32 replies to this topic

[Terra Nova]

Any one know about this TS-Optics 96mm x 576mm F6, FCD100 Triplet apo from Teleskop-Express?

https://www.teleskop...fo/p14015_.html

 

I’ve been looking to possibly getting a 90ish mm short triplet apo for some time. An AP Stowaway ain’t gonna happen, the TMBs are super rare, and the AT92 triplets are no longer available, and may never be again. Anyway, I ran across this relatively new entry in that field and find it intriguing. The website advertisement states that the objective itself is produced in Japan, not that it merely uses Japanese glass. (It uses an element of Hoya FCD100 low dispersion glass). It would make an excellent travel scope as it weighs 5 kilograms and is less than half a meter long. The 2.5” rack and pinion focuser appeals to me as well. The cost is ~$1610 USD + VAT and a shipping fee. I’m a visual observer. I have no interest in AP.

 

PS: They also offer a 96mm F6 ED doublet that also uses a stated “objective from Japan” that is almost identical in construction and weighs 3kg. (2kg less):

 

https://www.teleskop...from-Japan.html

 

It’s approximately $950 USD.

Edited by Terra Nova, 26 January 2022 - 04:36 PM.

[jerr]

I also have an eye on this scope.

Let's see if anybody will answer.

[ewave]

Terra, I would easily assume the FCD100 Triplet is a better performer both visually and photographically without question.

 

F6 is pretty fast and the triplet has an FCD 100 lens in the mix, while the ED doublet offers only an FCD1 objective.

 

That triplet does look interesting.  I haven't seen that focal length and f ratio before.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[ewave]

oh, of course not in stock, expected delivery June 1 2022

[Terra Nova]

Terra, I would easily assume the FCD100 Triplet is a better performer both visually and photographically without question.

 

F6 is pretty fast and the triplet has an FCD 100 lens in the mix, while the ED doublet offers only an FCD1 objective.

 

That triplet does look interesting.  I haven't seen that focal length and f ratio before.

 

Thanks for sharing.

Agreed. I wasn’t considering the doublet scope but I thought readers might be interested in the comparison.

[Terra Nova]

I also turned up this interesting entry in the 90ish mm triplets on the order of F6 and < , the Sharpstar 94mm f/5.5 ED Triplet Apo

 

https://agenaastro.c...ope-94edph.html

 

@ $1495USD, its 4.2kg and just under half a meter in length collapsed.

[joseph07081]

I found these while looking around FLO's website. I think someone else was inquiring about them in another thread, I can't quite remember where I saw it though.

 

https://www.firstlig...-telescope.html

 

I have no other background on them, but I will be doing a bit more research for my own consideration.

 

[ris242]

You are looking at the FCD1 vs the FCD100 ............and ES switched their scopes over to FCD100..........and I guess they canned the FCD1's  ??

 

the more expensive one also has a hybrid focuser that looks interesting.

 

The TS strategy is odd cause they also do the 90mm F6 with FPL55. in blue. with case and cert.

and a 94mm f/5.5 in red. lol

[bobhen]

I’ve also been thinking about a 90mm-ish apo.

Astro-Physics is of course not available.

 

CFF offers their 92mm oil-spaced triplet in F6 or F6.75. Their site says one available with maybe a 6-9 month wait? I don’t want to wait that long if I don’t have to.

 

TV offers the tried and true TV 85 but I don’t want to go below 90mm

 

I want something better (even if it’s that last 10% better) than typical Chinese refractor optics.

 

The TS offerings with the Made in Japan lenses are interesting but color me skeptical until proven otherwise. Who exactly in Japan is making them?

 

Right now I’m leaning heavily toward a Takahashi FC 100df Fluorite doublet. It’s a little longer but its only 6.1 pounds and will cool quickly and will have an absolutely superb Tak/Canon Fluorite lens. The 100 mm lens is a little closer to my Tak TSA 120 than I would like (hence the reason for a 90mm) but I’m sure I will appreciate the extra 10mm, quick cool down and lightweight when used for solar or under the stars, especially on cold nights.

 

We’ll see what the New Year brings.

 

Bob

Edited by bobhen, 27 January 2022 - 08:52 AM.

[jerr]

We'll not know what that scope is about until reliable test and report. But specs are tempting.

[Terra Nova]

I think a used Takahashi Ski90II would be the best bet myself.

[vdog]

Is this the "I'm thinking about a 90mm-ish APO" confession thread? I want to join the support group.

 

Seriously, though, it is hard to find information on these, except for the ones you can't get anymore, even if you could afford them: AT 92, Tak Sky 90, AP Stowaway. etc.

 

I'm still kicking myself for not jumping all over a SV90T that came up on Astromart about a week ago.

 

I think most of us visual folks must end up just getting a 100mm scope and watching it shake on our light-duty mounts.

[BWAZ]

I think a used Takahashi Ski90II would be the best bet myself.

Contact me if you're interested in a Sky90II in mint condition 

 

As for the 96mm f6 triplet, I almost took the plunge for a demo unit and even shot an email to TS asking if they could provide a certificate or something like that, and the short answer is "No", with reasons I kinda agree on. 

