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Waduino
sage
Reged: 10/24/08
Posts: 247
Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario
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I thought I was over the inchitis that made me want to move up from my TV85 to a 4" refractor. I looked at Newtonians, Casses, CATS, etc. but I've come back to the TSA-102.
I value premium optics and portability so that I can G'n'G in my mag 3.5 backyard or easily put my gear in my camper (very space restricted) and head for dark skies.
The TSA-102 is just 23" long without diagonal, so it will fit my requirements. I have a MiniTower for tracking and a Porta Mount for immediate unpowered viewing. I think the mounts are adequate for visual use of the 102.
I'm wondering if I'll do this and find that, heck the TV85 was almost as good and that I've crossed the portability and mount threshold that means I'll use the TSA less than I do the 85.
Anyone care to comment?
Wad.
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Televue 85 with a bunch of TV EPs
Vixen Porta mount, iOptron Mini-Tower
78 Messiers, 7 planets, 11 moons since Nov 2008
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johnnyha
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/12/06
Posts: 1137
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My biggest regreat in this hobby was selling my TV85.
BUT - I traded it in for an NP101 and I really love that scope. I just wish I had both!
Either way you can't go wrong.
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Johnny
Spicewood, TX
Sherman Oaks, CA
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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Unless you have wooden legs on your Portamount, I fear it will be too shaky for the Tak 102. I had an SV102ED mounted on it and barely got by. The wood legs really helped, but still at high mags there was some unsteadiness that made focusing a bit of a problem.
I find the TV-85 on my Portamount with the addition of wooden legs really works out well. So little vibration that even when using a 2.5mm Nagler which gives me 240x I have no problem focusing.
I own an NP-101 as well as the TV-85. The latter gets used far more often. It's easier to set up and once set up I never have to do any rebalancing which unfortunately isn't the case with the 101 which I use in conjunction with an Orion Skyview AZ mount.
Yes, the NP-101 is a better scope. But when I consider everything, I still find myself using the 85 more often. Maybe if I buy a Disc Mount or a Half Hitch which I understand don't require rebalancing, that will change. But at nearly $2,000 fully equipped, neither is going to end up in my collection in the near future. That is, unless anyone can suggest a good way to hide the purchase from my wife.
Don't dismiss the quality of the 85. It beat the pants of the SV102 I had. I realize the Tak is in another league compared to the Stellarvue, but the important thing is which scope ends up being used. I believe you'll find that unless you go with a very high quality AZ mount, you won't end up using the 102 as much as you would the 85.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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plyscope
sage
Reged: 11/23/06
Posts: 327
Loc: Perth, West Australia
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I agree with Starlighter. I have a Porta mount and have used it with a Megrez 90 but I think that a TSA 102 would be too much. When I bought my TSA I ended up selling the Megrez to buy a Vixen GPD2 mount for the TSA. The Porta is used for the TV60 now. The Porta mount with TV85 would be a great match for grab and go. If you want a little more aperture then maybe consider a 5 inch newtonian on the Porta or a 6-8 inch dob and keep the TV85/Porta mount. Alternatively the TSA with a larger alt-az mount.
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Andy
6" f15 refractor
90mm f16.7 refractor
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Waduino
sage
Reged: 10/24/08
Posts: 247
Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario
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Hmmm. My Porta is on wooden legs but I can't stand a shaky view. If I have to go to a larger alt-az for grab-n-go then I would probably keep the 85 mostly for that purpose and use the TSA on the MiniTower. I'll have to go look at one, but it's helpful hearing from others who have the scope/mount, etc.
Wad.
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Televue 85 with a bunch of TV EPs
Vixen Porta mount, iOptron Mini-Tower
78 Messiers, 7 planets, 11 moons since Nov 2008
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Scott Rose
sage
Reged: 04/20/08
Posts: 262
Loc: beachwood ohio
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I originally had my TSA102 on a minitower and it worked fine. Then I got the Vixen sxd and sold the MT. The scope is very stable in this mount. I am going to sell this scope as I want a larger refractor. The TSA is great, just dont undermount it.
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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As you can see, the 102 was a rather hefty, long scope for the Portamount:
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4494
Loc: Sunny California
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It worked much better with the Orion Skyview AZ which I now use with the NP-101. Much more stable, but then there's the rebalancing issue. Going from a lightweight eyepiece to just a moderately heavy one requires a complete rebalance.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Vixen Portamount
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Waduino
sage
Reged: 10/24/08
Posts: 247
Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario
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Starlighter, have you noticed the new "Quarter Hitch?" It might be just the thing to make your 101 more fun to use.
Wad.
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Televue 85 with a bunch of TV EPs
Vixen Porta mount, iOptron Mini-Tower
78 Messiers, 7 planets, 11 moons since Nov 2008
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BarrySimon615
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/01/04
Posts: 1280
Loc: New Orleans, LA
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Another option for those that want a simple to use mount when they don't need tracking ability as with an equatorial mount or the utility that a digital setting circle mount offers (I tested the Half-Hitch for Charles and to write an article and I loved that mount with the digital setting circles) is a good heavy duty video pan head mounted to a good tripod.
I have the Bogen 516 which comes with dual control arms. It is mounted to my Bogen 3036 tripod and together they give me a great way to use my binoculars up to my Miyauchi 20x100's with 45 degree angled eyepieces. That payload at about 15 to 16 lbs is still about 8 lbs. under the 23 lb. rated capacity of the 516 head. I would have no hesitancy in mounting my TSA 102 to this tripod and head. I know it would work very well.
Barry Simon
Edited by BarrySimon615 (10/28/09 06:38 PM)
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Waduino
sage
Reged: 10/24/08
Posts: 247
Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario
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There's a used TV101 for a reasonable price in my neighbourhood. Any comments on how the 101 would be on the Porta (with wooden legs)? It's important to me because I use the Porta for quick GnG looks from home. I use the MiniTower when I pack up the car to go somewhere else.
Thanks.
Wad.
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Televue 85 with a bunch of TV EPs
Vixen Porta mount, iOptron Mini-Tower
78 Messiers, 7 planets, 11 moons since Nov 2008
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