71 replies to this topic

[rainbow711]

My little Borg 60ED. Easy to handle and with my 27mm Panoptic a dream at dark places.

 

[Dave Novoselsky]

I look forward to sweeping the southern Milky Way with this one.

 

Borg72FL.jpg

 

A 72FL which shares a focuser/tube/case with a 90FL objective. The ability to swap objectives is a treat.

Just had the same mount (Castor) fail on me when the arm that you have your Borg attached to came completely off carrying a Sharpstar 50 triplet. Can’t find any way to reattach it and manufacturer is not responding to my emails. Just a metal cone still attached . No screws etc Adhesive?  Anyone have any ideas?

[Ken J Cunningham]

Could you make that comparison at the same exit pupil size?

So I got a chance to test out your request last night.

Put the 8mm ethos in the Borg 90fl for and exit pupil of 1.42 and the 13mm ethos into the Tak 100DL, for and exit pupil of 1.44. That’s the closest match I could get.

Background darkness was basically the same. The Borg has a bit more field curvature with a bit of softness at the edge of the field but I really have to crank my eye over to the side to see it, which I would never do while observing, so to me it’s a none issue. This could be an advantage of using the ethos on this scope.

The stars were just a touch brighter in the Tak. Was looking at Polaris and mostly noticed the brightness difference in Polaris’ companion. This could be down to a couple of things. Of course there’s the extra 10 mm of aperture on the Tak, but it could also be down to the fact that the diagonal on my Tak is newer then the one on my Borg, which is 14 years old.

Another factor could be the fact that Polaris was over my house so poor seeing from the radiating heat could also be a factor. Both scopes where looking thru that heat but the Borg was looking thru more of it then the Tak. In general I’ve noticed that my Tak 100DL seems to cut thru seeing better than other scopes, so I guess it could just be that.

Either way, the Borg stands up very nicely with the Tak and because if it’s wider field of view, make a really nice complement to it.

Edited by Ken J Cunningham, 18 April 2024 - 12:16 PM.

[desertlens]

Just had the same mount (Castor) fail on me when the arm that you have your Borg attached to came completely off carrying a Sharpstar 50 triplet. Can’t find any way to reattach it and manufacturer is not responding to my emails. Just a metal cone still attached . No screws etc Adhesive?  Anyone have any ideas?

I've never seen the mount dismantled so I can't be sure, but it appears each of the arms are attached with a single end-bolt that passes through the saddle mount arm into the center shaft. It sounds like this shaft is tapered.

Edited by desertlens, 18 April 2024 - 12:48 PM.

[Dave Novoselsky]

Yes, but the bolt is awol so I now need dimensions. M10? Or what and what length?

[desertlens]

Yes, but the bolt is awol so I now need dimensions. M10? Or what and what length?

I don't know. M10 sounds reasonable but length is still a question. I'd take the mount to the hardware store and test my options.

[desertlens]

Dave, The bolt appears to be M10x20mm. I took it apart to check the length. I'm not completely sure of the thread pitch. It's dicey to tell the difference between M10 and 3/8" without a proper thread gauge.

Edited by desertlens, 18 April 2024 - 01:43 PM.

[Dave Novoselsky]

Thanks.  Just tried it, and it IS an M10 and I had one in my spares stash.  Working fine. Still not pleased by Berlebach customer support/response or lack thereof. Quite a contrast to another German high end manufacturer, Baader, who responds quickly and is anxious to assist.

[sctchun]

Been trying to resist getting the 90FL and 55FL, but I really love my 50 Achros (2), 71FL (in both Mini and Series 80 configs) and 107FL (Series 80).

 

As for traveling, I've already done that with my 71FL (for imaging) and 107FL (for the 2017 Solar Eclipse).  Here's a drooling pic of how small the 107FL can pack down.

 

 

Top is the 107FL folded up, then a Meade 80mm F6, finally a 71FL in Mini mode.

 

*Edit* Of course all bets are off if they come out with the 125FL.

Edited by sctchun, 18 April 2024 - 02:01 PM.

[Dave Novoselsky]

Since you have the 107 you just buy the 90 FL objective cell and save a couple hundred.

[sctchun]

Since you have the 107 you just buy the 90 FL objective cell and save a couple hundred.

Been debating that, but for what I'm doing.  I would like to go either wider (55FL) or deeper (125FL - vaporware).

 

*Edit*  The 71FL with the APEX reducer covers a fairly large area with my ASI2600MC (5 x 3 degrees).

