Only refractor I have truly and extensively used over the years (...for imaging) has been a very large 254mm TMB APO in an observatory setting.
My search for a quality backyard imaging refractor started with a comparative analysis of 130mm refractors but the discussion and decision didn't go well.
Without much affection or predilection (...at the time) for 130mm Starfire GTX, I 'did' get in the queue over a decade ago. What became of it, more on that later...
Then I turned my research to FSQ-106EDXIII... long ago; I hesitated, procrastinated, questioned my choice. So it never transpired for one reason or another.
To quell my thirst for a smaller, portable refractor refractor, I turned to 51mm CAT.... It was a good small scope but was not a TAK.
Then I heard about Radian Raptor and was left in dismay for lack of a better word.
Finally I turned to FSQ-85EDX w/Flattener for backyard use; when I decided to get one, of course none were in stock. So I placed the order and waited few months and here it is now . Yes that's Japanese packaging, not to mention a ton of packing peanuts not in the pic.
More on adapting challenges for imaging in coming posts...
Edited by mmalik, 14 January 2021 - 03:21 AM.