379 replies to this topic

[cupton]

Every time I see the 81S I think I need to upgrade my ED80Sf to a true Vixen with a smaller tube. Love them Vixens! In all honesty though, I really enjoy my ED80Sf a ton and I talk myself down since for me the next logical upgrade would be to the SD103s someday. Someday, not anytime soon.

[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. (image included this time)

 

Edited by 28gauge, 19 June 2021 - 10:57 AM.

[Brollen]

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. (image included this time)

 

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Interesting assortment of adapters, weights, clamps and auxiliary attachment sites. What's going on there?

Edited by Brollen, 19 June 2021 - 01:46 PM.

[28gauge]

 

 

The Porta II Vixen saddle was replaced with an ADM, and the Vixen original dovetail bar was replaced with a 14 inch ADM. The original Vixen's are not great in my opinion. The porta mount with the scope needed a counter balance weight. I mounted a 2 pound weight on an ADM clamp that can slide the weight fore and aft to achieve a good balance point. I never have to move it once it was set. It's good a all altitudes. I used camera flash brackets to mount the weight, as well as a red dot finder on the dovetail bar. The finder is mounted to the rear of the bar so it does not move with the weight, its always stationary. The red dot and the Stellarvue  9 x 50 optical finder together work well for me . I'm pretty much a newbie, visual observation only.

Edited by 28gauge, 19 June 2021 - 02:23 PM.

[Bowlerhat]

The black porta looks good!

[Castor]

What an enjoyable thread with all the useful info, interesting anecdotes and nice pictures!

 

Here’s my non-pedigree but pampered Vixen ED100Sf f/9 Refractor on a Tele Vue Gibraltar5 Alt-Az mount.  It’s my only 4-inch refractor for visual Astronomy from the city, so it points at the night sky more frequently than the larger scopes!

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[25585]

81S is very droolworthy

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Edited by 25585, 20 June 2021 - 11:29 AM.

[28gauge]

81S is very droolworthy

Is that an 81S in your hand; it looks bigger?

[Brollen]

What an enjoyable thread with all the useful info, interesting anecdotes and nice pictures!

 

Here’s my non-pedigree but pampered Vixen ED100Sf f/9 Refractor on a Tele Vue Gibraltar5 Alt-Az mount.  It’s my only 4-inch refractor for visual Astronomy from the city, so it points at the night sky more frequently than the larger scopes!

I believe these were Chinese made, and basically the same dna as the Orion, Celestron and Skywatcher 100EDs. I also had one of these Vixen ED100SF scopes many years ago. It had excellent optics.

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[cupton]

What an enjoyable thread with all the useful info, interesting anecdotes and nice pictures!

Here’s my non-pedigree but pampered Vixen ED100Sf f/9 Refractor on a Tele Vue Gibraltar5 Alt-Az mount. It’s my only 4-inch refractor for visual Astronomy from the city, so it points at the night sky more frequently than the larger scopes!

The little sibling to your ED100Sf.

Edited by cupton, 20 June 2021 - 03:28 PM.

[Castor]

I believe these were Chinese made, and basically the same dna as the Orion, Celestron and Skywatcher 100EDs. I also had one of these Vixen ED100SF scopes many years ago. It had excellent optics.

You are absolutely right, hence my “non-pedigree” remark –BTW, I love the picture of your former ED100Sf!

 

Mine has good optics too, my only complaint is the finicky dual-speed focuser that needs occasional adjustment but it doesn’t bother me enough to warrant a replacement -I like it as it is in white metal casting and that’s why I got the Baader 2” Clicklock Mirror Star Diagonal to match it!

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[Castor]

The little sibling to your ED100Sf.

 

Oh yes the Vixen ED80Sf, and it looks beautiful on its matching Porta II Mount!   It makes me wish I had gotten one to complement mine!

[Nippon]

Is that an 81S in your hand; it looks bigger?

Well it looks about right F/7.7 which is all but F/8 and Vixen's use of knife edge baffles makes for a large diameter tube.

[jeffmac]

I own a Celestron C102F version. The optics are very good and the OTA is light, which I like. It rides well on my SP mount. If I were buying a 100mm-120mm apo today, I'd opt for the Vixen 115S. I've heard nothing but good things about it and at $2699 for a new one, it's a bargain compared to the $4400 Tak is asking for the 120. Of course, I'd rather have the Tak but when you consider weight and price some things become relative.

Edited by jeffmac, 20 June 2021 - 11:19 PM.

[25585]

You are absolutely right, hence my “non-pedigree” remark –BTW, I love the picture of your former ED100Sf!

 

Mine has good optics too, my only complaint is the finicky dual-speed focuser that needs occasional adjustment but it doesn’t bother me enough to warrant a replacement -I like it as it is in white metal casting and that’s why I got the Baader 2” Clicklock Mirror Star Diagonal to match it!

  Ed Ting on the differences.

 

https://youtu.be/mRMq8Te0PD8

Edited by 25585, 21 June 2021 - 05:49 AM.

[Brollen]

You are absolutely right, hence my “non-pedigree” remark –BTW, I love the picture of your former ED100Sf!

 

Mine has good optics too, my only complaint is the finicky dual-speed focuser that needs occasional adjustment but it doesn’t bother me enough to warrant a replacement -I like it as it is in white metal casting and that’s why I got the Baader 2” Clicklock Mirror Star Diagonal to match it!

Mine came with the black focuser, single speed as seen on Cupton’s ED80SF. It had very good feel and I never had issues with it for visual use.

[Nippon]

Here's mine

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[GOLGO13]

Here's mine

That's the good stuff!!

[Castor]

Here's mine

What a gorgeous setup, mount and scope seem to be made for each other!  

[Russell Smith]

I have two Vixen scopes at this time.

1999 Orion fl102 and a Fistscope 80 that I put on a Polaris mount. 

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[KevH]

Here's a photo of my SD81S about to be deployed.  I love the included grab handle.

 

[ThusSpokeZarathustra]

How is the red dot finder on the SD81S?

[GOLGO13]

How is the red dot finder on the SD81S?

Don't get the older version of the red dot that had a small round window...whereas the newer one looks like his picture. I found the new ones are pretty good. Old ones not great.

[Castor]

Here's a photo of my SD81S about to be deployed.  I love the included grab handle.

 

Such a beautiful picture of a beautiful telescope!

[KevH]

How is the red dot finder on the SD81S?

It’s pretty good, not perfect. I’ve only ever owned cheap red dots so this one is nicer than those. The actual finder body is metal vs plastic with most others I’ve had. It’s easy to adjust and stays put. It’s brighter than I would like but they all seem to be that way. As an included accessory it’s pretty nice. I’m not sure it’s worth the new retail price of $100 though.