 

I was also intrigued by the claim "Made in Japan", but nowadays I'm not even sure "MIJ" by itself could ensure a high quality. After all, the Chinese optics has been doing well for a decade. If I want something from Japan, it surely will be one by Takahashi. 

[25585]

This is probably same optics as the TS

 

https://www.firstlig...-telescope.html

[25585]

Borg 90FL  https://www.firstlig...ocuser-set.html

[Deadlake]

Since you specified F6 I presume you are fo8ng for speed?

 

This scope has appeared at F5 which looks interesting 

 

https://www.teleskop...-Telescope.html

[ris242]

 

Right now I’m leaning heavily toward a Takahashi FC 100df Fluorite doublet
The 100 mm lens is a little closer to my Tak TSA 120 than I would like (hence the reason for a 90mm).

 

Bob

Sort of the same logic I don't want a FC100DF - I have a 127mm.

 

A 90mm F6 is still 8 inches shorter, and in my neck of the woods - converting new prices..........52% the cost of the Tak. Maybe a little more if I want a black and red carbon fibre - tubed scope.

 

Now I have a TS 60mm Doublet so I know - sort of - what I would hope to get regarding performance.

The 90 is half as bright as the 127mm and 2.25x brighter than the 60mm. If that puts me into the 100-150x consistently, I think I'd be pretty happy with it as a grab and go. I only decider is - which one?

[AstroKerr]

This is probably same optics as the TS

 

https://www.firstlig...-telescope.html

I almost posted that last night, but wanted to check if it was Long Perng - it's not on their site as a CF offering, so I sent an emaii - last time (year ago), they said the StellaMiras were 'theirs' - in fact it was the folks at LP that kicked me over to FLO for the 80. The other Stellas are on the LP site as generics...

 

Careful on TE expected due in dates - had a couple scopes ordered there and the due in dates kept getting bumped out by the mfrs. - when they hit a year from the original order date, I cancelled after calling TE, and the fellow said "August? Honest, don't think so - maybe October."  You order, you pay, it's on your order dashboard for 90 days(?), then disappears when it hasn't been shipped yet and you can't get to it, but TE can and it is still active. You get the "due in" update from the product page - kind of a flaky way to do things - disappearing paid for not shipped but active orders are unnerving.

 

TE does have this In Stock Long Perng 90 mm f/5.5 SD Apo - doublet lens with 2 special glasses and 2" RAP focuser  FPL-51 & Lanthy, but I don't think it'd do the job for you - too fast for a not-triplet and it's ugly-ish. I'd borrow one to try, but I wouldn't buy one.

 

The StellaMira 90 in stock @ FLO is just nicer, racier looking - it'd be ~$1680 shipped, + ~$118 "DHL Adv. Fee & 6% Customs" - just under $1800. But... CF, and although I know better, when I see CF the phrase 'delam' always drifts into m' haid. I trust metal mo' better.

 

Anyways, I like your first choice with the FCD-100, T.

Edited by AstroKerr, 27 January 2022 - 06:36 PM.

[jerr]

and still nothing about TS-Optics 96mm

[Dan_I]

The maker of the TS triplet is apparently a chinese company called Airy disk

 

https://www.facebook...07867731137460/

 

As far as I know they don't have any website. I am surprised that a chinese company subcontracts their optics in Japan.

Edited by Dan_I, 28 January 2022 - 09:11 AM.

[KevH]

I almost posted that last night, but wanted to check if it was Long Perng - it's not on their site as a CF offering, so I sent an emaii - last time (year ago), they said the StellaMiras were 'theirs' - in fact it was the folks at LP that kicked me over to FLO for the 80. The other Stellas are on the LP site as generics...

 

 

https://www.firstlig...-telescope.html

 

That carbon fiber 90mm looks like it is sourced from Kunming United Optics to me.  The rings and focuser are identical to other KUO scopes.  All the other StellaMira scopes do look like they are sourced from Long Perng but not that 90mm.

Edited by KevH, 28 January 2022 - 08:09 AM.

[bobhen]

Borg 90FL  https://www.firstlig...ocuser-set.html

Got to use a Borg 90 mm for a month. IMO Borg is pushing the fast, Fluorite doublet a little too far to be considered a “general do-it-all refractor”. They are wonderful for wide field, deep sky imaging, especially if you need to travel to dark skies. But I was not thrilled with the high power performance from the sample I had. And at over 2k, it was too costly just to use for a low power, wide field visual refractor or daytime spotter. 

 

As always, YMMV.

 

Bob

[25585]

As just visual, I consider the Stowaway too expensive for a 92mm. Really a FSQ-85 is likewise for its price.

[jerr]

The maker of the TS triplet is apparently a chinese company called Airy disk

 

https://www.facebook...07867731137460/

 

As far as I know they don't have any website. I am surprised that a chinese company subcontracts their optics in Japan.

Those scopes on the site are doublets.

[Dan_I]

Those scopes on the site are doublets.

At least their 140 and 106 are triplets

 

 

This 106/700 triplet on Airy disk FB page is exactly the same as the model listed by TS

 

 

 

 

The TS 96 triplet has very similar mechanics and looks hence very likely comes from the same source.

Edited by Dan_I, 28 January 2022 - 09:24 AM.