Rare Takahashi MT-160 Newtonian (NOW SOLD)

[Omaroo]

Reluctantly, my Takahashi MT-160 is up for sale. A very rare and special f/6.2 Newtonian, it deserves to be used more than mine is. Add an optional f/4.8 reducer/flattener and you have an imaging system that will rival much more expensive APO refractors of similar size. The optics in these scopes are reputedly figured to 1/20 wave RMS on the primary & 1/14 wave for the secondary. Some say that these are probably the best commercial Newtonians ever built.

It comes with: Takahashi MT-160 f/8 Corrector, extension tubes, 1 1/2" visual back, tube clamshell and Tak 6x30 finder. The focuser is typical Tak quality, and has an in-built lockable camera angle adjuster (360 deg. fully-rotating focuser).

The tube shows the usual collection of scratches and small dents attributable to a scope that has been used frequently. It is internally flocked. There is a microscratch on the mirror, about an inch long at around the 2/3 radius mark, but this doesn't affect performance one iota. Imaging and visual are both sublime.

Effective aperture 160mm
Focal length (prime focus) 1000mm
Focal ratio (prime focus) 6.1
Focal length (with corrector) 1330mm
Focal ratio (with corrector) 8.3
Focal length (with reducer) 776mm
Focal ratio (with reducer) 4.8
Resolving power 0.7"
Light gathering power 522
Limiting magnitude 12.8
Image circle (with corrector) ø36mm
Photographic field (with corrector) 1.5°
Image circle (with reducer) ø36mm
Photographic field (with reducer) 2.7°
Finder scope 7 x 50 6.3°
Total length of main tube 895mm
Diameter of main tube 204mm
Gross wt. of main tube assembly 8.3kg

A thread here on IIS in reference to a very good moon shot that this scope managed: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment_browse.php?a=59905

TOTAL PRICE: $1,250 plus shipping from Sydney

Some reviews and articles:

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=444

http://www.bttechnologies.com/telescope_takahashi_mt.htm

http://www.astronomyalive.com.au/exotic-optics/newtonian-telescopes/takahashi-mt160-newtonian.html

http://www.takahashiamerica.com/includes/link.htm?target=http://www.takahashiamerica.com/MT160.htm&title=Land%20Sea%20%26%20Sky%2C%20H ome%20of%20Takahashi

http://www.telescopebluebook.com/reflector/takahashi.htm

http://www.takayuki-astro.com/my_degallery.html

[dannat]

Chris, a couple of questions:

what is the mirror coating like? (i'm guessing its about 25yrs old now)

do you know if the reducers are available?

[Omaroo]

Hi Daniel :)

The mirror is a little (and I mean a LITTLE) dusty, as per expectations. If you were to invert the whole shebang and use a brush-less bulb blower I'm sure that you'd get it maybe a little cleaner, but not much. The coating itself is in excellent condition. They didn't muck about in the quality stakes back then - it's still fantastic. I'd take a photo except the camera just bounces the flash back at me and you can't see a thing down there. LOL! Id've taken the cell off to have a good inspection, but the collimation has held perfectly for years, and I'm loathed to unnecessarily touch it.

As far as reducers go, I haven't looked for one, so I couldn't tell you. I notice them mentioned on a few sites, and have seen them at OPT some time back. The part number is TKA42580. This site has them listed, but I don't know about stock: http://www.grandeye.com.hk/tak/new/price_list.htm

If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask! :hi:

[Waxing_Gibbous]

If I may:
You need to look through one of these to appreciate the scope. It gives little or nothing away to a 5" TEC with which I compared one about 4 years ago.
A bargain.:)

[DavidU]

:eyepop: I would give away my firt born for one of these. Except her husband would NOT be happy.
Exceptional scope Chris.

[Omaroo]

Thanks Peter and Dave. Yes, it pains me to part with it - but as they say in the classics.... "onward and upward!" :) If it doesn't shift I really won't be at all disappointed. :thumbsup:

[mick pinner]

what about adapters for a DSLR? is it 1.25 or 2" focuser

[Omaroo]

Hi Mick

There's a standard T-thread on the end of the corrector, and the DSLR sits right there on that. I've not imaged without the corrector, so I guess you would need to either use a 1.25" nosepiece (where an eyepiece would normally reside) without it. Failing that (again - I've not used it so am unaware of any in or back-focus issues) you'd have to investigate the Tak CA35 or something.

I've updated the original thread with the specs.

Thanks for looking.

[gbeal]

If I might stick my nose in. From looking at the picture of the focuser it looks like a standard Tak 1.25" output. This is about 36mm screw in. Then there is/will be an adaptor that accepts the 36mm fitting, and has (if I am correct) a 43mm thread fitting on the other side. What the ID of the drawtube is I am not sure but could possibly be the same as my TSA, 72mm.
If this is all correct (how about measuring it Chris) then the simplest is to get the Baader 42/43mm adaptor, I had one a while back, but they are commonly available.
A beautiful scope, and by all accounts punches well above it's weight.
Gary

[Omaroo]

Cheers Gary

The drawtube's thread ID is 60mm, into which screws a stepped visual adapter. Presented on the other side of that is a threaded section with a 47-48mm OD male thread on the outside and 43mm ID thread on the inside.

[gbeal]

There you go Mick, Baader 42/43 adaptor. This presents a male M42 T thread to accept the T ring of your choice for the DSLR. Or if you wanted the MPCC you could use an adaptor M60 - M48.
Gary

[Omaroo]

Ta da.... I fished around for a T-adapter that fit. As Gary says - easy. I checked for focus to the horizon, and no problem past that and into the extreme distance. Won't focus closer though (not that that's a problem). I have to keep my T-adapter though... sorry :)

[Omaroo]

Sorry all... this scope is now SOLD to a great home. Thanks for looking! :thumbsup: