Takahashi TSA120 - My Thoughts

[Kunama]

After 2 weeks of clouds and rain (my penance for buying 4 telescopes in 4 months) the skies over Jindabyne finally cleared at 10.30pm last night for a couple of hours

The Takahashi 120mm F7.5 Super Apochromat mounted on my Vixen GP-D2 and fitted with Vixen lanthanum eyepieces (3.5, 5, 6, 13, 17 & 20mm) via the William Optics 2" Dielectric Diagonal.

This refractor is quite simply superb !!!

Even with an almost full moon lighting up the sky, it did not matter which eyepiece I used, from the 20mm LV at 45x to the 3.5mm LVW at 257x, the views were crisp and colour free, the stars pinpoint.

Can't wait for the new moon.

Thanks to Graeme (Rigel003) I now have a Feathertouch Micro Retrofit Kit to install before tonight's viewing.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Taks RULE ! , my SKY90 does it as well every time I look thru her as well .
Fluorite ,, nice stuff . The best .
Yours is a lovely scope Matt .
Hope the skies clear so you can get a deicent go at her tonight .
Brian.

[Rigel003 (Graeme)]

Looks great on that mount, Matt. You should be able to use 300x on close doubles on nights of excellent seeing.

..and don't talk it up too much. You'll make me start to feel regretful.

[Kunama]

I find that on Vixen mount the whole package is just the right weight to carry out without dismantling anything.

The only 'below par' aspect of the Tak has been the factory paint on the finder. It seems that they forgot the etch primer so the finishing coats are easily chipped and then will just lift off.

So yesterday I dismantled the finder, sanded it back to bare metal and etch primed it properly, then today 2 coats of enamel and baked it in the oven. (Hope my wife doesn't read this)

Optically the Tak 7x50 finder is excellent, sharpest I have ever seen.

[issdaol (Phil)]

wow Having to sand back your new Tak Finder must have been disappointing.

Tak would have replaced it for you no problem.

I have not had any issues with mine or the Tak finder on my Mewlon 300 which is several years old now.

Glad you like the scope :-)

[LewisM]

You need to look through my Vixen FL102S one day Matt... simply superb viewing, CA free, pinpoint sharp, INKY black...bring it up to Buderim and we'll do some comparison tests.

Strehl ratio on the FL102S is 0.97... not shabby

[Kunama]

Hi Phil, the finder was not new, I knew when I bought it that it had marks on it. I already had the paints so it was just a case of masking off well so no paint would get inside to mark the tube interior finish.

A friend who is a panelbeater is going to mix a bit of Tak white for me so I can get the colour just right. The paint method I use meant I can use the finder tonight.

[issdaol (Phil)]

:-) I was going to ask about the source of Tak White Paint. Not that I need it now but is handy to know

I have a spare brand new Tak 7 x 50 finder sitting in the box still. Been too busy to put it up for sale :-)

[Kunama]

Hey Lewis, I will probably drive up there on ANZAC Day and will bring the Tak/GPD2 with me. I also just bought a Stellarvue F50W2 right angle finder which should be leaving OPTCorp about now.

[Rigel003 (Graeme)]

The scratches on Tak finders are not uncommon, mostly inflicted by the metal tipped lock screws at the front end of the finder bracket. I agree about the quality of the finder optics though. The reticle is super fine and I like the small cutout in the field centre. I just ordered a new one to use with my AP scope. They're actually quite reasonably priced at the moment (for Takahashi gear, that is).

[LewisM]

Matt - try KillRust top coat Epoxy - gloss white of course. It matched my Fl102S precisely (I repainted an Orion miniguidescope and bracket to match the FL102S - a black scope on a classic white scope just was not kosher )

I tried finding Vixen hammertone brown-green, but no go,so went with white instead for the bracket. I have an ORIGINAL brown-green bracket shoe coming from the USA though

[Kunama]

Phil you can get little bottles of matching paint from AEC the aussie Tak agents.
These finders are incredibly sharp, you should put it on a small Alt Az mount for the kids!

[Kunama]

Graeme, I used your trick after painting, I wrapped white PVC tape around the area of tube where the screw line up.

[issdaol (Phil)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

You need to look through my Vixen FL102S one day Matt... simply superb viewing, CA free, pinpoint sharp, INKY black...bring it up to Buderim and we'll do some comparison tests.

Strehl ratio on the FL102S is 0.97... not shabby

I would love to hear about the comparison

I have read independent tests putting Tak TSA120 around .992 Strehl.

However given the difference in aperture the test would not be totally fair.

The TSA120 also has good internal tube baffling as well as non reflective coating in the tube. This can make a difference as well.

Although I must say my original Vixen Refractor (many years ago) was excellent.

[issdaol (Phil)]

Originally Posted by Kunama

Phil you can get little bottles of matching paint from AEC the aussie Tak agents.
These finders are incredibly sharp, you should put it on a small Alt Az mount for the kids!

:-)
Might go well on the front of my Bow

[Kunama]

Etch Primed & Painted (PVC tape to stop further damage) The Tak Manual actually suggests the use of PVC tape. The paint is actually a bit too white, the Taka white being cream with a hint of green.
The RAL code is 9010 and the nearest paint to it is a Ford paint colour FM 8141 "Performance White"

[LewisM]

Here's an image I pinched from CN showing the testing of some classic refractors:

Just rechecked the Strehl figures for the FL102S - it's actually 0.974

[LewisM]

I must admit I LOVE the Tak finders - the Vixen finders are average at best (I have 1 spare OLD type if anyone needs one).

Phil, if you WANT to sell it, let me know first

[Kunama]

Feathertouch Micro Pinion Assembly installed today.

(Graeme, after quite a bit of fiddling about, I managed to get the tension and backlash just about perfect, again for this beaut little freebie )

[LewisM]

Schweet!