I have a TV Genesis SDF, which immediately preceded the TV101 and has basically the same dimensions (F5.4) and I absolutely love it! It’s a visual and ergonomic dream and I love using it on it’s TV Gibralter alt-az mount. Of my dozen or so scopes, if I could keep only two it would be that one and my Questar. They are perfect complements of one another. Just truly fine scopes.
Terra,
I agree whole-heartedly. I bought a new Genesis sdf in 1993, but it didn't see much action since I had stepped back from regular observing...wife, kids, dogs, travel teams, etc. When I got back into observing a lot more 6 years ago, I sold the sdf, naively thinking it must have been out-dated. I did get an NP127 though and the views through that were right there with my AP130 GT they were so good (I sold both after my TEC180 came due to lack of use).
I really missed the 4" wide-field view though so purchased a new NP101is about the same time as Dick and absolutely love it. I do think the views are somewhat better than through the sdf...or is my brain working overtime trying to justify my actions?!?
Depending upon what the seeing and/or transparency is like and what I'll be observing, I will either pair the 101is with the Q3.5 or the Q Astro 7. There are nights that my 24" can't split the double-double, either due to seeing or my not giving it enough time to cool, but the 101is and my Q's have never failed to split them.
If I had to thin the herd down to two scopes, one of them would not be the Q3.5... they would be the 101is and the Astro 7, because there is some sentimentality attached to the 7 with Jim R. at the Mother Ship.
Sam