13053 replies to this topic

[tomcody]

I found the Tak and Baader standard T-thread prism to be very close and the Baader Zeiss T- thread prism to be a step up in visual quality.
The advantage of the Baader Zeiss T- thread prism is that it provides a 34 mm clear opening ( compared to 32mm for the standard), so only the biggest 2" eyepieces will viginnette, ( like the 21 Ethos, 35 Pan, 26 Nagler,- just,barely by 1mm, etc. All the smaller eyepieces will work just fine and with the T-thread diagonal you are ready for a binoviewer that accepts the T- thread,coupling.
Rex

[Bill Barlow]

Rob, how does the FS102 compare so far to your SV105?

Bill

[roadi]

I found the Tak and Baader standard T-thread prism to be very close and the Baader Zeiss T- thread prism to be a step up in visual quality.
The advantage of the Baader Zeiss T- thread prism is that it provides a 34 mm clear opening ( compared to 32mm for the standard), so only the biggest 2" eyepieces will viginnette, ( like the 21 Ethos, 35 Pan, 26 Nagler,- just,barely by 1mm, etc. All the smaller eyepieces will work just fine and with the T-thread diagonal you are ready for a binoviewer that accepts the T- thread,coupling.
Rex

Hello Rex,
I agree the baader/zeiss might be an even further step up in performance to the Tak prism, and one of the very best solution in high performing diagonals.
I just got the 35mm my self and havn't tried it out yet.

[crazyqban]

I found the Tak and Baader standard T-thread prism to be very close and the Baader Zeiss T- thread prism to be a step up in visual quality.
The advantage of the Baader Zeiss T- thread prism is that it provides a 34 mm clear opening ( compared to 32mm for the standard), so only the biggest 2" eyepieces will viginnette, ( like the 21 Ethos, 35 Pan, 26 Nagler,- just,barely by 1mm, etc. All the smaller eyepieces will work just fine and with the T-thread diagonal you are ready for a binoviewer that accepts the T- thread,coupling.
Rex

I currently use the Baader standard T-thread prism with a 2" Click lock Eyepiece Holder and I do not find the slight vignetting with my 21 Ethos or 31 Nagler offensive at all. The beauty of this setup is that to connect my Mark Vs all I have to do is release the screw on the T-2 Quick Release Connector, take out the Click Lock, put in the Mark Vs and that's it. No changing diagonals and such. Works great.

[NHRob]

Hi Bill,
It's been frustrating. I've had horrible weather this summer for observing. I've only had one night with them both setup and the seeing wasn't very good so it was inconclusive. Obvious differences in focal length. Both are very nice apos. Hoping to get a decent clear nite soon, to compare them.

Rob

Rob, how does the FS102 compare so far to your SV105?

Bill

[crazyqban]

URGENT, URGENT... THIS JUST IN...

 

A NEW CASE OF TAKITIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. THIS IS THE RARE BUT NOT DEADLY FS-152 SV VARIETY. IF YOU HAPPEN TO SPOT THIS PERSON, DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK HIM TO LET YOU TAKE A PEEK. AGAIN, THERE HAS BEEN A NEW CASE OF TAKITIS REPORTED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA!!!! STAY TUNED FOR PHOTOS AND FURTHER REPORTS.

[NHRob]

Beware the painful itching and swelling!

[Scott99]

URGENT, URGENT... THIS JUST IN...

 

A NEW CASE OF TAKITIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. THIS IS THE RARE BUT NOT DEADLY FS-152 SV VARIETY. IF YOU HAPPEN TO SPOT THIS PERSON, DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK HIM TO LET YOU TAKE A PEEK. AGAIN, THERE HAS BEEN A NEW CASE OF TAKITIS REPORTED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA!!!! STAY TUNED FOR PHOTOS AND FURTHER REPORTS.

 

Sergio - congrats on the new scope!  after having an FS102 I always lusted after an FS152 but never ended up with one.  Looking forward to your pictures!

[LewisM]

Takititis, aka Takahashi's Curse, has taken a secure footholdon the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.

 

Not my first, but the ones I intend keeping... NO regrets with either of these 2.

[Jeff2011]

I was fortunate to get an FS102 from a fellow club member at a good price.  It came with a 2" inch back, feather touch focuser, focal reducer, focal extender, scope rings, finder, soft carrying case, and a nifty home made adapter for a telrad.

 

Takahashi FS102

 

Even though it was meant for visual, it spends most of its time as my main imaging scope.  Just need to get a better mount for it. The AVX is great for visual, but leaves a lot to be desired for imaging.

 

SBIG STF-8300

 

 

Yes, I can say that I have a case of Takitis.  Them adapters however are sure expensive. 

 

By the way, does anyone know the thread size for the finder mount?  It did not come with those screws and I have been wanting to get some replacements.  Every time I am at TNR, I forget to ask them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Erik Bakker]

I was fortunate to get an FS102 from a fellow club member at a good price.  It came with a 2" inch back, feather touch focuser, focal reducer, focal extender, scope rings, finder, soft carrying case, and a nifty home made adapter for a telrad.

