KinchAstro
  • Home Page
  • Progress through the years
    • 2023 Images >
      • Messier 101 (2023)
      • SH2-278
      • Soul Nebula (2023)
      • NGC 1491 (Fossil Footprint) 2023
      • IC 443 (Jellyfish Nebula) 2023
    • 2022 Images >
      • Andromeda Galaxy (2022)
      • SH2-173
      • Bat Nebula in Eastern Veil
      • SH2-124
      • NGC 7380 Wizard (2022)
      • SH2-132 (2022)
      • Cygnus Butterfly
      • SH2-140 & SH2-145
      • SNR G082.2+05.3
      • Just one area of Gas & Dust in Cygnus
      • Propeller Nebula (2022)
      • Around NGC 6914
      • SH2-115 & Abell 71 Wide Field
      • IC 4685
      • M20 - Trifid Nebula
      • SH2-101 (2022)
      • WR 134 in Cygnus
      • M 17 (2022)
      • M5 Star Cluster
      • Cederblad 51
      • Cone Nebula to NGC 2259
      • NGC 2353 (Stars & Stuff)
      • SH2-232 (2022)
      • IC 410 (Tadpoles) - 2022
    • 2021 Images >
      • SH2-224 (2021)
      • NGC 2174 (2021)
      • SH2-284 (2021)
      • Cocoon Nebula
      • SH2-261
      • Heart Nebula 2021
      • LBN 437 (SH2-126)
      • IC 1848 - Soul Nebula
      • SNR G082.2+05.3
      • SH2-135
      • LDN 909 & DWB 111
      • IC 5068
      • SH2-119
      • North of Sadr (Cygnus)
      • The Blue Horse Head Nebula
      • Messier 3 (2021)
      • Pink Moon Apr.2021
      • NGC 1499 (California Nebula)
      • MW2 (Dust Angel)
      • IC 2177 (Seagull) 2021
      • Abell 31 (2021)
      • SH2-308 Dolphin Nebula
      • M78
      • Jones Emberson 1 (2021)
      • HFG1 & Abell 6
      • SH2-282
    • 2020 Images >
      • Abell 21 (2020) Madusa Nebula
      • SH2-200
      • M33 (2020)
      • SH2-112
      • SH2-132 (2020)
      • IC 1805 - Heart Nebula
      • SH2-155 - Cave Nebula
      • SH2-114 - The Flying Dragon
      • SH2-115
      • Abell 85 (CTB-1)
      • LDN1235 - Shark Nebula
      • IC 1396 with Elephant Trunk Nebula
      • IC 1311
      • Crescent toward Sadr
      • SH2-54 & NGC 6604
      • IC 1318 Sadr Region
      • IC4592 - Blue Horsehead
      • Rho Ophiuchi
      • NGC 2259
      • Horsehead & Flame
      • IC 2177
      • SH2-232
      • SH2-284
      • SH2-280 or LBN 973
      • Rosette Nebula
    • 2019 Images >
      • Veil Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2019)
      • Lobster Claw & Bubble
      • Tulip Nebula & NGC 6871
      • Earth's Moon
      • Propeller Nebula
      • NGC 7129 & NGC 7142
      • NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula
      • M108 & M97
      • M13 Globular Cluster
      • HCG 44
      • M81 & M82
      • M5 Star Cluster
      • M3 Star Cluster
      • NGC 4565
      • M 101 Galaxy (2019)
      • Abell 33
      • M1 Crab Nebula
      • IC 410 Tadpoles
      • Jellyfish Nebula
    • 2018 Images >
      • Simeis 147
      • North America & Pelican
      • NGC 7635 Bubble Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2018)
      • NGC 281 Pacman Nebula
      • Soap Bubble & Crescent Nebula
      • NGC 2327 Seagull Nebula HaSHO
      • NGC 2327 Seagull Nebula Ha
      • NGC 2359 Thor's Helmet
      • Jones Emberson 1
    • 2017 Images >
      • M31 Andromeda Galaxy
      • NGC 7293 Helix Nebula
      • NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula
      • M16 Eagle Nebula
      • NGC 6820 & NGC 6823
      • Abell 21 (2017) Medusa Nebula
      • Sh2-290
      • NGC 2264 NB Colour
      • NGC 2264
      • IC 2118 Witch Head Nebula
      • M42 Orion Nebula
    • 2016 Images >
      • Cederblad 214
      • NGC 1491
      • IC 1795 The Fishhead Nebula
      • Bubble Nebula (2016)
      • NGC 7380 Wizard Nebula
      • Pickering's Triangle
      • Caldwell 33
      • Eastern Veil Nebula (Caldwell 33) - Ha
      • SH2-132
      • SH2-155 The Cave Nebula
      • Cave Nebula (Ha)
      • NGC7000 & IC5070
      • Cygnus Wall
      • M13
      • Pelican Nebula
      • M 101 Galaxy (2016)