Edited by sctchun, 18 April 2024 - 04:59 PM.

[sctchun]

Here's an ok example of my FOV with the 71FL.  I need to work on post-process a lot more:

 

[Dave Novoselsky]

Been debating that, but for what I'm doing.  I would like to go either wider (55FL) or deeper (125FL - vaporware).

 

*Edit*  The 71FL with the APEX reducer covers a fairly large area with my ASI2600MC (5 x 3 degrees).

My understanding is that the 125 is still under development rather than ready for production.

[sctchun]

My understanding is that the 125 is still under development rather than ready for production.

I'm in no hurry.  Gotta save up those pennies.

[Dave Novoselsky]

I'm in no hurry.  Gotta save up those pennies.

Quite a few if I had to guess

[jcj380]

 

 

Been lusting after a 90FL lately, so I thought I'd slap this thread to see if there's anything new / noteworthy going on.  I haven's seen anything in Astro Tech Today, but I've just started digging through content.

 

Trying to decide if I'd be crazy to sell all my other refractors to finance a Borg...

[Highburymark]

Been lusting after a 90FL lately, so I thought I'd slap this thread to see if there's anything new / noteworthy going on. I haven's seen anything in Astro Tech Today, but I've just started digging through content.

Trying to decide if I'd be crazy to sell all my other refractors to finance a Borg...

There’s a new visual version of the 107FL just appeared (still F/5.6) with a 3” FT focuser - particularly aimed at bino-scope fans who might fancy two. I think it looks stunning. The perfect travel refractor, particularly with night vision. But it’s almost £4,000 in the UK.

Edited by Highburymark, 06 March 2025 - 10:36 AM.

[Scott99]

Did you see this?  107FL bino-scope

 

https://www.cloudyni.../#entry14007101

[Bomber Bob]

My 1st & Only BORG -- K10-76AB Achro:

 

 

The cemented objective is OK... I'm thinking about swapping-in a 77ED instead.  I do like the modular body, light-weight, & 4-Slot Turret.

[sctchun]

My 1st & Only BORG -- K10-76AB Achro:

 

BORG K10-76 Delivery S12 - OTA Ready (LS FL).jpg

 

The cemented objective is OK... I'm thinking about swapping-in a 77ED instead.  I do like the modular body, light-weight, & 4-Slot Turret.

Since you already have the Series 80 tubes, you can probably go for a 72FL, 90FL or 107FL objective.

[Bomber Bob]

Since you already have the Series 80 tubes, you can probably go for a 72FL, 90FL or 107FL objective.

True... but the ED versions pop up more often than the FLs (Lens & Cell only).

[Dr Arnheim]

Did you see this?  107FL bino-scope

 

https://www.cloudyni.../#entry14007101

That's me. Up to now I have to say that the Borg 107FL is much better than its reputation. I'm happy to post more and more reports after I had the opportunity to observe more.

[Scott99]

That's me. Up to now I have to say that the Borg 107FL is much better than its reputation. I'm happy to post more and more reports after I had the opportunity to observe more.

Maybe you under-estimated the reputation?    As far as I know, the lenses are made by the same people as Tak, just shorter focus.

[Dr Arnheim]

Maybe you under-estimated the reputation?    As far as I know, the lenses are made by the same people as Tak, just shorter focus.

Yes Canon Optron produces them for both brands. Before I bought the double refractor I read EVERY single post on the entire web that I could find on the 107FL and a lot of people claimed that they show horrible color on planets, moon and brighter stars. I can go up to 171x and see color on Sirius and Rigel only and only a little bit more than my AT92mm triplet + mirror diagonal produces. So far I must say it is a non issue taking into account that you will even see color on these stars with a newton telescope since eyepieces and atmosphere are producing color as well. Other than that the Borgs have a better build quality than the Taks I have seen before (okay I have feather touch focusers but also the tubes and dew shields are build like a tank without any mechanical play). And the Borgs generate tons of sharp, contrasty details : )

Edited by Dr Arnheim, 13 March 2025 - 12:55 PM.

[jangoloti]

Hello everybody

I am getting into astrophotography and I am an admirer of Japanese optics. I have quite a lot of Nikon lenses (close to 30) and I would like to buy a Borg, but I get confused with the modularity of the Borg system. I know there are diagrams but is there any place I can read a bit more about the different choices? 

Regards

JA

Edited by jangoloti, 28 March 2025 - 03:54 PM.