1227 replies to this topic

[Bowlerhat]

I keep some 60mm f15 on the library. Few weeks ago we had some guests coming over and they were curious. Grabbed one in one hand, pop the eyepiece box, and 2 minutes later we were in the yard. That's some people who never seen the moon through a scope, chatting their excitement about holes on the moon through the tiny scope.

 

One more reason to love my 60mms.

[25585]

I have two 4" scopes that are small-enough; a TV Genesis and my Tak FC100DL. The former is short, the latter light. Both can be used together on my mounts, and each has its own specialisation, TV for wide fieds and sweeping, Tak for CA free high mags and better resolution, also I can use longer FL eyepieces with it. Of course each is great on its own too.

[MarkMittlesteadt]

I too am a big fan of the Evostar 72. Sold one a few years ago and have been missing it ever since. Got its somewhat big brother, sister?, the Evolux 82ed, which I like very much and will keep (a little better reach, a bit more light, longer focuser travel for 2" low-power, wide field eyepieces). But of all of the telescopes I've owned over the years, 20+, the Evostar 72 stands out as a top performer for quality/price/size. It's a scope that allows me to quit thinking about how it's performing, and confidently instead start zeroing in on what I'm observing, knowing that, within its range, the scope will deliver very pleasing views.

 

The recent conjunction a few years ago of Jupiter and Saturn, both in the same field of view with the 72, in ink black skies, stands out in my memory. A wonderful tool. I would not be surprised if I wind up with another one.

That's one of those things that I love about small, quality refractors; Everything works perfectly together, immediately. No cooldown time, smooth, easy and sharp focusing, and clean, clear views. It's just always at the ready. Small enough to leave a 2" diagonal on it with a retractable dew shield, and still be able to store it easily in a small case/bag/backpack, or even just leave it mounted.

 

And, as you said, once viewing through it, it just gets out of its own way. There is no fussing over focus slop or mirror shift, collimation (for the most part), dew, etc.

[MarkMittlesteadt]

I keep some 60mm f15 on the library. Few weeks ago we had some guests coming over and they were curious. Grabbed one in one hand, pop the eyepiece box, and 2 minutes later we were in the yard. That's some people who never seen the moon through a scope, chatting their excitement about holes on the moon through the tiny scope.

 

One more reason to love my 60mms.

I love sharing the view with others. I often take my lightweight grab'n'go setup almost anytime we go somewhere when I know were going to be there for a while, into nightfall, or the Moon is out. Or if friends come to my house. No big hassle setting anything up, so I can be spontaneous. 

Edited by MarkMittlesteadt, 23 November 2022 - 10:04 AM.

[desertlens]

On those nights when motivation is low or time is constrained, a "casual" approach can offer some inducement to observe.

 

[Sketcher]

Little Red Riding Scope has brought me much joy 

 

 

This (old ST-80) is my "big" small telescope.  It has shown all the Messier objects (and many other celestial beauties), quite easily I might add.  Some have been spectacularly beautiful, others not so spectacular, but still beautiful in their own ways.  It's revealed the rings the Saturn, Cassini's Division, the belts, zones, and Great Red Spot of Jupiter, countless craters, mountains, etc. on the Moon, and much, much more -- including a total solar eclipse. 

 

To some, such a telescope is little more than a wide-field finder.  To others (me for one), it's a great, highly portable, highly capable, all-round, do anything and everything, telescope.  The capabilities of a small refractor are limited only (or mostly anyway) by the person behind the eyepiece.

[kmparsons]

Over the years, the scope I have probably used the most is my SV 80mm triplet. Compact size, excellent optics, absolute stability on an alt-az tripod, and quick to set up and take down. It is excellent on DSO's, the Moon, and, with a TV 3-6mm zoom EP, it even gives satisfying planetary views. When I am using it, I never pine for more aperture. I just relax and enjoy the view. And what a view! The objects you can see, especially from a dark-sky site, are enough for a lifetime of observing pleasure. 

[desertlens]

Over the years, the scope I have probably used the most is my SV 80mm triplet. Compact size, excellent optics, absolute stability on an alt-az tripod, and quick to set up and take down. It is excellent on DSO's, the Moon, and, with a TV 3-6mm zoom EP, it even gives satisfying planetary views. When I am using it, I never pine for more aperture. I just relax and enjoy the view. And what a view! The objects you can see, especially from a dark-sky site, are enough for a lifetime of observing pleasure. 

I resemble these remarks... all of them.

 

[jimandlaura26]

The joy of a small refractor has a companion attitude in simplification and quality of the entire experience. For example (1) use of Baader BCO Othoscopics mounted on their turret, and (2) a good mount (AZGTi) on top of a compact, light weight, stiff tripod (Leofoto LS-365CEX with leveling base and cell phone holder - for Sky Safari).

 

Happy Thanksgiving & Clear Skies!

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Edited by jimandlaura26, 24 November 2022 - 10:15 AM.

[Jon Isaacs]

Bigger than your "little" guy, I just picked up a used 100 f/5.  I think it is the "biggest" little scope I can put on my TW1, and AZ-GTI.  It should have around 4.5 degrees TFOV with a two inch eyepiece

 

I've had a couple of these. I actually have one now but my nephew's had it for a couple of years. I think of them as the ST-80s big brother. 

