Finally got me my dream scope

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Heya Tj

I didn't even see your post that mentioned you'd bought one. Hope first light goes well! Mine'll hopefully be tomorrow night - fingers crossed. I've still got to really figure out whether or not a heater is required. It's pretty wet out there at this time of year...

Lemme know how you go!

[monoxide]

just came in from a quick look around..
dropped in the 24mm pano and slewed to the moon, absolutely incredible view, just so sharp.. had to pick my jaw up off the ground before i moved on.

checked out a few open clusters a couple globs and the swan neb, a few of the standouts being 47 tuc, the jewel box and the butterfly cluster.
the contrast and sharpness certainly make it look like its going a lot deeper than youd expect. a quick star test revealed concentric rings on both sides of focus, collimation looked spot on also.

after using the Tak finder for a while you realise why they cost what they do, mine is just as sharp as the 102.

unless its really damp you should be ok without a dew heater, shields on these scopes are huge. i wouldnt go for a long imaging session without a heater running though just in case.

only real thing i can complain about on mine atleast is that the focuser seems a bit stiff, ill be looking into putting a feathertouch micro on it but i probably would have done that eventually anyway.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Excellent! Good on you! It's pouring down here...

Originally Posted by monoxide

only real thing i can complain about on mine atleast is that the focuser seems a bit stiff, ill be looking into putting a feathertouch micro on it but i probably would have done that eventually anyway.

I adjusted mine on both the 60 and 102 to take the same effort to focus. If you screw off the small double-dimpled knob holding the pinion cover on, there are two small philips screws under that - one on each side of the pinion shaft. If you loosen either one or both a SMIDGIN, you'll alter the effort until it's what you're after. I then use a small dab of my wife's nail polish on the side of each screw to lock them right there. I don't use Loctite, as the nail polish cracks straight off when you want it to. Both of my focusers are absolutely liquid-smooth and light to move - yet don't budge when the camera's weight is on them. You've always got the focus lock anyway.

[monoxide]

ahh nice thanks for the tip, ill have to give that a go.

i wish i could feel sympathetic about the rain but i got mine back in july and only just managed first light tonight!!
its horrible having a brand new scope you've been looking forward to getting for so long just sitting there for over a month before you get to use it.

now to order a side by side plate and some dew heaters.

[Dave47tuc (David)]

Great set up Chris

If you want the focuser to be that much better fit the Starlight Feather touch TRF focuser.
http://www.starlightinstruments.com/microsTak.htm

I have just got mine on my Tak Newt, yes Newtonian

This is the TRF for the Tak 102 Refractor

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Thanks Dave

Yes, quite a few people have recommended them. Mine actually had one fitted by Gary in NZ, but he kept it - so they must be good! LOL!

I definitely want 10:1 reduction for that perfect focus.

What's got me surprised somewhat, is the sheer number of Tak owners here. "Youse" are all coming outta the woodwork!

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

What's got me surprised somewhat, is the sheer number of Tak owners here. "Youse" are all coming outta the woodwork!

We're like stealthy Ninjas.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Here's one I took tonight. The skies were cloudy, yet again, so my camera turned to the scope itself.

Takahashi FS-102 (w/Tak 7x50 Illuminated finder) and FS-60C (w/Tak 6x30 finder) on Losmandy G11.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Clear afternoon so far..... maybe first light tonight?

Our astro society is doing a school event tonight, which I unfortunately can't attend - but the back yard is looking good. Hopefully I'll do some lunar exploring and photography...

[asterisk (Geoff)]

Looks good Chris - I must have missed your post and only came across it today.

What you are doing/spending really explains our current local weather!

Doubtless we will have clear skies when you take all that new stuff north with you.

Cheers

[gregbradley]

Lovely setup.

I've had 2 FS scopes - the FS102 and an FS152 (which of course is an amazing scope).

I remember a fabulous widefield view in the FS102 with Denk binos and a pair of TV 19mm Panoptics - wow.

The Tak 10:1 microfocuser is good not great. It can be a bit spongy if not adjusted just right.

They got it right on the new FSQ106ED. Its microfocuser is superb and in my opinion even better than the Feathertouch one I have on an AP140 scope. I think its 6:1 - not sure, but its a really nice item. I wonder if you can get those for an FS102 retrofit? Anyways, I'd go the feathertouch microfocuser for the FS102 over the Tak 10:1 model.

The F6 reducer is sometimes for sale on Astromart second hand. Probably about US$250 + Shipping. It is like other Tak reducers/flatteners - a work of art.

I bought a Tak 35mm TOA flattener but it would not work on an STL11/ FS152.

For an STL setup, if you go that way at some point - you will most likely or most certainly I should say - change the focuser to a 4 inch focuser if one will fit the tube. Otherwise you get terrible vignetting. You will also need a flattener, even at F8. I upgraded my FS152 to a 4 inch focuser.

The Camera Angle Rotator is a fabulous Tak accessory and is very handy.
There is both a 2.7 inch and 4 inch model.

A DSLR is probably the max size chip you can image with without getting into expensive mods and accessories so keep that in mind. The Yahoo Tak uncensored group is another good source of info for Tak scopes.

Cheers,

Greg.