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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Is anyone using a Van Slyke turret or secondary focuser on anything? I would be interested in any comments you may have about them.
Thank You,
Richard
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My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA 
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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Levine
sage
Reged: 03/24/06
Posts: 235
Loc: Indiana, Wabash County
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I have a Masterglide focuser, the precursor to the Toadloader.
VSE has a no compromise, take no prisoners approach to design and execution of astronomical equipment.
If there is better stuff designed for the ProAm market out there, I haven't seen it.
If you have the application, and the resources to commit, I would certainly have no hesitation in recommending VSE.
They are also eager to help you design your image train, so I would call Customer Support first. They offer a lot of choice, in addition to customization. They want you to be happy with your purchase, and will make sure the item(s)you eventually receive are optimimal for their intended purpose.
Good Luck! 
--------------------
JMI NGT-18 f/4.5 GoTo Reflector, "Magellan"
C14/Homeyer Cradle f/11 XLT Fastar "Modoc"
C11 f/10 CFT XLT Fastar, "Dave"
CotoSKY 8.25" f/6 Achromat, "Blackjack"
Meade AR6 f/8 Achromat, "Kalliopi"
WO FLT 110 f/7 Apo, "Apollo"
Coronado PST f/10 "Icarus"
Canon IS 15 X 50 Binoculars
Losmandy G11/Gemini4
Discmounts DM-6, Sky Commander, StarBeam
Mallincam HPC/Watek monitor
Denk II Universal Power X Switch Binoviewer
Collins I3/Astronomik H-a/Starsweeper
...and some nice glass.
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SteveC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/15/06
Posts: 1775
Loc: The Garden State
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Whoa, is that a focuser or a medieval torture device? 
Very impressive in either case.
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SteveC
TEC 140
Intes Micro 715 deluxe
TEC 110 (on order)
SolarMax 40
Losmandy G-11 w/Gemini, DM-6 w/Sky Commander on SV wood tripod, Vixen Skypod
TEC EP Turret, TMB Supermonos, ZAO II, Naglers, 32mm Konig, 24mm Panoptics, 14mm Meade UWA
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Levine
sage
Reged: 03/24/06
Posts: 235
Loc: Indiana, Wabash County
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Quote:
Whoa, is that a focuser or a medieval torture device?
Very impressive in either case.
...Er, both...? 
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JMI NGT-18 f/4.5 GoTo Reflector, "Magellan"
C14/Homeyer Cradle f/11 XLT Fastar "Modoc"
C11 f/10 CFT XLT Fastar, "Dave"
CotoSKY 8.25" f/6 Achromat, "Blackjack"
Meade AR6 f/8 Achromat, "Kalliopi"
WO FLT 110 f/7 Apo, "Apollo"
Coronado PST f/10 "Icarus"
Canon IS 15 X 50 Binoculars
Losmandy G11/Gemini4
Discmounts DM-6, Sky Commander, StarBeam
Mallincam HPC/Watek monitor
Denk II Universal Power X Switch Binoviewer
Collins I3/Astronomik H-a/Starsweeper
...and some nice glass.
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turtle86
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/09/06
Posts: 683
Loc: Red Sox Nation
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I used to have one of the Van Slyke sliders back when I was imaging. Just an amazing piece of engineering.
Quote:
Is anyone using a Van Slyke turret or secondary focuser on anything? I would be interested in any comments you may have about them.
Thank You,
Richard
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 3606
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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The Dynamax 8" SCT in the sig picture came from the Black Forest Observatory that Paul Van Slyke started and helped to build. The scope has been sold but I insisted that the buyer NEVER part it out but keep it as one unit. It had the famous Gold Pyramid tripod with the built-in wedge.
Paul verified the scope as one he had purchased by in the 1970s.
 
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s-- www.texasastro.org
"Great minds discuss ideas;Average minds discuss events;Small minds discuss people." Unknown
Edited by Joe Lalumia (11/07/09 04:38 PM)
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Jeff Young
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 4115
Loc: Ireland
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I had the same 2" Masterglide that Levine showed on my previous SCT. My newer Mak has a fixed primary, so I upgraded to a 3" Alpha with lots of focus travel (5").
I also use a Van Slyke Zerotator. (You can see it between the focuser and the daigonal in the pic.)
-- Jeff.
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Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-100 / AP1200GTO Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO
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Adam S
sage
Reged: 12/21/05
Posts: 361
Loc: Gunnison, Colorado
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I have a quintuple turret- it's Bad A. I've had the Tak and TEC turret as well. The VS is overbuilt and very well machined. For all its' visual largeness it's actually light. It handles a load of T5 and T6 Naglers with ease- love the filter slot as well. When I purchased mine he had just switched from the metal locking knobs to the cheaper (yet VERY effective) plastic screws to hold eps in place. The plastic setscrews look cheap but more than comparable to the TEC compression system to hold eps in place. I'm working alot over the next several days and nights (own a restaurant), if possible I'll load it up and put some pics here.
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Adam S.
