asaint
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/25/03
Posts: 1949
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Tele Vue 102
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Steve Darden
super member
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 141
Loc: Woodstock, GA
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Execellant review!!! Thanks.
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Orion XT10 with Moonlite focuser
Orion Starmax 127 Mak
Orion 80ed with Moonlite focuser
Too little free time
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Dirtyharry
member
Reged: 11/01/07
Posts: 78
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Very informative Neil, well done!
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Glen A W
member
Reged: 07/04/08
Posts: 10
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That is the way a review ought to be written - telling us what things actually look like through the telescope. That's what telescopes are for, after all, to look through. I love refractors. They really do amazing things for their generally small sizes.
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clydec
sage
Reged: 03/07/08
Posts: 267
Loc: Riverdale, New York
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Excellent job, Neil!
Clyde
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TV-85
Ranger
Orion XT-6
Celestron Ultima Binocular
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John Kocijanski
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/22/03
Posts: 1462
Loc: Monticello, NY
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Nice review. It is on my wish list. For now though your comments have inspired me to get out my C102 tonight. It is the closest I have to a TV 102 for now. 
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John
Deep Space Observer 10 * SPC-8 * C102 HD f/10 * XT 4.5 * AT1010N * PST *
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Loren Toole
member
Reged: 03/23/04
Posts: 90
Loc: New Mexico USA
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Neil
I have a Genesis and haven't been able to make the head-to-head comparison against another 4" refractor on planets, as you did. Could you offer some more comments about what the comparison to a 4" f9 ED showed?
I occasionally suspect the same thing you did, that the Genesis due to its f5 configuration is forcing too much glass into the light path for high power views. To be fair this comparison needs to be done using alternate scopes under the same conditions, at the same magnification...
Edited by Loren Toole (07/31/08 07:23 AM)
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J_D_Metzger
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/13/04
Posts: 1281
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Outstanding review, Neil!
I am currently on my second TV-102. I sold my first one, but I missed it so much that I recently bought another one. My new one is the two-set screw, satin black version with the black draw tube. Beautiful. They will have to pry this one from my cold, dead hands... 
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Clear skies,
J.D.
32°15'16.96"N 110°47'39.24"W
Celestron C8, TeleVue TV-102, TeleVue TV-76
Vixen GPD2 + iOptron GotoNova, Vixen Porta Mount
TeleVue Naglers, TeleVue Panoptics
Pentax XWs, Baader Hyperions
Canon 10x30 IS Binoculars
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doctordub
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 886
Loc: New Rochelle, New York
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Excellent review!
Ditto what JD said!
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Jonathan
TeleVue TV102 on Vixen SXW mount
Meade LXD 55 SN10/UHTC Modified
Jason Monolux 60mm
Canon 15x50 IS
Bushnell 7-15x25, 10x21 IV
BO 8x21
Olympus E-510, 14-42, 40-150 Zuiko
Meade DSI, LPI, Eep
TeleVue:
Binovue, 2X Corrector
3x barlow, 2x 5mm, 2x7mm,
12mm, 17mm & 2-4mm Zoom Naglers,
2x24mm, & 27mm panoptics,
55mm Plossl & 3mm Radian
Siebert Power Mag wheel
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Cosmosphil
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/04/05
Posts: 993
Loc: So. California
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What a great review! I think Neil is just about dead on. There is no doubt the NP101 is truly one of the great scopes of all time but in comparing the two on several occasions I am, like Neil, happy with the TV102 for what it does at its price point. I think Uncle Al stuck the best balance with the two in price and performance.
If you need a ultra-wide, perfectly flat field with NO and I think Neil will argee, NO color then spend the extra on the NP101. If you aren't particularly sensitive to CA and just what an all around solid visual 4" scope for Luna, planets and bright DSO's then save the money and enjoy the TV102.
The focus depth issue as mentioned by Neil is also dead on. You MUST have a two speed focuser with the NP101.
I find the stock R&P on the TV102 perfectly up to the task.
