91 replies to this topic

[James700]

Thanks for the advice! I think I will need to get a pristine either ED82A or EDG85, since the ED78A is now occupied by my 6-year old son

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[Erik Bakker]

Wonderful reason to get an ED82A or EDG85A 

[Erik Bakker]

In the field, on my roof terrace:

 

 

[Erik Bakker]

In good company looking for comets:

 

 

 

[James700]

 Oh no, roof terrace! I wished they didn’t cover all of my roof with solar panels!

[PawPaw]

You can see the differences in form factor and optical coatings, but the optical quality in the ED78A I had was just as superb. Only contrast and color saturation, along with a little bit extra brightness were improved with it’s successor, the ED82A and that is the one I kept. I think the EDG85 is of very similar quality and perhaps smidgen brighter due to the 3mm extra aperture. I does use very different eyepieces, with a bayonet to attach them to the scope.

 

Personally, I think I would keep the ED78A.  From the 2 samples I’ve seen, they have very consistent high quality.

 

The EDG85 is NLA new, but if you come across a well preserved sample with perhaps a few native EDG eyepieces, I would go for it.

Erik.........Thanks,  I think,   now I see a new Nikon spotter in my future!  

 

I do see several auctions with these spotters and they do look enticing.  

 

Speaking of coatings It should not be lost in our memory that many of the long neglected Nikons still have their coatings very much intact.  As a matter of fact and experience I took a chance on this one and the coatings not only survived they still look new:  https://www.cloudyni...age-2?hl= moldy

 

Nikons coating technology has continually advanced through the years.   Here is an example of Nikons single coating (all 4 surfaces) on the Nikon 6.5 Achromat,  first picture.  The second picture is the Multi coating again all 4 surfaces on the 6.5 ED version.  I took these pictures less than 1 minute apart with the same exact background.  For coatings to last 40 plus years and still look this good is amazing to me.  The MC coating has a much dimmer reflection of my big head.

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Edited by PawPaw, 03 April 2025 - 12:48 PM.

[PawPaw]

without the S/N on the museum 65ED you found out, I wouldn’t have noticed at all…

 

Nikon hold the special exhibition of their telescopes on October of 2021 as part of their 100 years celebration. This 61001 65ED was an essential part of that exhibition. Well, it was 30 years after they stopped the production line, I would not be surprised too much they didn’t have any sample in stock… But from Yahoo?

For those that have not seen the exhibition:  https://redbook-jp.c...e/20/21/03.html

[Rick Runcie]

Im drooling over the 8" refractor and can only imagine how fine the views must have been. Thank you for providing the link.

Best regards,

[James700]

Nikons coating technology has continually advanced through the years.   Here is an example of Nikons single coating (all 4 surfaces) on the Nikon 6.5 Achromat,  first picture.  The second picture is the Multi coating again all 4 surfaces on the 6.5 ED version.  I took these pictures less than 1 minute apart with the same exact background.  For coatings to last 40 plus years and still look this good is amazing to me.  The MC coating has a much dimmer reflection of my big head.

this comparison is very scientific!

[Kitfox]

exactly! I kept the angled version ED78 and actually passed the straight one to Steve (sorry!)

I am a shooter, and also own the Pentax PF 100 ED (also straight thru, interchangeable eyepiece).  The only time the Nikon gives up out to 1,000 meters is in low light.  The bigger Pentax can just hold out a little later into dusk.  They both reach this distance for  5.56mm holes in black-on-white paper at this distance in sufficient light.  Only at longer distances do I need more than the Nikon. 

 

The Nikon is really sharp, I’m not surprised it is a good astronomical scope. Sadly, I am very poor at Japanese-style observing (straight-thru  ).

Edited by Kitfox, 03 April 2025 - 09:32 PM.

[James700]

The Nikon is really sharp, I’m not surprised it is a good astronomical scope. Sadly, I am very poor at Japanese-style observing (straight-thru  ).

glad to hear the little Nikon is serving well for your shooting hobby! For terrestrial viewing I actually like more the straight-thru style, just more intuitive

[PawPaw]

In good company looking for comets:

 

What a wonderful observing location / garden with chairs, flowers and a plethora of choices for observing.  Very nice.

