Quote:
Originally Posted by djm
Hi,
I'm soon to be buying my first real telescope, probably a Takahashi TSA-102. I'm planning on using it primarily for visual observation at first, but would like to do some astrophotography down the road.
Thanks,
Damien
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Hi Damien,
I am going to throw in a totally dissenting opinion here. Whilst the quality of the Takahashi TSA 102 is right at the top of the tree, as far as 4" APO refractors go, it would not be in my first 50 choices as a visual telescope. I have $40k plus worth of visual telescopes and eyepieces and the only refractors amongst them are the finder scopes that sit on the newtonians.
For visual astronomy, the bigger the telescope the more you see. A larger medium quality telescope will show you infinitely more than a smaller high quality one. Further, a telescope that can be very good for imaging can be pretty poor for visual and vice versa. That's not to say the TAK TSA 102 is poor for visual astronomy, it's just very small by todays standards and IMO is really only suitable for lunar/planetary and double and variable stars. This is the main reason most experienced observers and imagers have at least two setups. One for visual and one for imaging, or multiple combinations thereof.
If you are not planning to image at present I would consider an 8" or 10" dobsonian as a starter visual telescope and then purchase the Tak TSA 102 and a good EQ mount down the track, when you are ready to image.
If there are financial. mechanical or ergonomic reasons why you prefer to visually observe with a 4" refractor then I can fully understand. However, if visual observing performance is a paramount consideration, I think you are heading off in the wrong direction and FWIW pointing a fair amount of chaff, in the wrong direction. You can buy an infinitely better visual telescope than the Tak TSA 102 for 1/4 the price IMO.
Cheers,
John B