Show us your equipment!

[LewisM]

Unfortunately, it'll be full moon before my new girl from Stuart arrives the way P&S are currently going. But it will be worth the wait.

Perfect set-up for the FOA Matt

[that_guy (Tony)]

after a long week of waiting my Esprit 100ED arrived at last. Of course it was absolutely clear when I began setting up and about half hour after i started up my sequence it was horizon to horizon clouds! WHO WOULDA THUNK IT.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Nice set up , at work .

Brian

Originally Posted by that_guy

after a long week of waiting my Esprit 100ED arrived at last. Of course it was absolutely clear when I began setting up and about half hour after i started up my sequence it was horizon to horizon clouds! WHO WOULDA THUNK IT.

[LewisM]

Tak FSQ-106 fluorite astrograph (it's a non-sliding dewshield model- only made for a few months in 2005 - so it's not even an N/Kai).

Sadly, my FS-102NSV went to Kunama today, but at least she is not far away.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Niiice...I thought all the old model fluorite FSQ 106's had fixed dew shields?

Mike

[LewisM]

Nope, only for 2005 production (first year), maybe some in 2006. Then they switched to sliding type. This one is serial #65.

I prefer non-sliding - one less thing to have issues with

[Atmos (Colin)]

So you found that fluorite FSQ you've been hunting down

[LewisM]

Yup

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Tak FSQ-106 fluorite astrograph (it's a non-sliding dewshield model- only made for a few months in 2005 - so it's not even an N/Kai).

..........

That is one beautiful FSQ, the non-sliding dew shield versions always look better.

[Kunama]

With thanks to Lewis, I can now compare an ED triplet Super Apochromat to a CaF2 Doublet apochromat on my "Blink Comparator"

In the left corner, weighing in at a moderate 5400 grams..... the Takahashi TSA102S with Ohara FPL53 ED glass ........... and in the right corner at a rather svelte 4300grams..... the Takahashi FS102NSV sporting the Canon Optron CaF2 Fluorite Crystal..... Being that both are 102mm F8 instruments with the beautiful EMS-ULS Silver mirrored visual backs and Takahashi eyepieces, it should be a good fight....

Lets Rumble

[Atmos (Colin)]

They look surprisingly similar.
Interesting Bino set!

[Kunama]

The FS NSV and TSA102S are built with the same tube, focuser and dew shield. Only difference being the lens cell and objective.

[Atmos (Colin)]

I was not aware of that. That explains why they look so similar haha

[casstony]

Matt, that might work well enough that you don't need to get another matched scope. I really like the look of that bino setup, very unique.

[UniPol]

That's a very nice nice set up Matt and beautifully engineered. I wonder how you could designate them: FSTSA-102SNLV, TSAFS-102NLVS or simply THE102's?

[Kunama]

Tony,
I'll test the scopes tonight to see how close the focal lengths are, they may indeed work as a binocular.

Steve,
There are just too many possible combinations to form an acronym.....

I will keep up the search for a partner for one of the scopes, whichever I find first will form the binoscope and the odd one out becomes my outreach scope unless I find someone looking to trade...
I have now a lead on a possible NSV overseas just trying to sort out the logistics....

Both scopes are in such fine condition that it will be hard to let either go...

[LewisM]

Just gorgeous Matt - makes my separation anxiety easier

Wasn't really a point me keeping it since I have the extender for the FSQ which makes it f/8. I suppose I could have imaged with the FS at f/6.4, but nah

[aljo2345]

Meade LX90 with wedge, Revolution Imager V2, and DVR recorder for later image processing.

[Kunama]

SW AZ-GTi with a new saddle clamp:

[Wilso]

Picked up the Tak extension pier with the 3/8 adapter from Hutech earlier in the year before the gst kicked in. Perfect match to the manfrotto mount!
With the extender this little baby q is also growing up to an f8. Have my home made carbon fibre dove tail and Peter tan tube rings to top it all off.