506 replies to this topic

[RAKing]

Yeah, I was sick of other TEC bashing thread  Now I feel good now

 

I agree!  

 

I have always loved TEC scopes and I am actually grateful that Roland steered me toward Yuri while I was in the long waiting list for an A-P 130 a few years ago.  He suggested that I buy a TEC 140 while I was waiting and that is some of the best advice I have ever received.    I bought my first TEC in 2010 and had no problems passing when my name finally came up on the A-P list.

 

I have now owned three TEC 140s and three TEC Maks.  Each has been superb and only pressing medical issues forced me to let them go.  Of course, I bought another one as soon as I had the option and I think I am set now.

 

Okay, I can't let this go without posting another picture.  This is TEC #2 for me (S/N 397).  It looks a lot like all the others - and performed just as well, too.

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

 

[RAKing]

Ron, what are the two screws on the right side of the Mak? I'm guessing that they're for attaching a finderscope.

Yes, that is exactly what they are for.  There is a pair of threaded inserts on each side of the tube.  As a rule, I put my Telrad on the left side because I use my left eye for observing.

 

The inserts are spaced perfectly for the A-P finderscope bracket.

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

[Alan S]

Here is my TEC 140, which I purchased new for my 40th birthday in 2009...still going strong a decade in...the telescope that is

 

My favorite spot, near Portal, AZ

 

Doing what it does best...

 

[RAKing]

Oh man!  That sky - breathtaking.  

 

I grew up in Oklahoma and that is what my skies looked like 60 years ago when my Dad got me started in astronomy.  It was wonderful to see some Messier objects with the naked eye.

 

Beautiful!  

 

Ron

[Allan Wade]

The only thing as good as a Takitis thread is a TECitis thread. I’ve looked through all the TEC’s except the 140 funnily enough. If I venture into the large refractor class some day it will be with a TEC, love those scopes. I have my eye on a TEC180 binoscope. It’s nice to dream.

[bobhen]

Beautiful TEC scopes everyone.

 

I’ve owned/own TV, AP, LZOS, Tak, Vixen Fluorite and UO refractors but never a TEC. Nice to see the photos.

 

Bob

[DeanS]

A picture is worth a thousand words

 

On this next Amateur Astronomy magazine is my 160 under the Milky way at this years TSP.

 

Dean

 

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[Scott in NC]

I used to own a TEC140ED for about 1 or 1.5years before I sold it to partly finance my CFF185. Now I am looking for another TEC140. It was foolish to sell. The new owner won't sell me scope back 

I wanted to click on your post, but didn't, as it didn't seem right to do so after your statement that the new owner won't sell you your old scope back.  Fortunately, TEC 140s come up on CN and AM periodically, and even though there are only around 700-800 of them out there, they're not so rare that you shouldn't be able to find one if you keep looking.  Good luck!

[Scott in NC]

Here is my TEC 140, which I purchased new for my 40th birthday in 2009...still going strong a decade in...the telescope that is

 

My favorite spot, near Portal, AZ

TEC140_sm.jpg

 

Doing what it does best...

 

TEC_140_milky way.jpg

Beautiful, Alan!  It's quite fitting that you posted in this thread, as I believe it was your TEC 140 that was the first one that I ever looked through, at Thunder Ridge in Colorado in summer 2009 (or sometime thereabouts).

[fate187]

I wanted to click on your post, but didn't, as it didn't seem right to do so after your statement that the new owner won't sell you your old scope back.  Fortunately, TEC 140s come up on CN and AM periodically, and even though there are only around 700-800 of them out there, they're not so rare that you shouldn't be able to find one if you keep looking.  Good luck!

Correct, but they are less available here in europe. Just need to look longer, there will be another

 

regards

[ltha]

I have owned three TEC APOs, two 140s and my current TEC200ED. Each has been a stunning performer! 

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Edited by ltha, 05 July 2019 - 07:32 PM.

[Scott in NC]

I have owned three TEC APOs, two 140s and my current TEC200ED. Each had been a stunning performer! 

Be careful, as your precious TEC might slide off the mount at that angle!

[rockethead26]

Although this TEC140FL is not a personal scope as it belongs to Lowell Observatory, I thought it deserved its portrait here with the rest of its fine kind.

 

[Scott in NC]

Although this TEC140FL is not a personal scope as it belongs to Lowell Observatory, I thought it deserved its portrait here with the rest of its fine kind.

 

Tec 140 on AP 1600.JPG

That's beautiful.  I'm really glad that TEC decided to stay with the traditional matching white dew shield rather than go with black as their website showed.  But this is classy looking, just like the previous 140ED version.

[Alan S]

Beautiful, Alan!  It's quite fitting that you posted in this thread, as I believe it was your TEC 140 that was the first one that I ever looked through, at Thunder Ridge in Colorado in summer 2009 (or sometime thereabouts).

Hey Scott-

 

I think that must have been 2010 we were there together, but my memory is suspect...The backstory...

 

The previous summer, 2009, Phil (host of the party) had just purchased his TEC 180 and it was first-lighting that scope at Thunder Ridge with him that inspired me to purchase the TEC 140 as a 40th birthday present to myself.  I returned from the star party, ordered the scope and had it about 6 weeks later!

