46 replies to this topic

[sw196060]

Lots of "itis" going around so I figure I'd start one for Televue scopes.

Here is my venerable TV-85 with classic mag-wheel focuser knobs!

Sweet scope.

 

It sits idle while I search for a new, portable mount/tripod rig.

 

Edited by sw196060, 12 April 2025 - 09:25 AM.

[sw196060]

CN server burped and created two threads.  I have no idea why.

 

Ugh, don't know why my pics always show up sideways.

[Astroman007]

Nice. A great little grab and go kind of scope, and pretty satisfying as an only scope, as it was for me for a few years. Mine is the evergreen version but otherwise identical.

 

I also have a Genesis SDF bought here and a 127is that was the first scope I bought new. Great instruments all.

 

Try finding a Vixen Porta II on Ebay. Mine shipped from Japan and showed up new in box. Best portable mount I have for my two smaller refractors. Light in weight, practically one hand carry when all set up, so no excuse of being too tired could honestly be entertained. Not too pricey either.

[Don W]

I have had a plethora of TV scopes:

 

1. Ranger

2. Pronto

3. TV-85

4. Genesis

5. 102i

6. Genesis SDF (current)

[desertlens]

The TV-76 is a very capable 'wide-field' scope that is simple and intuitive to use on a TV Panoramic mount. Optically, it's every bit as fine as the TV-85.

 

[25585]

I have four.

 

Renaissance (brass) 85 & 102

85 green

Genesis F5 cream.

[sw196060]

Nice. A great little grab and go kind of scope, and pretty satisfying as an only scope, as it was for me for a few years. Mine is the evergreen version but otherwise identical.

 

I also have a Genesis SDF bought here and a 127is that was the first scope I bought new. Great instruments all.

 

Try finding a Vixen Porta II on Ebay. Mine shipped from Japan and showed up new in box. Best portable mount I have for my two smaller refractors. Light in weight, practically one hand carry when all set up, so no excuse of being too tired could honestly be entertained. Not too pricey either.

A Porta II is a nice choice.  It is either that or I get a M002C and maybe a TR3.

[balcon3]

A Porta II is a nice choice.  It is either that or I get a M002C and maybe a TR3.

The Portamount II has slow motion controls while the M002 doesn’t. I find the slow motion very useful, especially when tracking at higher powers.

[quilty]

I'd say predominant is an itis-itis

And me too, I watch a lot TV :-)

Edited by quilty, 13 April 2025 - 08:22 AM.

[25585]

Sky-Watcher AZ5 is a decent alt az mount for small refractors, it also has slow motions.

[scotsman328i]

TVitis!

 

102 and classic first generation Gibraltar mount I refurbished (circa 2001)

 

76 and Panoramic Mount (I am original owner, circa 2003)

 

 

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[starman876]

Just got a brass Genesis with the panoramic mount. The optics are better than I expected.

[John Huntley]

I've only owned 2 Tele Vue refractors. I had a Ranger a few years back that I generally liked but it was not used much so I let it go to another owner - Roger Vine of the Scope Views web site. He reported on that scope here:

 

http://www.scopeview...uk/TVRanger.htm

 

Last Summer I treated myself to a nice pre-owned TV 85. The build quality of these is really 1st class. It will still be around when I'm long gone I'm sure. Optically it's a very good performer as well - one of those small refractors that makes you think you are using a bigger one when you are looking through it 

 

I find that an AZ-4 mount on an old Meade LXD55 tripod does a great job with the TV 85. Plenty stable enough to use 200x plus magnification, which the scope is quite capable of. I now tend to use a 2 inch EverBrite diagonal with the scope rather than the 1.25 inch one pictured here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Reptilicus]

I have three…all purchased new by me:

 

1) The first generation Genesis 

 

2) Pronto retrofitted with a feather touch

 

3) NP127 with a TeleVue fine/course focuser attachment 

 

The Genesis was purchased in April of 1988 and the Pronto and NP127 were purchased shortly after they entered the market…the exact dates I don’t recall. I have many hours behind these awesome telescopes…especially the Genesis with sketching sunspots. 
 

Below is an image of the NP127 which I have posted before. Note the TeleVue fine/course focuser. It’s goofy looking but works very well. 
 

Bill

 

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[desertlens]

It's interesting to see these early iterations from TeleVue. Thanks to those who've posted them.

