Posts Made By: Charles Orzech

I just picked up an excellent FS 102 (star tests about as good as any scope I have ever seen). I've been working on scopes for a long time and with refractors have always set the cell to produce a quiet but audible clunk--to give some room for cell contraction in cold weather. This FS102 has its cell screwed down snug (not hard, but no thunk), but the cell is constructed in a way that looks like it may be temp. compensating. Someone here must be familiar with the setup. Do I loosen it a smidge or leave it?

thanks,

Charlie

I received my 10" a couple of weeks ago and have had no collimation "sag"--it is rigid and holds collimation well. I got mine with standard optics and they are quite good indeed.

There are a few elements of design that could use tweaking. For instance, the primary collimation knobs tend to run into the mirror hold-down bolts. Getting full contact on the altitude bearings can be tricky (but this does not impede use of the scope) and the light shroud is a rather inelegant mate for such an elegant piece of design. With the current "feet" the scope needs a pretty flat surface. The focuser on mine was stiff and needed some careful adjusting, and its thumbscrews will mar your eyepieces (I will get some brass replacements or retrofit the focuser).

Since the scope is not heavy it is more susceptible to vibration than a massive dob so using it takes a light touch. The scope is so light I can pick the whole thing up and hold it in front of me and just put it down outside. If there is a tree or building in the way of something I can just pick up the scope and move it. All in all a nice scope that fits my needs quite well.

Charlie Orzech

David Simper said:

Have you observed through this scope ? There were some voices about collimation sagging when pointed too far from the vertical...

David