35 replies to this topic

[pdxmoon]

I wonder if those of you who own one of these cute lil' scopes can comment on it? I think it's 50mm f/12, no? I'm looking for a cute table top lunar scope for warm nights with a cocktail this summer

[davidmcgo]

I have had three, one way back in 1980 to start with, and a couple more recently of which I kept one after cannibalizing enough pieces to make a complete set. The mount is very touchy, almost unusable unless you shim it up with plastic washers and some felt or cork to give altitude a little friction. Optics are sharp on the one I kept, less so on the one I got rid of. The stock eyepieces are usable but a decent 0.965" a Vixen Kellner or Ortho makes a big difference. Finder is pretty useless, 4x15 on the tabletop model. Also, the table legs are pretty short.

I really don't use it much since I found an Edmund Voyager 6001 that is a very sweet little scope and way more usable. But I am keeping the Tasco to remind me where I started in this hobby.

Dave

[pdxmoon]

Can one use a hybrid diagonal and some simple 1.25 eps on it? And in theory, the scope should be able to ride on a better yoke mount, no? Just curious...

[davidmcgo]

The focus travel is too short for a hybrid diagonal and 1.25" eyepiece to focus on the ones I have had.

Dave

[fjs]

Hi Moon, I have the 66TE-5. It is the same 'scope with a tripod mount. Yes, it is 50mm at f/12. I am quite pleased with the views. If you are looking for a surprise, go get it.
I am using mine with various Orthoscopic eyepieces which I have collected over time. Not to pun here, but I like to use it to observe... The Moon. The supplied eyepieces work well enough, but if you can come across any Celestron/Vixen Orthos, you will be in another class.
I have used a 6mm with great success, A 5mm is still okay but becomes too dim for the best of views.

They cut corners with the baffling. Contrast suffers a bit. I will someday get around to doing something about that...

[pdxmoon]

Frank, Dave--thanks! I wonder if I can figure out how to get it mounted on a camera tripod, or even a small dove with rings. I am lucky enough to have celestron 60mm rings (like gold) and I wonder if they can be shimmed in a temporary way to allow it to actually be mounted.

With all the cheap alt az mounts out there I might be able to piece something together. It would be fun.

[fjs]

Thank member CharlieB for this:

2" conduit clamps from HomeDepot or elsewhere.

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[fjs]

Self-adhesive felt and paint.

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[pdxmoon]

Thank member CharlieB for this:

2" conduit clamps from HomeDepot or elsewhere.

That's brilliant! Are those clamps on a dove bar on the other side of the scope? I can't quite tell.

[fjs]

Yes, since it is such a high class build, I used an ADM dovetail bar.

My Sears/Tower 50mm is on a Celestron dovetail bar scrounged from somewhere. But uses the same rings.

[pdxmoon]

Such a cool idea. Thanks.

I just grabbed one on Ebay. I can cross this off the bucket list. :-)

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[photiost]

Thank member CharlieB for this:

2" conduit clamps from HomeDepot or elsewhere.

Cool idea. If possible post an image of the clamp connection to the mounting plate.

[fjs]

Hope this helps. It is kind of tough to get a good shot. Standard 1/4-20 Allen bolt and nut.

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[pdxmoon]

Frank, do the conduit clamps have the whole drilled where you clamped to the dove, or did you need to drill that?

I'm visually not getting it: don't know how this

http://www.garvinind...uit/Conduit-...

got looking like whats above.

[fjs]

No extra work, it comes with a hole.

[fjs]

I'm sorry, my search is just not working. That is not what I'm referring to. I absolutely cannot get a Google search, or anything else to work :bangbangbang: What I am talking about is a clamp that performs a similar function to the one you have found, but it looks like what is in my pictures. Please help me out here by searching for conduit clamps like I have.

I absolutely cannot do the search. It really is not working for me. I can't figure out why. Help anyone?

[fjs]

Ha! Don't know for sure, but I think it might be this: http://www.garvinind...uit/conduit-... Looks like it!

[CharlieB]

I buy mine at Home Depot. I have a lot of 40 and 50mm scopes and they work like a charm.

[pdxmoon]

Ha! Don't know for sure, but I think it might be this: http://www.garvinind...uit/conduit-... Looks like it!

That's it Frank! Eureka! Looks just like scope rings :-). Thanks so much-- a life saver.

[pdxmoon]

I buy mine at Home Depot. I have a lot of 40 and 50mm scopes and they work like a charm.

Charlie, I wonder if this very clever fix would also work for 60s? There was a thread about how hard those rings are to find. Ever tried it on light weight 60mm OTA?

[Bomber Bob]

I bought a pair of Canon telephoto lens rings to piggyback my Tasco 999VR. These have a flat base that are tapped for 1/4x20 tripods. I padded them with foam for a snug fit. Only cost about $20. If I can find the link, I'll post it.

[Nakedgun]

Something like this?

Camera supply shops have them.

Good luck.

I had a table-top tripod model and adapted it to a yoke-type tripod. Used the supplied Tasco eyepieces to observe all 288 features on S&Ts Moon Map before giving it away.

[CharlieB]

I buy mine at Home Depot. I have a lot of 40 and 50mm scopes and they work like a charm.

Charlie, I wonder if this very clever fix would also work for 60s? There was a thread about how hard those rings are to find. Ever tried it on light weight 60mm OTA?

I think you can find conduit hangars that will work with 60mm scopes. I'll check tomorrow on the size.

[SpaceNetworks]

My Tasco 66TE and Celestron 9mm Ortho make for very nice lunar viewing at 67x.

And I like the cocktail idea too…

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[Messyone]

A cute scope it is!
Here is what I did with my little cutie...not quite 'table top'....
add a pair of Unitron rings, a quartet of threaded holes...to go with my Istar 150 f12.

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