Last Scopes Ever!!!!

[Waxing_Gibbous]

I hope!!!:prey:

Underpaid year-end bonus finally kicked through!

I'm 99% a visual observer, but would like to dabble (and I mean dabble:lol:) in AP & AV. Having been seduced by varying shades of SCTs, MCTs, Mega-Buck 6" Refractors, Gigabuck, uber-massive dobsonians, wide-fields, narrow-fields, planetary's and Solar scopes, I have I hope, finally settled on a useful combination:

Takahashi TSA 120 - A bit of a leap of faith as I can't find any real reviews.
But on the other hand - no complaints. Considered an AP130 & TEC 140 on Amart, but I don't plan to enter any imaging competitions and the extra money and weight, would, I think, take some fun out of the equation.
Only alternative I really wanted was a 115 SV or APM LZOS. But hens teeth, and all that.
Apeture / $$$ ratio is reasonable and focal length of f7.5 seems to make it a good "all-rounder". Also size/weight is low enough to cart around without TOO much pain.
On the down-side -looking for a sub 1K Alt-Az that'll carry it securely is more grief than I expected!
IF anyone has a "NO" on this I REALLY, REALLY want to hear it, as its shipping on Thursday!

GSO 200mm f5 Newt (thanks pmrid).
A pretty useful size I hope. Tried 254 & 300mm dobs. Speccy views, but a pain to cart around the garden, let alone off-site. Again this seems a good compromise between apeture and convenience. Some of the nicest shots of DSOs I've seen have come from 8" Newts.
GSO optics / build reputable and very good, if not quite a Portaball. :)
This'll ride on an HEQ5 for 'astrovideography' and a home-brewed dob mount when I'm feeling lazy.

So thats me sorted, I think. Maybe a TV85 or APM 80/600 as a G&G sometime later, but no hurry. Interested in others comments and views on this combo, particularly those who've 'downsized'.

Starry nights!
Peter

[casstony]

Last Scopes Ever

"Unless I'm very much mistaken.......and I am!

[AlexN]

Teehehe! :) He's got you there mate! :)

I think you will be pretty amazed with the TSA120.. From what I've read (no reviews as such, just specs and what I've heard from other people who have them) they are pretty darn special...

The 8" Newt will give you some serious views without weighing a ton.. Its a good compromise between aperture and portability..

As for your grab and go, I can't speak on the TV85 - I know absolutely zip about them.. The APM 80/600's are classed among the best 80mm scopes ever made... From what I've read over at cloudy nights, and on other review sites, anything with the TMB/LOMO 80mm F/6 or F/7 objectives are utterly amazing.. And I'd have to agree..

In my brief time in astronomy, I've had an 8" newt, 66mm ED refractor, 102mm ED refractor, 8" RC, 11" SCT, 90mm ED refractor, 70mm ED refractor, 152mm achro refractor and this little 80mm triplet.. As you can see in my signature, only the 80mm triplet has survived... As far as grab and go is concerned, this thing is THE scope.. weighs less than 3kgs, delivers stunning images, Cant speak for it visually, as I do not own any eyepieces, but through a camera the scope is amazing.. Strongly recommend it if you're looking for something to match the quality of the TSA with that added portability...

Congrats on the new toys mate.. I noticed you'd been fretting without a scope! :)

Alex.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Tony:
OK... HOPEFULLY last scopes ever :).
I don't want to go down the same track I did with Canon lenses (almost the entire 'L' series and a few others!). I was spending more time getting glass than using it. I mean REALLY - how much use did I actually have for a 90mm TSE lens or a 200mm 1.8?

Alex,
From my all-to-brief experience with the 105/650 I'm absolutely sold on the Russian triplets. They just seem to sparkle. Razor-sharp and colour free. I'll keep my eyes open down the track.
Curiously, while they're well regarded, they don't seem to get much 'airplay' here. In Japan they are considered a highly desirable optic and sell for a ridiculous premium - particularly the now defunct TMB versions. Check out the Japanese version of the 'kkhoki.com' website.

I suppose the upshot is, if you're a complete sucker for fine glass and machined metal (like me), you could spend you're entire life acquiring 'scopes and rarely use 'em. Granted if your interests change: say for visual to photo or vice-versa, there's a good reason for swapping, but, fingers crossed, I've got me bases covered!

[casstony]

The TSA120 is going to be a beautiful instrument, but to play devils advocate for a moment, what will the TSA do that the 8" reflector won't? The extra aperture of the reflector should more than compensate for the better optic in the refractor. Maybe a premium pocket-sized refractor would be more complimentary? It would also be easier to find an alt/az mount for.

Apologies in advance :)

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Buzz-kill. Evil, wicked, horrid man! I'll have to think......
......Ok. Here we go:
a) I love refractor views, pure and simple.
b) More portable. Trees here dictate moving around a fair bit.
c) Its windy here. A lot. Refractors, even long'uns stay steady (er) in blowy conditions than main-jib newts.
d) I like watching the wildlife around here and spying on the neighbours. Easier to do with a refracor.
e) Still lovin' those refractor views. No spikey bits.

If it turns out in that in 6 months I can'y self-justify the Tak, I'll be merciless and flog it for something smaller. But right now, I'm just drooling at the thought of all that lovely hand-figured-by-elves glass.
Peter

[casstony]

:lol: I hate it when people do that to me too - bugger logic and common sense - it's nice, I want it, I'm getting it - and fair enough too. I know you'll enjoy having the Tak Peter - I would. I'd like to one day own an FS102NSV.