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Depends what you want it for, looking through or astrophotography, but maybe it doesn't.
Here is a salutory tale, or two.
Bought my NP101 new locally in 2007. Recently went "out of collimation" for no apparent reason. That is there was no reason that I know of, no bumps, accidents or trauma to scope. No official explanation offered after repair.
Took to local agent in Melbourne on 15 July 2011. picked up from local agent on 7 October 2011 the day after I was notified it was repaired. (12 weeks!) Had to be sent to US to be fixed. Was presented with the following account:
TeleVue 101
Freight to US $360
Return Freight $195
Repairs from Televue $260
Freight to Melbourne $30
Total $845
As for looking through, great, but you can do as well for less I believe but maybe not Televue.
Further salutory tale:
I have a TV 85 for visual. When the 101 "failed" I decided to put its electric focuser on the 85. I dropped the 85 (my fault) and damaged the focuser. It too had to be sent to the US for repair, same 12 week turnaround, account follows:
TeleVue 85
Freight to US $170
Return Freight $98
Repairs from TeleVue $355
Freight to Melbourne $25
Total $648
As for astrophotography, to me the stars seem a little bloated with the 101 when you compare with an FSQ106. Also if you have a big chip camera it will vignette and distort at the edges. If you get the IS version you still need to get a flattener to correct the edges of the field for large chip cameras. Hardly a one stop imaging solution.
With hindsight I should have bought a Tak FSQ106, (at the time I was put off after I talked with the local agent), for photography and stuck with my binoculars for visual.
If you are hell bent on getting one though, if you make me a reasonable offer you may be suprised.
Brings up another old chestnut on this forum though. You support local business only to find they can't support the products they sell. How hard is it to replace a rack and pinion focuser for Gods sake? Collimation may be a problem, see recent thread by Exfso, but at least he had a reason for the problem. Shouldn't the locals be trained if they want to sell these things?
Overall I'm not impressed especially with the after sales part of the story and I think you get my drift.
Neale.
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