Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

Discuss your refractor type scopes here.
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Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#1

Post by Rainmaker »


:observer: Here is a place to post some pictures of your refractors :observer:

My recent arrival (still waiting for the mounting hardware):

Takahashi FOA60Q 60mm F15 @ 900mm, claimed to be the best corrected offering form Takahashi ever, even bests the magnificent TOA & TSA lineups....
This one is fitted with my custom M47 > T2 adapter as well as the Baader 2" >T2 Clicklock visual back and the Baader T2 Maxbright diagonal
I am hoping to get it up and running by Xmas :Astronomer1:
Attachments
MIS_7728.jpg
Matt in Oz
Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm
TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm
Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#2

Post by Rainmaker »


and the Big Brother:

TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @1200mm
Attachments
MIS_7648.jpg
Matt in Oz
Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm
TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm
Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15
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John Baars Netherlands
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#3

Post by John Baars »


Hello Rainmaker,
Nice set of refractors.
Below three beauties in order of seniority and one of the Rijswijk Observatory.

The beauty: Vixen ED102S f/9
IMG_1154.JPG
Skywatcher Startravel 150 f/5
IMG_1205 (750x1024).jpg
Evostar doublet APO 120 f/7.5
IMG_0463 (1200x1600).jpg
Astrophysics Starfire APO 130 f6.6
New pier for Starfire on SSR.JPG
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#4

Post by Refractordude »


Rainmaker wrote: Tue Dec 10, 2019 12:34 am :observer: Here is a place to post some pictures of your refractors :observer:

My recent arrival (still waiting for the mounting hardware):

Takahashi FOA60Q 60mm F15 @ 900mm, claimed to be the best corrected offering form Takahashi ever, even bests the magnificent TOA & TSA lineups....
This one is fitted with my custom M47 > T2 adapter as well as the Baader 2" >T2 Clicklock visual back and the Baader T2 Maxbright diagonal
I am hoping to get it up and running by Xmas :Astronomer1:
That really is a nice telescope.
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#5

Post by Refractordude »


Here are some photos of my Meade LX70 120mm f8 refractor, and Zhumell 20x80 binoculars.
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image 1.PNG
image 3.PNG
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#6

Post by Rainmaker »


I was wondering where the other refractors were :observer: , great pictures John and 'dude!!! :Astronomer1:
Attachments
MIS_7712.jpg
Matt in Oz
Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm
TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm
Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#7

Post by bladekeeper »


Here are my present refractors:

Explore Scientific AR127 and Orion ST80 on my Twilight II mount:
IMG_0625.JPG
Celestron C6-R on my AVX:
IMG_0294 (2).JPG
Celestron Premium 80 and C80 on their original mounts/tripods:
IMG_1097.JPG
Same scopes on the Twilight II:
IMG_0321.JPG
Stellarvue SV102T on the AVX:
IMG_0594.JPG
Unitron Model 142:
IMG_0593.JPG
Explore Scientific ED80 on the AVX:
IMG_0098.jpg
Meade NG60 looking like a toothpick on the AVX:
IMG_0495.JPG
I think that is all of them...:D
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100

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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#8

Post by Lowjiber »


I have more fracs than the law allows. However, here are two of my favorites that are tricked-out for solar imaging... a WO Z-61 (f/5.9) and a SW 100 (f/9). Both are ED glass and are equipped with UV-IR cut filters in front of the diagonals and Teleview Sol-Searchers.
Z - 61 2.jpg
SW 100 ED.JPG
John (Urban Astronomer) Apertura AD10 Dob; XLT 150 Dob; XLT 120EQ; Lunt Solar 60 PT/B1200; ES AR102; SW Pro 100ED; 2 SW Pro 80ED's; 90mm Eq; WO Z-61; SW 90mm Virtuso Mak; 2 Orion ST-80's; Quark-C; Cams: Polemaster, ASI120MM-S, ASI174MM & ASI174MM-C
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#9

Post by Aidi »


Here’s mine..

Esprit 120
Esprit 100
Altair EQD-R Quadruplet
D3BB8DC8-73C6-463E-906A-55B0E4EE406B.jpeg
CAB78EF3-5176-49AC-AE0B-6DD7DA26BA0D.jpeg
2089D8F8-0103-43FF-AB53-07D73A1863B0.jpeg
Rgds
Aidi

Equipment: Skywatcher Esprit 120 | Altair Astro 70mm Quadruplet| EQ-6 R Pro | QHY PoleMaster | QHY5L-II Autoguide Camera | ZWO OAG | PHD2 | EQMOD/ASCOM | Atik 460ex Mono| ZWO ASI 1600mm Pro| Pegasus UPB & Focusers | SGP Pro | CDC | PS 2017 | PixInsight
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#10

Post by mariosi »


Astro Professional Achromatic dublet 152mm f5.9 manufactured by kunming United Optics (China).
Marios
Kunming United Optics .jpg
Astro Professional .jpg
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#11

Post by UlteriorModem »


