156 replies to this topic

[4esop]

I noticed that Takahashi has this listed on their site. 

https://www.takahash...a-18034028.html

 

It says special order 8-10 weeks.  Does anyone know if it's still available?  Also, can the fixed dew shield be unscrewed?

Edited by 4esop, 01 July 2019 - 02:00 PM.

[BravoFoxtrot]

It might not be a bad idea to give the fine folks at TNR a call and ask.  They're very helpful and great to talk with.  

[Eric H]

Yes, the dew shield is a screw type on N models.

[4esop]

It might not be a bad idea to give the fine folks at TNR a call and ask.  They're very helpful and great to talk with.  

Good idea.  The response:  They are still available and there is a 60 day lead time.  The dew shield unscrews as Eric H indicated.  

[starman876]

I noticed that Takahashi has this listed on their site. 

https://www.takahash...a-18034028.html

 

It says special order 8-10 weeks.  Does anyone know if it's still available?  Also, can the fixed dew shield be unscrewed?

It can be unscrewed, but would you not rather have a sliding dew shield?  Easier to store and travel with.

[Eric H]

It can be unscrewed, but would you not rather have a sliding dew shield?  Easier to store and travel with.

No reason for sliding if it's used in an observatory.

[BravoFoxtrot]

Good idea.  The response:  They are still available and there is a 60 day lead time.  The dew shield unscrews as Eric H indicated.  

Thanks!  I was kinda wondering myself.

[areyoukiddingme]

I also noticed green reflections on the objective, perhaps ask if the scope is actually made in China? :-)

[bobhen]

Great scope at a great "lower price". I’ve owned one for almost 10-years. If you are thinking about getting one, you will not be disappointed.

 

Here is my 10-year-old TSA 120.

 

Bob

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[areyoukiddingme]

I'm really tempted to get a medium sized refractor. I've tried a 6" F8, and the size of it led me to prefer to just us a reflector.

 

But either a 120-130 range doublet, or this Tak would seem to fit the bill. Enough aperture to be satisfying, and light weight packaging to make it grab- and go (or close enough!).

 

I've read all the reviews on the various doublets, and while I think that the color correction would be perfectly good, I think I would still be wondering about how much more performance is left on the table compared to the Tak.

 

It's also nice to see that the difference between the domestic and Asia-market prices is narrower for this scope than most.

[SkyRanger]

My TSA 120N is on the boat headed this way!

Gordon G

[25585]

I'm really tempted to get a medium sized refractor. I've tried a 6" F8, and the size of it led me to prefer to just us a reflector.

 

But either a 120-130 range doublet, or this Tak would seem to fit the bill. Enough aperture to be satisfying, and light weight packaging to make it grab- and go (or close enough!).

 

I've read all the reviews on the various doublets, and while I think that the color correction would be perfectly good, I think I would still be wondering about how much more performance is left on the table compared to the Tak.

 

It's also nice to see that the difference between the domestic and Asia-market prices is narrower for this scope than most.

TSA120s are the last affordable Tak below their specialist models. I missed the 102, and being unsure the 120 will have a future, say if a bigger doublet replaces it, bought one just in case...  

[Scott99]

wow, the low price is very low, it's barely more than a used FS128, knowing Tak and currency fluctuations it could be much higher in the near future. 

[dscarpa]

  Is there  anything to cap the lens with when the dew shield is off?   The only real negative other than my inability so far to tune it for proms in DS mode sale bought Coronado 90 III DS  is there's a screw on lens cap for the outer etalon but nothing for capping the inner etalon or the lens when using it as a night scope. I've got a plastic container that cookies came in doing the job on the inner etalon for now. I  don't have an observatory but don't take my WO ZS110 anywhere as my bad right eye make extended night driving problematic. For me it's sliding dew shield is more an annoyance as it doesn't stay put requiring a rubber band behind it. The TSA 120s are the only scope that temp me as a replacement for the WO ZS110 as it's nice and light . The WO could go to my scopeless cousin. I've almost bought a TSA 120 scam scope a couple of times. David

Edited by dscarpa, 02 July 2019 - 02:29 PM.