 

Takahashi FS102

 

Even though it was meant for visual, it spends most of its time as my main imaging scope.  Just need to get a better mount for it. The AVX is great for visual, but leaves a lot to be desired for imaging.

 

SBIG STF-8300

 

 

Yes, I can say that I have a case of Takitis.  Them adapters however are sure expensive. 

 

By the way, does anyone know the thread size for the finder mount?  It did not come with those screws and I have been wanting to get some replacements.  Every time I am at TNR, I forget to ask them.

Congrats Jeff. Yours is the superb and final edition of the FS102, the FS102 NSV. They have some of the finest optics of any the FS series I've seen over the years. As a bonus they have a redesigned lens cell, which is even better than the older cell at retaining collimation according to Art.

Edited by Erik Bakker, 09 August 2014 - 02:25 PM.

[Scott in NC]

Very nice scope, Jeff!  My recently-acquired Tak FS-102 has rapidly become my favorite scope, with the best optics (for visual use, at least) of any 4" scope that I've ever owned.  Now I just need better weather so that I can enjoy it more!

[crazyqban]

I had a Tak FS-102NSV and it was excellent. Now that I have a Tak FS-152SV, I will probably be looking for another FS-102 NSV once I recover from the cost of the FS-152SV.

[Scott in NC]

Wow, lucky you, Sergio!  Did you buy the FS-152 that was listed on CN S&S a few weeks back?

[Jeff2011]

Thanks guys. I have been very happy with the scope.   Guess I should do more visual with it.  How can you tell it is an NSV? 

[Erik Bakker]

Thanks guys. I have been very happy with the scope.   Guess I should do more visual with it.  How can you tell it is an NSV? 

The FS102 NSV has a sliding white rimmed dewcap, a lens cell similar in front appearance to that of the TSA102 and the serial number starts with NSV. See the attached picture of the front cell of my 2005 FS102 NSV. And yes, that is the tiny C5 next to the Tak.

Attached Thumbnails

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[roadi]

I had a Tak FS-102NSV and it was excellent. Now that I have a Tak FS-152SV, I will probably be looking for another FS-102 NSV once I recover from the cost of the FS-152SV.

Yea! lucky you Sergio    Many years I've lusted after the FS 152 and still does. Would like to read about your experience with this scope sometimes! I'm eagerly awaiting the fall to come with jupiter in good elevation to try out my newly arrived FS128.

Edited by roadi, 10 August 2014 - 04:15 AM.

[t.r.]

Those who have the FS 152 seem to be hanging on to them. Every time I ask a local guy to sell, he politely tells me "Not gonna happen"!!!   I passed on the last one for sale new in the U.S. that Jerry Wise picked up and have kicked myself ever since...I think Jerry still has his as well...gotta mean something!

[crazyqban]

Scott, yes it is the one that was listed a few weeks back. I had a chance to take it out last night and the views were, as expected, spectacular!!! Being that it was a full moon I did not get to look at much but Saturn sharp with loads of detail, Mars was a tight orange orb but no surface detail, M6 and M7 were beautiful and the full moon through the Mark Vs and 24mm Panoptics was just awesome. I can't wait for the fall/winter observing season since the humidity and mosquitoes last night were brutal!!! On a different note, I think that I am going to need a diferent tripod because the UNI-24 struggles a little bit with his scope.

 

Edited by crazyqban, 10 August 2014 - 01:19 PM.

[Scott in NC]

Thanks for the report and the picture, Sergio.  Wow, that's a beautiful scope!  It actually wasn't the one that I was thinking of, as I see that yours has a FT focuser (the scope in the ad that I saw had the standard Tak focuser).

 

If you want to go with another Berlebach tripod, the Planet might be a better match for that scope.  How stable is the FS-152 on the DM6 mount?

[crazyqban]

Scott, I added the FT focuser.

[Scott in NC]

Oh, okay, then it was the scope whose ad I saw (as it's not like several of these are being sold every month).  Good choice on the focuser.  I've thought about upgrading the focuser on my FS-102 to a FT some day, but in my case that would make the cost of upgrading the focuser a very significant fraction of the cost of the entire scope.  Still, if I find a good deal on a used 3" FT one day, I may do it.

[gillmj24]

I'd get an AP wooden tripod. I have the older version with the dm6 and if it handled a 180 triplet it will do fine with the 152.

[Markab]

Was this the FS152 that was on CloudyNights several weeks ago? I contacted the seller twice but he/she never returned the favor, even though the ad was not marked off as sold for some time. And I asked about it on the first day it was posted. Not the best customer service, in my opinion, but am glad the sale worked out for you with no hitches.

[gillmj24]

CN isn't perfect. I got no messages from you sorry. 

 

You have a thing or two to learn before calling me out about service

 

I respond to every message I get even the low ball offers.