82 replies to this topic

[jkmccarthy]

Reviving this thread. I just bought a c102f. I'm looking for some way to adapt 2" eyepieces. I know the moonlight manual focusers aren't made anymore, but is there any other on the market? Any adapter to use 2" accessories? If anyone can offer any advice I'd really appreciate it.

The suggestion offered here --

 

https://stargazerslo...comment-2702488
 

... to find a 2-inch diagonal with a removable nosepiece and then fashion an adapter with male M53 threads on the drawtube side and XXX threads into the body of the diagonal (in place of the nosepiece) strikes me as having some merit.

 

Photography lens filter male-to-male "gender changer" rings combined with a "step-up" or "step-down" ring might be an alternative to custom fabricating an adaptor ... the drawtube threads are M53 x 0.75mm pitch.

 

        -- Jim

 

EDIT:  Conversely, the caution offered in your other thread here -- https://www.cloudyni...02f/?p=13167192 -- might be a show-stopper unless the difference in optical path length between a prism diagonal vs. a mirror (or dielectric) diagonal is enough to let you squeak by with a prism diagonal ?   Maybe an M42 x 0.75mm threaded Baader "T2 Diagonal" instead of a 2-inch ?  However, I'm not sure about mating a 2-inch eyepiece holder onto the exit of a T2 diagonal ....

Edited by jkmccarthy, 02 January 2024 - 12:30 AM.

[jragsdale]

Reviving this thread. I just bought a c102f. I'm looking for some way to adapt 2" eyepieces. I know the moonlight manual focusers aren't made anymore, but is there any other on the market? Any adapter to use 2" accessories? If anyone can offer any advice I'd really appreciate it.

https://www.cloudyni...8#entry12313102

 

It is possible to make a 2" adapter to fit the M53 threaded tube, but the tolerances are VERY tight. It takes a talented machinist to pull it off. Luckily my friend is one of the best on a lathe that I know and made me one; details/pics here:

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[HagglePig420]

Wow yeah that is tight.. wish I had a machine shop buddy lol.. I talked to that guy Rafael from Raf camera and he makes them. But that's coming from Russia or Eastern Europe I think so that might take a while.. any idea what a machine shop might charge?

[jragsdale]

Wow yeah that is tight.. wish I had a machine shop buddy lol.. I talked to that guy Rafael from Raf camera and he makes them. But that's coming from Russia or Eastern Europe I think so that might take a while.. any idea what a machine shop might charge?

I would think $75-$100? But depends on the shop, some might tell you it's too thin for them to attempt. Otherwise, a good M53x1 to 2" x 24tpi male to male adapter would be good to thread directly onto a refractor diagonal with the nosepiece removed but you lose rotation ability, which was a deal breaker to me. I prefer my 2" Astro-Physics diagonal as it has a fairly short light path compared to some of my other 2" mirror diagonals.

[rossi777]

Hello all,

 

Ever since I read about the C102F on this thread, it became my dream telescope - however, after checking how many had been offered on the classifieds (and the price they sold at!) I chalked it down to a scope I would be bound to appreciate only from photos. 

 

Last week, I was lazily scrolling on FB marketplace with my usual filters of "telescope" + "new" and I saw something that immediately made my eyes pop.  A listing for "celestron sp-c102f astronomical telescope" posted 7 minutes prior.  Even 7 minutes wasn't fast enough, because I wasn't the first person to message the seller... but I was the first to arrive with cash!   I paid $800 for the OTA, Vixen SP / DMD-1 hand controller, and some high quality eyepieces.  I apologize to the sorry soul who also messaged the seller and wasn't as lucky. 

 

Without further ado, I present my newest member of the family.  I'm hoping she feels at home with the other black tube Celestron cousins and a couple of Tasco-rebadged Vixens.  As is tradition, the weather has been uncooperative now that I've bought a new instrument - still, I'm content appreciating her for her looks, if not for her views just yet!

 

 

 

Many thanks to Defenderslideguitar for providing the manual and some further reading about my new pride and joy.  This is the largest refractor I've owned as well as my first APO, so any tips or tricks on making the most of it are welcome.  I'm nervous about using the DMD-1 controller with the dual axis drive, as I've read about some compatibility issues between modern batteries and the hand controller system.  I have the version that accepts 6 batteries in a small portable pouch.  Does anybody have any information or recommendations regarding the use of these old hand controllers?
 

Thanks all!

Edited by rossi777, 02 July 2024 - 10:04 PM.

[bob midiri]

Hello all,

 

Ever since I read about the C102F on this thread, it became my dream telescope - however, after checking how many had been offered on the classifieds (and the price they sold at!) I chalked it down to a scope I would be bound to appreciate only from photos. 

 

Last week, I was lazily scrolling on FB marketplace with my usual filters of "telescope" + "new" and I saw something that immediately made my eyes pop.  A listing for "celestron sp-c102f astronomical telescope" posted 7 minutes prior.  Even 7 minutes wasn't fast enough, because I wasn't the first person to message the seller... but I was the first to arrive with cash!   I paid $800 for the OTA, Vixen SP / DMD-1 hand controller, and some high quality eyepieces.  I apologize to the sorry soul who also messaged the seller and wasn't as lucky. 

 

Without further ado, I present my newest member of the family.  I'm hoping she feels at home with the other black tube Celestron cousins and a couple of Vixen-rebadged Tascos.  As is tradition, the weather has been uncooperative now that I've bought a new instrument - still, I'm content appreciating her for her looks, if not for her views just yet!

 

 

 

 

Many thanks to Defenderslideguitar for providing the manual and some further reading about my new pride and joy.  This is the largest refractor I've owned as well as my first APO, so any tips or tricks on making the most of it are welcome.  I'm nervous about using the DMD-1 controller with the dual axis drive, as I've read about some compatibility issues between modern batteries and the hand controller system.  I have the version that accepts 6 batteries in a small portable pouch.  Does anybody have any information or recommendations regarding the use of these old hand controllers?
 

Thanks all!

Congrats, you will never regret this addition!! 

[Defenderslideguitar]

Congrats  all around     what a deal you got  could double your money really but  the scope will be with you forever  so they have no money value  in a sense they are priceless........

 

Thanks for rebooting this thread   it never gets old       every now and then I get queasy and think I cannot keep 

three   4 inch fluorite refractors  and contemplate the unthinkable of selling this one  but I cannot make myself pull the trigger    the 1990 Tak FC 100 is a keeper  and so is the NP101 as it does other things so well  wide flat amazing then there is the amazing C-102FL    Just cant let it go  so we are stuck with three great fluorite refractors   not a bad problem to have

 

Meanwhile I will just enjoy this everyday refractor 

Here it is on the Unistar  mount   and the little brother Vixen 80mm fl on the twilight   another gem I should have held on to

 

Barry

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[Defenderslideguitar]

"Last week, I was lazily scrolling on FB marketplace with my usual filters of "telescope" + "new" and I saw something that immediately made my eyes pop.  A listing for "celestron sp-c102f astronomical telescope" posted 7 minutes prior."

 

Some things are meant to be

 Sometimes things happen for a reason

   Sometimes you just get lucky

 

Enjoy

Edited by Defenderslideguitar, 02 July 2024 - 08:42 PM.