Just ordered a Tak FS60-C fluorite doublet

[omaroo]

Can't wait - getting the FS60-C with extended accessory list - finder, ring, adapters, field flattener as well as a Nikon T-Mount and camera angle swivel adjuster. Paid the extra and will be getting it in 3 days from HK. It'll be mated to my Tak Teegul SP-II for a lightweight go-anywhere w/f imaging solution. Realy looking forward to a short, easy to pack refractor with f/5.9 photographic promise. Will also get the Tak reducer which will render it a f/4.4 :woot:

Finally - I can image a bit more again....as long as this cloud and rain clear sometime this year.

[Radar]

Sounds awesome Chris. Post a pic of it once you get it setup. For portability its an awesome setup.

Can't help you with the cloud though, I'm sorry. :tongue:

Ray

[omaroo]

Cheers Ray :)

I'm actually going to build a new camera briefcase, and include the scope as just another lens, and also the mount if I can. Then, all I have to do to go is pick up the briefcase and tripod and walk out the door. Well... that's the plan.

[wingeing Pom]

A pretty ideal grab and go setup - nice!
Greg

[omaroo]

Wow. The Tak left Honkers yesterday (Monday), and tracking the unit, I can now see that it has arrived in Sydney already. Overnight. Not bad! Delivery hopefully tomorrow.

[Tenacious Del]

lol, i would be checking where it is every step of the way as well. :woot: :woot: :woot:

[omaroo]

The delivery details. Pretty impressive for an international transit:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++

Jan 16, 2008 11:2618 LEIGHTONFIELD PDC - Item delivered.
Jan 16, 2008 7:2053 LEIGHTONFIELD PDC Committed for delivery.
Jan 16, 2008 4:0151 MINTO DCReceived at delivery hub.
Jan 15, 2008 21:4849 METRO DELIVERY OP SUPPORT Received at delivery hub.
Jan 15, 2008 16:2956 AUSTRALIA - SYDNEY Transferred for delivery processing.
Jan 15, 2008 11:4224 AUSTRALIA - SYDNEY Received and awaiting clearance for delivery.
Jan 14, 2008 17:2600 HONG KONG - HK AMC Processed for despatch.
Jan 14, 2008 12:2500 HONG KONG - FOT Item lodged
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++

[omaroo]

Upon opening, the box was well packed. The scope was well and truly adequately cushioned, which was nice.

What a nice machine. The fit and finish is out of this world. Everything about it is function, function, function. The paint finish is superb and even all the screws are plated, which leads to smooth operation of everything that opens and shuts. The focuser is, well, beautiful. The action is liquid smooth and has no backlash whatsoever. I never liked R&P focusers before, but this one has changed my mind. It's way smoother than the crayfords I am using everywhere else.

Not being night yet (and having to go out tonight to say farewell to some finds going back to Europe) I took a quick squizz through it down the street and across the valley. I get the feeling that night-time views are going to be fabulous as the daytime view far exceeds the quality of the image I get through my WO66 Petzval. No contest. Even the finderscope view is crystal.

I can't wait for a clear evening now - so I won't get one now for months.

Very happy indeed.

http://www.omaroo.net/albums/album34/DSC_4957_1024.jpg

[Tenacious Del]

what a toy mate. can't wait to see how first light goes.

:woot: :woot: :woot: :woot:

[omaroo]

Well, I had a small window though the clouds last night and for the first time in what seems like weeks I could see the whole Orion constellation at one time. Below that was Mars - and it was in a clear spot.

The Moon destroyed the western half of the sky - exacerbated by residual cloud that lit up the west like a ball room.

Anyway, I persisted, and with an 11mm TV Plossl was rewarded with incredible PIN-point resolution as I focused on Mars. Only the tiniest of halos appeared courtesy of the sorry air quality.

M42 wasn't very bright, but neither would I have expected it due to the conditions. Any real nebulosity was hidden thanks to the Moon and the cloud. Nevertheless - the trapezium was so clear that it resolved all stars at only 32-power (355mm fl / 11mm) and it was still easy to view without squinting. Not bad for a 60mm scope.

Turning to Rigel and Betelgeuse I managed to view these rather bright little guys without undue colour. Even Sirius was startlingly bright but my eyes still didn't see any purple. I didn't get long enough to just sit there and get a good appreciation of the quality of view - 10 minutes later - solid cloud again.

