Takahashi FSQ-106

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Takahashi FSQ-106
one of the most excellent portable refractors out there. perfect star test, contrast stunning. pinpoint stars to the edge...a real winner.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39846

Takahashi FSQ-106
The best telescope on the market under 5" of aperture. It beat the pants off of a 150mm/f12 Intes MK-67 Deluxe in a side-by-side lunar and planetary comparison. The FSQ stays sharp to 380X and I haven't tried higher yet. No trace of color whatsoever on Sirius at over 250X. Very fine hardware and optics. Buy the Extender Q1.6 to convert back and forth from f5 to f8. It's a necessary item for great planetary images at high magnification. Lots of WOW factor -- including unfortunately the price, but still worth it!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39867

Takahashi FSQ-106
Unreal. I had a FS-102 and didn't think you could get much better. I was wrong. This scope is to refractors what DVD is to home movies. Here are my impressions:

1. Typical somewhat bland styling of Takahashi. Blah green paint around focuser, etc., doesn't quite go with white tube and Tak Blue accents and stickers.

2. Huge focuser. Mine is just a tad tight. I believe it needs a little lube is all. Butter smooth with no image shift at all when you change directions.

3. Very heavy. Around 14 pounds. Built like a tank and I like it that way. Makes you feel like you are getting something for your money.

4. Absolutely, first rate construction and finish. Not a flaw that I could find. Can't expound much beyond that.

5. Optics are coated so darkly you'd hardly know you were looking at glass. Multi-element design. Go to any good vendor site for detailed specs.

6. Ok, Ok... the views are what you want to know about. Here it is as simply as I can state it. I have owned AP's, Televue's, Taks, and several other brands. I will simply state that I have "never" looked through a better scope. Not at a star party, not that I have owned, not that my friends have owned. It is the BEST 4" you can own. Period. You have to look to believe.

7. The only downside is this one thing. To use the FSQ visually you will need either the TAK FSQ diagonal or the Tak Tele-extender and diagonal adapter to accept your own diagonal. You can only use the Tak diagonal if you wish to use the scope in f5. The tele will allow you to use any other 1.25 or 2" diagonal at f8. That is ideal for planetary work anyway. Either option will run you another $300+. This is not enough to rate it down from a 10. And, if you can afford the OTA you should be able to spring for either or both of these.

Overall this is a "WORLD CLASS" refractor worth every single penny if you can afford it. I feel very lucky.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39868

Takahashi FSQ-106
Comments above mine sum it up. This scope blows TMB, Televue, AP and others of same size right out of the water. It isn't world class, it is the one the rest of the class can only hope to follow.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39869

Takahashi FSQ-106
My Tak is the best refractor I have ever looked through including lots of other brands. EXPENSIVE. But hey isn't everything.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39870

Takahashi FSQ-106
anyone who says this scope blows the compitition out of the water, obviously has never experienced the compitition. you would have to spend at least a good ten or fifteen minutes going back and forth in a side by side comparison between the top scopes in this class to start noticing any differences. we all have our favorites, and the reason i post this type of comment is for the individual who may not have the experience to know if there really is such a exaggerated difference. trust me, there
is'nt.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Takahashi FSQ-106
This scope is the best 4" available. Don't need to repeat all the great above comments. It is heavy as a rock, built to last, and will be an heirloom.

Paul

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39872

Takahashi FSQ-106
I love this scope. I wish it was a little lighter, but put up with the weight for its performance. I highly recommend the Ext-Q for this scope.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39873

Takahashi FSQ-106
Awesome scope. It is built like a tank and is VERY heavy for a 4" refractor. Views are simply superb. It is the equal of any 4" on the market. Obviously, each high end refractor has its +'s and -'s. The optics are 10+ and star test are flawless. Have not had an opportunity to ccd with this scope but many notable CCD imagers use them. Could go on and an on. There are few equals.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39874

Takahashi FSQ-106
I've owned one of these for nearly a year now and have seen nothing else come close in the sub 5" category. These are a big step up from the FS102 in optical quality and chromatic aberration. I actually owned two FSQ's for a period of time (through some strange circumstances) and had them both side-by-side on the Moon at 850X on a very good night! There was no difference in the views and the views were astounding. This attests to the quality control of Tak, to have two scopes perform beyond 200X/inch. I've tested several AP's and have never found another set of optics which could duplicate this feat in even one scope. When you add in the 4" focuser, the fact that no additional field flattener is necessary for photography, and the built-in camera-angle-adjuster, the FSQ106 is quite possibly the best value in high-performance amateur astronomy equipment today. The best part though, is that you can order one today, and have it in your driveway on a mount in another two days! Definitely purchase the Extender-Q! While you're at it, get a TV 2.5X or 5X powermate, the Tak 5mm, and 7.5mm LE eyepieces. You'll need this to get to the magnifications this baby can handle on the Moon and planets. Save your money for one -- it's worth it!

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Takahashi FSQ-106
Great color free views.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=84061

Takahashi FSQ-106
What a beauty. I've owned Newts, SCTs, Dobs and one other apo -- none of them had the first-light impact of this one. Possible downside is that as a primarily photographic scope you're forced to accessorize a bit for visual use by getting the f/8 extender (also needed if you want to use anything other than the FSQs dedicated diagonal), however most of us equipment freaks don't consider more accessories as a bad thing. In any case this is far & away my favorite scope so far, with optics as superb as you could ask for.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=84208

Takahashi FSQ-106
I have postponed this review to cool down my enthusiasm and become more objective about this scope. Problem is: I am still highly enthusiastic! And I don't easily get entusiatic. But this is a truly fantastic, multi-purpose scope. In comparison with my other scopes, that is, a Televue Ranger, Intes MK66, and Celestron 9.25", my conclusions are: Far better in sharpness, contrast, and details compared to Ranger and Intes MK66. The Celestron 9.25" is indeed a great scope too, but the FSQ still exceeds it, especially in professional finish, sharpness and contrast (though, of course, not regarding light gathering capacity). Expensive, yes, but I am fully satisfied. And then I can use it as a "travel-scope" too. To show FSQ's sharpness, here is one of the first pictures I have taken with the Takahashi FSQ 106N [dead link removed]

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=362823

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