64 replies to this topic

[liors]

Hi and congrats on the new scope! You will be happy with APS-C performance with the reducer.

Altho my main imaging camera is an IMX571 I did reach out to TS optics about the stars in the corners of my FF Cano RP. They asked for some full res jpg files and pictures of the rig set up so they can make some recommendations. They seem to believe I can get better stars in the corners of FF with the reducer. I'm not optimistic but will follow all of their guidance and see what I get.

Anyways, please update us later with your impressions and hopefully some AP samples. I am sadly in long stretch of bad weather

Sure! Will post updates about my impressions once it will arrive and will post sample images later on.

Still I need to check if my Pegasus motor focuser V2 kit will fit, if not than will need to order the ZWO EAF kit.

[900SL]

I'm getting close to buying one of these. You users still happy with them? Meeting Specification and expectations?

[Cbaxter]

I'm getting close to buying one of these. You users still happy with them? Meeting Specification and expectations?

Yes, though the weather hasn't allowed much use yet. I took some full frame images tonight but looking at the subs it looks like there were clouds in the sky that I didn't see. I'm traveling to a bortle 4 site this weekend though, where I will hopefully get at least few hours of data with this scope and IMX571C. I'm also taking it to Nebraska star party next month. If weather cooperates for nsp I plan to get several bortle 1 images with this scope.

Edited by Cbaxter, 21 June 2022 - 04:04 AM.

[welluca]

I have the TS130mm since almost two years

I am definitely happy about the purchase I made.

I have started astrophotography 2.5 years ago... I did the first 6 months stealing the scope from my father (VIXEN 140NA), then bought an APO

The scope is mounted on an EQ6Rpro

 

https://www.astrobin.com/users/maze/

 

This is my astrobin. 
Unfortunately I am terribly lazy and i have a backlog to upload / work in PixInsight that is insane

 

The last two pictures (Cave Nebula and Pelican) are taken with the 130mmm, first two with the Vixen

 

I have more picture to upload ready to go, when i will be back from the work trip i con post them here

[TareqPhoto]

Sure! Will post updates about my impressions once it will arrive and will post sample images later on.

Still I need to check if my Pegasus motor focuser V2 kit will fit, if not than will need to order the ZWO EAF kit.

I bought that Pegasus motor focuser V2 kit to use for my TS CF 90mm APO FPL55.

[Cbaxter]

I have the TS130mm since almost two years
I am definitely happy about the purchase I made.
I have started astrophotography 2.5 years ago... I did the first 6 months stealing the scope from my father (VIXEN 140NA), then bought an APO
The scope is mounted on an EQ6Rpro

https://www.astrobin.com/users/maze/

This is my astrobin.
Unfortunately I am terribly lazy and i have a backlog to upload / work in PixInsight that is insane

The last two pictures (Cave Nebula and Pelican) are taken with the 130mmm, first two with the Vixen

I have more picture to upload ready to go, when i will be back from the work trip i con post them here

Hello and thanks for sharing. The TS Photoline you have is a nice scope, but it isn't the same as the scopes being discussed. The scope of this thread is regarding the very new line of TS Optics house brand of high strehl fpl55 triplets, the TS CF-APO line: https://www.teleskop...-TS-CF-APO.html

Edited by Cbaxter, 21 June 2022 - 12:13 PM.

[welluca]

Hello and thanks for sharing. The TS Photoline you have is a nice scope, but it isn't the same as the scopes being discussed. The scope of this thread is regarding the very new line of TS Optics house brand of high strehl fpl55 triplets, the TS CF-APO line: https://www.teleskop...-TS-CF-APO.html

Oopsie, you're right!

Have they used always different glasses? At the time i thought the only difference was only the reducer included + test reports

 

I'll check the CF version on astrobin, i am curious since the price difference seems minimal considering the reducer it has

[Cbaxter]

Oopsie, you're right!
Have they used always different glasses? At the time i thought the only difference was only the reducer included + test reports

I'll check the CF version on astrobin, i am curious since the price difference seems minimal considering the reducer it has

The reducers are sold separately for these scopes. However, the reducers are manufactured specifically for these scopes. The TS Photoline has fpl51 (equivalent to fk61/fcd1) while the new TS CF-APO line has fpl55 (equivalent to fcd100/fpl53) and ships with a zygo report. Check out the first post of this thread for pictures and description.

