had the oppostunity
From the reports i have heard and read the fc is a little cracker
This is only for grab n go gear hence the preffered smaller size
Of course we all want a toa150!
My other options are the q module for the fs60
Or i have come accross a carton 60kt f15 for $35 ( plus $120 post )
So in the end im a little lost as to what to do
I dont want to spend a million bucks but if id it will be for a keeper like the fc
Any suggestion?

I would go with the Extender CQ 1.7x ..........
That site you mentioned claims to have been trading since 1988 ..... how many hits do you get when you search for them.
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Old 13-02-2015, 06:02 PM
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toranasaurus71 (Stephan)
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Wow sounds like you got lucky there greg
Thats not a small investment
I have received photos from the seller
Theres no evidence that warrants no interest in the scope other than a total lack of credentials or reputation
Reputation being that no one seems to have heard of these guys
I would never part with my cash like that unless i was buying in person
However there seems to be no fc60s locally
Besides im not sure weather an f15 60 wouldnt satisfy my needs even it is an achro
An apo sounds good but at f15 an achro should show minimal if no color
I just sold my 10" newt which was nice for planetary observing
It was nice but a 75kg setup gets use a couple of times a year
A 12kg setup gets used a couple of times a week
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  #10  
Old 13-02-2015, 08:08 PM
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toranasaurus71 (Stephan)
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Thats where the alarm bells ring matti
He says he has been too busy to set up a paypal account
He can accept paypal through his brother's pYpal account
Now i know that it takes half an hour to setup an account
And any business trading that long should have one
So i might chicken out of this sale on that basis
Which brings me back to an alternative
Anyone had any experiences with ye old cartons, unitrons,polarex,swift etc?
All are claimed to be brilliant but there is no comparisons to new age refractors
Specifically the fs60q
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  #11  
Old 13-02-2015, 08:17 PM
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There is a lot to said for old glass. I have a c1880-1890 Berry & Mackay 3.25" F15 brass refractor that I often use for lunar viewing. It is quite an eyeopener in that it gives a very good view even compared to some of the current offerings.

I also have an 80mm Carton F15 objective which I have yet to complete the OTA for, (just have to get on a lathe and turn some baffles). I have tested it jury-rigged and it too gives a good account of itself. Not quite as good as the FSQ but still bring a smile on my dial using it.

One of the best small scopes I have had recently was the FS60/FC76D hybrid.
It has since found its way to Astromelb who is selling it for $1800. It is an excellent little performer. It features the FC76D objective unit with a Tak FS60cb focuser and the FS60CSV tube.
It can also be used with binoviewers at native focal length by removing the CSV tube and attaching the focuser directly to the FC76D objective unit.
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  #12  
Old 13-02-2015, 08:52 PM
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toranasaurus71 (Stephan)
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Thanks for that matti
I have heard alot of rave reviews for the old glass too
I am considering the carton 60kt f15
It would sit nicely on my retrofitted carton rsm2000 mount
How would you rate the views compared to a fs60q
The cost between the carton with a few tweaks would be comparable to a q module but i have room for another small scope on the mount
Which would be more convenient than swapping half the tube in the dark
How much detail do you get with your carton on the major planets?
That would be the main use along with the moon of course
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  #13  
Old 15-02-2015, 08:52 AM
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The photo needs to be dated otherwise it could simply be a cut and paste off an interjnet site - not proof at all.

Cameras have a function where the date he picture was taken is displayed in the image.

That could be faked but a faker is probably also lazy and less likely to be able to do that.

Greg.
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  #14  
Old 15-02-2015, 10:49 AM
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OICURMT
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Had to laugh at the following...