[strdst]

In High School I was a budding photographer, I wanted to be the next Richard Avedon, Ansel Adams, or D. David Duncan. I was pretty good and knew I'd be better if I was shooting with a Nikon F. (not that my heroes were using Nikons). Adams was using large format, Avedon too. Duncan was probably shooting with a Leica rangefinder camera. But still. A Nikon F black body was my heart's desire.

 

I got work in an ice house making and shoveling crushed and cubed ice into bags. I worked after school and weekends. $1.25 an hour...pretty good pay for a 15 year old! A friend of a friend of a friend was stationed in Japan and was willing to send camera gear to the states. I got myself on the list for a Black body Nikon F but at about the same time I got a girlfriend. My paycheck was now being split between my camera savings and having a great time. She had a car and was a bit older than me. Movies, Concerts (The Doors, Iron Butterfly, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Mothers of Invention, Odetta). Gas money for trips to the beach, Taco Bell dinners (tacos and burritos were 25 cents). My accretion of cash slowed, and then my friend of a friend of a friend got reassigned to somewhere else in the world. Oh well, but Nikonitis or Nippon Kogakuitis like chicken pox stays with you for a lifetime. Enter shingles in the form of telescopes...

 

 

5CM sandwiched  between two 6.5CM scopes of different vintages.

 

 

     

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[Erik Bakker]

Will this do as a modern Nikon F in this digital age? It is the successor to my Leica M6 and is also black 

 

[PawPaw]

In High School I was a budding photographer, I wanted to be the next Richard Avedon, Ansel Adams, or D. David Duncan. I was pretty good and knew I'd be better if I was shooting with a Nikon F. (not that my heroes were using Nikons). Adams was using large format, Avedon too. Duncan was probably shooting with a Leica rangefinder camera. But still. A Nikon F black body was my heart's desire.

 

I got work in an ice house making and shoveling crushed and cubed ice into bags. I worked after school and weekends. $1.25 an hour...pretty good pay for a 15 year old! A friend of a friend of a friend was stationed in Japan and was willing to send camera gear to the states. I got myself on the list for a Black body Nikon F but at about the same time I got a girlfriend. My paycheck was now being split between my camera savings and having a great time. She had a car and was a bit older than me. Movies, Concerts (The Doors, Iron Butterfly, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Mothers of Invention, Odetta). Gas money for trips to the beach, Taco Bell dinners (tacos and burritos were 25 cents). My accretion of cash slowed, and then my friend of a friend of a friend got reassigned to somewhere else in the world. Oh well, but Nikonitis or Nippon Kogakuitis like chicken pox stays with you for a lifetime. Enter shingles in the form of telescopes...

 

 

5CM sandwiched  between two 6.5CM scopes of different vintages.

Not only do I want a 1950/60 Nikon I would very much enjoy trying some of those onions!

 

Thanks for sharing Keith......your Nikons look in superb condition and at home in the garden.  I see the legs of the furthest two are the older type with dowels and the closest one has the same legs as the Nikon 8cm that debuted in 1967.  Do you happen to have a picture of them in their cabinets with all the goodies?

[James700]

5CM sandwiched  between two 6.5CM scopes of different vintages.

Wow, beautiful crew of Nippon Kogaku May the Nikonitis live long

[Scott99]

These refractors are beautiful!  I'm knee-deep in Nikon sport optics.....lord help me if they still made scopes    I'd probably have them all

[strdst]

Hi Don, (PawPaw). That's garlic in the foreground and a vetch/rye grain cover crop behind. The bare ground is a no till/no dig plot. I understand there's a place in **** for gardeners who step in their no till plots. Oh well, if it wasn't for this transgression... 

 

So glad I saw your post before I tucked the kids back into their beds!

 

In order...

 

50mm X 750mm...

 

65mm X 980mm light weight kit. Smaller, much lighter cabinet. School telescope? Kind of a stripped down version without all the cool designated box inserts. I wonder if items like the porro prism, and star diagonal were sold separately. 

 

65mm X 980mm 1956. Much heavier and larger cabinet. A place for everything. Empty case is 35#, maybe a bit more! 

