9 replies to this topic

[jcricket]

Hey Folks, I recently acquired this telescope. It will see first light tonight. 

Here is what I can tell you. It is a 60 x 540. Made in Japan. The label looks like a vixen label. There is no brand name on the telescope. 

One picture shows the trade mark stamp in the lower left corner. 

 

The finder was missing when I got this. I installed the red dot finder. I think the visual back was most likely a .965. 

 

So anyone seen this critter before? Does anyone have any definitive info on it? I did search the threads and cound the one that listed all of the trademarks for the japan made refractors. I did not see this in that thread.

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[Bomber Bob]

It's a D-K (Dai'Ichi Kogaku), made in Japan.

[jcricket]

Thank you. I did a search with that additional info. I also had a chance to poke this at the moon and jupiter last night. 

It is a decent scope - decent optics. CA was present.  With a 12.5 ortho(43x) the image was still sharp and clean. Contrast was pretty poor, but I attribute that to it being essentially a full moon and the Denver light dome..  I'll try again in a few weeks, maybe I'll take it out of town a bit and see if it does any better.

 

This is a super light grab and go scope. 

[Bomber Bob]

Looking at the mount, I'd guess yours is an early 1990s model.  D-K copied the 1970s TOWA EQ mounts, stretched / lengthened the Polar Axis, and narrowed the axis housings / castings.  I think this gives more finger room for adding an optional drive system -- gets really tight on my MIZAR EQs!

[jcricket]

I already had the mount, the did not come together. It is why I bought such a small scope. They make a great combination. Now to see if I can find a drive for the mount. 

[Terra Nova]

It’s a cute little bug!

[jcricket]

I finally got a chance to get it out and test it. I used a stop sign about 350 yards away. I started with a tv 25plossl, about 21 power. Image was good. I jumped up to about 42x with an ortho eyepiece. Not so good. Added an ultima barlow, image was CXXP. This is a pig of a scope. Maybe good for a kid to look at the moon at the 44x, and that would be pushing it. 

I do not recommend this scope.

[photiost]

Hope nobody played with the objective -

 

Some folks take it apart for cleaning and then mistakenly flip one of the elements during assembly.

[jcricket]

I tried to open the objective. It is not moving. The cell is frozen. Sadly, this telescope, has seen its last light. I salvaged the focuser and finder. The rest went into the recylce bin. I believe I have only seen on achromat in my life that was worse than this one.

[deSitter]

I tried to open the objective. It is not moving. The cell is frozen. Sadly, this telescope, has seen its last light. I salvaged the focuser and finder. The rest went into the recylce bin. I believe I have only seen on achromat in my life that was worse than this one.

Oh that's a shame - but the tube and focuser might accept a decent objective. So maybe offer it on "Free.." thread?

 

-drl