Quote:
We are sorry but you may not reach us by telephone.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us via email at info@astro-century.com

Century Corporation
Sun-mall IDA 5G, Nonami 3-23, Tempaku-ku,
Nagoya 468-0045, Japan
TEL&FAX +81-52-896-7078
So... what's stopping you from calling?
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  #15  
Old 15-02-2015, 05:21 PM
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toranasaurus71 (Stephan)
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Yeah
Sounds dodgy as hell after the correspondance i have had since the last post
Its marked as pending now so good luck to the buyer
I have found an fc76ds for $1000 so im seriously considering that one
Did a star test last night on it and it is superb
I see what the hype is about with this model
Seems even nicer than a sky90 i once got a view through
Its more than i want to spend but i think i would keep it for good if i got it
Thats what we all say though!
Would look great next to an fs60 on the carton mount
I may be able to justify the expense to my wife by telling her we can both observe at the same time
Shotgun the fc
Any feedback on the fc76?
Through my eyes its good but open to feedback
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Old 15-02-2015, 11:40 PM
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tempestwizz (Brian)
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I'm very happy with my FS 60 Q as a travel scope. Bought in the UK a couple of years back to view a lunar eclipse. (Got a good view of the British clouds). According to reviews,the "q" extender brings a 60CB to 600mm f:10. It also corrects many inherent chromatic issues with the bare scope, and flattens the field enough for full frame photography.
I haven't tried imaging, but I can attest the views are crisp. Tonight in Vientiane Laos, my new in laws got to see the bands of Jupiter and the moons for the first time, and within the light pollution of suburbia.
Although I bought the Teegul EQ mount at the same time, I've not found it all that practical. A cheap and sturdy AZ mount works more effectively. (I had tried using a small CF tripod with the Teegul as a travel mount, but too messy and flimsy for comfortable use).
HTH. Brian
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  #17  
Old 16-02-2015, 08:01 AM
N1 (Mirko)
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I have the FS60/FC76 combo, and it's the perfect travel setup for me. I don't know how the views compare to a 60Q, but the increased aperture suggests a litte more resolution perhaps. The focal ratio of 7.5 is a bit more relaxed than the FS60 on its own, and I've yet to see any aberrations that are worth mentioning. Because it is in 2 separate modules of roughly the same length, the whole thing will fit in the same small carry case that I originally bought for the FS60 only. It really is very compact for transport, especially when combined with orthoscopics rather than super wide angle EPs, and using 1.25" rather than 2". I often observe with the 60mm only for its sheer speed of setup & the 76 gets attached when conditions warrant.

Bottom line: the FS60-FC76 is almost as compact as the FS60 alone, but allow a couple of minutes extra for setup if attaching the 76 in the field. I understand the Q module will work on this combo also.
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Old 16-02-2015, 01:37 PM
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tempestwizz (Brian)
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I found the review below to offer a good discussion on the benefits of the FS60Q

http://scopeviews.co.uk/TakFS60Q.htm
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  #19  
Old 16-02-2015, 06:05 PM
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toranasaurus71 (Stephan)
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Thanks for the feedback and the link to the review
Very helpful indeed
Just place payment for an fc76
The only thing better than one good scope is two good scopes
And at $1100 its hard to say no
The q module seems a very good option
I probably would have got it had the fc not come up
I was a bit concerned about unscrewing the optical cell in the dark if i wanted to go from f5.9 to f10
Id hate to drop it
So this seemed a good option
Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and honest advice
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  #20  
Old 17-02-2015, 06:18 PM
dawong (Derek Wong)
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Hello:

I wanted to add some information to the thread from the USA. I bought an FC-50 reducer from Astro-Century. Moriya the owner/contact told me that they could not accept Paypal except through a relative. Although I thought that was weird, I felt that I was protected by Paypal. In addition, the site was too primitive to be an effective scam site. Finally, I didn't think someone would go through that much trouble to get used prices on all of the items they had.

In any case, I got the reducer that was in excellent condition. I may buy one or two more things from the site.

As far as the FC-60, it is a very nice scope. The old scopes are made a bit differently than the newer ones, and I do prefer the FC style. The FC-60 may not get as deep due to the lack of multicoating on fluorite, but I can tell you that the figure on mine is quite excellent. I also enjoy the fact that I can get more magnification with the same eyepieces, which is important in these tiny apertures.

If the FC-60 is pending from Astro Century, you may want to contact a gentleman named Koji Matsumoto via one of his Astromart ads. He can get an FC-60 because they appear with reasonable frequency on the Japanese auction sites.

Derek
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