174 replies to this topic

[Howard Gao]

I owned a TSA-102S, currently own FS series (FS 78, FS 102, 2 x FS 128 and 2 x FS 152), FC series (FC 50, FC 60, FC 76 and FC 125) and a Mewlon 210. Among them I like FS-152 most as it shows the most details of planets and is the biggest aperture I need under the polluted night sky here. Mewlon 210 is also very good but the view is not as clear as through a refractor. I still need more time and experience to use these scopes and maybe I'll change my view someday.

 

For mounts I owned a EM 11, currently own a EM 200 and EM 400. EM 200 is the perfect mount to me with SkyFi and SkySafari. But I like the EM 400 metal tripod most and I got an adapter for EM 200.

Edited by Howard Gao, 02 November 2017 - 08:51 PM.

[coopman]

My favorite is my FS-102.  It's the only Tak that I've ever looked through.  It was made in 1998.  Was that a good production year for one, quality-wise?

[JakeJ]

FS102 - only Tak I ever owned, although I've looked through many.

 

My favorite would be a Mewlon 250 on a G11 - can't really justify having one these days though.

[starman876]

so far I have not found a tak I do  not like

[Terra Nova]

So far my FC-76. It beats my 4” F15 Edmund (and the Questar)! (Yes, it really is that good.) I was astounded the first time I saw Jupiter with it. Looking forward to seeing what it will do on Mars next summer.

Edited by terraclarke, 03 November 2017 - 10:08 AM.

[ScottAstroNut]

Wow!  That must be some awesome 3" scope!  I can understand the FC-76 beating out the Questar, but your 4" f/15 Edmund, too?  Now you've got me thinking... 

[Terra Nova]

It is a truly, truly amazing scope. The natural color rendition and color fidelity is just wonderful as is the contrast and image sharpness. It just keeps taking magnification! I have used it at 300X on Jupiter with no image breakdown. None! It is optically the best refractor I have ever owned. It’s one of the early lime green ones, the ones with the heavy ‘manhole cover’ objective cap. And to be fair to the Questar, it was close, and I would give the nod to the Q over the Edmund 4" F15 achro.

Edited by terraclarke, 03 November 2017 - 02:33 PM.

[JakeJ]

It is truly, truly amazing scope. The natural color rendition and color fidelity is just wonderful as is the contrast and image sharpness. It just keeps taking magnification! I have used it at 300X on Jupiter with no image breakdown. None! 

I'm actually more amazed that you can see detail on Jupiter with the .25mm exit pupil that would give - you have much better eyes than I do!

If I get beyond .5mm I start mistaking my floaters for planetary details.

[Terra Nova]

I have been fortunate to have not had a problem with floaters. I think I had them more as a kid than as an adult, but probably, I think I just became aware of them as a kid and went thru a phase of noticing and trying to notice them. OTOH, 100X per inch is doable on a bright, extended target if the optics support it.

Edited by terraclarke, 03 November 2017 - 09:10 AM.

[starman876]

I cannot wait for some clear nights so I can compare the FS102 to the 76.

[dweller25]

Here's my favourite classic Tak........ (FS128)

 

 

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[Scott in NC]

My favorite is my FS-102.  It's the only Tak that I've ever looked through.  It was made in 1998.  Was that a good production year for one, quality-wise?

Most definitely.  Mine's from the same era (although not the same year) as yours--made in 2001.  It's got one of the best optics of any of my refractors.

[TG]

This is the only Tak I've owned and hence, trivially, my favourite.

 

[starman876]

Taks are just such beautiful scopes.    Ever since I got my  FS102 the weather has been horrible.  

[strdst]

mine

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Edited by strdst, 08 November 2017 - 11:54 PM.

[Barry Kawa]

I used to find a lot of older used Takahashi refractors at the Teleto used telescope store in Tokyo and would grab them. Unfortunately, the store closed about 10 years ago. I have since traded off or sold all the Tak FC-50s, FC-60s, an FCT-76 and some even older semi-APO or achromatic Takahashi scopes I used to have. The only two I have kept are my favorites, a Takahashi FC-100 made in 1981 and this Takahashi Teagul 60, made in 1991, which I use on a Borg alt-azimuth mount as my grab-and-go scope. I love the Teegul 60, which is like a Televue Ranger only with a 5x25 finder and it’s an APO. It has a helical focuser and says “Clump” on the focuser, which I take to mean “Clamp.” It’s an odd and charming scope, and my favorite classic Takahashi scope. 

[waso29]

classy newts: mt130/ mt160

 

 

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[Nippon]

I wish they still made Newtonians.

[tim53]

Question for others who have FC-76s.  What size rings do I need to be able to mount a vixen dovetail on top for a guidescope?

[James Peirce]

Question for others who have FC-76s.  What size rings do I need to be able to mount a vixen dovetail on top for a guidescope?

Which FC-76?

 

For example, FC76DCU is 80mm and FC76DS is 95mm.

[Bomber Bob]

That's a good choice! Hope to see you own one some day

Well... It took 4 years, but I wound up with 4 x Classic Takahashi's:

 

- 1973 TS-65/500 S-APO Triplet

- 1975 TS-50/700 Achromatic Doublet

- 1984 FC-76 Fluorite Doublet

- 1988 FC-100 Fluorite Doublet

 

I bought the FC-100 as my own Retirement Gift, and it is everything I read about it, and more.  The only scope I have that can clearly out-perform it is my 1983 Meade 826 (8" F6) Newtonian.  It takes an 8" reflector to consistently beat a 4" TAK.  So... why'd I get the smaller FC-76??  Terra, and all her glowing reports.  Like my TS-65, I got it way below market price because it had a hazy Flint element.  Took some work to restore it, but it was well worth the effort... and, since it's so easy to use, and gets used so often, it has become my favorite TAK...  and, that's some stiff competition!  For Example:  On some nights, and some targets, the 50-year old TS-65 competes with the FC-76.  I did not expect that.

[Eric P]

Question for others who have FC-76s.  What size rings do I need to be able to mount a vixen dovetail on top for a guidescope?

For the classic FC-76 you need 95mm rings.

[tim53]

Which FC-76?

 

For example, FC76DCU is 80mm and FC76DS is 95mm.

Mine was new in 1985

[Lentini]

Thread resurrected!

 

I grabbed chances to coincidentally get a TS-65D and a TS-80, both f/15 or better. I didn’t feel I could justify keeping both. The TS-65D is such an easy size to use… Well suited to a small mount and camera tripod. The TS-80 is quite long… Still figuring out the best mounting option. And it has an issue with the tube being too long for all 1.25” eyepieces to come to focus depending on the diagonal. A GPC fixes that, but a shorter tube would be better. 
 

I kept the TS-80 because it was more minty and came with original case and some accessories. Slightly better Jupiter views, as well. 
 

Someday I’d like to get a more modern Tak… splurge a bit. But not yet.

[coopman]

When does a scope become a "classic" telescope?  Is it when it is 25 years old?  If so, my FS-102 from 1998 will become a classic in January 2023.