379 replies to this topic

[mikeDnight]

It was a Vixen FL102 that set me on the road to Apodom. The scope had been donated to my local astro club and completely stunned me by its incredibly detailed view of Saturn and its rings. This was back in January 2003 and that Vixen scope still holds its own against all other contenders. Sadly i wasn't able to buy an FL102 of my own as the then loan UK importer showed little interest in supplying one. I instead had to turn to Takahashi for my refractors, and while I love all the Tak scopes I've owned, to my keen eye, the Vixen FL102 was and is every bit as good as any Tak I've used as far as planetary definition is concerned.

Even the Vixen ED doublets gave outstanding performance. My friends Vixen ED 102 F6.5 utterly demolished my TV NP101 when it came to fine planetary detail. So Vixen are rated very highly in my mind, and from my visual observers point of view are in the same league as Takahashi optically.

[Astrojensen]

Vixen have always made some really, really nice scopes. They used to be a VERY close competitor to Takahashi, but Takahashi has widened that gap quite a bit recently.  

 

In 2001, I bought a Vixen GP-E 80L, an 80/1200mm achromat on the economy version of the Great Polaris mount. I very soon upgraded it to a true GP mount, by buying and installing the polar finder and setting circles. Truthfully, I've not used either very much... Getting the motor drive would have been better, but it was far more expensive. 

 

The optics are VERY good, but not perfect. There's a bit of undercorrection, nothing serious. Views are sharp, with very little false color. It easily outperformed a TV-76 on planetary details, despite the false color. The focuser is SUPER smooth. 

 

The tripod is a little underwhelming. It's fairly stable, but a bit on the small side for such a long scope. Also, the wing nuts used to tighten up the legs are small and difficult to tighten enough, sometimes causing the tripod to slowly collapse. I'm considering upgrading to a HAL-110 tripod. 

 

 

Overall, it's a very well-made scope and leagues ahead of the Chinese clones in quality, fit and finish. This particular model is also the last modern 80mm f/15 achromat on an equatorial mount offered by any maker.  

 

*

 

I recently also became the owner of a Vixen VMC 260L, all-spherical 260/3000mm Cassegrain, but I don't have any pictures of it. It's a really unique telescope with some great features. The optics need a bit of adjustment, though (not collimation, the corrector needs respacing to get better spherical correction). 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[GOLGO13]

Vixen have always made some really, really nice scopes. They used to be a VERY close competitor to Takahashi, but Takahashi has widened that gap quite a bit recently.

Clear skies!
Thomas, Denmark

Hard to say. I haven't looked through many Takahashi telescopes. But I can say my 103s (and the one I had before this one) is as good as it gets. I have not seen too many people with the new SD scopes, but I believe the optics are the same or close to the same.

Both companies have decent but not great focusers.

One benefit to the Japanese Vixen is they are great values on the used market. If I were buying new it would be a pretty tough call, but I would probably pick Takahashi. Though the costs of accessories is a major consideration.

Edited by GOLGO13, 29 May 2021 - 11:22 AM.

[Defenderslideguitar]

I love that 120S. I saw Koji put one up for sale that was super tempting

Me too     I could see adding one 

[25585]

   20210209_124650 - kopie (600x800).jpg

 

Very happy with my Vixen 102M 

That OTA is like mine, classic logo badge & green focuser.

[GOLGO13]

This video will give you a case of Vixenitis ... may need to hold your phone up to it with google translate if you want to know what it's saying.

 

https://youtu.be/5y0q8C3yQio

[Bowlerhat]

I love Vixens. They just work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Bowlerhat, 29 May 2021 - 08:40 PM.

[Lookitup]

Vixen SD115 in the foreground is another one missed and might have to be reacquired one day     

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[Kutno]

Classic A102M + tripod, & more modern A80M. I regretfully bypassed a 130SS last year  , having bought 2 refractors already.

 

The AX103S has always interested me.

 

The AX103S has intrigued me as well.  Brian, of Vixen Optics, once related a story about a star party event where the AX103S he brought outperformed competitors in the 4" apo class, according to the party's attendees.  He indicated that the Japanese executives at Vixen were very proud of the airy disks this refractor was producing.  After I learned Tele Vue was not going to produce the TV102, I looked around at other offerings in the 4" apo class and remembered that I had regretted not purchasing a Vixen 4" fluorite apo during the 1990s.  The AX103S and Vixen ED115S were going for about the same price, at the time, and I opted for the larger light-gathering aperture of the ED115S and for the simplicity of its doublet.  Have never regretted the decision to buy the ED115S.

Edited by Kutno, 29 May 2021 - 11:23 PM.

[Erik Bakker]

Vixen has made some wonderful capable scopes and mounts over the decades. Ranging from affordable good quality to quite expensive high-endish optical tubes.

 

Many years ago, I had 3 of their fluorite doublets: the 55mm f/8, 70mm f/8 and 102mm f/8.8. The 70mm was the most versatile package, the 55mm had unisially fine optics, even for a fluorite doublet. And the 102 had mediocre optics, just a bit better than diffraction limited. All have long gone. The elegant no nonsense look of these are unequaled and have a special place in my telescope memories. 