Edited by Cbaxter, 21 June 2022 - 01:24 PM.

[Cbaxter]

In spite of the horrible transparency last night I decided to try some between-the-clouds EAA with this scope and modified Canon RP full frame. Sadly only one image is remotely usable due to clouds that were hard to see were there.

Anyway, I am posting this here since folks have been asking more about this scope and there aren't a lot of user reports out there yet. So, here is one more data point. The star Altair.

TS CF-APO 102mm with matching reducer flattener and Canon RP mounted on an unguided CEM120 mount. I did a quick polar alignment using the built-in iOptron iterative PA routine and frankly had no idea what I was doing with that so just left it and took short 15" x 9 exposures. Slight edge crop of stacking artifacts.

Full resolution: https://telescopius....sm/by-cruiserj

Regards.

Edited by Cbaxter, 21 June 2022 - 06:35 PM.

[liors]

Hi and congrats on the new scope! You will be happy with APS-C performance with the reducer.

Altho my main imaging camera is an IMX571 I did reach out to TS optics about the stars in the corners of my FF Cano RP. They asked for some full res jpg files and pictures of the rig set up so they can make some recommendations. They seem to believe I can get better stars in the corners of FF with the reducer. I'm not optimistic but will follow all of their guidance and see what I get.

Anyways, please update us later with your impressions and hopefully some AP samples. I am sadly in long stretch of bad weather😭

Finally got the CFAPO102 and 0.8x reducer, had a terrible experience with DHL, paid them for express shipment but the service was far from that, anyhow, the first impression is promising when unboxing, the R&P focuser looks great and seemed to be very stable, In TS website  section "in the box" it says that they supply Losmandy style dovetail but I got a Vixen style, I sent them a note about that and TS offered to send me a free Losmandy dovetail, I skipped on this offer and only request them to correct it.

I haven`t yet imaged with this scope because the setup is incomplete, I still need to attach a motor focuser.

Wanted to ask "Cbaxter" is if you installed a motor focuser? If so, what brand did you install?

 

This is what they told me in TS about the installation of a motor focuser:

 

"Please take a look into the attachments. You will probably try it like in the picture, but from the fast speed side i think. I don't really see another option, no matter, if we're talking about the Pegasus or EAF."

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Cbaxter]

Finally got the CFAPO102 and 0.8x reducer, had a terrible experience with DHL, paid them for express shipment but the service was far from that, anyhow, the first impression is promising when unboxing, the R&P focuser looks great and seemed to be very stable, In TS website section "in the box" it says that they supply Losmandy style dovetail but I got a Vixen style, I sent them a note about that and TS offered to send me a free Losmandy dovetail, I skipped on this offer and only request them to correct it.
I haven`t yet imaged with this scope because the setup is incomplete, I still need to attach a motor focuser.
Wanted to ask "Cbaxter" is if you installed a motor focuser? If so, what brand did you install?

This is what they told me in TS about the installation of a motor focuser:

"Please take a look into the attachments. You will probably try it like in the picture, but from the fast speed side i think. I don't really see another option, no matter, if we're talking about the Pegasus or EAF."

Hi,

I have not connected the EAF to this scope yet but I am happy to connect it up in the next day or two and post some pictures. Based on the photos you show above, it looks like it is pretty easy. The red arrows point to where the screws will hold the EAF bracket then the EAF is installed on the bracket, on the single speed (fast) side of the focuser. That is also exactly how it installs on my other scopes as well.

[liors]

Hi,

I have not connected the EAF to this scope yet but I am happy to connect it up in the next day or two and post some pictures. Based on the photos you show above, it looks like it is pretty easy. The red arrows point to where the screws will hold the EAF bracket then the EAF is installed on the bracket, on the single speed (fast) side of the focuser. That is also exactly how it installs on my other scopes as well.

Hi,

 

Once you will connect the EAF bracket and motor can you please take a picture and post it here? I would like to see how you installed it and to follow the way you did.

 

Thanks,

Lior

[Bill Barlow]

What does the "CF" stand for?  It's not carbon fiber?

 

Bill

[raadoo]

What does the "CF" stand for?  It's not carbon fiber?

 

Bill

It stands for Certified - as in they do an inspection and send over a certificate when you get one.

[deepanvishal]

What does the "CF" stand for?  It's not carbon fiber?

