52 replies to this topic

[Psion]

I also thought I didn't want to carry a 20 kg telescope to observe.

[Jan-S]

I’ve really enjoyed mine. To me it’s the perfect combination of aperture, length, and weight and I travel to dark sites as much as possible. As much as I wanted the 180, I decided that 160mm is about as large as I want to handle and it fits nicely in my camper van on a DM6. 

 

I had the opportunity to buy a CFF 180 F/7 second hand a while back. The aim was to have a visual scope that could be put on a fixed mount in the garden. The price was very good at around 12-13 K EUR. When I went to see it in the flesh, I realised it would be too big and heavy to carry around / for my intended use. That trial was very enlightening and saved me from an expensive mistake. The case that came with that scope was oversized too, though it did not look like the original and is easily replaced.

 

A 160 F/8 would have been the maximum size/weight, and a great visual performer. But regrettably CFF stopped making those for a while & moved far away. I got a new TEC 160 F/7 instead from a local dealer.

Edited by Jan-S, 16 April 2025 - 08:23 AM.

[paul32444]

I had the opportunity to buy a CFF 180 F/7 second hand a while back. The aim was to have a visual scope that could be put on a fixed mount in the garden. The price was very good at around 12-13 K EUR. When I went to see it in the flesh, I realised it would be too big and heavy to carry around / for my intended use. That trial was very enlightening and saved me from an expensive mistake. The case that came with that scope was oversized too, though it did not look like the original and is easily replaced.

 

A 160 F/8 would have been the maximum size/weight, and a great visual performer. But regrettably CFF stopped making those for a while & moved far away. I got a new TEC 160 F/7 instead from a local dealer.

When I first reached out to Catalin, I asked him if he could make me an f/8 instead of 6.5 but he said there’s no point, I’d see no difference at the eyepiece. Now he’s back to making f/8’s. In the end, he’s probably right and I appreciate the smaller footprint. I gave mine a workout last week in beautiful

Salt Flat Texas.

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Edited by paul32444, 26 April 2025 - 02:24 PM.