Fluorite vs Aperture

[gregbradley]

TV 101 is very good. Similar to FSQ106 in design. I'd got with that. Only reservation is some posts here about internal paint flaking off. But as I recall that was TV102's. Perhaps others who know can comment.

Greg.

[LewisM]

Been both the 101 and the 102. I don't have the best climate control in my house so that is a concern. Seems to be a fairly frequent problem in Australian owners TV's.

[issdaol (Phil)]

There is a second hand Tak TSA102 on AEC Site under customer adverts

http://www.astronomy-electronics-centre.com.au/

[LewisM]

Thanks, but still pushing the budget too far.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Taking all this on board.... and now I am deciding on a Televue 101... quad-apo should be decent I assume

So, narrowing this dow - TV 101 quadruplet, Vixen FL102 doublet or a Northgroup 127 Triplet.

The TV NP101 is easily the best of the three you are now considering, whether it be for astrohotography or visual. As Greg says it is a 4 element Petzval design and very similar in design to the FSQ106.

I would have thought a 2nd hand one of those would be notably more expensive than the Vixen FL102S or the Chinese 127ED.

Cheers,
John B

[LewisM]

Well, to update this old thread, the Northgroup ED127 turned out to be OK - but I traded it off for a simply superb OLD Vixen R200SS astrograph. Even visually it ROMPS all over the ED127.

And to keep the quality optics coming, I DID buy the Vixen FL102 in the end - should be here Monday Several well known and VERY respected/knowledgeable astronomers told me BUY IT, or they would. I trusted their opinion I will try it for astrophotography, but more likely it will end up my visual scope, with the R200SS and the ED80 being the photo crew. I have a Televue and Orion refractor focal reducer to give it a jolly good shot anyway.

yes, FINALLY I am content and HAPPY with the gear I have. FINALLY. And being vixen for the majority, I can settle on commonality with their odd 60mm system between scopes., as well as running standard 2" if I want too with the step-down ring.

[Kunama]

You took the long way around but got there in the end Lewis.
I also have the Vixen R200SS with CC3 and extender etc as well as 3 new LVWs, Wide adapter, couple of LVs and very soon a brand new Vixen GpD2 mount (still winging its way over from Japan). I intend to use a Canon 50D for which I just bought a Baader ACF filter which I will fit into it in the next few days.

Good luck with your setup, look forward to your pics.
The FL102S was also on my list of things to get but now the "Gaunt Porta Mount" project will take precedence.

Cheers,Matt

[LewisM]

Problem with telescopes is most of the time, you cannot try before you buy! And finding non-bias real REVIEWS is VERY hard (especially when people are getting PAID to review!)

It's been a STEEP learning curve, and expensive. At least I have come out even after trading off everything. Only been 1 scope I truly DISLIKED (Maksutov) and only one I regret parting with (Vixen VC200L).

The R200SS is a BRILLIANT scope (though a PITA to balance properly!) and by all reports, I'll likely be keeping the FL102S for a VERY long time

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Problem with telescopes is most of the time, you cannot try before you buy! And finding non-bias real REVIEWS is VERY hard (especially when people are getting PAID to review!)
..............

The R200SS is a BRILLIANT scope (though a PITA to balance properly!) and by all reports, I'll likely be keeping the FL102S for a VERY long time

Totally agree with you Lewis, I am putting the Vixen R200SS on the Gaunt mount tonight while waiting for the GPD2 to arrive .......

[gregbradley]

Get yourself one of those cheap Antares laser collimators. It makes collimating very easy and fast. Without something like that collimation is extremely difficult as the R200SS is a fast scope. I had one once. It should make a nice widefield imager as long as its well collimated.

Greg.