87 replies to this topic

[BRCoz]

So did you get the tracking number yet?   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know you want that scope.

[Mcloud]

So did you get the tracking number yet?



Oddly no I didn't but Im keeping the faith, even though Drs have given me very little time to live due to acute tonsillitis...
☠️ 🪦






You know you want that scope.

[Heywood]

 

 

Oddly no I didn't but Im keeping the faith, even though Drs have given me very little time to live due to acute tonsillitis...
☠
 

 

 

 

 

I'm overwhelmed with emotion!!!

[Mcloud]

I'm overwhelmed with emotion!!!

That's very kind of you sir. Call me a villain but I know of no disease or circumstance that would make me part with the big Tak!

[Ben Diss]

So, I think y'all are failing at the prescibed task. I have about 10 tabs open now looking at various purchase options.

[dweller25]

So, I think y'all are failing at the prescibed task. I have about 10 tabs open now looking at various purchase options.

10 open tabs is a good start, but it’s your wallet that needs to be open 

Edited by dweller25, 18 March 2025 - 12:42 PM.

[dryfly]

So, I think y'all are failing at the prescibed task. I have about 10 tabs open now looking at various purchase options.

By our lights we are doing a bang up job. 

Mike

[f430]

Do it! Do it! Do it!   

Don't wait for that nasty 'Doubt' to creep into your mind!

John

[Mike Q]

I have used a TOA 150 and yep it is one heck of an insanely good frac.  But i dont think i could bring myself to buying one when there is a Astro Tech 150 which will get you 90 percent of the way there at a fraction of the price.  I am kinda in the same boat as you, i can afford a fully decked out 22 inch Obsession, but there is no way i can talk myself into it 

[Kitfox]

I'll jump on the bus.  My list of 6" scopes:

 

Explore Scientific Carbon Fiber 152ED  (Best Value, surprisingly good, fairly lightweight triplet)

 

Astro-Physics 155 f/9. (Planetary and Double Star dream scope, hard to find, expensive)

 

Tak TOA 150  (Best all-around, heavy, expensive and just beautiful.  It is good at everything. Did I repeat that?  There's a reason I did )

 

1986 Tak FCT150  (The scope I'll be buried with; no flood will ever wash my casket away, significant amounts of lead used in the OTA structure )

 

1994 Tak FCT150  (My original dream scope, supplanted by the '86 version, very heavy)

 

Borg ED150  (Good optically, VERY light weight.   VERY hard to find, second only to the FCTs in rarity)

 

 

Should you buy a TOA150?  Only you can decide.  I would (did)!

 

 

Edited by Kitfox, 18 March 2025 - 05:01 PM.

[CHASLX200]

I'll jump on the bus.  My list of 6" scopes:

 

Explore Scientific Carbon Fiber 152ED  (Best Value, surprisingly good, fairly lightweight triplet)

 

Astro-Physics 155 f/9. (Planetary and Double Star dream scope, hard to find, expensive)

 

Tak TOA 150  (Best all-around, heavy, expensive and just beautiful.  It is good at everything. Did I repeat that?  There's a reason I did )

 

1986 Tak FCT150  (The scope I'll be buried with; no flood will ever wash my casket away, significant amounts of lead used in the OTA structure )

 

1994 Tak FCT150  (My original dream scope, supplanted by the '86 version, very heavy)

 

Borg ED150  (Good optically, VERY light weight.   VERY hard to find, second only to the FCTs in rarity)

 

 

Should you buy a TOA150?  Only you can decide.  I would (did)!

 

 

IMG_0229.jpeg

I kept seeing that casket flipping and flooping down that mud slide on the news over and over after that cane did that damage in NC i think.

[Heywood]

I have used a TOA 150 and yep it is one heck of an insanely good frac.  But i dont think i could bring myself to buying one when there is a Astro Tech 150 which will get you 90 percent of the way there at a fraction of the price.  I am kinda in the same boat as you, i can afford a fully decked out 22 inch Obsession, but there is no way i can talk myself into it 

 

Which AT150 are you referring to?  The EDT or the EDL?  And does it get one only 90% of the way there?

[Mike Q]

Which AT150 are you referring to?  The EDT or the EDL?  And does it get one only 90% of the way there?

For me, i would opt for the EDL, as i am visual only.  As to how close will it get you, it could be 90 percent, it could be 95 percent.  I really dont know.  I will say I have had my little AT 102EDL next to the Tak 150 and sure the Tak won that fight with ease, was it multiple thousands of dollars better?  Not in my book, but it is to each their own.

[PIEJr]

So, I think y'all are failing at the prescibed task. I have about 10 tabs open now looking at various purchase options.

Nope/ Not allowed. You are going off topic.

 

Poop or get off the pot. 

[Travellingbears]

Within limited space of my 8x8 ROR I couldn’t ’swing’ length of TOA-150 (4” too long) so TOA-130NS was my ‘winner’. I did recently move my TOA-130NS from backyard ROR (multiple OTA scenario on ME-II/OAE) to be dedicated scope on my outside permanent pier (GM1000 mount). So TOA is now living under Telegizmo365.  Imaging is great using 0.99x 645 flattener and QHY600 and no issues with load on my GM1000. On permanent pier you’d have stability to trust Mach 2 with either TOA. 
 

