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[PCH (Paul)]

Lovely binos Col,

I used to have a pair of the same Oberwerk 45/100's on a height adjustable stand for comfortable zenith viewing. The views were spectacular and so comnfoprtable to view thru, even for extended periods.

[JA]

Hi Folks,

No they're not some strange pair of binos, although you could try if you have very wide set eyes. I just acquired the 2nd of these 2 lenses. They are a pair of Nikon 400mm f2.8 lenses for my take on the dragonfly array thing (x2 for now), - "Bumble Bee" . for a 400mm f2 ... (equivalent exposure) or 600mm f2.8 equiv. or 800mm f4 equiv. with 1.5x and 2x Teleconverters resp. (Need to test the Image Quality and acquire some more Nikon TCs before going crazy on that (the TC) route).

I now need to find time to make a fixture to hold both lenses on a mount whilst also (possibly/probably) providing a means of optical alignment. I need to rope in my brother for some of his wonderful welding work (Hi Den)

Best
JA

[UniPol]

Finally got around to assembling my very rare circa 1960 Polarex (Unitron) 6" achromat after a few years in storage in preparation for a ground up restoration. I'm hoping the tube and astrographic camera will fit in my conservatory as the mount alone to the top of the cradle is 2800mm and the tube perhaps a little longer. It seems a pity that the telescope is destined to be for display only as the construction of an observatory is out of the question. The complete set up has a weight clock drive, F4 astrographic camera and Polarex 4" F15 guide scope plus a 2" F10 finder scope and the cast iron base measures 800mm x 600mm. I estimate the overall weight to be around 350kg's.

[LewisM]

Steve, as discussed recently, you need to make your conservatory roof roll-off

[Atmos (Colin)]

That looks fantastic Steve. Will be so shiny when restored

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Looks awesome! What a mighty mount

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Wow, great scope ...aaah the memories..

Mike

[UniPol]

Thanks for your interest guys, and Lewis, I thought about a roll off roof for about 5 seconds but decided it was over the top at 6m x 5m.

[Aelk5579]

I've got a Celesteron Nexstar 6se

[Mamba (David)]

Finally got it all together and am very pleased with the outcome of my latest scope.
It's a TSA 120 on a G11 with Gemini 1. I have recently purchased a pair of Zeiss binos from Denis together with the Baarder T2 prism and because I was so sure that I would have problems coming to focus I also purchased the 1.7 GPC. I am delighted to find that I can come to focus by the use of a 2" TV x2 powermate and the standard Tak 2" 75mm extension piece used for straight through viewing without the need for the GPC, this means the 30mm prisms in the binos will not be restricted by the GPC which only measures 24.5mm diameter.
I have mated the binos with a pair of 8/24 Baarder Mk IV zoom eyepieces so the magnification range is 75 to 225, well within the TSA's capacity.
I spent last night observing Saturn and came in feeling that the not inconsiderable sum of money the binos and eyepieces cost was money well spent.
Dave Cooke
For some reason I am unable to attach photos but will post anyway.

[croweater (Richard)]

Originally Posted by Mamba

Finally got it all together and am very pleased with the outcome of my latest scope.
It's a TSA 120 on a G11 with Gemini 1. I have recently purchased a pair of Zeiss binos from Denis together with the Baarder T2 prism and because I was so sure that I would have problems coming to focus I also purchased the 1.7 GPC. I am delighted to find that I can come to focus by the use of a 2" TV x2 powermate and the standard Tak 2" 75mm extension piece used for straight through viewing without the need for the GPC, this means the 30mm prisms in the binos will not be restricted by the GPC which only measures 24.5mm diameter.
I have mated the binos with a pair of 8/24 Baarder Mk IV zoom eyepieces so the magnification range is 75 to 225, well within the TSA's capacity.
I spent last night observing Saturn and came in feeling that the not inconsiderable sum of money the binos and eyepieces cost was money well spent.
Dave Cooke
For some reason I am unable to attach photos but will post anyway.

Great setup David. Sounds a lot like my wish list. Though that dream includes a TOA 130 Cheers Richard.

[Atmos (Colin)]

Very nice David, once you go bino you cannot go back

[Mamba (David)]

Photos here

[Mamba (David)]

Colin, yes I was very impressed with Saturn and hoping weather will allow me a scan of the moon tonight even if it is a bit on the full side.
Richard, thanks but I'm not sure I could grapple with a 130.
Dave Cooke

[UniPol]

They look like a great set of bino's David. I've found my Tak "Twin View" bino's about the best I've ever tried so far. I think the TSA-120 is possibly the best all round refractor ever produced by Tak as it excellent for visual and AP. I owned a TOA-130s and a TOA-130NFB but think the TSA-120 is more versatile.

[LewisM]

Aw, I dunno Steve, the TSA-102 is hard to beat

[UniPol]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Aw, I dunno Steve, the TSA-102 is hard to beat

Yeah, and that one too

[Mamba (David)]

Thanks for the comment Unipol, I was a little nervous about paying out so much to a guy called Denis but he appears to be highly regarded on Cloudynights so I took a chance and right now I am very pleased I did.
Clearly you take better photographs than I do.
Dave Cooke

[UniPol]

You won't regret your purchase David, the TSA will give exceptional views.

[Kunama]

My latest scope purchase :

With thanks to Simon , I now have the perfect scope for my public outreach efforts at Mount Stromlo..... (I really never felt comfortable having people climb a ladder to my big scope's eyepiece)

For the princely sum of $250, I bought Simon's 10" GSO Dobsonian which had been unused for quite some time. The scope came with a perfect laser collimator, 8x50 RACI finder and Telrad finder as well as an extension tube.

Though dry stored, the mirror had a seriously thick layer of dust that had accumulated during storage. I got the scope home and dismantled it completely into its components, then washed both mirrors, the primary was left to soak for a few minutes before a soap and water wash revealed a decent mirror that had been hidden by the dust.

I then dismantled the focuser, cleaned it and replaced one screw and refitted it. Then I noted that the secondary was too far down the tube to line up with the focuser axis, so after a minor modification to the mounting, I had the optics aligned as they should be. A quick collimation with the laser showed all was lining up well but the collimation screws were a nuisance so out they came to be replaced with M4 x 30mm stainless cap screws.

Hoping for a "First Light" tonight

Who says I am an equipment snob

Pics: GSO 10", Clean Mirror, Collimation screws, Clean focuser and Finder