TMB 175mm f/8


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Brand and Model:TMB 175mm f/8
Price ($USD):12000
Type:Apochromatic Refractor
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:175mm (6.9")
f Ratio:f/8
Focal Length:1400mm
Finder:8x50
Electric Power:none
Mount:none
Tripod:none
Weight (lbs):60 to 70 lbs. lb
Dimensions (w/h/d):............
Description:comes with tube rings

Vote Highlights Vote
TMB 175mm f/8
This is definitely one of the best APOs I have ever used. I own the 175 F/8 LW version and it combines excellent optics with superb mechanics. Very much binoviewer friendly. Looking at the Moon last evening with a pair of Zeiss 25mm Abbe orthos was simply wonderful- razor sharp 3-D viewing. M13 was great even from my location near Los Angeles- a myriad of pinpoints on a black background. Due to summer heat and many radiating surfaces nearby the seeing was failry bad. But in moments of better seeing, Jupiter was a wealth of detail.

I picked it up used which makes it a fair value though still pretty expensive. Mine is on an NJP which is quite happy carrying it and very stable. I can not imagine a larger one-man portable APO so this is it unless I build a permanent structure. A very happy camper!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=565897


TMB 175mm f/8
I received my TMB 175 from TMB Optical only 2 months after placing my order--and no waiting list!

My first impression upon opening the box was "Wow , that's one honking big telescope"!! This is one of the "new" TMB 175's , that utilizes the much lighter and more user-friendly Feathertouch focusers than the "CNC" focuser models.

Fit and finish: Really outstanding , no blemishes or screwdriver marks ,etc. to mar the deep white paint on the tube. The subdued gloss black of the Feathertouch focuser is really classy. Includes a finder bracket (quick-detachable).

Optics: Absolute perfection ; as good as , if not better than my outstanding Takahashi TOA 130 . The Feathertouch focuser is really frosting on the cake. Achieving exact focus even with very short f.l. eyepieces is easy. The example I received was in absolutely perfect collimation right out of the box , and provided absolutely pinpoint stellar images , edge to center. Resolved epsilon-Lyrae into 4 stars at 117X (Nagler 12 Type4) even under less-than-perfect seeing conditions. My best view ever of the Ring (M57).

Overall rating: To my knowledge , this is the only true 7" APO currently available "new" on the market , so comparisons are meaningless. If there were , however , this is the standard that they would be compared to. The light weight of only 42# makes mounting the scope easy , since many readily available mounts can support this weight. I personally chose the Takahashi NJP-160 mount. I give this telescope , and TMB Optical my highest personal recommendation. A "10" all the way!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=364494

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