Excited!!!

[swannies1983]

I thought I would pop in and inform you of my new purchase. I opened a few threads quite a few months ago in which I was wanting to get some feedback for what type of mount I should get. Here's a quick summary of what's happened over the last 10-12 months:

1) I currently have been using an 8" Dobsonian telescope (mainly for planetary viewing). I then purchased myself a Toucam and took some relatively nice shots of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn with the webcam. However, I wanted to be able to track and also was on the look out for a telescope which was more planetary friendly.

2) I didn't really want a refractor, nor did I want anything bigger than an 8" reflector. About 10 months ago, I was informed about how well the TAL 200K telescope performed on planets. However, the price was way too high for a brand new one and the mount which comes comes with it isn't the best.

3) I then advertised on Astromart and some guy was about to sell his used (6 months old) TAL 200K OTA but he lived over in the US and it was going to cost too much to ship to Adelaide. Fortunately, I was going to a conference over in Utah in June and arranged for the scope to be sent to Utah. I then proceeded to bring the scope home with me. Despite the puzzled looks on the staff at the airport, the scope arrived home safely.

4) The next issue was a suitable mount. The TAL 200K OTA is a beast (about 12kg) so a heavy duty mount was required. A HEQ5 could hold it but you would be pushing its limits. A GM-8 wouldn't be suitable and a G-11 was also out of my price range. The EQ6 popped up but I was discouraged by the reviews including PEC issues and "viscous" lubricants. I was then informed about EQ6 upgrades including Astromeccanica motors. The next issue was whether to go GOTO (because the Astomeccanica handcontroller is not GOTO)

5) Fortunately, an astronomy guy here in Adelaide informed me that he was selling a secondhand EQ6 with Astromeccanica motors for $1,900. After a few meetings, I picked up the mount today! Unfortunately the weather isn't that good so the scope will have to wait. Furthermore, I'm off overseas just after Xmas for a month so the scope will have to wait even more.

Anyways, below is a picture of my new setup. Can't wait to give it a go :D

And nnnoo, I don't have two identical scopes in the second picture. The setup is in front of a huge mirror which we have in our hallway :lol:

http://www.adam.com.au/swans1983/TAL%20200K.JPG



http://www.adam.com.au/swans1983/TAL%20200K(2).JPG

[ballaratdragons]

Very cool indeed Swannie! Even a Pier extension!! Good to hear that you got what you were after. Your patience has paid off.

Nice mirror too :lol:

[swannies1983]

hehe...yes, the mirror is right in front of the front door. Nice to see yourself as you walk in from a hard day at the office :lol:

[Harb]

Don't you love that Zero Coke :lol:

[ballaratdragons]

That could get scary! :lol:

You won't have a problem with the EQ6 holding up the Tal :thumbsup:

[stephenmcnelley]

Ready for action!
all the best hunting the night sky swannies

[avandonk]

I must have missed this post somehow. You will find that the Astromeccanica motors and belts totally get rid of any sudden micro 'jumps' due to the spur gears. These are far more annoying and unpredictable than any other tracking error. My HEQ5 (with Astromeccanica motors and belts) easily handles the TAL 200k for astro imaging up to twenty minutes at 1790mm (autoguided) and every image is fine!
Just like you I just picked up a EQ6 with belt drives and will use this for my 'home' mount and put the HEQ5 on the EQ6 tripod for a portable astrophotographic mount.

Bert
See here
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=14216&highlight=tal+200k

[ving]

very cool looking setup :) :thumbsup:

your mirror has a little dust on it but it shouldnt need cleaning yet :P

[Striker]

Thanks for sharing Swannie....I was checking out the Tal 250K the other day....its tempting at F8.5.

Not sure how it will handle the STL11000

Looks like a nice set up.

[swannies1983]

The guy I bought the TAL 200K from was selling it because he was hoping to upgrade to the TAL 250K. For more information, refer to the Tal Yahoo group at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/TALScopes/

Some people have had focussing problems (lack of backfocus) with the TAL 250K though

[avandonk]

For those of you that don't already know a Kletsov has a spherical primary mirror and a 'corrector' at the secondary. The secondary is a Mangin lens group ( all surfaces spherical) with the last element (front lens) coated with Aluminium. The light passes through the lens corrector twice so negating any Chromatic Aberration. This gives CA free images and a nearly flat field.
Some people have complained about the IN and OUT of focus images because they are not the same. I don't know about what you think but I generally take pictures at the focus point.

The real advantage of this design is that ALL surfaces are spherical. No need to try and get some parabolic or hyperbolic or some quasi version of this to try and correct for shortcomings of the basic design.

I am not knocking any other design. It is just far easier and cheaper if all surfaces are spherical.

Bert

[Striker]

Thats fine Bert,

We understand you must have shares in TAL...lol

The thing that bothers me is why there not highly sort after.

