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Curious to know in what way you would hope it to be better than a FSQ ?
The FSQ is amazingly well corrected across a huge spectrum and it has a large quite flat field.
The surface finish the Takahashi optics is very high and so its resolving capability will almost always exceed seeing conditions.
So I can only think its the off axis diffraction inherent in the Petval design or some mechanical issue ?
How much better can it actually be ?
Good question Rally as the FSQ106ED is a very good scope.
The focuser of the FSQ106ED has let some people down as it
can sag under heavy loads, the focuser lock isn't as good as the
106N model and causes focus to shift when engaged from totally unlocked. Additionally the coatings on the lenses when you look at them are a mustard green colour.
I noticed when the FSQ106ED first came out that images posted with it tended to lack colour saturation and looked very harsh, sharp but harsh.
Part of that may be processing skills but I find the scope to have a harsh effect on colours. Perhaps that is the different coatings Tak used on this model over other models.
Additionally I believe (perhaps wrongly) there is a small but distinct advantage to fluorite over FPL53 glass. Specifically in light scatter.
Yuri at TEC says he can measure this scatter from other glasses compared to fluorite. But fluorite primarily makes it easier for the scope maker to produce fast optics that are still colour free.
LZOS lenses and AP seem to be able to do that too.
Time will tell if this scope is as good or better than the FSQ106ED which as you say on paper is the bees knees (I have one and it is a nice scope). Don't let me put the FSQ106ED down here I am merely pointing out the weaknesses of a very nice instrument. It is not perfect.
I can't help feel that whilst the FSQ is a great scope there is room for a better scope in that similar size. Plus this 110mm is airline portable not that I plan to take it anywhere. The scope may be airline portable but a mount would not be! At least not for imaging anyway.
I also feel that Yuri is a bit like Roland Christen from AP where he makes unreal scopes that are freely available much like Roland did in the 90's and now is too swamped with orders to be freely available. One day Yuri's scopes will be like that too. Already his Mak Cass scopes are no longer made as are his 200mm fluorite and his 200mm ED. So grab one while they are available - it won't be forever.
Greg.
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