TAK FS102 and Vixen ED103S

[Jeffkop (Jeff)]

Hi all

Anyone with experience with the Vixen ED103S and some spare time to write about the pros and cons .. Id appreciate it.

Like to know if this would be a worthwhile purchase For DSO photography too.

How does it compare to a Tak FS102 ??

Thanks to all

Jeff

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I cant say i have had direct experience with the ed103s but I do own its big brother, the ed115s.

The optics in Vixen refractors are well regarded and a notch above the chinese scopes. What makes them less attractive to some is the old school rack and pinion focuser.
I tried to sell mine a while ago with no luck. I think imaging people, who are mainly the people interested in such scopes, want a crayford focuser with fine focus knob and this made the scope less attractive and hard to sell.

If you want a visual scope, then for all intents the Vixen should be 9/10ths of the tak at a much cheaper price.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Taks also use a rack and pinion focuser. Apart from them not coming standard with the 10:1 "MicroEdge" focuser from Takahashi, it is available to retrofit most if not all Tak scopes. As far as the R&P goes, after using one for a while now I would rather a Tak R&P than any Crayfords except maybe a FeatherTouch. There's nothing old school about liquid-smooth precision engineering! One other advantage of a quality R&P over an average Crayford is that they are usually less susceptible to mal-adjustment, and can carry heavy cameras without being so critical on the tension adjustment. Chinese R&P's are pretty dreadful though.....

[madtuna (Steve)]

I have to agree with Chris regarding a good R&P focuser.
I have a Vixen 140 with an R&P and love it.
Stiff but smooth, precise and can carry a load without a problem.