Takahashi FC76DCSV-Q F12.7 @ 965mm

[Kunama]

Postie surprised me on Canberra Day Public Holiday ..............

With thanks to Claude at A.E.C. (Takahashi Australia) the last piece of my latest puzzle arrived safe and well and at an excellent price. In fact to buy this from the USofA would have cost $400 more.

The finished (?) scope set up for white light solar viewing consists of:
FC76 F7.5 Objective unit
FS60CSV 105mm optical tube
FS60C Focuser
Tak-Kunama adapter (M55.9 > 2"SCT thread)
Baader 2" ClickLock Adapter
Baader 2" Cool Ceramic Herschel Solar Prism

and it all packs into a medium sized camera bag

Takahashi also very thoughtfully include a new identification plate for the FC76D to replace the one on the focuser

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Looks a lovely scope Matt congrats, be a shame to use it only for solar

[RB (Andrew)]

mmmmm Takahashi......

[Larryp (Laurie)]

Looks good, Matt!

[LewisM]

Gee Matt, what is it with you and I Tak-wise lately?

Will look nicer with an even LONGER tube

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Nice Won Matt ....

When your finished with ... you know where I am ...

Col....

[Allan]

Cool looking setup Matt. Tell us your thoughts on the Baader solar prism when you get to using it. I have heard they are so much better than film.

[Kunama]

Thanks Allan, the amount of time that passed between when I last used a film filter and used this prism with my TSA120 would make such comment nigh worthless, however, this prism is very very good.
Since the arrival of the FC76 Objective old Sol has not been kind to me, choosing to hide in Canberra rain clouds instead.
What I like most is that it is (in my humble opinion) far safer to use than any objective covering filter in that it cannot become dislodged and cause eye damage. Were it to fall off by some quirk of fate, the worst you would get is an empty feeling in your wallet and some unfocused light on your abdomen.
The brightness can be controlled with various ND filters or with a 'single' polariser. It must only be used with refractors of course.

The only danger I can see with these is if you remove the OD3 ND filter.
What I really like also is that to get the Solar image into the centre you actually stand back and look at the shadow formed by the dewshield and then the image on the ceramic tile.

[Allan]

Nice one Matt, thanks. I am hearing what you say, and having just bought my refractor I am keen to do some white light solar with a wedge. They seem a bit pricey though, so it will have to just sit on the shopping list for a while.

[Kunama]

The "FrankenTak" got a little longer:

Now in its final guise ......... Takahashi FC76DCSV-Q

Fluorite Apochromat 76mm F12.7 @ 965mm focal length ........ tried it out last night on the lunar limb and a couple of bright stars and it is as colour-free as the TSA120. Nice little toy to take along on bushwalks.

[Kunama]

Just a copy of my recent posts on Cn Binoviewers Section:

The desired result is for me to be able to use the Denk II binoviewers with the Baader Cool Ceramic 2" Herschel Prism attached to my FS60CSV/FC76D Hybrid scope.

Currently I have the Denk II Super System (Pwr Switch + OCS and also the Filter switch)

I also have the Baader Cool Ceramic Hercshel Prism.

The scope is the FS60 Focuser with the 105mm CSV tube attached to the FC76 Objective unit. Currently I am using the Baader ClickLock 2" eyepiece holder. This combination allows me to reach focus easily with 20mm to spare.
1. Adding binos obviously makes focus impossible with the current setup.
2. Using an OCS between the OTA and the Herschel Prism is NOT an option,
3. Without the OCS the Power Switch is not useable

I assume that the only option is to shorten the connections to the Prism and between the prism and OTA and maybe even cut up the spare OTA I have to make a Super Short tube.

Any other suggestions greatly appreciated.

[Kunama]

Sometimes the answer is there but we just can't see it :



1. Remove the FC76 Objective unit
2. Remove the 105mm CSV Optical Tube
and ................

[Kunama]

and reattach the FC76 Objective unit directly to the focuser.

The section of OTA removed is 110mm long and having removed it the Denk II comes to focus in the middle of the focusers range using the Denk21 EPs.
This has allowed me to retain the 2" Clicklock visual back and to be able to use either the 2" ClickLock Dielectric Diagonal or the Baader Cool Ceramic Herschel Prism.

I must note that this does not allow use of the Power Switch/OCS so I will have to double up on a couple of EPs.

The only issue is that for monoviewing I have to either replace the section of OTA removed or add a 100mm extension tube into the visual back.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

This sounds very promising .... all coming together now...!!

Flash....

[anj026]

I didn't think I needed a scope between the TV60 and the TSA 102. But then the more I looked at the FC76.....

Just have to wait a couple of weeks for delivery now.

Matt I saw in one of your previous posts that you were using a couple of non-Tak 80mm tube rings. Maybe it was in an add for your FS60. What are your thoughts on those? Are they an economical alternative to the Takahashi clam shell? I have started to DIY some tube rings out of 12mm ply in the meantime.

[Kunama]

Sent you a PM Andy.
but in short, the rings I imported are camera lens collars and fit the 80mm ø tube of the FC76DC or the FS60CB.

The Fc76 is a brilliant little scope, I am waiting for a box of Baader goodies from Telescope Express to finalise the Denk II - Fc76 system, which will then be able to do both solar and night work without GPCs or OCS. and will have Quick connect rings and ClickLocks.