 

It'll do 4.2° with your 30 mm UFF, 4.6° with the 32 mm Q70 and about 5.3° with a 40 mm SWA.

 

I'm a sucker for small fast achromats.. They're inexpensive/cheap and they do the low power, wide field stuff just fine..  They are good beginners scopes because they combine the low power wide field abilities of binoculars with the ability to be used at higher magnifications. I buy them cheap.. eventually give them away..

 

 

I'm also a sucker for 80 mm F/11 achromats. I once owned seven of them. They're a different balance than the ST-80s, narrower field but better at planetary double star. Install a 2 inch focuser and you've got a scope that'll do 2.9° that looks quite sharp with an eyepiece like the 38 mm Q70 while providing quite decent planetary views.

 

 

Jon

[mikemarotta]

Meade 70 millimeter refractor. When not on an Orion mount or an Explore Twilight I, it has ridden on a Celestron AVX. I logged a list of Messier objects on that arrangement.

 

 

It is not so much the telescope, though a good instrument is important, as knowing and understanding what you are looking at.

 

Thanks,

Mike M.

Edited by mikemarotta, 24 November 2022 - 01:20 PM.

[kwyjibo]

My AT70ED on my newly acquired AZ-GTiX mount with a 90mm Orion Mak.

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[thecelloronin]

The joy of a small refractor has a companion attitude in simplification and quality of the entire experience. For example (1) use of Baader BCO Othoscopics mounted on their turret, and (2) a good mount (AZGTi) on top of a compact, light weight, stiff tripod (Leofoto LS-365CEX with leveling base and cell phone holder - for Sky Safari).

 

Happy Thanksgiving & Clear Skies!

I like that cell phone holder, do you have a link?

[BlueTrane2028]

I've got a few "small" refractors.

f/5 achros in 80, 102 and 120mm apertures, plus my favorite small refractor, my AT102ED.

I'm not going to keep all of the plain achros, only the 120 is really likely to stay.  To go smaller than the AT102ED, I have an eye on the 80mm version.  The 102ED doesn't feel right on my Porta, I think the 80 would be better and get me back some field of view.

Of course, my most recent observing has been with my 12" Dob...  Very much the opposite of those...

Just depends on the night, the time I have and how much setup I feel like doing.

[jimandlaura26]

I like that cell phone holder, do you have a link?

[jimandlaura26]

If you go to the Leofoto website look under accessories for Magic Arms and Cell Phone holders.

[ChuppsterXLM]

I've been enjoying the mighty Tele Vue Ranger. As a "Grab-n-Go" I mount it on a TelePod Alt-Az and as "Travel scope" I mount it on a UA DwarfStar mount. Sometimes I like to grab the mighty ST80 as well.

 

[MarkMittlesteadt]

My AT70ED on my newly acquired AZ-GTiX mount with a 90mm Orion Mak.

I converted my AZ-GTi to an "X" version (before they were even produced)...I love dual mounting my little refractors (especially for group viewing).

 

[wykbbb]

My AT70ED on my newly acquired AZ-GTiX mount with a 90mm Orion Mak.

Will you be giving a short review of the AZ-GTiX? There is a  thread  in the mount forum with a couple of people interested in the mount.

[alnitak22]

Here is my favorite small but mighty refractor, FC-50 made in 1992.

I am hoping to bag Trapezium A-F this winter.

 

 

 

Tammy

Bagging the F star in the Trap would be quite a feat for 50mm!  Smallest report I’ve seen accomplishing this is a 55mm Vixen fluorite.

[alnitak22]

I've been enjoying the mighty Tele Vue Ranger. As a "Grab-n-Go" I mount it on a TelePod Alt-Az and as "Travel scope" I mount it on a UA DwarfStar mount. Sometimes I like to grab the mighty ST80 as well.

 

Yep…fun and capable little scope. Have had one since 1998. 

[Chris K]

Such a great thread.

In addition to the small refractor, I've moved to the small eyepiece too.

I've changed over to only 1.25" eyepieces. The big, heavy TV eyepieces were spending too much time their cases. I like to keep the axes of my alt-az mounts balanced and on the loose side. Adding and removing the hand grenades weren't my thing anymore.

 

I keep my AT60ED by the door mounted with a kit of 3 plossls and a 2.5x powermate. So fun.

With an AT102EDL on the way, I'm not sure what'll be come of my 6" achromat... NOT a small refractor.

[kwyjibo]

Will you be giving a short review of the AZ-GTiX? There is a  thread  in the mount forum with a couple of people interested in the mount.

I will after I've had some more time with it. I just received it Wednesday and I've only been able to use it once so far.

[Bowlerhat]

I love sharing the view with others. I often take my lightweight grab'n'go setup almost anytime we go somewhere when I know were going to be there for a while, into nightfall, or the Moon is out. Or if friends come to my house. No big hassle setting anything up, so I can be spontaneous. 

They're not even kids! 60mms are easy to pack, fits into a bag with photo tripod too.so both wins for a vacation. I can use the tripod for camera and the scope, and mine can be detached as a lightweight walking stick. Two, three birds in one bag.

 

[rerun]

My lovely little FOA60 , ready in a minute, gives me fun for hours. Sometimes I forgot that it is only 60mm refractor , the views are so good. It is always with me on vacation. But also had a lot of time with it at home. I did a lot of solar observations with my FOA60.