Good luck with your decision.

 

Dave 

[Ben Diss]

Nope/ Not allowed. You are going off topic.

 

Poop or get off the pot. 

LOL. Poop complete. Tracking number inbound.

 

Quite a process to figure out spacing for everything to ensure correct adapters are ordered..

[f430]

       

[dryfly]

LOL. Poop complete. Tracking number inbound.

 

Quite a process to figure out spacing for everything to ensure correct adapters are ordered..

Congratulations!

 

Mike

[25585]

Congrats on your expensive new camera lens. 

[alejandrocarelli]

Talk me off a cliff please.

 

I have jumped feet first into the deep end. I had a chance to pick up a Mach2 after passing on my place in line early last year. The mount arrived, I've figured out how to use it and have been imaging with my Edge 11". All is well, but I'd really like to have a wide field refractor for different targets.

 

I'm at a point in life where I don't mind dropping what just a few years ago would seem like insane amounts of money into this hobby. I figure these things are durable goods, capital assets that depreciate slowly, especially when purchased used. I'm young enough to use them for hopefully 10-15 years before I age out of the heavy equipment.

 

Having said all this, I've fallen in  love with the TOA-130/TOA-150 refractors even though I've never seen one, looked through one, or imaged with one. I figure if I'm going to get one, why not get the big one. I have a rig that doesn't get broke down every night. I roll it out to the driveway from the garage and roll it back in the next morning, so the weight and complexity of setup isn't a concern.

 

So, tell me why I'm crazy to think I should get a big, heavy Takahashi refractor for imaging in bortle 6 skies.

 

Thanks, and I look forward to comments.

 

-Ben

You will love the TOA-150. I owned one for over 13 years! 
 

Life is too short to pass on such an opportunity.

 

When I bought mine the TOA-150 was $12300 USA. It is currently new just over $15000. Should you decide to sell it or if someone else in your family does once you are not around, you or them will get back what you currently paid for it. 

 

The cost of such instruments keeps increasing over time, inflation, etc.

 

In the next 10-15 years most likely a new TOA-150 if still made will cost way north of 15k USA. So should be an easy sale as pre-owned for 15k USA, if it doesn’t get discontinued along the way and becomes a rarity and then commands top dollar.

 

It will be a win - win as a beautiful experience with very little to nothing to loose financially. 

 

[Phil Jones]

Get the TOA-130 now. In a few years when I decided to part with the TOA-150, we'll make a trade (and some cash).

[Kitfox]

LOL. Poop complete. Tracking number inbound.

 

Quite a process to figure out spacing for everything to ensure correct adapters are ordered..

When does it arrive?  
 

I understand the diligence in getting spacers right, but PLEASE put eyepieces in that amazing focuser as well. You won’t regret it!

Edited by Kitfox, 21 March 2025 - 10:52 PM.

[Ben Diss]

Probably by the end of the week. I'll get a firm order in Monday. TOA-150B, 645 Flattener and various bits.

 

Hadn't really thought about using it for visual, but I will give it a go. Sorry about all the clouds in central Ohio. My bad.

[Wildetelescope]

Talk me off a cliff please.

 

I have jumped feet first into the deep end. I had a chance to pick up a Mach2 after passing on my place in line early last year. The mount arrived, I've figured out how to use it and have been imaging with my Edge 11". All is well, but I'd really like to have a wide field refractor for different targets.

 

I'm at a point in life where I don't mind dropping what just a few years ago would seem like insane amounts of money into this hobby. I figure these things are durable goods, capital assets that depreciate slowly, especially when purchased used. I'm young enough to use them for hopefully 10-15 years before I age out of the heavy equipment.

 

Having said all this, I've fallen in  love with the TOA-130/TOA-150 refractors even though I've never seen one, looked through one, or imaged with one. I figure if I'm going to get one, why not get the big one. I have a rig that doesn't get broke down every night. I roll it out to the driveway from the garage and roll it back in the next morning, so the weight and complexity of setup isn't a concern.

 

So, tell me why I'm crazy to think I should get a big, heavy Takahashi refractor for imaging in bortle 6 skies.

 

Thanks, and I look forward to comments.

 

-Ben

One doesn’t go to a bakery to swear off donuts:-).  If you have the cash and can responsibly purchase such a  scope, then do it.  Enjoy it as much as you can for as long as you can.   Life is short and the Universe is infinite(more or less).  See as much of it as you can.  This is a hobby that is meant to be enjoyed, first and foremost.   Your implication is correct, the main negative about such a large scope is the size, and the size of the mount that it requires.  The larger Strain wave mounts help with part of that equation.  My only recommendation is that although imaging is your intent, take the time occasionally to look at stuff through an eyepiece with such a wonderful scope.  IMO it is at the eyepiece where the beauty of such excellent optics truly shine.

Good luck!

 

Cheers!

 

JMD

[25585]

When does it arrive?  
 

I understand the diligence in getting spacers right, but PLEASE put eyepieces in that amazing focuser as well. You won’t regret it!

 

 

bought my TOA (& LZOS & TSA) only for visual, all are superb, better than my eyesight can appreciate, true gems for looking through, the TOA is a bucket list scope.

 

Use only for digital photography is like discarding half its potential to me (film photography is different)