Might as well add mine since I just recently went back to the APO :D

Orion 130mm APO Triplet f7

Image20200104_145907 by Tom Whit, on Flickr
Tom

Current Equipment:
Mount: Celestron CGX-L
Scope: 130mm f7 APO
Cam: ASI071mc-pro
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#12

Post by Thefatkitty »


Well, no comparison to all of these, but this is actually my pride and joy... A 1961 Tasco 60mm :lol:

Tasco12TE.jpg


Came in the original box with the straw packing (styrofoam was invented in '41, seems it took a while to make it to telescope boxes...;) )

Tasco12TE_01.jpg


How do I know it's a 1961 model? There was paperwork from Tasco's HO in Miami inside the box that verified that, but that's another story.
I use an older 1.25 Celestron/Vixen Star diagonal and my KK's with it, and the views are great. The mount is quite solid, as well!

I do have a lot more fracs, but most of them are old with too much "homemade" going on with a lot of them; no need to embarrass myself :lol:

Great thread, thanks!
Mark

"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4 & AZ-EQ5 mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.

H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
Ca-K - W/O 61mm, Antares 1.6 barlow, Baader 3.8 OD and Ca-K filters with a ZWO ASI174mm.
W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.

Oh yeah, and Solar Cycle 25 :D
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#13

Post by Rainmaker »


My latest 'Find', bought this a few days ago......... had to drive 1300klms overnight to make sure I got it.......

Skylight AR101.15 101mm F15 by Richard Day of Skylight Telescopes, London.... Full brass tube OTA
Feathertouch FTF2535HD focuser, Televue Gibraltar mount on oak tripod...

makes a fine partner for the little Berry&Mackay c.1890 refractor on Library Stand
Attachments
MIS_7794.jpg
MIS_7786 copy.jpg
Matt in Oz
Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm
TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm
Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#14

Post by Rainmaker »


and with these now also in my care, my wife has cut up all my credit cards....... not fair :cry:
Attachments
MIS_7782.jpg
Matt in Oz
Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm
TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm
Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#15

Post by Rainmaker »


Some closeups of the Skylight AR101.15 showcasing Richard Day's beautiful craftsmanship:
Attachments
MIS_7838.jpg
MIS_7834.jpg
MIS_7831.jpg
MIS_7828.jpg
Matt in Oz
Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm
TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm
Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#16

Post by Lady Fraktor »


A beautiful refractor Matt!
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#17

Post by Rainmaker »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:06 am A beautiful refractor Matt!
Thanks Gabby, my wife even allows it to be set up in the lounge room !!!!

I also finished my big refractor setup today, the final item was to make a counterweight for the OTA to help balance the heavy Russian optic up front.
The counterweight near the focuser allowd the scope to move forward in the rings 2" and thus avoid any clash with the tripod legs...
Attachments
MIS_7975s.JPG
MIS_7979.JPG
Matt in Oz
Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm
TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm
Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#18

Post by Lady Fraktor »


That looks really good Matt.
If there is room inside the tube I like to place the counterweight internally to preserve the lines of the telescope but that is really nice.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#19

Post by StarBru »


Wow! What a fine bunch of refractors on this post! I don't have any premium fracs, but here are 3 of my 4 . The first one is my Meade Adventure Scope 80mm f/5, just like the Orion ST80, and a Meade 127mm f/9 on my latest acquisition, the Twilight ll mount, along with a Meade 60mm on what I think is a Jason EQ mount. The other photos are of the 127mm on a pier extension and the 80mm, both on the LXD-55 Go-To mount.
IMG_20200517_100735208.jpg
Attachments
20190429_232541.jpg
IMG_20200404_184202994_HDR.jpg
Bruce

Refractors: Meade AR-5 127mm f/9.3, Meade ST-80 f/5 and Meade 60mm f/12, Jason 60mm f/15 #313, Jason 60mm f/12 #306 S7, Bushnell Sky Chief III 60mm f/15.
Reflectors/Catadioptrics: Meade 10" F/4 Schmidt-Newtonian, Galileo 120mm f/8.3 Newtonian, Meade 2045D 4" f/10 SCT, Meade ETX-90EC f/13.8 & Sarblue 60mm f/12.5 Maksutov-Cassegrains.
Mounts: Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro & Meade LXD55 Equatorial mounts, ES Twilight II and Meade 2102 ALT/AZ mounts, a modified 10" SkyQuest Dobsonian mount, various 60mm EQ mounts.
Misc: Celestron 20x80mm binoculars, Revolution II Imager/accessories, & lots of optical accessories/eyepieces.
Projects: 8" f/2.9 and 65mm f/10 reflectors, Dobson-style binocular mirror mount.
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Re: Refractor Photo Thread (everyone loves pictures)

#20

Post by Rainmaker »


StarBru wrote: Sun May 17, 2020 5:47 pm Wow! What a fine bunch of refractors on this post! I don't have any premium fracs, but here are 3 of my 4 . .......
Bruce, That's the beauty of this hobby, it doesn't have to be from the top shelf to be enjoyable. Looks like you're well catered for as we approach planet season :observer:
Matt in Oz
Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm
TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm
Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15
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