      • M3 - Star Cluster
      • IC 2177 - Seagull Nebula
      • A few Planetary Nebulae
      • Waxing Moon
      • Rosette Nebula - HSHO
      • Rosette Nebula - Ha
      • Earth's Moon
      • Horse Head & Flame Nebulae
      • NGC 2359
    • 2015 Images >
      • Tadpoles - Crop
      • IC 405 & IC 410
      • IC410 Tadpole Nebula Full
      • IC410 Tadpole Nebula
      • Soul Nebula
      • Dumbbell Nebula
      • M33 Triangulum Galaxy
      • NGC 281 PacMan Nebula
      • Melotte 15 (Heart of the Heart Nebula)
      • Heart Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2015)
      • Propeller Nebula
      • Pickering's Triangle
      • Omega Nebula
      • Elephant's Trunk Nebula
      • M108 & M97
      • IC 2177
      • Cone & Christmas Tree
      • Monkey Head Nebula
      • Bubble Nebula & M52 (Open Cluster)
      • The Rosette
      • Jellyfish Nebula
    • 2014 Images >
      • Crab Nebula (2014)
      • The Horsehead & Flame
      • The Rosette Nebula
      • Thor's Helmet
      • Leo Triplet
      • Sombrero Galaxy
      • Pinwheel Galaxy
      • Eagle Nebula
      • Lagoon Nebula
      • Pelican Nebula
      • Veil Nebula
      • Great Orion Nebula
    • 2013 Images
    • ....and before!
  • Putting in the Observatory
    • Observatory
    • Foundation Area
    • Foundation 1
    • Foundation 2
    • Building the Pier
    • Pier Completed
    • All wired up.
    • Ready for a nights work!
    • Observatory arrives
    • Neatly packed on the pallet
    • Construction underway
    • Ready to bolt the base to the concrete
    • Dome ready to go on.
    • Ready for side panel
    • Side panel fitted.
    • A look inside.
    • Solar Panel Power
    • Observatory 2
  • My Astro Imaging Gear
    • List of Hardware & Software
    • Connection Diagram - Electrical
    • Connection Diagrams - Hardware
    • Equatorial Mounts >
      • Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2
      • Takahashi EM200 Temma 2
    • Telescopes >
      • Takahashi FSQ130ED
      • Tak FSQ 106 ED
      • Tak FS 60 CB
      • Meade LX200R
    • Cameras >
      • QSI 6120i
      • QHY 5 II
      • Atik 460 EX
    • Other Equipment >
      • Filter Wheel & Filters
      • Other Gear
  • Information & Links
  • On a more personal note...
Takahashi FSQ 130 ED
There surely will be two camps  out there: those that say; 'Why pay so much for a 5" refractor?" and those that say 'WOW! Wish I had one!'
​Yes there are other scopes that fill the same niche in the market but like everything else in life you get what you pay for.....even though my wife says that slightly differently...".you pay for what you get". Regardless of your own thoughts, this of course was a personal choice, and while I could, I decided to go for it.  I bought it during 2017 but it will really only get up & running now in 2018.
​The top photos show it just out of the packaging onto my EM200....just to have a look at what I bought.

​My initial thoughts were to sell the FSQ106 - but since I had an occasion to use that once last year at a very dark site in NW Murcia (Spain), I realized there was something special about being out under very dark skies. I keep that scope and the EM200 at the ready for doing similar dark site imaging whenever the opportunity may arise. I am amazed at the difference in image quality, when one gets away from the urban light pollution.

​One thing that I liked re the 130 was the idea of using the extender and reducer that I already had for the FSQ106. The same pieces work for this scope also (and I already have the correct spacers), so I have a  variety of focal lengths to work with from FL 1040 (f/8) through  FL 650 (f/5) to FL 474 (f/3.6). The center image on line 2 above shows the scope rigged up at f/5 with an Atik EFW3 filter wheel. Of note also: I was also able to shift the RoboFocus unit directly over to the 130 from the 106.