AP 130 GT
Televue Pronto
Orange C8
Coronado SM 60
Tak EM 200
Denk II
Van Slyke Turret
CN Gallery: http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=14004
Edited by Adam S (11/08/09 05:54 PM)
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 17723
Loc: Brooker, FL
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I have the VSI (Now Van Slyke Instruments  ) Slider 2, and had a focuser for the N11. Bothe are beautifully designed and executed.
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N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Thanks to all for your responses.
Adam, do you have the 2" or 1 1/4" turret? If you were to buy one today with your experience, of the three, Tak, Tec or VSI, which would you buy?
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
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Adam S
sage
Reged: 12/21/05
Posts: 361
Loc: Gunnison, Colorado
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It's the 1 1/4". The TEC is more 'polished' and prettier with first rate machining, the Van Slyke is easier to use; but, very Van Slyke in it's industrial, heavy duty appearance. No diff in optical quality. The filter slot is what sold me on the VS. The Tak is unique to itself as rather than the eps spinning at a 90 degree angle they sit on a round platform which rotates around the prism diaganol (the TEC and VS are mirrors) this makes you provide a touch more effort in balancing the turret itself. There are pics of one in a recent discussion in the Eyepieces section here at CN discussing the best 5mm ep. I'm hoping to post pics here tomorrow of the VS with eps loaded.
--------------------
Adam S.
AP 130 GT
Televue Pronto
Orange C8
Coronado SM 60
Tak EM 200
Denk II
Van Slyke Turret
CN Gallery: http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=14004
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NoiseJammer
super member
Reged: 09/16/07
Posts: 183
Loc: Gone walkabout
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I've had a VS Monster focuser on my LX200/12 and use a Slider 2 when doing planetary imaging. Both work extremely well. As others have commented, they appear over engineered but I think they are just done right.... except for the nylon screws. IMO, Paul really should improve on this.
Fwiw, I chose a Tak turret over the VS one. I load ~$3k in eyepieces into my turret - I'm just not comfortable relying on a $0.05 plastic screw to keep them in place.
A word of caution - some might find Paul to be a little cranky. If you can put up with his bs, you will get something that works.
Clearest
Bruce, Toronto
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178 square inches of mostly shiny glass, one biph
... and way, way too much light polution.
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Timber
sage
Reged: 11/08/08
Posts: 394
Loc: SW foothills of Mt. St. Helens
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Hi Bruce,
Thanks for the info, I have had several conversations with Paul, I bought some of his minor stuff off his garage sale items. He didn't seem cranky, but he was impatient with my having to be led through his website and jargon like a fifth grader, but all was copacetic.
The website seems to show the turret with two nylon set screws for EP retainers, this may be a later "improvement", I guess that $0.10 worth of nylon is better than $0.05.
How are the EP's retained in the TAK, I would guess with brass clamp rings.
Adam, thanks for your input also, maybe you could comment on how the TEC EP retainers work.
Thanks to all for the comments
Richard
--------------------
My four beautiful Saluki's; Barron, Sophie, Majnun and Kassandra, and I live on a small, rural, remote farm.
No close neighbors,
No streetlights,
No private security lights,
No power poles,
No traffic,
No TV,
No HOA
No Mosquitoes
Rather Wonderful
|
NoiseJammer
super member
Reged: 09/16/07
Posts: 183
Loc: Gone walkabout
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Richard,
The Tak turret uses collets to hold the eyepieces. This works extremely well on eyepieces that do not have an undercut barrel (eg the A-II) but it's less wonderful on the Pentax XO.
If there's a failing in the design, it is that the 2" adapter is far too short. I'm looking for a more secure way to mount the turret onto the OTA - I'm sure it's out there.
Clearest
Bruce, Toronto
--------------------
178 square inches of mostly shiny glass, one biph
... and way, way too much light polution.
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Adam S
sage
Reged: 12/21/05
Posts: 361
Loc: Gunnison, Colorado
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The TEC uses a compression system with brass ring and single metal setscrew- a proven design. Regardless of the visuals the two nylon screws on the VS are highly effective. Honestly I'd had several instances using T6 Naglers with the TEC compression rings due to the undercut in the barrel (they didn't always 'synch/cynch' down on the barrel). The ep didn't fall out, not even close; but, didn't tighten down without a little additional adjustment. This would never happen with smooth sided ep barrels. I use the turret alot and have never in any fashion had slippage in any way with the two nylon screws on the VS. I can certainly understand (and am only recently 'sold on') concern with the nylon setscrews; but, I've had nothing but positive experience with them.
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Adam S.
AP 130 GT
Televue Pronto
Orange C8
Coronado SM 60
Tak EM 200
Denk II
Van Slyke Turret
CN Gallery: http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=14004
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Jeff Young
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 4115
Loc: Ireland
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My 2" Masterglide focuser had the nylon setscrews. The "wind up" (slight twist of the screw shaft as you tighten it) gives very good tactile feedback on exactly how tight they are -- something you don't really get with a brass ring.
Cheers,
-- Jeff.
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Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium Colorado:
Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130
APM MC1610 / Tak FC-100 / AP1200GTO Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO
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