I turned to the west to look at the Moon through it's slight layer of cloud and it was stunning at 32x. The halo was horrible because of the air, but what I saw promises fabulous Moon performance out of this scope.

Today I'm going down to Bintel and picking up a 2.5mm Nagler Type VI. Yep - 2.5mm. This will yield 142-power and a 0.58 degree FOV which, by all reviews on this scope that I've seen, is easily achievable without undue loss of quality. The little Tak reportedly handles high power better than its Televue rival, not that I'd know, but that's what I read. I want to really push it and see what it'll do when we get good steady air one day. I'd go for a longer EP, like a 5mm and Barlow it, but I believe that the scope is good enough to deserve its own dedicated EP of that length. I'll get Don or Mike or Mike to argue the point about which one I choose this morning. They're good at that sort of thing.

Next - clear sky, a polar-aligned Teegul SP-II and a camera :)

[CanisMajorTom]

i am about to ask a silly question so please forgive me. are you able to put something in the photo so i can see just how small this scope is please? sorry to be a pain. :frown:

[omaroo]

i am about to ask a silly question so please forgive me. are you able to put something in the photo so i can see just how small this scope is please? sorry to be a pain. :frown:

No problem. How's this? :)

http://www.omaroo.net/albums/album34/DSC_4974_800.jpg

[Radar]

No problem. How's this? :)

http://www.omaroo.net/albums/album34/DSC_4974_800.jpg

Your secret is out Chris, now we know what you are doing on those cloudy nights. Foxtel IQ! :woot: :woot: :woot:

[omaroo]

LOL! The amateur astronomers best friend Ray!

[CanisMajorTom]

thanks mate. nice that you used a universal form of measure. :biggrin:

[omaroo]

I swapped the 2.5mm Nagler for a 5mm today. I figured that with potentially poor seeing for the next few weeks or months, the 2.5mm would just be too much power for the moment. The f/l of the scope is 355, so I figured that a 5mm Type6 would be more favourable. The air is good over southern Sydney tonight - for once.

Anyhoo - first light tonight was just wonderful. The 5mm on the Tak FS60-C (355/5=71x) gave the BEST VIEW OF THE MOON I'VE EVER SEEN. The view was so crystal clear and the contrast so different to what I'm used to I was just utterly blown away. The Nagler gave me around 45 arc secs of field, so the moon took most, but not all of it. Gee - talk about crisp - I still can't get over it.

I donned the O-III and pointed to M42. Again - wow. The trapezium was easier to resolve than I find it to through my C8. Again the contrast was incredible - even without the filter.

Happy, happy, happy.

[Radar]

Awesome that you are getting good views Chris. Nothing better than getting great results from money well spent. I've neglected the visual side of things for astrophotography equipment over recent years, so when I read posts like this I take good note of what works and what doesn't.

May I ask where you got the Nagler from and how much? :confused:

Thanks

Ray

[Tenacious Del]

glad you have found a good setup mate. nice work. :smile:

[omaroo]

Awesome that you are getting good views Chris. Nothing better than getting great results from money well spent. I've neglected the visual side of things for astrophotography equipment over recent years, so when I read posts like this I take good note of what works and what doesn't.

May I ask where you got the Nagler from and how much? :confused:

Thanks

Ray

Ray - I bought the 5mm from Bintel. They sell Nagler Type 6's in the 2.5 to 11mm range (2.5, 3.5, 5, 7, 9, 11) all for the same price of $375 at the moment.

[omaroo]

Righto - Jenny brought a Jaycar "Roadie" case home. While not a Pelican, the quality is good, and I think that the cam lock latches are more than solid enough. You wouldn't carry bricks in it, but for a light scope it's perfect. No edge seals of course, but what do you want for $69.00?

Here's the new Tak in it, and for a twist - with the mount, attached! Will be nice not to have to disassemble anything, including the finder. The lid closes beautifully - nice and snug. Pop it on the tripod and I'm up'n running in under a minute.

http://www.omaroo.net/albums/album34/DSC_5021_1024.sized.jpg

http://www.omaroo.net/albums/album34/DSC_5022_1024.sized.jpg

[Tenacious Del]

what a great little rig you got going there Omaroo. amazing how compact it is.

[omaroo]

Thanks TD. It's turning out to be my ideal portable kit. I can't wait to throw the DSLR on the back over the next week or two.

[Radar]

Seeing it in the case really shows how compact this rig is. Totally awesome setup mate.

Ray