Tak FS / FC or TV or Vixen... $^%$! confused! Help

I'm strongly considering moving into the 4" refractor world. I look at the classifieds and the scopes are all essentially the same: Tal FS102 or FC100; TV102, and the odd older TV or newer Vixen. Is there some simple, easy, explanatino taht someone can give me to show the difference between FC ans FS and Tak and TV?

Thanks...

Erik Hammarlund said:

I'm strongly considering moving into the 4" refractor world. I look at the classifieds and the scopes are all essentially the same: Tal FS102 or FC100; TV102, and the odd older TV or newer Vixen. Is there some simple, easy, explanatino taht someone can give me to show the difference between FC ans FS and Tak and TV?

Thanks...

You're "strongly considering moving" to the 4-inch APO refractor much wisely Eric ;-). Don't know which Vixen you're referring to but I can't imagine you will be disappointed by either the Tele Vue TV-102 or Tak FS102/FC100.

As to the difference, the obvious is the TV-102 is lighter and has skinnier tube. I like the focuser on my TV-102 better with the rubber gripe but others like the Tak's; so it's a matter of personal preference. The older FS102 and FC100 did not have a sliding dew shield (the Tak FS102NSV does which is actually more comparable to the TV-102i), a real plus with the TV-102. Also the TV-102 OTA package comes with a hardcase.

Regarding the newest Vixen, please be aware that the plastic focuser knob has changed to a smaller and skinnier size and seems to feel slippery and harder to grip to me in use (the older plastic focuser feel much better).

Ron the 4-inch Tall Evangelist B[ee]

The fc and fs have different focal lengths.