I am looking for a larger grab-and-go scope than my ST80, and one without the "violent violet" I get at high-powers with the ST80 (which is to be expected from an F5 achromat). Currently, a Borg 101ED and a Vixen ED102SS are available in the classifieds. Has anybody looked through the Vixen ED102SS, and if so, what was the view like? Also, how much did the scope weigh? I want to be able to use a light mount, as one of my biggest needs is quick setup and take-down.
Borg 101ED or Vixen ED102SS?
Started by jsc3iii, 09/19/2005 03:19AM
Posted 09/19/2005 03:19AM
Opening Post
Posted 09/20/2005 06:06AM
| Edited 09/20/2005 06:08AM
#2
John:
I have both the Borg 101ED and the 125ED and love them both. I owned a TV101, SV102, Tak FS102 NSV, the Meade 102ED and other refractors and enjoy the Borg 101ED the best.
At 55 and with glasses (astimatism at 4.5 diopters), my vision may not pick up all the minute details and distinctions many other obsrevers might; but I know what I like. The performance is excellent on anything any other 4" APO can see; the weight is real nice at about 7 lbs (10 lbs with dialectric diagonal and 8x50 RA finder); the fit and finish is excellent; and it comes with a Feathertouch focuser.
AND..most importantly, it breaks down into one of those "brief case-size" aluminum cases you can buy at Home Depot or Menards.
I use premium syspieces with it (Naglers, Takahashi and Pentax) and use it with a Microstar mount on a Bogen 3036 tripod, or a Davis-Stanford Compact C tripod for travel. I have recently been using a Collins I-3 eyepiece with it and it gives me 8" views in my 4" scope.
Again, this scope's beauty is in it's portability, ability to use a light-weight mount, and excellent performance. For deep sky, I have a 13" T-scope, 8" truss dob with Royce optice, a Starblast and the Borg 125ED. But for travel, this combination cannot be beat.
Don Wheeler
I have both the Borg 101ED and the 125ED and love them both. I owned a TV101, SV102, Tak FS102 NSV, the Meade 102ED and other refractors and enjoy the Borg 101ED the best.
At 55 and with glasses (astimatism at 4.5 diopters), my vision may not pick up all the minute details and distinctions many other obsrevers might; but I know what I like. The performance is excellent on anything any other 4" APO can see; the weight is real nice at about 7 lbs (10 lbs with dialectric diagonal and 8x50 RA finder); the fit and finish is excellent; and it comes with a Feathertouch focuser.
AND..most importantly, it breaks down into one of those "brief case-size" aluminum cases you can buy at Home Depot or Menards.
I use premium syspieces with it (Naglers, Takahashi and Pentax) and use it with a Microstar mount on a Bogen 3036 tripod, or a Davis-Stanford Compact C tripod for travel. I have recently been using a Collins I-3 eyepiece with it and it gives me 8" views in my 4" scope.
Again, this scope's beauty is in it's portability, ability to use a light-weight mount, and excellent performance. For deep sky, I have a 13" T-scope, 8" truss dob with Royce optice, a Starblast and the Borg 125ED. But for travel, this combination cannot be beat.
Don Wheeler
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