This is part 1 of a 3 part series reviewing the TV-85 doublet refractor. All items reviewed are available from First Light Optics via the links below.
This video shows the opening and my initial impressions of the OTA and Berlebach tripod. Part 2 of the video will be using the telescope with the supplied diagonal, eyepiece and tripod, and Part 3 will be imaging with the focal reducer.
TV-85
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tele-vue-telescopes/tele-vue-85mm-f7-apo-doublet-refractor/ref/simpastro
Diagonal
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/diagonals/tele-vue-everbrite-90-diagonals/ref/simpastro
Berlebach Tripod
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tele-vue-mounts/tele-vue-panoramic-mount-with-ash-tripod/ref/simpastro
Field Flattener/reducer
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tele-vue/tele-vue-08x-reducer-flattener-trf-2008-for-tv-76-tv-85-and-400-600mm-focal-length-refractors/ref/simpastro
Eyepiece
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tele-vue-eyepieces/tele-vue-delite-62-degree-eyepieces/ref/simpastro
Clamshell
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tele-vue-telescopes/tele-vue-3-satin-clamshell-style-mounting-ring/ref/simpastro
Price: $628.00
Tele Vue 13mm Ethos 2" / 1.25" Eyepiece with 100 Degree Field of View.
Apparent Field of View - 100 degrees Focal Length - 13mm Effective Field Stop - 22.3mm Eye Relief - 15mm (accepts DIOPTRX eyesight astigmatism corrector) Barrel Size - 2"/1.25" (as of September 13, 2020 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Price: $854.00
Televue ETH210 21mm Ethos 2-in Eyepiece With 100 Degree Field Of View
Focal Length: 21mm # of Lens Elements: Apparent Field: 100° Eye Relief: 15mm Field Stop Diameter: 36.2mm (as of September 13, 2020 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Price: $333.00
Televue PMT-4201 2 inch 4x Powermate with 1.25-Inch Eyepiece Adapter
Vignetting, edge field aberrations and pupil movement - all introduced when using Barlows with long focal length eyepieces, are minimized. Telecentric operation (field rays leave parallel to optical axis, unlike Barlow lenses which diverge rays). Thi... (as of September 13, 2020 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Price: $526.00
Really awesome first impression. Can’t wait to see how you got on with the field test. So one thing I did notice, there is no dovetail? I guess it’s just like Taks that you pay extra for the clamshell and then use your own dovetail.
Also is the bag water/weather proof?
Can’t wait for parts 2&3! Hopefully FLO forgot to include clouds. Last time I got s delivery with sticker like that, it brought three months worth of them.
I’ve never considered a Televue scope before. It’s certainly lovely and dark in side the tube, so I expect it will have excellent contrast. The soft case looks a bit worrying to me though, I would have preferred to see the foam uniformly hugging the scope all the way around, the wall thickness looks very thin on the side with the handles, but I guess this is a minor thing. The build of the scope itself looks excellent.