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[Kitfox]

I am a religious practitioner of no-till, as well.  I was told it would cure all my issues in the garden, but it hasn’t helped my Nikonitis one bit.  Pentaxitis, Takitis, Vixenitis or APitis, either…

[PawPaw]

Hi Don, (PawPaw). That's garlic in the foreground and a vetch/rye grain cover crop behind. The bare ground is a no till/no dig plot. I understand there's a place in **** for gardeners who step in their no till plots. Oh well, if it wasn't for this transgression... 

 

So glad I saw your post before I tucked the kids back into their beds!

 

In order...

 

50mm X 750mm...

 

65mm X 980mm light weight kit. Smaller, much lighter cabinet. School telescope? Kind of a stripped down version without all the cool designated box inserts. I wonder if items like the porro prism, and star diagonal were sold separately. 

 

65mm X 980mm 1956. Much heavier and larger cabinet. A place for everything. Empty case is 35#, maybe a bit more! 

Keith I would bet you are the only Nikonhead at least in the states that has such a pristine collection of pre 1970 Nikons.  I absolutely adore those dowel tripod legs and the wood grain really shows.  I would venture to say there are but a handful of complete scopes such as these with all the accessories.   One day I look forward to seeing these in person.

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Don

[PawPaw]

My tall and skinny 1971 Nikon 8cm on a tall and skinny but robust and solid pier. 

 

The pier is likely schedule 40 or larger it is very heavy and provides a more solid platform than the 8cm tripod.  Although the tripod is very good the pier is better.  Nikon debuted this 8cm in 1967 and it meant the definition of a "school telescope" but was also available for amateurs to purchase.  The mount affectionately acquired the nickname "water pipe mount".  A very interesting design not really meant for export because of the latitude limitations.  The latitude is fixed with approx 8 degrees of adjustment for the two different models you could order.  One for 30 -38 degrees and one for 38 - 45 degrees.  There is a graduated level built into the mount that shows what your latitude setting is. 

 

 

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[PawPaw]

Since Keith obliged us with his bevy of Nikon cabinets its only fair I do the same.......

 

1971 Nikon 8cm

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[James700]

My tall and skinny 1971 Nikon 8cm on a tall and skinny but robust and solid pier. 

 

The pier is likely schedule 40 or larger it is very heavy and provides a more solid platform than the 8cm tripod.  Although the tripod is very good the pier is better.  Nikon debuted this 8cm in 1967 and it meant the definition of a "school telescope" but was also available for amateurs to purchase.  The mount affectionately acquired the nickname "water pipe mount".  A very interesting design not really meant for export because of the latitude limitations.  The latitude is fixed with approx 8 degrees of adjustment for the two different models you could order.  One for 30 -38 degrees and one for 38 - 45 degrees.  There is a graduated level built into the mount that shows what your latitude setting is. 

thanks a lot for sharing the information and nice pictures. I didn't know there were two versions of the latitude settings. The pier looks like a great match. I wonder how similar this pier to the pier for 10cm mount? Are the diameters / heights same, or even the mounting exchangeable between 8cm and 10cm mount heads?

[PawPaw]

There is more room for adjustment on the tripod version for the latitude settings because you can obviously adjust the  legs separately and gain more or less latitude as needed.  The Pier's only adjustment are the leveling bolts on the legs so you are limited to the 30-38 or 38-45 range dependent on which mount version you have.  Mounting holes for the top plate of the piers are not the same so not interchangeable.  

 

The piers are different....specs are:

 

8cm pier 

Height:  130 cm

Weight:  17.1  kg

Pipe diameter:  8.5 cm  

 

10cm  pier

Height:  110 cm

Weight:  26.5 kg

Pipe diameter:  10.2 cm

 

Both piers appear to be schedule 40 pipe which is nominal .068" (1.7mm) wall thickness.  Very substantial.  The legs on the 8cm bolt on separtely as opposed to the 10cm which has one leg fixed permanently.  Personally I like the pier on the 8cm much better than the tripod which can be a little awkward to setup with the heavy mount.  

Edited by PawPaw, 09 April 2025 - 07:46 AM.

[James700]

Many thanks Don for providing the precise specs! The 8cm pier is really tall… definitely helpful to know more methods to adjust the latitude settings. I was actually thinking about modernizing the 8cm mount with OnStep after I did for both 10cm and 6.5cm mounts. It would be easy to customize an adapter so all three mounts can share the same 10cm pier. The azimuth adjustment for the 8cm mount head might not be easy?