Sure was!

Pentax Telescopes & Mounts
#26
Posted 25 August 2017 - 04:06 PM
#27
Posted 26 August 2017 - 03:43 PM
OK, here are some pics of the f12 Ed Apo ota, this one is from 1986,
I don't think one of these has ever been posted on CN, well not that I've found,
build is pretty much the same as my 79 Achro version, differences are,
scope is now D=102mm rather than the D=100mm, I have seen pics of achro versions also with D=102mm
not sure in what year this change took place but possibly 1982 as that date appears on the rear of the newer manual.
All the lovely chrome at the rear end has gone, now black anodised aluminium, (shame !)
the 3 fixings on the mount tray are slightly different and smaller,
mount only comes with the longer latitude adjuster where as the earlier mount also had a shorter adjuster, so as stated in manual for the ED max latitude is now 48 degrees rather than the 54 on the earlier mount, achieved by using the shorter adjuster, (assumed they did not sell many into northern latitudes)
and the motor drive is now a DS 3, no transformers just hand box to 12v DC,
Edited by stevep, 26 August 2017 - 03:45 PM.
- Deven Matlick, jjbird, dyslexic nam and 4 others like this
#31
Posted 26 August 2017 - 04:26 PM
Steve, That's a rare beauty that has no equal.
#32
Posted 26 August 2017 - 05:40 PM
Steve, That's a rare beauty that has no equal.
Thanks, and yes pretty rare,
I would still like to compare it to the Nikon, but my pockets are not deep enough !
- rolo and Bomber Bob like this
#33
Posted 26 August 2017 - 06:02 PM
Very pretty kit, and the baffling is intense!
#34
Posted 26 August 2017 - 07:32 PM
#35
Posted 27 August 2017 - 06:57 PM
Very pretty kit, and the baffling is intense!
Having had a look at the achro version I think the tubes are the same, but as pointed out pretty thorough baffles.
Steve, thats a beautiful telescope!
Thanks, we want to see more pics of your 75 once it arrives, was this scope design for visual, AP or both ?
It seems that most of the later offerings from Pentax were really for AP only, very short FL design scopes,
#36
Posted 30 August 2017 - 06:44 AM
Scope is arriving today! Can not wait! The Pentax 75EDHF I think was designed primarily as an astrograph with the built in field flattener. I have heard that they are good for visual but has slight residual CA on bright objects. Will test out and report with pictures in the coming days.
#37
Posted 30 August 2017 - 01:05 PM
This is my Pentax MS-5 GEM with a Mikage 210 mm F/7.7 Newtonian OTA that I purchased new while stationed in Japan in 1988. I still use this telescope and mount every clear night.
The Pentax MS-5 GEM is probably the highest quality mount ever produced anywhere for sale to amateur astronomers. It has a mass of 140 kg so it is not portable but has a payload capacity of 60 kg and a periodic error of only +- 2 seconds of arc. I do not think any more than 100 were made. Mine is serial number 65. In nearly 30 years this mount has never had a single instance of malfunction of any kind.
- JakeJ, deSitter, tim53 and 11 others like this
#38
Posted 30 August 2017 - 01:10 PM
What a beautiful mount/scope combo! Thanks for the pic! Do you happen to have the manual to this mount?
#39
Posted 30 August 2017 - 01:15 PM
#40
Posted 30 August 2017 - 01:31 PM
One of the best 60mm scopes I ever owned was a J60 - easily better than my old Unitron, and even edged out my Mayflower 815. The alt/az mount was a jewel - like an old Tak in quality, heavy rings, movements smooth as butter and with nice maple legs. I regularly viewed planets at 150x, sharp as a tack. Not bad for a 60mm achro.
- Deven Matlick, astro140, catboat and 4 others like this
#41
Posted 30 August 2017 - 02:19 PM
BTW - those pics were from back in the day when we started the "classic scopes" section. Not long after the site crash (2003) lost the older threads and we had to re-register (which is why my join date is 2004). I think this was from 2004.
Edited by JakeJ, 30 August 2017 - 02:23 PM.
- Steve_M_M likes this
#42
Posted 30 August 2017 - 09:56 PM
Hi Jake, another throw back from the past here:)
There is a J60 just a couple miles from me that I have been looking at for weeks. If they are that good, I think I will head over there tomorrow and get it.
Thanks!
- JakeJ and Terra Nova like this
#43
Posted 31 August 2017 - 07:30 AM
Steveg - good to see you are still here!
That's great - I haven't seen one for sale for years.
Looking forward to the pics.
#44
Posted 31 August 2017 - 11:48 AM
Scope is arriving today! Can not wait! The Pentax 75EDHF I think was designed primarily as an astrograph with the built in field flattener. I have heard that they are good for visual but has slight residual CA on bright objects. Will test out and report with pictures in the coming days.
Did you receive it? I'm looking forward to some pictures!
#50
Posted 31 August 2017 - 07:14 PM
Beautiful! Congrats.