104 replies to this topic

[JonH]

Both portable but only the one in front is grab and go the other one is more grab and grunt. The baby Q is sitting on a repurposed Polarex spotting scope mount.

 

Clear skies

 

Jon

 

Edited by JonH, 02 June 2022 - 10:28 PM.

[deSitter]

Some time ago I renovated the same Towa 60/700 mm model. I did not have high hopes for it, it drew my attention rather with the "vintage" color of the tube. But it turned out to be one of my best optically "classics". It gives an razor sharp images - clear, full of contrast and color, but almost free of chromatic aberration, even though it is not the F / 15. I estimate that it is optically of the same class as the recently renovated Royal Astro R-63 60/700 mm.

 

I will not call it "grab and go" as the tripod is quite troublesome to transport and cannot be folded up quickly. The stability of the mount also leaves much to be desired, even though my variant has an additional slow motions knob. But optically it is an excellent instrument (and yes - it's Towa :-) !

I had one of these I bought for the legs, then the scope turned out so well that I kept it together - and ended up selling to my friends! It sits in their mountain lake home. A proud place for a scope that was $22 of junk on Ebay. Excellent optics and the mount was very serviceable. One of my favorite ever formats, a true grab and go - and I really need another one! My current GG is my ETX90 with portable tripod. It's too fussy really for that role.

 

-drl

[Bomber Bob]

To be considered Grab and Go it should be:
1. Reasonably light weight and portable. No Cave 16 inch Newtonians, please!
2. Offer good performance with some detail for planetary, lunar and double star observing.
3. Quick and easy. One or two trips out the door to be ready for observing. No complicated extra pieces to assemble.

 

Okay Dave, if I got backed into a corner, and had to choose Just One of my scopes as my Grab & Go, I'd have to choose...

 

Mizar Comet, 100mm F8 Newtonian on its original lighter version of the Mizar SP EQ.  It would edge out both my FC-76 & GT-80S.  The Comet goes a bit deeper, its rig is a bit lighter, and it has 0% CA / False Color.  With 1.25" accessories, it has decent wide-field views; and, with my spectros & CZJ .965" eyepieces, stays sharp at up to 300x on double-stars, and 240x on lunar / planetary (75x & 60x per inch, respectively).  The only improvements would be a Lambda (1/20th wave) version; and, for high-power, a dual-speed focuser.

[CharlieB]

Here's mine.  Meets all of the listed criteria and then some.  It was a toss-up between this Unitron 105 and my 50mm Nippon Kogaku, but the Unitron is much lighter and easier to move and set up.  Both have superb optics.  I like the Unitron alt-az mount better than the NK eq.

 

 

 

Charlie

[apfever]

Read THIS ad, current ad as of this posting.

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Edited by apfever, 03 June 2022 - 05:16 PM.

[deSitter]

Here's mine.  Meets all of the listed criteria and then some.  It was a toss-up between this Unitron 105 and my 50mm Nippon Kogaku, but the Unitron is much lighter and easier to move and set up.  Both have superb optics.  I like the Unitron alt-az mount better than the NK eq.

 

105-1.JPG

 

105 inside.jpg

 

Charlie

That is some test!  

 

-drl

[RichA]

A lot of these conventionally could not be considered "grab 'n go."  But if you structure the way they are handled, a lot of scopes can be made "grab 'n go."  I had a flat-top permanent aluminum tripod made up allowing me to drop a 1978 C8 on top of it at any time.  That qualified as grab 'n go, as far as my backyard, anyway.

[CharlieB]

That is some test!

 

-drl

It's even quite good in blue light.

 

Charlie

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[Garyth64]

Here's one of my grab and go scopes.  Although it not officially  a classic, it has almost all classic parts.  (franken-classic?)

It has a Shrine Manon 60mm x 700mm lens in an ATCO lens cell; a Merdian 1-1/4" focuser; homemade finder brackets; an orphaned 8x40mm RAO finder from a 6339a; a Tasco 7TE-2 mount with a clock drive; homemade wood tripod.  It all gets stored in a 6333 wood box that has been reworked compartments.

 

 

(If this doesn't truely qualify, let me know, and I will delete it and post another. NP  )

 

For me, this is a great setup.  The Manon lens is excellent.  The mount is stable and smooth.  The CD tracks pretty good too.  It's easy to carry around the yard to dodge trees.  It's fun to use for those quick views.

Since these pictures, I painted the tube gloss black.  I like it better being bare aluminum.

Edited by Garyth64, 04 June 2022 - 09:10 PM.

[Astrosetz]

My venerable Celestron C5+ has its own place in the corner of my study, ready to be carried outside in one piece to my backyard deck. I have the tripod for it in the garage, but when using it on the deck, I just set it down on one of my low tables. Perfect for observing the Moon and planets while sitting in a chair. 

