Telescope Reviews: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued?

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Equipment Discussions >> Refractors

Pages: 1

Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/05

Loc: Virginia

Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued?
#5627516 - 01/17/13 07:00 AM

I noticed it is no longer listed on the TV website although the TV60 is still there. Did I not get the memo?

I was very pleased to pick up a new-to-me 60is last year and I've grown very fond of it. It is one of the most versatile little scopes I've ever owned, with truly great optical quality and built like a bomb shelter.

Was it not selling well (as I suspect), a casualty of the economy and a glut of inexpensive Asian sourced 60-ish mm refractors, or is it possibly being updated (seems least likely based on the first 2 possibilities)?

Edited by Doug D. (01/17/13 07:09 AM)

Post Extras:

Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued? new

[Re: Doug D.]
#5627978 - 01/17/13 12:16 PM

Well it may have been dropped like the TV102,the trouble is that TV stuff is getting very pricey,JMPOV,DA.

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Mr Onions
Two Time International Photographical Competition Winner

Reged: 04/14/07

Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne.

Re: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued? new

[Re: Binojunky]
#5628097 - 01/17/13 01:31 PM

The "standard" TV60 is £770 in UK.
Great instrument but too expensive.

Post Extras:

Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/05

Loc: Virginia

Re: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued? new

[Re: Mr Onions]
#5628242 - 01/17/13 02:56 PM

I'm not sure I agree that TV gear is getting much more pricey (although prices have inched up over the years) - rather that the significantly lower cost alternatives are plentiful and TV just can't compete price wise?

Even so, the 60is is a serious tool with some special attributes and I'm sorry to see it gone from the marketplace if that is indeed the case. Thus, I don't think it should be lumped in with the low cost 60-70mm refractors based on perceived bang for the buck "value" alone. I take it some demand from the birding community helps drive sufficient TV60 sales to keep it alive for now..?

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Tigerider
Vendor (Televue Rep)

Reged: 02/21/06

Loc: Torrance, CA.

Re: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued? new

[Re: Doug D.]
#5628406 - 01/17/13 04:21 PM

Group,
Yes the TV 60"is" has been discontinued (sadly, a favorite of mine)

I dont have an official reason, but I know in this market it wasn't selling well.
Just the "is" though... the TV 60 will continue in production.

Here is a great alternative the: TV 76 + TRF 2008 .8 Reducer Flattener !
-More aperture
-Faster at F/5 ( still flat )
-Feather touch: 10:1 Rack & Pinion

Edited by Tigerider (01/17/13 04:36 PM)

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued? new

[Re: Tigerider]
#5628667 - 01/17/13 06:54 PM

Quote:

Group,
Yes the TV 60"is" has been discontinued (sadly, a favorite of mine)
I dont have an official reason, but I know in this market it wasn't selling well.
Just the "is" though... the TV 60 will continue in production.

Here is a great alternative the: TV 76 + TRF 2008 .8 Reducer Flattener !
-More aperture
-Faster at F/5 ( still flat )
-Feather touch: 10:1 Rack & Pinion

John:

Can the TRF 2008.8 be used visually with an eyepiece like the 31mm Nagler or is it just for Astro-photography?

Jon

Post Extras:

Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/23/05

Loc: Virginia

Re: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5628698 - 01/17/13 07:19 PM Attachment (35 downloads)

Oh well, sorry to hear that John - I feel fortunate I managed to get one when I could. I can also confirm the TV76 with TRF2008 is a great performer - for all the reasons you mention (although I have a Focusmate version). But still, the little TV60is really pushed the right buttons for me as a grab-and-go imaging set-up. Not too shabby as a visual birding scope either with an Amici prism. Or a white-light solar rig with a Baader Herschel wedge. Or a super rigid guide scope, or a.... well, you get the idea.

Attached is the only image of my scope that I've got at the moment: TV60is in terrestrial imaging mode mounted on an Arca Swiss D4 geared tripod head (& Gitzo carbon fiber legs). The camera is a Ricoh GXR with A12 Leica mount APC sensor module (without anti-aliasing filter). This is a fantastic portable set-up that yields great results with this sensor. For dark sky it sits on an Astrotrac. Safe to say I'll be keeping this combo.

Post Extras:

Tigerider
Vendor (Televue Rep)

Reged: 02/21/06

Loc: Torrance, CA.

Re: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5629278 - 01/18/13 02:31 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Group,
Yes the TV 60"is" has been discontinued (sadly, a favorite of mine)
I dont have an official reason, but I know in this market it wasn't selling well.
Just the "is" though... the TV 60 will continue in production.

Here is a great alternative the: TV 76 + TRF 2008 .8 Reducer Flattener !
-More aperture
-Faster at F/5 ( still flat )
-Feather touch: 10:1 Rack & Pinion

John:

Can the TRF 2008.8 be used visually with an eyepiece like the 31mm Nagler or is it just for Astro-photography?

Jon

Jon,
Hi, it is purely photographic:
It has a " T " thread on the camera side so you can adapt it to a DSLR quickly
I keep a T ring on it all the time.
480 mm F/6.3 becomes 384 mm F/5 with a flat field easily covering an APS-C chip.

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued? new

[Re: Tigerider]
#5629288 - 01/18/13 02:43 AM

Quote:

Jon,
Hi, it is purely photographic:

I figured... I would like to find a visual focal reducer so that I could operate my 80mm F/7 at F/5 and get a wider field of view. I have done a little research, Telescope Optics by Rutten & van Venrooij, it seems doable but most scopes have a problem with back focus so it is not practical visually. But the WO has a 2 inch extender built into the path so with the right lens in the right place I should be able to get a significantly wider TFoV but it is something I will have ATM for myself.

Jon

Post Extras:

Tigerider
Vendor (Televue Rep)

Reged: 02/21/06

Loc: Torrance, CA.

Re: Anyone know if the TV60is has been discontinued? new