Takahashi FC-76

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Brand and Model:Takahashi FC-76
Price ($USD):NLA
Type:Apochromatic Refractor
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:76mm (3")
f Ratio:f/7.9
Focal Length:600mm
Finder:NA
Electric Power:NA
Mount:NA
Tripod:NA
Weight (lbs):6.6 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):Approx. 27" long
Description:Flourite doublet with flourite element behind front element.

Vote Highlights Vote
Takahashi FC-76
Recently picked up a used Tak FC76 tricked out with a two inch Televue diagonal and a Tak 6X30 finder/bracket. The telescope has the build quality that Tak's are famous for and is a nice portable little scope (about 23 1/2" from end of dew shield to the where the focuser begins). The scope is also very light. I have it mounted on a CG4 with RA drive and the mount handles the scope very well.

Last night I viewed a number of objects as follows:

Castor (1.9 mag, 2.9mag, sep. 4") - easy split despite being only about 20 degrees above the horizon.

36 Epsilon Bootes (2.5mag, 4.9mag, Sep. 2.8")- one of may favorites, tight split showing the blue yellow double. The stars in this scope are just perfect little balls very crisply defined.

Epsilon Lyra (double double)- (AB 5.4mag, 6.5mag, sep. 2.6"/ CD 5.1mag, 5.3mag, sep. 2.6" and 2.3"respectively). Nice split here on all four components, love this object.

M101 - tough face on for the little guy but the galaxy was easily detected and did show gradual brightening toward the center, no other structure visible.

M92 - resolved some edge stars but nowhere near resolution of the core. High power did make the core itself look stellar and show a few more stars.

M13 - resolves better then M92, but still not to the core.

At this point I switched gears and threw in a 27mm Panoptic rendering 22X and a 3 degree field of view. I then panned around the Lagoon/Trifid area of the Milky Way. The Lagoon, Trifid, and M21 all fit in the same field of view with lots of nebulousity (no filter needed to see this, even on the Trifid). There was also a large nebulous area (I think it was LBN 33), but not sure. I could detect it without a UHC, but the UHC enhanced it a great deal. The area was full of nebulousity quite frankly.

I was also able to see open clusters NGC 6469 & 6568; and globular clusters NGC 6544, 6553, and M22 (resolved best of all globulars).

The Sagittarian Star Cloud was breathtaking. Very dense star field with large dark lanes running through it.

Took the opportunity to view Mars as well. Mars, as I like to say "Is a tough little bugger." But the Tak did a respectable job showing the southern polar region and surrounding mare, and some detail in the northern hemisphere { I believe it was parts of Mare Acidalium and Niliacus Lacus). Best views were achieved with an orange filter at 200X; the seeing gave out before the scope. Yes, that's over 60X per inch on a planet - not to shabby. Used 240X but seeing settled far less frequently at that level. I do believe if the seeing was better the scope would have provided a crisp image. In fact, when seeing steadied, it did provide a crisp image.

I am very happy with this scope. False color is VERY inconspicous, but it can be seen on some objects. Sometimes its hard to tell what causes it. I have noticed complex eyepieces introduce color, as does atmospherics. You can also induce color by cranking up the magnification on very bright stars, and I mean cranking! However, the amount that is present is so small it's really not even worth discussing, but I know some people are fanatics about it so I wanted to be accurate.

The scope excels at wide fields and takes unbelievable amounts of magnification. I have used stupid high powers on some doubles stars and the images remained very pleasing - really unbelievable. By the way I have a 5X Powermate so you can imagine how high I can go!

It's very hard to find fault with this scope. It's light, portable, and optically superb. I can detect nothing wrong with the star test. But the scope is small, only 3 inches, so don't expect miracles. My former G5 beats it hands down on deep-sky; no surprise there (although the G5 could not provide the wide fields like the Tak). And you will want to do widefields; they provide such unique views of even the most familiar objects.

So choose based on your needs. I already have a superb equatorially driven 10" f4.5 dob, so this scope is a nice match and a lot of fun.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 6 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41228

Takahashi FC-76
I recently picked up a very nice used FC-76. It blows away the FS-78 that I had. The views, both astronomic and terrestrial, are just incredible. They will have to pry the focus knobs from my cold dead fingers. Now I know the true meaning of "wow factor".

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=560508

Takahashi FC-76
Magnificent in every respect... Perfect star test, incredible contrast and sharpness, solid, light, beautifully finished and a focuser to kill for.

Over more than 25 years I’ve owned quite a few scopes and have observed with many, many more. APO refractors have always had a special place in my heart. And this one... Well, if size were not in the equation, it is the best scope I have ever used. Size taken into consideration, it is the best under four inch scope I have ever used.

If I ever get into serious financial trouble and have to sell off my scopes, this FC76 will be the last one to go.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=255643

Takahashi FC-76
Just wanted to add to my above post. I had the Tak out on June 16, 2001 and the seeing was excellent (really steadied around 2:00 a.m.). The Tak held 300X with no noticebale image breakdown (using medium dark blue filter). Syrtis Major was on the face and showed darkening on its northern edges. Syrtis Minor was visible as were undulations along Mare Tyrrhenum. Was able to make out the "prongs/pincers" that surround the Hellas Basin and the light area of Eridania. I believe I also saw the white area near Libya intermittently. Utopia was clearly visible coming up from the northern limb and appeared to have a cloud above it. Sinus Sabaeus was just becoming visible and I could see the light area bewteen it and Mare Serpentis.

Overall the view was outstanding. Had 36" Dob owner who spent most of the night viewing along side and he was amazed at the views (No, I'm not comparing the Tak to a 20" scope). Just a wonderful time, especially since the monsoons here in southeastern Arizona kicked in on the very next night.

Wonderful telescope!

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41230

Takahashi FC-76
Just wanted to add to my above post. I had the Tak out on June 16, 2001 and the seeing was excellent (really steadied around 2:00 a.m.). The Tak held 300X with no noticebale image breakdown (using medium dark blue filter). Syrtis Major was on the face and showed darkening on its northern edges. Syrtis Minor was visible as were undulations along Mare Tyrrhenum. Was able to make out the "prongs/pincers" that surround the Hellas Basin and the light area of Eridania. I believe I also saw the white area near Libya intermittently. Utopia was clearly visible coming up from the northern limb and appeared to have a cloud above it. Sinus Sabaeus was just becoming visible and I could see the light area bewteen it and Mare Serpentis.

Overall the view was outstanding. Had 36" Dob owner who spent most of the night viewing along side and he was amazed at the views (No, I'm not comparing the Tak to a 20" scope). Just a wonderful time, especially since the monsoons here in southeastern Arizona kicked in on the very next night.

Wonderful telescope!

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41229

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