No rain dance...

[LewisM]

Superstitions be gone, but I FINALLY, after a LOT of procrastination over MANY months (or years - either or) bought a Takahashi FSQ106EDXIII.

Question - is it worthwhile getting the FR to make this an f/3.6 instrument? Or should I just learn the ropes first with this fine f/5 instrument (and all the focus fiddliness etc) nd take it from there? I usually jump in at the deep end, but I think I have learnt a few lessons (the hard way) over the last few years.

I am having my machinist turn up adapters to step down from Tak M92 x1.0 or M96x1.0 to Vixen standard M60x0.75 so that I can simply utilise my myriad of Vixen adapters I accumulated over my many years of Vixen use. Even these custom adapters turn out cheaper than Tak originals, and they will be all threaded connections to minimise any sag/flex.

Shall be a fun learning experience! It was steepish learning f/5 with the DED 108SS, so the Tak shall be at least a little simplified... will need to go Sharpsky Pro again eventually me thinks.

[DJT (David)]

I cant answer to the reducer question Lewis, but congrats on the acquisition. Enjoy it!

[Octane (Humayun)]

Get the reducer. I'm spewin' I can't use it on the N!

H

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Nice new scope there Lewis, hope to see a mountain of fine images from you now

Mike

[gregbradley]

I agree, get the reducer its an awesome bit of gear. I used one for quite a while. You need the bucket style adapter for it.

Be careful with Tak threads on adapters. I think its good practice to wipe the dry threads Tak adapters often have with something. I use a teflon additive - Nulon gearbox teflon. I wipe that on with a rag (just a smearing). It can save trouble as Tak adapters easily jam on and are hard to remove even with tools.

With the focus lock lever, you'll find its better to focus with that level partially engaged then fully engage it once in focus. If you don't it will shift focus slightly and you'll have to start again.

FSQ is a bit prone to temp focus shifts so when you first start imaging with it at night its best to let it cooldown and refocus regularly until stable temps. Its easy enough to manually focus with the micro focuser knob but a Robofocus makes the job a lot easier and if you want to go further you can program in a temp shift refocus with Robofocus.

Also at some point you may want to consider flocking the inside of the tube. The black internal paint has a slight green colour bias and flocking makes it neutral. Not a big deal though and unless done well could affect resale value.

Greg.

[Logieberra (Logan)]

I'd say the exact opposite, get the F8 extender-q. It's an essential visual and AP tool for those scopes.

[Logieberra (Logan)]

Wow, Tak adapter requirements really are mental!

http://www.deepskycolors.com/archivo...Stl-Howto.html

[LewisM]

Oh, I know the Tak adapter insanity... hence why I am having a couple step-down plates made to use all my Vixen adapters etc. All the fart-a$$ing around I had to do with my first Tak FS60 put me off Tak for a LONG time.

Extend? NO. I want this baby to go fast Might have to paint it red LOL.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Nice new scope there Lewis, hope to see a mountain of fine images from you now

Mike

Let's sequentially answer these:

1. yes, FANTASTIC scope, far better than I cn extract from it
2. weather permitting
3. Maybe mountains of ... well... I better learn good processing seeing my images are in the Dark Ages still

A good scope does not make a good astrophotographer, but it helps at least to demonstrate vividly the lacking in processing proficiencies of the operator

[Octane (Humayun)]

Oh, yes. Get the 1.6x Extender-Q, too, as Logan mentioned above.

H

[LewisM]

ONE day...the outlay was enough for now

Will get the FR and stop there for a hile. f/3.6 is a little daunting to me... in the realm of the Riccardi Honders... (OK, not quite Peter, I do apologise )

[brunono2 (Brian)]

http://astro-foren.de/index.php/Thre...chen/?4050b9b5

Lewis
Per the report- need to use Google translate:-
-The scope without extender/reducer is the equivalent of an excellent ED scope
- With the reducer it is an extremely bright imaging scope-
- With the extender it is a super APO- converging the colours; even increasing the Strehl

This is not a criticism of the scope but emphasises that the scope is 3 scopes in one satisfying all purposes

Cheers

Brian

[Logieberra (Logan)]

Brian, spot on-

'With the extender it is a super APO- converging the colours; even increasing the Strehl' and ... 'this is not a criticism of the scope but emphasises that the scope is 3 scopes in one satisfying all purposes'.

People think the Extender-q is a simple barlow, which it's not! Hence the reason for my post, above, 'it's an essential visual and AP tool for those scopes'.

__________________

[LewisM]

I WILL, just after recovering from scope purchase + ring purchase + focal reducer purchase....

Give it time... it WILL happen... just not immediately, unless one of you guys need to sell some Tak parts really really cheap

[Logieberra (Logan)]

You'll appreciate this, now that you speak fluent Takahashi. No interpreter needed
"FSQ-106ED型天体望遠鏡" on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/hcgt8WY1_1U

[Kunama]

I would just like to say one thing to you Lewis my friend:

DIBS !!!

[LewisM]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. It's taken MANY trades, upgrades, and fenagling to get this Takahashi AT LAST, so no wise cracks from the peanut gallery

Now my Takette purchasing has begun... OUCH! Just for little itty pieces of aluminium... finely lathed and milled by a gorgeous Geisha girl who makes all sorts of promises...

Good news - tracking says it is out for delivery today. And no bloody joke, it's pouring rain. Pathetic.

Well, I don't have any adapters for it yet anyway, so all I could do is look AT it, not WITH it

[LewisM]

Oh, and Matt, I have an old Talvisota era puukko... just right for castrations

[LewisM]

It is now delivered...and I am at work in the lab... oh the horror of having to wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

It will now rain for the next 40 days and 40 nights.