13075 replies to this topic

[waso29]

Pricing List from Astronomics, over two decades ago. 

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[Heywood]

Pricing List from Astronomics, over two decades ago. 

I love those old lists!

[payner]

Pricing List from Astronomics, over two decades ago. 

I see some classics in there that now sell for more than they did 20+ years ago so long as they are in excellent condition (e.g., CN-212). I find it interesting the Mewlon 250 and 300 are really not that far off in price, especially given they are now Corrected D-K. That is based on current/last prices, but we know they have not been produced since shortly after the pandemic hit.

[balcon3]

Pricing List from Astronomics, over two decades ago. 

Wow, most of these are the same nominal price or lower today, while in general prices have gone up by 65% in 20 years. The hobby has truly become more affordable, even on the high end. The Mewlon prices are especially dramatic. The Mewlon 180 was more expensive 20 years ago even without taking inflation into account.

[Owlglass]

Happy to share the news of my new TOA-150B.

Price increased in Japanese Yen (higher price and no more included finder), however still in the equivalent of USD 10k. New finder looks need, I like the in-house option to attach a camera. I'm wondering if the JPY increase will lead to a price increase in other markets. 

 

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[geekay]

Happy to share the news of my new TOA-150B.

Price increased in Japanese Yen (higher price and no more included finder), however still in the equivalent of USD 10k. New finder looks need, I like the in-house option to attach a camera. I'm wondering if the JPY increase will lead to a price increase in other markets. 

Huge congratulations! I'm drooling here! Did you buy it at Starbase? I was in there just last week, admiring the one they had on display.

Edited by geekay, 29 April 2025 - 10:42 PM.

[Owlglass]

Huge congratulations! I'm drooling here! Did you buy it at Starbase? I was in there just last week, admiring the one they had on display.

Thanks!

I bought it fromTomita in Fukuoka, my go-to shop for everything.

[geekay]

Thanks!

I bought it fromTomita in Fukuoka, my go-to shop for everything.

I just checked out the Tomita website. I must visit that place the next time I'm in Fukuoka!

[Traveler]

Pricing List from Astronomics, over two decades ago. 

Then i should had bought a CN... 

[payner]

Happy to share the news of my new TOA-150B.

Price increased in Japanese Yen (higher price and no more included finder), however still in the equivalent of USD 10k. New finder looks need, I like the in-house option to attach a camera. I'm wondering if the JPY increase will lead to a price increase in other markets. 

Congratulations, you will not be disappointed.

[geekay]

I can't stop looking at planets.  Ogling Saturn is an addiction;  if it's visible while I'm out there I'm going to check it out, and then Jupiter.

Same here. I mean, how could one not? They are both so seductive. 

[SandyHouTex]

Same here. I mean, how could one not? They are both so seductive. 

It's been a month and a half of solid clouds here South of Houston.  I wish it would clear so I could participate.

[bobhen]

I can't stop looking at planets.  Ogling Saturn is an addiction;  if it's visible while I'm out there I'm going to check it out, and then Jupiter.

When I was 13, my neighbor had a 60mm refractor. My first view through a telescope was through that 60mm refractor and my first view was of the planet Saturn. 60-years later, I'm still observing Saturn.

 

So yes, addiction, obsession, passion, zeal, fixation – or all of those. 

 

Bob 

[Ben Diss]

Happy to share the news of my new TOA-150B.

Price increased in Japanese Yen (higher price and no more included finder), however still in the equivalent of USD 10k. New finder looks need, I like the in-house option to attach a camera. I'm wondering if the JPY increase will lead to a price increase in other markets. 

 

So many questions. Which case, finder, and handle is that? Looks very nice in that case. Congratulations!

[GOLGO13]

I wouldn't say I've lost my Takitis, but I am no longer in possession of any Taks. It was a good run while it lasted, but needed money more than the views. 

 

I feel like Japanese Vixen telescopes were generally on par with Taks. While I didn't like the Vixen focusers too much, I liked them a bit more than the Taks I had. I had added the Feathertouch retrofits to both Taks and that helped. In the past I added Moonlite focusers to the Vixen scopes. I've come to not like some aspects of the Moonlite focusers, mostly the wear to the drawtube that tends to happen. Can't get them anymore anyway, but I'd probably switch to a different company next time.

 

I'm now down to the following refractors and it feels quite odd:

 

1) AT60ED (great scope, but obviously limited in capability)

2) Skywatcher 102mm F5 (really nice sample, limited to low power, but at low power on par with better scopes)

3) Celestron 150mm F5 (lots of CA, but works well for night vision and mostly fine for low power)

 

This is the first time in a decade that I don't have at least a 4 inch premium apo (and about that long for 80mm class). That feels quite strange. My current thinking for the future is getting something like the AT125 as I really like the 5 inch class of refractors. With kids and such I don't feel like I can afford to go with the higher end refractors anymore. Quite possible I'll just stick with what I have for a good amount of time.