 

At f/8.8, the 102 mm with it’s properly baffled full sized tube was a light but already quite large and long scope, to big for my taste. But if I would run into a good sample of the 55, 70 or 80mm f/8 or even the wonderful and slender 90mm f/9, I might be tempted to get another one.

[Marcus Roman]

Vixen has made some wonderful capable scopes and mounts over the decades. Ranging from affordable good quality to quite expensive high-endish optical tubes.

 

Many years ago, I had 3 of their fluorite doublets: the 55mm f/8, 70mm f/8 and 102mm f/8.8. The 70mm was the most versatile package, the 55mm had unisially fine optics, even for a fluorite doublet. And the 102 had mediocre optics, just a bit better than diffraction limited. All have long gone. The elegant no nonsense look of these are unequaled and have a special place in my telescope memories. 

 

At f/8.8, the 102 mm with it’s properly baffled full sized tube was a light but already quite large and long scope, to big for my taste. But if I would run into a good sample of the 55, 70 or 80mm f/8 or even the wonderful and slender 90mm f/9, I might be tempted to get another one.

Yes and don’t forget FL80, a great versatile and small package scope with very fine optics. Never seen one bad, all so good all around....

[Rutilus]

I first started buying Vixen equipment back in the early 1980s. Most of it I''ve sold  on.

The only things I have left is the 60mm f/7 scope, GP mount and a few eyepieces. 

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[Erik Bakker]

Here’s a picture of my 3 Vixen/Celestron 55 f/8, 70 f/8 and 102 f/8.8 (with Moonlite focuser) fluorites made in 2008:

 

[KevH]

My one gripe with the modern Vixen ED/SDs is the visual back.  I just installed a 2" M68/M60 Baader ultra-short clamp and it is a nice upgrade for anyone else who may be looking.  The knurled rings even kind of match the focuser knobs which is a nice touch.  

 

https://agenaastro.c...ck-2458196.html

 

[Nippon]

I agree completely. I am planning to purchase the M68/M60 Baader ultra-short clamp at the next astronomy budget allocation.

[emh52]

A Vixen SXP, VSD 100, and a cooled Nikon Z6 to image- imaging the Mars conjunction with the Pleiades 

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[Tyson M]

My one gripe with the modern Vixen ED/SDs is the visual back.  I just installed a 2" M68/M60 Baader ultra-short clamp and it is a nice upgrade for anyone else who may be looking.  The knurled rings even kind of match the focuser knobs which is a nice touch.  

 

https://agenaastro.c...ck-2458196.html

 

SD81Focuser.jpg

I too love this clamp.  I have one extra purposely saved for in case I get another Vixen lol. 

[dave253]

I’m on my second 80m, my favourite grab and go. 
I’d love a 102 but it would appear that they’re ultra rare in Australia. 

[Bowlerhat]

I’m on my second 80m, my favourite grab and go. 
I’d love a 102 but it would appear that they’re ultra rare in Australia. 

Vixen 102m?

[teashea]

Classic A102M + tripod, & more modern A80M. I regretfully bypassed a 130SS last year  , having bought 2 refractors already.

 

The AX103S has always interested me.

I agree that it is very interesting.

[teashea]

 

I love Vixens. They just work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

very nice time line

[Bowlerhat]

very nice time line

It's not all in correct order. It started with an FL80s, actually.

I remembered thinking hard between going with cheaper ED80..or a 60mm tak...or a classic. The guy who sold it showed me what a wonder fluorite can be.

I mean, I've had ED scopes before, but it's just different. I was walking around in the park after the deal, hugging my OTA in a bag, just chuckling to myself questioning what I've done.

 

I've never regret that decision and that night. 

[Brollen]

 

My current Vixen 103s (it's magical)

 

 

 

My previous 81s and 130SS (rare scope)...these are no longer with me though.

 

 

 

The 130SS before I added on the Moonlite. This was an impressive scope. Super light weight and really nice aperture. Classic.

 

I also have an ED102SS, currently for sale. Mine is the Orion branded issue, but it is a Vixen through and through … well, except for the Moonlite focuser.

 

The 130ss shown is really beautiful - that must have been something to look through, extrapolating up, based on the views my 102ss provides. What’s interesting is that is branded as both an Orion and Vixen - haven’t seen that so overtly before.

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[KevH]

I also have an ED102SS, currently for sale. Mine is the Orion branded issue, but it is a Vixen through and through … well, except for the Moonlite focuser.

 

The 130ss shown is really beautiful - that must have been something to look through, extrapolating up, based on the views my 102ss provides. What’s interesting is that is branded as both an Orion and Vixen - haven’t seen that so overtly before.

If I hadn't just bought the SD81S, I would have grabbed your 102 as soon as I saw it.  You posted it a few days after my 81 arrived.

[28gauge]

Vixen SD81S; Stellarvue finders; W.O. diagonal; Vixen porta mount on Berlebach 472 report. The whole kit is quite easy to move assembled at 24 lbs.