​Now, the 1st three images on the site for 2018 show the possibilities in real images. Jones Emberson 1: taken with the extender in the line giving FL 1040 (f/8) and NGC 2737 with the reducer in place giving FL 474 (f/3.6). Thor's Helmet is at native FL 650 (f/5.0). This is what I am so happy about - the variety that remains open to me (remember I had similar options with the FSQ106). The money has gone into the bigger aperture and image circle rather than a change of direction with a non refractor.  The next step will be for a larger chip camera, to make more use of that huge image circle. What I have in mind will not require larger filters and will still by fully compatible with the reducer & extender. Versatility will still be a key factor for me.

​The owners manual is below and if you scroll through it, you will realise that the document is of similar basic quality as other Takahasi manuals. However, of interest may be the spot diagrams and info re the image circles. Everything else is secondary!

Back to Telescopes
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  • Home Page
  • Progress through the years
    • 2023 Images >
      • Messier 101 (2023)
      • SH2-278
      • Soul Nebula (2023)
      • NGC 1491 (Fossil Footprint) 2023
      • IC 443 (Jellyfish Nebula) 2023
    • 2022 Images >
      • Andromeda Galaxy (2022)
      • SH2-173
      • Bat Nebula in Eastern Veil
      • SH2-124
      • NGC 7380 Wizard (2022)
      • SH2-132 (2022)
      • Cygnus Butterfly
      • SH2-140 & SH2-145
      • SNR G082.2+05.3
      • Just one area of Gas & Dust in Cygnus
      • Propeller Nebula (2022)
      • Around NGC 6914
      • SH2-115 & Abell 71 Wide Field
      • IC 4685
      • M20 - Trifid Nebula
      • SH2-101 (2022)
      • WR 134 in Cygnus
      • M 17 (2022)
      • M5 Star Cluster
      • Cederblad 51
      • Cone Nebula to NGC 2259
      • NGC 2353 (Stars & Stuff)
      • SH2-232 (2022)
      • IC 410 (Tadpoles) - 2022
    • 2021 Images >
      • SH2-224 (2021)
      • NGC 2174 (2021)
      • SH2-284 (2021)
      • Cocoon Nebula
      • SH2-261
      • Heart Nebula 2021
      • LBN 437 (SH2-126)
      • IC 1848 - Soul Nebula
      • SNR G082.2+05.3
      • SH2-135
      • LDN 909 & DWB 111
      • IC 5068
      • SH2-119
      • North of Sadr (Cygnus)
      • The Blue Horse Head Nebula
      • Messier 3 (2021)
      • Pink Moon Apr.2021
      • NGC 1499 (California Nebula)
      • MW2 (Dust Angel)
      • IC 2177 (Seagull) 2021
      • Abell 31 (2021)
      • SH2-308 Dolphin Nebula
      • M78
      • Jones Emberson 1 (2021)
      • HFG1 & Abell 6
      • SH2-282
    • 2020 Images >
      • Abell 21 (2020) Madusa Nebula
      • SH2-200
      • M33 (2020)
      • SH2-112
      • SH2-132 (2020)
      • IC 1805 - Heart Nebula
      • SH2-155 - Cave Nebula
      • SH2-114 - The Flying Dragon
      • SH2-115
      • Abell 85 (CTB-1)
      • LDN1235 - Shark Nebula
      • IC 1396 with Elephant Trunk Nebula
      • IC 1311
      • Crescent toward Sadr
      • SH2-54 & NGC 6604
      • IC 1318 Sadr Region
      • IC4592 - Blue Horsehead
      • Rho Ophiuchi
      • NGC 2259
      • Horsehead & Flame
      • IC 2177
      • SH2-232
      • SH2-284
      • SH2-280 or LBN 973
      • Rosette Nebula
    • 2019 Images >
      • Veil Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2019)
      • Lobster Claw & Bubble
      • Tulip Nebula & NGC 6871
      • Earth's Moon
      • Propeller Nebula
      • NGC 7129 & NGC 7142
      • NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula
      • M108 & M97
