A big thanks to Gary Beal (NZ) who sold me his beloved Tak FS102 and Lars Hansen, who personally brought the scope back from Gary on a recent trip to NZ for me as hand luggage. Thanks heaps fellas.
I've just received it - and wow, it's a beast for a 4" scope. I've attached the rings to two Losmandy dovetails (universal on bottom and D-series up top) such that my existing FS60-C can sit in its Losmandy guide rings. A very solid setup indeed.
I'm thrilled that there are no special tricks involved with the 2" visual back, allowing me to mount both a DSLR and a 2" dielectric diagonal and get perfect focus on both. Normally you need to delve into Takahashi "accessory city" to achieve this by buying all sorts of extenders and tubes that are totally proprietary.
Please excuse the finder, I have a proper Tak 7x50 coming up from Takaya in Canberra over the next couple of days. I'll then try illuminating the reticle with an Orion illuminator off my 12mm ill. reticle EP...if it fits. If not, I'll have to get a genuine Tak unit. Anyone tried this before?
Hopefully I'll get time to put one of my heater strips together tomorrow, so that it can be tried on Saturday evening, weather permitting!
Next - a field flattener and/or field flattener/focal reducer, and a camera swivel ring as per the one on the FS60-C which is absolutely fantastic.
So - form the Tak guys, what accessories do you most use in typical imaging (SLR) situations? The Tak accessory sheet is a killer to follow unless you know EXACTLY what you need. King-size PITA.
Anyhoo - IISAC here I come!