Ah yes the fabulous Tak versus AP competition.
They are both wonderful scopes but having owned both I would have to give the edge to AP.
AP makes the incredible 155TCC corrector which is a reducer and flattener in one and corrected even for 16803 chips. I know Tak has a super reducer but I am not sure it has the same standard here.
AP focusers are superior to Tak ones. Tak is now playing catchup with its focusers as the number of complaints roll in about flexure with FSQ106ED's and heavy camera trains. It can't handle it without flex. I see a TOA150B with a heavier focuser to address this so they are handling it slowly.
FSQ106ED has no competitor really in the AP stable except for the 130 and its reducers. But that's a different price and availability and aperture. The FSQ106ED must be Taks biggest seller. I wonder why they don't bring out an FSQ130 or even an FSQ150. Now that would be unique and they could exploit their edge in Petsvals.
AP now has a Honders Riccardi astrograph which is unique and I suppose eventually the Mak astrograph Roland has made.
AP threads are infinitely superior to Tak ones which routiinely jam and are too fine/ too frictioned after their black coatings.
Having said all that I do love Tak scopes and have had several that I really like.
Of course the main advantage of Tak over AP is you can actually get a new one fairly easily!
I don't know that is true that Tak has the edge over AP on correction? You think? AP does .99 strehl on its optics. I doubt Tak does. Its lenses are made by subcontractors not by them.
Another aspect of AP scopes is the fact that Roland images himself. I have not seen images posted by Mr Takahashi - I have by Roland. This means he really knows what is needed and it shows in the attention to detail in his scopes. They are immensely practical and superbly thought out and engineered. For example the corrected illuminated circle from an AP155 or 140 with a flattener is around 100mm!!!! That provides a lot of future use when super large chips come out. They will still work when other scopes will vignette.
TOA series is an incredible imaging scope though. I have often been amazed at the resolution Marcus achieves with his TOA150. An amazing scope. Is AP155 a lot better? Probably not. You'd need a TEC180 to be better there hehehehe.
Greg.