      • M13 Globular Cluster
      • HCG 44
      • M81 & M82
      • M5 Star Cluster
      • M3 Star Cluster
      • NGC 4565
      • M 101 Galaxy (2019)
      • Abell 33
      • M1 Crab Nebula
      • IC 410 Tadpoles
      • Jellyfish Nebula
    • 2018 Images >
      • Simeis 147
      • North America & Pelican
      • NGC 7635 Bubble Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2018)
      • NGC 281 Pacman Nebula
      • Soap Bubble & Crescent Nebula
      • NGC 2327 Seagull Nebula HaSHO
      • NGC 2327 Seagull Nebula Ha
      • NGC 2359 Thor's Helmet
      • Jones Emberson 1
    • 2017 Images >
      • M31 Andromeda Galaxy
      • NGC 7293 Helix Nebula
      • NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula
      • M16 Eagle Nebula
      • NGC 6820 & NGC 6823
      • Abell 21 (2017) Medusa Nebula
      • Sh2-290
      • NGC 2264 NB Colour
      • NGC 2264
      • IC 2118 Witch Head Nebula
      • M42 Orion Nebula
    • 2016 Images >
      • Cederblad 214
      • NGC 1491
      • IC 1795 The Fishhead Nebula
      • Bubble Nebula (2016)
      • NGC 7380 Wizard Nebula
      • Pickering's Triangle
      • Caldwell 33
      • Eastern Veil Nebula (Caldwell 33) - Ha
      • SH2-132
      • SH2-155 The Cave Nebula
      • Cave Nebula (Ha)
      • NGC7000 & IC5070
      • Cygnus Wall
      • M13
      • Pelican Nebula
      • M 101 Galaxy (2016)
      • M3 - Star Cluster
      • IC 2177 - Seagull Nebula
      • A few Planetary Nebulae
      • Waxing Moon
      • Rosette Nebula - HSHO
      • Rosette Nebula - Ha
      • Earth's Moon
      • Horse Head & Flame Nebulae
      • NGC 2359
    • 2015 Images >
      • Tadpoles - Crop
      • IC 405 & IC 410
      • IC410 Tadpole Nebula Full
      • IC410 Tadpole Nebula
      • Soul Nebula
      • Dumbbell Nebula
      • M33 Triangulum Galaxy
      • NGC 281 PacMan Nebula
      • Melotte 15 (Heart of the Heart Nebula)
      • Heart Nebula
      • NGC 7822 (2015)
      • Propeller Nebula
      • Pickering's Triangle
      • Omega Nebula
      • Elephant's Trunk Nebula
      • M108 & M97
      • IC 2177
      • Cone & Christmas Tree
      • Monkey Head Nebula
      • Bubble Nebula & M52 (Open Cluster)
      • The Rosette
      • Jellyfish Nebula
    • 2014 Images >
      • Crab Nebula (2014)
      • The Horsehead & Flame
      • The Rosette Nebula
      • Thor's Helmet
      • Leo Triplet
      • Sombrero Galaxy
      • Pinwheel Galaxy
      • Eagle Nebula
      • Lagoon Nebula
      • Pelican Nebula
      • Veil Nebula
      • Great Orion Nebula
    • 2013 Images
    • ....and before!
  • Putting in the Observatory
    • Observatory
    • Foundation Area
    • Foundation 1
    • Foundation 2
    • Building the Pier
    • Pier Completed
    • All wired up.
    • Ready for a nights work!
    • Observatory arrives
    • Neatly packed on the pallet
    • Construction underway
    • Ready to bolt the base to the concrete
    • Dome ready to go on.
    • Ready for side panel
    • Side panel fitted.
    • A look inside.
    • Solar Panel Power
    • Observatory 2
  • My Astro Imaging Gear
    • List of Hardware & Software
    • Connection Diagram - Electrical
    • Connection Diagrams - Hardware
    • Equatorial Mounts >
      • Takahashi EM 400 Temma 2
      • Takahashi EM200 Temma 2
    • Telescopes >
      • Takahashi FSQ130ED
      • Tak FSQ 106 ED
      • Tak FS 60 CB
      • Meade LX200R
    • Cameras >
      • QSI 6120i
      • QHY 5 II
      • Atik 460 EX
    • Other Equipment >
      • Filter Wheel & Filters
      • Other Gear
  • Information & Links
  • On a more personal note...