 

Now, I do have other scopes. A 12 inch F4 dob, an 8 inch F10 SCT and a 6 inch F10 SCT. The SCTs do allow for covering the higher powers while the F5 refractors cover low power. And of course the 12 inch dob is the main scope for high power work. That being said, I usually prefer refractors just because they are less hassle and more consistently put up good images in my light polluted and poor seeing skies.

 

The new owner of my 76 DCU gets it today. It was the best optic scope I've ever had or looked through (although the few looks through my friend's TOA 130 seemed on par). I think he will be very happy with the scope!

Hey guys...guess who's gonna be back in the saddle again? I FOA sure have Takitis again!

[geekay]

Hey guys...guess who's gonna be back in the saddle again? I FOA sure have Takitis again!

Welcome back to the slippery slope!

[ken30809]

It's been a month and a half of solid clouds here South of Houston.  I wish it would clear so I could participate.

I feel for you. Same here in the NC mountains.

[Esso2112]

Clear and stable night tonight, so I set up the FS-152 on a DM6 mount to do some lunar observing.   This was my first time trying out the Tak NFB focuser I replaced the original focuser with.   Very smooth and nice focuser and a great upgrade for the big Tak.   A few interesting observations using different eyepieces.  The Nagler 26mm was nice and contrasty and was a great finder eyepiece.  However, when just slightly out of focus, there was a yellowish tint to the edge of the moon.   The Apollo 11mm showed a lot of contrast and the moon almost filled the FOV.  No hint of color on the lunar limb like the Nagler 26mm.  I also used 6, 10, 16, and 25mm Clave plossls.  All provided contrasty, neutral views.  Again, no fringe color observed.  Brandon 10, 16, and 24mm eyepieces were very close to the Clave’s.  It was very close between the Brandon’s and Claves as to which yielded the best views. So close, I couldn’t actually decide which I like better.  Pleasant night of observing with just slightly cool temperatures.  

[Owlglass]

So many questions. Which case, finder, and handle is that? Looks very nice in that case. Congratulations!

It is the new standard Tak finder: 7.5x50 

The handle is from K-Astec, same as the tube bands. Something like this, just for the TOA: https://www.astrosho...edp-tubebandset

The case is from an Italian brand, but bought in India. The whole package will be below 32kg including locks, good for check-in luggage. https://caseandfoam....ct/max1100h330/

[Go Mifune]

The dog and I are ready for the lunar X and V. He'd rather I threw the ball.

 

 

[Arhymage]

Can anyone tell me if Takahashi's new 95mm rings are suitable for fc-100 doublets? As far as I understand, these new rings are an absolute analogue of the moreblue rings 95mm. The instructions say that they are suitable for FCT-65D Sky-90, FC-76, FS-78 and FSQ-85ED, etc. Can "etc" mean fc-100?

Edited by Arhymage, 06 May 2025 - 02:23 AM.

[RTLR 12]

Yes, the tubes on the FC100 DC, DF, DL and DZ are 95mm. 

 

Stan

[Lagrange]

Can anyone tell me if Takahashi's new 95mm rings are suitable for fc-100 doublets? As far as I understand, these new rings are an absolute analogue of the moreblue rings 95mm. The instructions say that they are suitable for FCT-65D Sky-90, FC-76, FS-78 and FSQ-85ED, etc. Can "etc" mean fc-100?

They'll fit the modern FC-100 scopes but not the old FC-100 models from the 80s.

[lumos]

I have just ordered a TSA-120 that I intend to use for imaging. I also ordered the tka37595 1.5 extender and the tka31582 flattener. I see that they have a 2" compression fitting on the telescope side but both a 2" interface as well as an M48 thread that Takahashi describe as,

 

"The 35FL is mounted with a 2" (50.8 mm) barrel; an M48 thread is available for screwing in a filter. The outlet is also at the 2" barrel. The mechanical backfocus is very large (117.5 mm), which offers a high degree of freedom for mechanical installation behind the telescope."

 

Is the M48 strong enough to hold the optical train or is it a weak thread only for filters. 

[norvegicus]

I have just ordered a TSA-120 that I intend to use for imaging. I also ordered the tka37595 1.5 extender and the tka31582 flattener. I see that they have a 2" compression fitting on the telescope side but both a 2" interface as well as an M48 thread that Takahashi describe as,

 

"The 35FL is mounted with a 2" (50.8 mm) barrel; an M48 thread is available for screwing in a filter. The outlet is also at the 2" barrel. The mechanical backfocus is very large (117.5 mm), which offers a high degree of freedom for mechanical installation behind the telescope."

 

Is the M48 strong enough to hold the optical train or is it a weak thread only for filters. 

Yes, shouldn't be a problem.