Posts Made By: Lucien Bure

I would like to inform all
of you that there is a backlash problem with TMB 130ss focusers (not the feathertouch one, the TMB designed(?) one). I know this for 100% shure, because I wanted to buy this scope here in France with Scopemania, and this is what I have been told : "We have one in stock right now, but we will not sell it to you because the focuser is not o.k., it has backlash problems with the fine focuser". When you turn the focuser nothing happens for a while and after turning it for some time it only starts to work. And this is not a small,problem, otherwise they would have sold it to me at a special price, but they will not sell it to me because of this problem. And there is more : the guy at Scopmania assured me that this is not a problem unique with the one they have in stock, so,watch out all of you out there if you follow Tom Trusacks advice on Cloudy Nights and which to by a second hand one with the TMB focuser!!!!This is the reason why TMB changed to the feathertouch focuser, nothing else. Very interesting also is the fact that the honest guy at Scopemania also assured me that the same problem exists with the William Optics FLT 132, after I told him this scope would interest me also, so, there you go. At Scopemania's they also told me that there have been sold TMB130ss scopes without this focuser problem, because there were no problems detected at the moment of seling it, BUT, after a couple nights of turning the focuser, here they were again. So, Scopemania will keep the TMB130ss they have in stock, and will order a feathertouch focuser and install it on the tube themselves, and only then will they sell this scope, not before, not even at he full price, because they feel that this quality refractor deserves a better focuser. I hope this was interesting for people who wanted to buy this TMB-focuser equipped 130ss or the Williams FLT 132. I don't know if the problem as as bad with the FLT 132 as it is with the TMB, but it has been reported, so be warned :S
P.S. I hope my English is not too bad, cause my language is French 8)

Hello,
After hearing the problems with the TMB & William focusers, I want to buy or the TMB 130 f6 in the A&M carbon tube OR the Takahashi TOA 130 instead. Anyone out there who has viewed at both? What difference would there be between these? People who have not owned or viewed through both of these scopes, please be so kind to not give comment. I don't want to sound rude, but honestly, it is too often that I see people answering questions on the forums and giving their opinions, without even ever having looked through the scopes in question! I am shure they have only good intentions and only want to help, which is fine, but is useless I.M.H.O. I too have my thoughts about these two fine scopes, but refuses to give them here, because I never have looked through any of these scopes! I have looked (and owned)through other scopes of these brands, and they were fine, but I would like to know the difference in quality between the TOA 130 and A&M 130f6(or TMB=same lens by LZOS)by people who have either owned these or have looked trough them themselves. I want to know ONLY the optical difference, not the mechanical ones, which are well enough documented. The TOA is heavier longer etc.. the TMB shorter lighter easier to mount etc... blablabla, but all this is not of my concern, I can mount both of them, and I find even the heavier TOA is still portable enough for me, so just the difference in optical quality, I would like to know.
Thanks in advance
Lucien

Hello Folks,

I am going to buy a Baader Mark V binoviewer with their dedicated 2,6X corrector and maxbright T-2 mirror diagonal, to use on my TEC 140, for the moon & planets. I need 18 and a 12,5mm eyepiece pairs and cannot decide between Takahashi's or Baader genuine orthos, which are kind of enhanced U.O. orthos in HD version. Anyone one out there with good advice on this? Optical quality, eyerelief, comfort etc.. every info is welcome! Price doesn't matter

Clear skies,
Lucien

Thanks a lot Scott, now that's the kind of info I need!

I think I will buy a couple of BGO's. Can't do much wrong anyway for the price. Allthough I wonder if Zeiss ever made an Abbe in this FL, which would be damn nice too 8)

I also think that there "might" be less light scatter, if any at all, in the BGO's than in the U.O.'s, and also in the HD's versus volcano top U.O.'s at least that's what everyone seems to believe over here anyway....

Lucien