 

[Drainpipeviewer]

My classic grab and go telescopes (from small to lager aperture, right to left): Vixen Orion Mini 60S (60mm f/5), Vixen Halley Multi 80S (80mm f/5), Edmund Astroscan (102mm f/4), Celestron Comet Catcher (140mm f/3.6). I can't decide which I like the most. They are easy to set up and provide nice low power wide field views. 

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Edited by Drainpipeviewer, 06 June 2022 - 09:39 AM.

[Terra Nova]

 

My venerable Celestron C5+ has its own place in the corner of my study, ready to be carried outside in one piece to my backyard deck. I have the tripod for it in the garage, but when using it on the deck, I just set it down on one of my low tables. Perfect for observing the Moon and planets while sitting in a chair. 

 

I always thought those single arm white C5+ scopes were cool. I’ve always heard they had excellent optics.

[mfalls]

1967 Questar Field Model on a Manon 600 camera tripod in equatorial mode (learned from Chuck Hards post). Not the greatest grab and go in terms of versatility but lightweight and compact.

 

[jgraham]

From last night...

 

 

...my Unitron 114 60mm f/15 taking a peek at the moon.

 

 

[deSitter]

Mods - can we have a global "Like" button? "Like every post in this topic"?

 

-drl

[deSitter]

From last night...

 

Unitron 114 (6-5-2022)-3.jpg

 

...my Unitron 114 60mm f/15 taking a peek at the moon.

 

Speaking of "peaks" at the Moon - on Saturday my Meade 127ED just outdid itself on Theophilus and vicinity. The central peak was showing and the entire crater floor was dark. Then another peak showed up - then another, and another - each starting as tiny pinpricks of perfectly focused, colorless light. It was magic!

 

-drl

[deSitter]

From last night...

 

Unitron 114 (6-5-2022)-3.jpg

 

...my Unitron 114 60mm f/15 taking a peek at the moon.

 

That is just a beautiful scope - like Veronica Lake! Serious legs and serious eyes!

 

-drl

[Matty S]

Out of all the little scopes I have I gotta give the edge to the venerable Pentax J60. It's light, stable, simple to setup and use, and has sharp optics.

Perfect scope to use on our new deck this summer; well that one and my new Pentax PF-100ed.

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Edited by Matty S, 07 June 2022 - 02:26 PM.

[Defenderslideguitar]

Took this 1992 FC 76 on short trip to a farm 10 miles north    quick and easy

but even on my patio  it is simply quality optics in a sweet  Grab and Go 

easy peasy on the twilight which is always set up in the garage   the FC 76 pops on in a flash

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Edited by Defenderslideguitar, 07 June 2022 - 09:12 PM.

[Matty S]

Took this 1992 FC 76 on short trip to a farm 10 miles north    quick and easy

but even on my patio  it is simply quality optics in a sweet  Grab and Go 

easy peasy on the twilight which is always set up in the garage   the FC 76 pops on in a flash

I love my 76 Tak! I would've chosen my 76 (such a sublime scope) but it's new.

As you said, easy-peasy on a Twilight or Porta.

I think you and Terra have the same vintage? Different lens setup than the new ones.

[CHASLX200]

1994  GP-C102 another two trip grab and go. Can't be any sharper.  Scope sat unused for 20+ years.

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[Astrosetz]

I always thought those single arm white C5+ scopes were cool. I’ve always heard they had excellent optics.

I really love mine! It’s super-compact, and the optics are very good. One 9V battery lasts for a few seasons of use, as well.

 

One thing that did surprise me was how heavy this rig is — the base is solid metal (not sure what kind) and when I first picked it up it was a little shocking. But it’s very stable and, like I said, the whole unit is really compact. Perfect for the back deck, and simple astronomy outreach where the Moon and planets are the main subjects.

[Terra Nova]

I love my 76 Tak! I would've chosen my 76 (such a sublime scope) but it's new.

As you said, easy-peasy on a Twilight or Porta.

I think you and Terra have the same vintage? Different lens setup than the new ones.

My 1997 FC-76:

 

(This photo was taken while setting up for viewing the most recent transit of Mercury the morning of November 11, 2019.)

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Edited by Terra Nova, 09 June 2022 - 09:05 AM.

[Bomber Bob]

Another Pedestal EQ Fan -- Cool Beans!

 

(I'm thinking about putting my Tak Sky Cancer EQ on a shortish pedestal -- after I get a Big AZ for my Filotecnica tripod.)

[HagglePig420]

a couple of my favorite old grab and go scopes.  actually,  it was Dave's classic scope YouTube videos that got me interested in seeking out classic scopes,  particularly that c80 and Polaris mount,  Thanks Dave,  i spend all my money on telescopes now 👍😄

Edited by HagglePig420, 08 June 2022 - 10:34 PM.