If you had a choice which high end Refractor

[Striker]

Just dreaming at the moment but if you had a choice which widefield refractor would you use or recommend for imaging DSO's.

Takahashi - FSQ-106N f/5
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=1-599-2-83-996-882

TeleVue - NP-101 - 3.97" f/5.4
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=1-599-2-83-996-1489

William Optics - FLT-110 - 110mm, f/6.5
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=1-599-2-83-996-2438

Or anything else.

[Merlin66]

Don't come much better than the original 4" f5 TV Genesis. A joy to use, every time.

[Vermin]

My choice would have to be the NP101.

But I'm biased, I have a TV101, an NP127 would be on my wish list.

[JohnG]

As where dreaming, why not add something that is really going to pull those photons in:

Takahashi TOA-130 or better still TOA-150.

Would love my 102 to grow up to one of those one day........keep on dreaming. JG

JohnG

[Robert_T]

that sounds like a very Daaanngerous question to be asking Tony....

where is this heading and is your wallet re-inforced?;)

the good things is they're relatively small and unimposing compared to a big SCT or Dob... you could easily convince you know who that it only costs a couple hundred bucks :wink2:

[mickoking]

TAKAHASHI :thumbsup:

[norm]

Astrophyics :)

[acropolite]

Same here Astrophysics Starfire, the bigger the better...:D

[ausastronomer]

Well it was a great scope in its day but its' day was 15 yrs ago, these were 1st introduced in 1988. Optical technology, particularly in respect to exotic glass types has advanced a long way in the last 18 years. Extending Al Naglers own words "we only ever replace an eyepiece with a better one, never for lack of sales", I can only assume the same philosophy applies to his telescopes. That all having been said I have used a TV Genesis SDF (F5.4) and it was a superb scope, competitive with modern premium Petzval design APO's but just a tad behind them IMO.

CS-John B

[ausastronomer]

Tony/Vermin

Ultimately we are splitting hairs here between the absolute cream of 4" Telescopes, which includes the previously mentioned TV Genesis BTW.

However FWIW, I know of several very experienced imagers in the US (they are as patriotic as it comes when talking home grown products BTW, eg: Televue) who rate the Japanese made Tak FSQ106 as slighly superior to the TV NP 101, predominantly due to a superior focuser. They believe it is slighly smoother and easier to bring images to focus. Also the TV focuser is single speed only and has been known to "creep" with very heavy imaging loads. Testimony to this is the fact that the FSQ-106 is a big seller in the US notwithstanding that the homegrown TV NP101 is about $US 500 cheaper over there.

You can also throw the 4" TMB triplet into the equation as well, as it's a great package. You can probably forget about the Astrophysics because they are almost impossible to source, notwithstanding the outstanding quality.

Ultimately your going to be very happy with any of these scopes.
FWIW my choice would be the Takahashi FSQ 106 in a nail biter.

CS-John B

[g__day]

I've seen a 8" or 9" apo at astro optical once, they said it was a $27K grand job, looked nice!

[ausastronomer]

I am just wondering what the quality of that 8" APO was like considering this 8" Takahashi APO including mount is $US 167k

http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=1&pid=1727&m=

BTW for the asking price of $US 167k the Japs fly over and install it in your observatory for you :)

Also the the last Astrophysics 180 EDF Starfire (7" OTA only) went for $US 55,000 on Astromart 2nd hand about a year ago.

CS-John B

[Dave47tuc]

Tony,
I'm with john. The Takahashi FSQ 106 on a EM200 mount would be my choice for imaging.:confuse3:

For just observing it would be the NP101 which I have used a lot. Very nice scope.:)

For drool:scared2: factor (refractor) have a nice scope we use from time to time below. Trying to get it to Snake Valley next weekend.;)