Telescope Reviews: Another Pentax for Preston

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Equipment Discussions >> Classic Telescopes

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Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Another Pentax for Preston new

#2785274 - 12/03/08 10:35 PM Attachment (54 downloads)

Looks like the 50/600mm Pentax I got from MikeG now has a big brother.....thanks to Brian!

I just LOVE keeping scopes in the family!

--------------------
Preston

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

SV115T,NHII,SV70,SV50 and Tele Vue Ranger

Vintage Refractors: Asahi-Pentax, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron

60mm Telescope Club

Post Extras:

Happy-Idiot
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/06/06
Posts: 2784
Loc: 3rd Rock

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2785614 - 12/04/08 05:50 AM

I know it is in good hands.

Enjoy.

--------------------
Brian

A small scope that gets used often is a better investment than a big scope that stays in the closet.

Unitrons, you spend more time looking at them than you do through them.

Post Extras:

David E
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3019
Loc: North Carolina

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2785790 - 12/04/08 09:34 AM

That's pretty!

So you just bought the focuser?

--------------------
David E

If you keep a stack of old Orion catalogs in your bathroom, you might be an astro-redneck.

Post Extras:

Awesomelenny
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 05/02/04
Posts: 2795
Loc: Long: 81.42 W Lat: 41.21 N

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: David E]
#2786119 - 12/04/08 12:39 PM

Hey Preston, let's see the rest of it!!!

--------------------
Len

Meade 178 ED APO
127mm Astro_Tech ED APO
4" f/15 Model 166 Unitron with UNIWITT Pier
Televue Genesis SDF 101mm f/5.4
2.4" f/15 Model 128C Unitron
Coronado Solarmax 90 DS Telescope
Losmandy Titan; G-11; all w/Gemini
All in a "Backyard Observatory"
Spilhaus Space Clock
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
Psalm 19:1

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: David E]
#2787789 - 12/05/08 10:28 AM

Quote:

So you just bought the focuser?

Yeah, isn't it a great one!

I'm on the road right now. I'll snap some pictures for Lenny when I get back next week.

--------------------
Preston

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

SV115T,NHII,SV70,SV50 and Tele Vue Ranger

Vintage Refractors: Asahi-Pentax, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron

60mm Telescope Club

Post Extras:

David E
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3019
Loc: North Carolina

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2788218 - 12/05/08 02:38 PM

Quote:

Quote:

So you just bought the focuser?

Yeah, isn't it a great one!

I'm on the road right now. I'll snap some pictures for Lenny when I get back next week.

A real beauty! Is that real chrome on the focus knobs?

--------------------
David E

If you keep a stack of old Orion catalogs in your bathroom, you might be an astro-redneck.

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: David E]
#2788340 - 12/05/08 03:53 PM

Hi David,

Yep, real chrome on the wheels, drawtube AND the rack!

It is the most wonderful 60mm focuser I have ever owned. Far superior to my Unitron, Monolux, Tascos and Astro Optical. THe only one that is very close is the focuser on my 50mm Pentax!

--------------------
Preston

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

SV115T,NHII,SV70,SV50 and Tele Vue Ranger

Vintage Refractors: Asahi-Pentax, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron

60mm Telescope Club

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2805801 - 12/14/08 11:33 PM Attachment (15 downloads)

OK Folks!

Here are the pictures! I tried to take pictures that would best illustrate the scope for someone who wanted to learn more about it.

First the entire telescope shot:

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2805804 - 12/14/08 11:34 PM Attachment (11 downloads)

Next the "zoom shot" towards the rear:

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2805808 - 12/14/08 11:35 PM Attachment (9 downloads)

The obligatory close up of the focuser label:

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2805809 - 12/14/08 11:36 PM Attachment (7 downloads)

This focuser is amazingly smooth and beefy. Look at this block of solid aluminum:

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2805813 - 12/14/08 11:38 PM Attachment (11 downloads)

And of course, the objective. Note the grooves in the dew shield. I may give the scope a shot of ultra flat black. As you can see by the flash there is a lot of light getting in:

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2805817 - 12/14/08 11:39 PM Attachment (9 downloads)

The Alt-Az Mount is amazing. Nice and beefy and on par with my Unitron Alt-Az although a COMPLETELY different design:

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2805819 - 12/14/08 11:41 PM Attachment (7 downloads)

The mount has micro-adjust capability. You move the handles (see picture) to switch from free rotation to micro-adjust:

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2805826 - 12/14/08 11:43 PM Attachment (9 downloads)

Here's my two newest scopes that I am putting through the ropes. The Pentax 60mm and that little guy in the back...

A brand new Stellarvue SV115T (triplet). Both are a joy to own!

Post Extras:

Steve_M_M
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/09/04
Posts: 976
Loc: Moorpark, CA

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Preston Smith]
#2805843 - 12/14/08 11:53 PM

You are going to love this scope! And the mount, I call it "clutched" The free to micro, as you put it, "snaps" into place. Just amazing!

Enjoy,

Steve

--------------------
1956 Goto Optical 6" f15 Observatory Refractor
From the Titan Observatory as featured in S&T 1957-1959
&
1961 Nishimura 6" Reflector

Post Extras:

Preston Smith
Military Observer

Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 3427
Loc: Eureka, Pa

Re: Another Pentax for Preston new

[Re: Steve_M_M]
#2806240 - 12/15/08 09:58 AM

Quote:

You are going to love this scope! And the mount, I call it "clutched" The free to micro, as you put it, "snaps" into place. Just amazing!

Enjoy,

Steve

Thanks Steve!

Did you ever have an experience where the "clutch" slipped from micro adjust to free movement?

I have not yet disassembled the mount as it is currently operating very smoothly. It appears to me that there are two "bullet catches" on each side of the worm assembly. This would be like a ball bearing with a spring behind it sitting in one of two detents on the assembly. Curiosity may get the best of me and I'll take the mount apart to get a better look.

--------------------
Preston

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

SV115T,NHII,SV70,SV50 and Tele Vue Ranger

Vintage Refractors: Asahi-Pentax, Edmund Scientific, Tasco, Unitron

60mm Telescope Club

Post Extras:

Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks

Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 16347
Loc: Kuiper Belt

Re: Another Pentax for Preston [Re: Preston Smith]
#2806547 - 12/15/08 01:06 PM

Those Asahi-Pentax scopes from that era do have the best focusers. Smoothness is on-par with some modern crayfords and they are built like the proverbial tanks.