13 replies to this topic

[dodi]

Hi,

 

Quick question... I have a Nikon 80mm f/15 on its way to me, but without tube rings or cradle. Anyone would know the tube diameter of this Nikon so I could start looking for tube rings?

Thank you

 

D

[starman876]

Hi,

 

Quick question... I have a Nikon 80mm f/15 on its way to me, but without tube rings or cradle. Anyone would know the tube diameter of this Nikon so I could start looking for tube rings?

Thank you

 

D

I could measure the mount and let you know.

[dodi]

That would be very helpful indeed!

 

D

I could measure the mount and let you know.

[starman876]

looks like 3 3/4" or around 95mm

[Richard Low]

Hi, I just recently bought a Nikon 80/1200 and just had "first light" tonight. I did a quick measurement twice and the OTA tube OD is around 98.6mm, based on its circumference I measured at about 310mm.

 

Edit: I just measured the tube rings at 100mm ID.

 

Currently I'm trying to find a adapter to convert this scope to M42 thread or 1.25" holder. 

Edited by Richard Low, 08 January 2025 - 11:29 AM.

[starman876]

Hi, I just recently bought a Nikon 80/1200 and just had "first light" tonight. I did a quick measurement twice and the OTA tube OD is around 98.6mm, based on its circumference I measured at about 310mm.

 

Edit: I just measured the tube rings at 100mm ID.

 

Currently I'm trying to find a adapter to convert this scope to M42 thread or 1.25" holder. 

That could be correct. I just measured the inside of the cradle.   I did not get the OTA out of the box.

[dodi]

Thank you all! Started looking for rings now... And it seems I will also need to find an adapter if I want to use modern eyepieces with it. Anyone know which thread the focuser has for an adapter?

Dodi

[Richard Low]

Thank you all! Started looking for rings now... And it seems I will also need to find an adapter if I want to use modern eyepieces with it. Anyone know which thread the focuser has for an adapter?

Dodi

The Nikon 80/1200 focuser drawtube opening has a 43mm I.D. to receive the Nikon 0.965 inch diagonal with a M43 O.D. slip-fit tube which inserts into the drawtube 43mm opening and can be locked in place by a single screw on the drawtube side. 

[Kitfox]

Thank you all! Started looking for rings now... And it seems I will also need to find an adapter if I want to use modern eyepieces with it. Anyone know which thread the focuser has for an adapter?

Dodi

 

Are any of the Nikon 0.965" eyepieces included in your purchase?  For planetary, lunar and double star use, you really won't make any improvement going to modern 1.25" eyepieces; even the early Nikon orthos are legendary, and the eye relief is not as bad as some claim.  I can use them with my small-frame glasses, even.

[Richard Low]

My Nikon 80/1200 came with 3nos. Nikon 0.965 inch orthos in 25mm, 12.5mm and 7mm. These eyepieces are optically good, but the eye lens are rather small, with ergonomic implication. Last night was my first light with this scope, and a friend lend a M43 to 1.25 inch "temporary" adapter that allowed us to use a TOE 2.5mm giving 480x which we observed sharp high-contrast images of Moon craters. So although I've bought a 0.965 inch Hi-Or 2.8mm, I would still want to get a 1.25 inch or T2 adaptor

 

 

We compared (left to right) the Nikon 80mm f/15 vs Vixen FL80S f/8 fluorite doublet apo vs Vixen Custom 80mm f/11.3 achromat. The Nikon 80 performed exceedingly well and quite similar to the FL80S high performance while the Custom 80 images was more yellow and quite sharp but CA is clearly evident on the Moon crater rims at 364x.

Edited by Richard Low, 09 January 2025 - 11:56 AM.

[starman876]

The 80mm nikon is a fine scope but, j am going to put mine up for sale complete with mount

[PawPaw]

Hi,

 

Quick question... I have a Nikon 80mm f/15 on its way to me, but without tube rings or cradle. Anyone would know the tube diameter of this Nikon so I could start looking for tube rings?

Thank you

 

D

Congrats on the 8cm Nikon!  Looking forward to seeing some pics when you receive it.

 

I own one from 1971 and in my opinion it is a remarkable  8cm refractor.   Nikon did not advertise it as a Semi-Apo but research has shown it is.  Even one of Nikons competitors at the time,  Takahashi,  annotated in one of their advertisements that Nikon 8cm (circa 1970's) was a Semi-Apo.  You may find this thread interesting:  https://www.cloudyni...n#entry13215108

Specifically look at post # 52. 

 

 As for a 1.25" adapter I came up with a simple remedy.  Using the 1.25 to 2" adapter from a Svbony laser collimator I found the ID of the 2" adapter fit loosely over the 43mm Nikon tube.  I simply added some painters tape to the Nikon tube for a good fit.  A few pics:

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[Richard Low]

Hi PawPaw, thank you for your invaluable feedback. 

 

Incidentally I have the Takahashi TS-65S f/15.3 triplet (made in 1971) which is labelled as semi-apochromat. It gave sharp high-contrast view of the Moon at 500x without any apparent CA. It has so much better CA control than those WO Megrez 80mm semi-apo from the early 2000s.

 

This Nikon 80mm f/15 doublet performed just as well at 480x, seems comparable with the Vixen FL80S fluorite doublet which a buddy and I viewed side by side. Seller of the Nikon 80/1200 thought it's a standard f/15 achromat with CA but he didn't actually observe through it at the night sky for the last 5 years before it was sold to me.

 

Semi-apo or not, both scopes are keepers for me.

Edited by Richard Low, 11 January 2025 - 08:29 AM.

[galakuma]

　I made an M42(T2) adapter for Nikon.

It is made with a short neck and focuses with a 2” diagonal mirror.
Many adapter rings exist from M42.
I made many of them and they are sold in stores.

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Edited by galakuma, 22 January 2025 - 08:59 AM.