 

That summer in 2010, one of my favorite observations was finding Pluto in the TEC 140 and then confirming it in Franks 12" dob...of course it was easier than usual as it was sitting right in front of a Barnard dark nebula for a few weeks so it was the only pinprick of light we had to look for (i.e. nothing to confuse it with).

 

Good times!

Alan

[Scott in NC]

Hey Scott-

 

I think that must have been 2010 we were there together, but my memory is suspect...The backstory...

 

The previous summer, 2009, Phil (host of the party) had just purchased his TEC 180 and it was first-lighting that scope at Thunder Ridge with him that inspired me to purchase the TEC 140 as a 40th birthday present to myself.  I returned from the star party, ordered the scope and had it about 6 weeks later!

 

That summer in 2010, one of my favorite observations was finding Pluto in the TEC 140 and then confirming it in Franks 12" dob...of course it was easier than usual as it was sitting right in front of a Barnard dark nebula for a few weeks so it was the only pinprick of light we had to look for (i.e. nothing to confuse it with).

 

Good times!

Alan

Yes, Alan--I reviewed my photo archives and confirmed that it was indeed July 2010 when we met at Phil's ranch in Colorado.  You've brought back some good memories, as I had also forgotten that that event was the first time that I ever saw Pluto was through your TEC 140 and then Frank's 12" dob.  Truth be known, I haven't seen it since.  The NELM 6-7 skies in the Colorado mountains at 9000-ft elevation really helped!

 

I'm glad to see that you still have the TEC 140.  Mine is a definite keeper, and I plan to keep it as for long as I'm still doing astronomy and still strong enough to hoist a 20-lb scope up onto its mount.  And since I'm about the same age as you are, I hope that will be for a long, long time!

[Rich_W]

My TEC 140 is not only my biggest scope, but by now is also the one that’s been with me the longest. I’d had a good year in 2005 and felt I could handle buying my “lifetime scope”...so in early 2006 I took the plunge and placed my order with TEC. In October 2006, TEC 140 #299 arrived and was everything I could have wished for. Of course I loved it. But... a couple months later I was laid off and had the great experience of being newly unemployed with a new TEC 140. But I was lucky, I never had to sell the scope...it was more like a symbol that I must have done something right, and the joy of using it helped a lot in a rough time (which didn’t last too long, thankfully).

Anyhow, it all worked out, I got through to retirement, and that 140 is still mine. As the years go by, these things become part of your life in a lot of different ways.

[donadani]

Nice thread! especially as I´m cured now from a very,very strong takitis…

 

After many, many scopes I finally arrived with this one - it´s the most my "one-man-show" wants or can carry around with not to many compromises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

cs

Chris

 

[agmoonsolns]

This thread is quickly demonstrating the highly contagious nature of TEC-itis, gorgeous scopes everyone! About how much does the TEC-140 weigh?

[Scott in NC]

This thread is quickly demonstrating the highly contagious nature of TEC-itis, gorgeous scopes everyone! About how much does the TEC-140 weigh?

 

19 lbs for the bare OTA, 21.5 lbs with TEC rings.

 

Take a look at this website, which is a very nice review of the TEC 140ED.  About halfway through the discussion, the review compiled a table listing the weights of the scope in various configurations.  http://www.astrosurf...ent/apo140e.htm

[ron scarboro]

Although this TEC140FL is not a personal scope as it belongs to Lowell Observatory, I thought it deserved its portrait here with the rest of its fine kind.

 

Tec 140 on AP 1600.JPG

Dangerous to under mount your scope that way.

[rockethead26]

Dangerous to under mount your scope that way.

Yeah, this was for a demo. The 140 will actually go on a smaller 1100 GTO. It does look mighty there doesn't it?

[Jeff B]

This thread is quickly demonstrating the highly contagious nature of TEC-itis, gorgeous scopes everyone! About how much does the TEC-140 weigh?

Another reference weight of 30 pounds configured as you see in the picture (except as noted) which includes:

 

-OTA (serial # 103) + stock rings

-"D" style dovetail

- Carrying handle

- Aft ring with finder and counterpoise weight

- AP 2" diagonal

- Denk II + OCS

- Denk Power Switch (not shown)

- (2) Celestron 30mm Ultimas (not shown)

 

Even loaded up like that, I find the OTA easy to manage with the handle.  My old AP 400 and Losmandy GM8 carry it very well, especially with the Losmandy HD tripod.  Mine is barely bino friendly with the AP thin visual back, Baader BBHS silver diagonal + Mark V viewers with the T2 dovetail system via the 30mm Ultimas.  I have to use the Baader Zeiss spec diagonal identically configured to use the 35mm Ultimas but that is a very unique, low power bino configuration.  

 

My one and only carp (ok, other than those terrible collets on the older FT focuser samples) is that I wish Yuri would, upon request, offer to make the OTAs an inch shorter for us bino-users.  

 

Jeff

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[watchplanets]

A

Edited by watchplanets, 06 July 2019 - 12:15 PM.

[gfeulner]

I hope this interesting thread hasn't died. My TEC 140 is from the last run of the ED version. It's a work of art and only wish I had steadier skies to see what it can really do.

 Gerry