Astronomy & telescope has a price of $3095 for the TAL250K OTA...sounds a bit too cheap to me.
http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/russian-novosibirsk-tal-pricelist-telescopes.htm

[avandonk]

No Tony look at the image. I am not knocking any other design as it is far cheaper to produce spherical surfaces than the more complex hyperbolic aspherical and parabolic correctors and or mirrors.
I am sorry but I do know a little about optics.
Until I replaced the focuser with BORG parts It was useless as an imaging system.
I am sure the TAL 250K has the same problems although to a lesser extent.

Bert

I have shares in my own ability!

[Striker]

I'm not knocking you either Bert,

Just curious to say why knowone uses these.

I think there a great value scope if there as good as you say.

The 10" is tempting.

[avandonk]

OK Tony get the 250K and I will buy it from you when you get bored! Just joking!
There is no perfect scope! Unless you pay heaps for the last 1 or 2 %.
We should be enjoying what we have, not what we can never have!

Get your Meade RC into gear and take images. Stop looking over your shoulder and the hordes behind you. Use it to take images at what it does best. Don't fart around with trying to get wider fields.
Just do it!

Bert

I don't show my failures, maybe I should!

[swannies1983]

The guy who runs "Telescopes and Astronomy" (Matthew) is the guy who suggested the Tal series as good scopes for planetary viewing and imaging. He also sold me the secondhand EQ6. He runs his business from home and is a really nice guy. Matthew has been extremely busy lately due to Xmas. If interested, it would be a good idea to flick Matthew an email about the price of the 250K. However, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the correct price for the 250K OTA.

There have been a few reviews on Cloudynights suggesting that the Tal 200K out performs SCTs. I have been impressed with Bert's DSO imaging and gives me hope when I take the plunge in DSO imaging. However, i setup the TAL 200K the other night and i was extremely impressed with the contrast the scope gave me when viewing M42. It easily out performed my 8" Dob. Furthermore, the TAL also did much better when it came to viewing Tucan (globular cluster) and also showed some dark lanes in the Tarantula Nebulae and Eta Carina (under surburban skies). I haven't had a chance to look at Saturn through the scope.

I don't know why the Tal series aren't more popular. But everything has to start somewhere. Perhaps some people have been scared away due to these "focussing" issues. Not a lot of people have the 250K so there hasn't been any reviews. Keep your ears and eyes open on the Tal Yahoo group

[avandonk]

One thing to remember DO NOT TOUCH THE FRONT LENS ASSEMBLY! If you want to correct collimation loosen the six bolts at the back of the scope and then adjust alternate bolts until the out of focus annulus is symmetrical at a high magnification. Then tighten each opposite bolt gently until all bolts are secure without losing the symmetry of the annulus.
The mirror in the TALs is a conical tapered type held in the centre by it's centre and these six bolts adjust its position in a spherical cup so it it is easy to align.
This is the other advantage centrally held conical mirror and no corrector plate! Cools down very quickly and never has condensation problems!

Bert

[Striker]

Just a bit hard when I dont have a Meade RC anymore...????

Its not about getting wider images it about getting a scope that suits a large format chip coupled with the correct focal length I want to image at.

Its not that simple.

Like I said the 250K looks interesting and good value if that the correct price.

[avandonk]

OK Tony the 250K with mods will work well the Hutech FR's. There is something about the Kletsov optics that makes them behave more like a really good refractor.

I found that the Hutech focal reducer (7887) worked superbly with the TAL 200K. You have seen the pictures! I can't predict how the 250K will work. I would replace all the standard fittings behind the back plate and replace it with BORG parts.Let me know and we can design something. Not cheap!

Bert

[swannies1983]

How much are these BORG parts (for 200K). What exactly do they do?

[avandonk]

OK here is a picture of my image train behind the Tal 200K.
From the front
M68 to 57 adapter (custom machined)
Helicoid focuser (7758)
Spacer M57 t0 M57 (smallest)
Focal Reducer (7887)
Canon adapter (5005)

This gives an unvignetted image to a full frame Canon 5DH.

The FR has a facility for 48 or 52mm filters in the front.

Brilliant is it not in its simplicity?

Bert

[swannies1983]

hhmm...nice setup. All looked good until I saw the price of the focuser and reducer! I think I'll just stick with a Toucam and image the planets for now. I don't get to travel to dark skies enough to warrant me spending all that money for the additional attachments for now

[avandonk]

Yep after you have sold your soul for a $6.5K camera the rest is easy. I share my images at the highest resolution I can so all can enjoy. I think that if I share as best I can all the cost is pales into insignificance.
I won't settle for second best in aquiring images.

Bert

[swannies1983]

Do you live under dark skies or do you travel away from home to take your wonderful pictures?