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Phil Agins
15" Discovery TD
10" Discovery PDHQ
5.7" Ceravolo Mak-Newt HD145
TeleVue-102
Vixen ED80Sf
Coronado PST
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Spyke
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/22/03
Posts: 1884
Loc: Scotland
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Great review! I too would like to see the comparison between the TV102 and the ED100. Maybe one day...
Antony
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GSO 8" f6 Dob (Hi-Lux coated)
ED100 Pro, ED80
Skymax 127 Maksutov
Coronado Ha PST
Vixen GP, multiple AZ-3 mounts.
Berkut 10x50 Binos, 'reasonable' no. of eyepieces
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2747
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Nice review, indeed.
I had the opportunity this past weekend to do a little observing with a TV-102... what a treat! This specimen was mounted on a Gibraltar and provided stunning views when coupled with a 26 mm Nagler. Equally nice was the 127is.
The nice views were served up courtesy of the TeleVue rep in the vendor's area at the Julian Starfest in southern California. To his credit, the guy manned his booth until at least 2 am each night.
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Peter
0.635 meter Obsession #620
80mm ED | Panoramic
We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do.
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Hal_Coward
super member
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 111
Loc: Cloudy Southeast Texas
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Quote:
Equally nice was the 127is
Gee, why didn't you say the 127is was much better? I keep debating whether I want to trade out my TV102 for one. BTW, how was the 127 mounted - Gibraltar also or an equatorial of some kind?
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Hal Coward
TeleVue 102 refractor on Gibraltar mount
27mm Panoptic
3,4,5,6,12,18mm Radians
Orion Mega View 20X80
"The pumps don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles" - Bob Dylan
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2747
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I didn't say the 127is was much better because I wasn't making any such comparison. I see them as different instruments: the faster (f5.2) 127is is better suited for a photographic application, whereas the longer focal length (f8.6) of the 102 is more to my liking as a visual telescope.
And, with a cost delta of over $4,000 I really like the 4" model -- YMMV.
They were both using Gibraltar mounts.
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Peter
0.635 meter Obsession #620
80mm ED | Panoramic
We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do.
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Hal_Coward
super member
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 111
Loc: Cloudy Southeast Texas
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Quote:
They were both using Gibraltar mounts.
Very interesting. Did you have a chance to evaluate how well the Gibraltar handled the NP127?
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Hal Coward
TeleVue 102 refractor on Gibraltar mount
27mm Panoptic
3,4,5,6,12,18mm Radians
Orion Mega View 20X80
"The pumps don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles" - Bob Dylan
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Peter Argenziano
Watcher of the Skies
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 2747
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It was OK (just OK) for visual use. Photography would require a tracking mount. During the day they had the 127is mounted on a Celestron CG5 -- again, OK for visual use but not for photography.
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Peter
0.635 meter Obsession #620
80mm ED | Panoramic
We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do.
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Hal_Coward
super member
Reged: 11/26/06
Posts: 111
Loc: Cloudy Southeast Texas
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Thanks for the info. Pretty consistent with what I have heard. Too bad because the TV102/Gibraltar combo I have is perfect for me - a little shaky at high power but still quite useable and very easy to set up.
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Hal Coward
TeleVue 102 refractor on Gibraltar mount
27mm Panoptic
3,4,5,6,12,18mm Radians
Orion Mega View 20X80
"The pumps don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles" - Bob Dylan
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RAKing
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 626
Loc: Virginia
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The Televue 102 has been on my "Dream List" for so long and this review finally tipped me over the edge. My new one should be here later this week. 
Thanks, Neil.
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
C11-A SCT "Time Machine"
C925-CF SCT "Time Machine II"
TV-102 "HDTV"
I-M 703 MCT
Atlas EQ-G GEM / A-P Portable Pier
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John Kocijanski
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/22/03
Posts: 1462
Loc: Monticello, NY
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Quote:
The Televue 102 has been on my "Dream List" for so long and this review finally tipped me over the edge. My new one should be here later this week.
Congratulations. Someday I'll go over the edge and get one too.
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John
Deep Space Observer 10 * SPC-8 * C102 HD f/10 * XT 4.5 * AT1010N * PST *
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