 

Bill

My guess - Color Free

[Cbaxter]

Installing the ZWO EAF:

 

 

EAF standard bracket is a bit too short to fit this scope, metal standoffs or a longer bracket are needed to securely install the ZWO EAF. See last image for details.

 

Remove this silver screw grommet to reveal a hole that passes through to the single fast speed knob retention screws:

Edited by Cbaxter, 29 June 2022 - 10:42 PM.

[Cbaxter]

Pass the hex key through the now empty screen hole from the last post. Slowly rotate the single speed side of the focuser to line up one of the two retention screws, remove first screw. Repeat for the second screw:

[Cbaxter]

This is the EAF installed with standard mounting bracket:

As can be seen the bracket is fully extended and it is too short. I will most likely just fabricate a longer bracket out of a piece rigid metal. 

 

 

[liors]

Great, thanks a lot for the pictures and explanation.

 

That`s clearly tells me that the Pegasus motor bracket won`t fit for sure, so will need to go with the EAF..

 

I may consider to go with what TS offer: https://www.teleskop...37-Focuser.html but I may do as you offered.

[900SL]

Great, thanks a lot for the pictures and explanation.

 

That`s clearly tells me that the Pegasus motor bracket won`t fit for sure, so will need to go with the EAF..

 

I may consider to go with what TS offer: https://www.teleskop...37-Focuser.html but I may do as you offered.

That's a ridiculous price for the Wega adaptor. 90 euro for a small piece of printed plastic? I'm in the wrong business

[liors]

This is the EAF installed with standard mounting bracket:

20220629_202520.jpg

As can be seen the bracket is fully extended and it is too short. I will most likely just fabricate a longer bracket out of a piece rigid metal. 

BTW- I was thinking of a way to increase the bracket length and I came up with an idea that might work, the bracket has two plates, one longer that connect to the focuser and the other shorter that connect to the EAF, if we take out the two screws that connects between the two plates and we put spacer ring/s, this will increase the length of the bracket and will allow to connect the farther screw hole, if the current screws are too short we can always find a longer ones.
However, it might be a problem to install the coupling between the motor shaft and focuser shaft.

I think it`s worth to try,

[liors]

That's a ridiculous price for the Wega adaptor. 90 euro for a small piece of printed plastic? I'm in the wrong business

It`s 66.99 for outside German customers, but adding shipping cost and local vat we can reach even more then 90, so you are right about that, it`s expensive.

[900SL]

In spite of the horrible transparency last night I decided to try some between-the-clouds EAA with this scope and modified Canon RP full frame. Sadly only one image is remotely usable due to clouds that were hard to see were there.

Anyway, I am posting this here since folks have been asking more about this scope and there aren't a lot of user reports out there yet. So, here is one more data point. The star Altair.

TS CF-APO 102mm with matching reducer flattener and Canon RP mounted on an unguided CEM120 mount. I did a quick polar alignment using the built-in iOptron iterative PA routine and frankly had no idea what I was doing with that so just left it and took short 15" x 9 exposures. Slight edge crop of stacking artifacts.
picture-5b3c7ca8d9aba545ba91dbb337faa250-fullhd-1633x1080.jpg
Full resolution: https://telescopius....sm/by-cruiserj

Regards.

That looks pretty good for a rough set up. 

[Gazstro]

I've been researching my next refractor after using a TS Photoline 80mm FPL53 triplet with 2.5" R&P Focuser for 4 years now. There are enough stunning images and reports of their TS-Optics CF-APO 102 mm f/7 FPL55 Triplet for me to buy one soon, unless a cheap Tak 102 TSA or 120 goes on sale from some crazy person! 

Just upgraded my mount to a Tak-EM200 so need something to at least start paying its way!

Images to follow

Edited by Gazstro, 07 August 2022 - 03:52 AM.

[F.Meiresonne]

Some unboxing images and initial thoughts on the TS-Optics CF-APO 102 mm f/7 FPL55 Triplet.

 

Outermost of three shipping boxes: Very satisfied with the level of protection and care that went into the shipping packaging.

1.jpg

2.jpg

3.jpg

 

->

Congrats on the scope!

 

Yes TS really packs it well...this week i finaly got rid of those tons of green chips from my last purchase. I had to drive all the way to our 'container park' in my home town to get rid of them...