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Douglas Rollain

M20 Trifid Nebula in LRGBHa

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Posts Made By: Michael Piacenza

March 24, 2004 01:21 AM Forum: Astro Binoculars

Canon 18x50 Image Stabilizer Binoculars?

Posted By Michael Piacenza
I have the smaller ones (10x30) and they are fine for general use. But does anyone have the 18x50? If so, how are they as astro-binos? Bright enough? Well corrected? Thanks!

March 24, 2004 01:24 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Canon 18x50 Image Stabilizer Binoculars?

Posted By Michael Piacenza
I have the smaller ones (10x30) and they are fine for general use. But does anyone have the 18x50? If so, how are they as astro-binos? Bright enough? Well corrected? Thanks!

September 5, 2002 01:35 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

end caps for 9mm T1 Nagler - where to get?

Posted By Michael Piacenza
Call Tele Vue in NY at their 800 number. They will sell you replacement caps directly at a reasonable price.

September 10, 2002 02:25 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Coronado rocks my world!

Posted By Michael Piacenza
Superb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

March 3, 2003 04:44 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Portable Scope For Backpacking?

Posted By Michael Piacenza
A Tak FC-60. Remove the dew-shield and it's smaller than a water bottle. Stuff it in a tube sock and stick it in your pocket. It weighs 3 lbs! You can mount it on anything. Or, with a low-power ep, hand-hold it like a monocular and view straight through. And it's simply world class. Perfect optics and focuser.

March 20, 2003 10:02 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Robert Burnham Jr.

Posted By Michael Piacenza
Thanks for this, Doug


July 4, 2003 04:00 AM Forum: Takahashi

Travel tripod/mount

Posted By Michael Piacenza
I would also recommend the Giro-2 for portability. It's relatively light, very compact, easy to set up, and fun to use. You could mount it on a medium-light Bogen 3011 (which collapses down to 23") and it would be stable enough for visual, unless you try to push the power way up. You could probably even get away without using a counter-weight.

October 26, 2003 11:56 PM Forum: Takahashi

Tak Tube Holder

Posted By Michael Piacenza
Doug,

The Tak clam shell tube holder has holes that align perfectly with a Viven dovetail. In fact, a lot of the Vixen and Takahashi parts seem to interchange nicely. I am currently using a Tak 1.25 compression ring back on a 90mm Celestron/Vixen fluorite and the thread was a perfect match. As far as ease of adjustment. I find the single ring to be easier to loosen, slide and refasten. But the double rings are safer. With two rings you are less likely to end up loosing the whole load. But your 3am reflexes may be better than mine.

November 23, 2003 04:23 PM Forum: Takahashi

FS60 lightweight mount/tripod

Posted By Michael Piacenza
Tom,

The mini-giro would be a perfect alt-az for your FS-60. I use it with my FC-60 and a Bogen 3011 tripod. It's light as a feather and very solid. The complaints about the mini-giro within their Yahoo discussion group have seemed to all come from people who have tried to mount refracters in excess of 80mm on it. I think that a TV85 is borderline for it. But your 60mm would be ideal.

December 17, 2003 06:23 PM Forum: Takahashi

A Sophie's Choice : Sky 90 orTMB 80/600

Posted By Michael Piacenza
If you ever get a chance to view through a 90mm Celestron/Vixen f9 fluorite, then please do so. You will be amazed! And the stock 1.25" focuser on mine has been trouble-free and quite smooth. It just needs to be re-adjusted from time-to-time. Takes about 20 seconds. At f9 it is long. But for traveling it breaks down easily into four pieces. This requires no tools and takes about a minute. Hope this wasn't off-topic, but just want to remind people that some of the older stuff is still good.

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