[4esop]

I ordered mine today.  I had decided a while ago that I really would like a TSA-120.  Glad I came across this.  Will post photos when it arrives if anyone is interested.

[25585]

  Is there  anything to cap the lens with when the dew shield is off?   The only real negative other than my inability so far to tune it for proms in DS mode sale bought Coronado 90 III DS  is there's a screw on lens cap for the outer etalon but nothing for capping the inner etalon or the lens when using it as a night scope. I've got a plastic container that cookies came in doing the job on the inner etalon for now. I  don't have an observatory but don't take my WO ZS110 anywhere as my bad right eye make extended night driving problematic. For me it's sliding dew shield is more an annoyance as it doesn't stay put requiring a rubber band behind it. The TSA 120s are the only scope that temp me as a replacement for the WO ZS110 as it's nice and light . The WO could go to my scopeless cousin. I've almost bought a TSA 120 scam scope a couple of times. David

Try a Lens Coat Hoodie https://www.lenscoat...-caps-c-5.html 

 

I have one for my FC100DL. 

[dscarpa]

 Thanks!  That would look and work way better. David 

[SkyRanger]

Been waiting 50+ years for this: just bought a used POD to cover up my TSA 120. It’s only about 75 miles away. It will be here before the 120!

GG

Edited by SkyRanger, 03 July 2019 - 11:46 PM.

[rockstarbill]

Cool bargain on a great Tak scope. Really wish they would make more TSA102's...  

[CounterWeight]

An easily field-able excellent scope, used mine just for visual but it competed very well with my FS-128 to where I got tired of looking for any meaningful advantage one way or the other visually.  Now that I am posting I will say the triplet gave a little colder view overall?  Yes, there is the low power widefield aspect wrt the f/8 FS and FOV, at higher powers I felt the optics flawless to my eye and seeing here.

[bobhen]

An easily field-able excellent scope, used mine just for visual but it competed very well with my FS-128 to where I got tired of looking for any meaningful advantage one way or the other visually.  Now that I am posting I will say the triplet gave a little colder view overall?  Yes, there is the low power widefield aspect wrt the f/8 FS and FOV, at higher powers I felt the optics flawless to my eye and seeing here.

The “colder view” of the TSA is because the TSA has slightly better color correction than the FS 128, eliminating any “warm tone” leftover unfocused CA in the FS.

 

Bob

[Nippon]

I also noticed green reflections on the objective, perhaps ask if the scope is actually made in China? :-)

That's funny.

[Bill Barlow]

The green lens coatings are also used on the newer Tak 100/76 FC doublets, but the DL version has brown coatings.  I highly doubt they are made in China.  The glass is made by Canon in Japan.  

 

Bill

Edited by Bill Barlow, 04 July 2019 - 10:34 AM.

[25585]

Cool bargain on a great Tak scope. Really wish they would make more TSA102's...

I think the Vixen AX103 is slot filler for TSA102s now. 

[Michaeljhogan]

Their is no comparising between the FS-128 and the TSA-120 one guy had a Takahashi FS-128 and a the other Takahashi FS-102

and we were looking at the moon at our Astronomy festival many Apos there the Takahashi FS-102 was the best doublet

iv ever looked with and beat all the doublets at the festival including two SkyWatcher 120mm Equinox doublets and one

Sky-Watcher EVOSTAR-120 and APM FK-61 ED 152

 

Everybody agreed that the APM FPL-53 140mm was a match for the Takahashi FS-128 the FS-102 at the same power the lenses

were the same but when put against the Sky-Watcher 120mm Esprit this is where you could see the FS-128 lost it Magical cult like

status power you could see tiny bit of false colour where the 120mm Esprit had none at all then it was the turn of the Takahashi FS-102

against a TS-107 mm f/6.5 FPL53 Triplet the look on the FS-102 owners face victim of the fluorite hype both FS owners bought their

FS Refractors from the US as they are very rare Apos

 

This was just over a year ago ill admit i use to buy into the fluorite hype it was this star party that convinced me to finally get a TSA-120

watching it beat every other triplet Apo and crush the FS-128 only the LZOS 123mm could match the TSA-120 with the star tests

 

Attached Thumbnails

•