Edited by desertlens, 14 April 2025 - 01:46 AM.

[scotsman328i]

It's interesting to see these early iterations from TeleVue. Thanks to those who've posted them.

You’re welcome. They are oldies but goldies. The views through them are just as clear, sharp, resolving and bright as the day they were made. Always a real treat looking through the eyepiece with them. They are fantastic for outreach and public events where light pollution is bad compared to our club’s dark sky site and so easy to set up and pack up at the beginning and end of events to include sudden onsets of poor weather. 

[Wildetelescope]

TVitis!

 

102 and classic first generation Gibraltar mount I refurbished (circa 2001)

 

76 and Panoramic Mount (I am original owner, circa 2003)

Did not know that TV offered the 102 in green!  Out of curiosity, what is your serial number?   Mine is # 6, If I read it correctly.  

 

 

JMD

[Granite Glasser]

This Geologist is a TeleVue-only visual-only astronomy buff!
 

TeleVue Ranger 70mm F/6.8 air-spaced ED doublet refractor  

TeleVue Ash Panoramic mount with TV handle and the 3-hole 1.25" eyepiece caddy 

TeleVue 24mm Panoptic eyepiece

TeleVue 11mm Nagler Type 6 eyepiece

TeleVue 5mm Nagler Type 6 eyepiece 

 

I want for nothing else!

[25585]

My TV refractors' labels are from 3 different locations over the 30+ years they span, all in NY. Each has a message from Mr Nagler handwritten on its handbook. The Genesis and 102 live in their OE hard cases, the 85s in their carry bags, though those are transferred to a hard case for car travel.

Edited by 25585, 14 April 2025 - 07:38 AM.

[KerryR]

I've had three TV scopes: A Pronto, which I still have and use frequently- one of the best achromats I've seen-, a non-SDF Genesis, which I sold and miss terribly, and now, as of yesterday, a wee TV60.

[scotsman328i]

Did not know that TV offered the 102 in green!  Out of curiosity, what is your serial number?   Mine is # 6, If I read it correctly.  

 

 

 

JMD

Yes, they are relatively rare to find. They have always been my favorite color of the 102 model. I think the 101 also had a few Evergreens made also. My s/n is 1123.

 

Edit - my TV76 s/n is 1161.

Edited by scotsman328i, 14 April 2025 - 08:28 AM.

[desertlens]

I built this rig to serve 'the heavies' like the 21mm Ethos. Some front side ballast tames the weight distribution issues and the beefier Gibraltar HD4 mount easily manages the greater gross weight. The result is a pleasure to use, both mechanically and optically.

 

[starman876]

My Brass Renesance came on a panaromic mount.   I sense this might be too small for the weight of the brass tube.   I have a gibraltar tripod but not the mount that will fit it.   Would the recommendation be to buy the larger mount for the brass tube?

[scotsman328i]

My Brass Renesance came on a panaromic mount.   I sense this might be too small for the weight of the brass tube.   I have a gibraltar tripod but not the mount that will fit it.   Would the recommendation be to buy the larger mount for the brass tube?

I would definitely advise the larger Gibraltar Mount for your brass Renaissance. Brass is heavy and I suspect a brass Renaissance is heavier than a standard Televue 101 or 102. At high powers, that Panoramic might be very wiggly and difficult to operate and steady. I have a classic Televue 102 in Evergreen riding a classic first generation Gibraltar mount. I also have a Televue 76 riding a classic Panoramic mount. Both scopes and Mounts manufactured in 2000 and 2002, respectively. The Gibraltar has much beefier legs and two sinch down points with knobs to really steady the tripod, whereas the Panoramic only has the one point on each tripod leg. You could keep your eyes peeled on classifieds as they run (pretty much all mount generations) around $500 or so used. That’s how I purchased mine. I was extremely lucky. Mine is a pristine, and I mean immaculate, first generation Gibraltar mount that I purchased for $300. Very minor touch ups needed like shining the brass altitude bearings and replacing many of the M5 hex screws that didn’t need it, but I replaced them as the paint had worn on them. I added an eyepiece caddy and drilled two 3/16” holes in the cradle baseplate to accommodate a Televue handle currently in the post to me right now. 
 

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Edited by scotsman328i, 15 April 2025 - 08:10 AM.

[Phillip Creed]

November Papa One Zero One's arrival three years ago.

Clear Skies,

Phil

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