The Takahashi TOA-150B employs a newly designed triplet using special elements to produce the highest order of color correction. Orthoscopic means perfected visually and Apochromatic means you're free from those strange violet glows which often accompany bright stars or planets. Thanks to the ingenious design of layering an FPL-53 Extra-low Dispersion glass element between two extreme quality crown and flint elements - perfection ensues. And what's more, it's air spaced, so there's no oil between the elements to leak or become opaque with age. The lens cells are durably constructed to withstand transport - yet are fully able to be collimated should the owner wish to make adjustments. With 1/12th wave accuracy and an airy-disc Strehl ratio of 0.992, the optics on the Takahashi TOA-150B Ortho-APO are as near to perfection as you can get!
The Takahashi TOA-150B Ortho-APO is a dream come true for those who want to use a medium format camera. It includes a newly designed 4" focuser that uses a long stroke linear bearing designed to handle heavy instrument packages with ease. LIke the FSQ-106ED, the focuser on the TOA-150B uses a trigger lock focus lock and has a new pinion assembly. A camera angle adjuster is included, and enables the observer or astrophotographer to turn the ocular or camera 360 degrees to better view or frame an object to be photographed. The 4" focuser, coupled with the optional dedicated flattener, will produce a fully usable 90mm diameter image circle. But that's not all. The focuser itself offers a generous 225mm of backfocus to allow the use of additional accessories, like adding on color filter wheels, etc. What's more, the focuser itself offers "no slip" stability with dual knobs for ease of use, 10:1 Micro Edge Focuser and 2" threaded eyepiece/accessory holder with 1.25" compression ring eyepiece holder also supplied.
The Takahashi TOA-150B Refractor is perfect for visual, CCD and classic astrophotography. The f/7.3 focal ratio with a 1100mm focal length is long enough for high magnification observations of the Moon and attaching the optional Extender TOA converts the TOA-150 APO into a f/11.68 planetary instrument capable of very high magnification. You'll get images which display.the high order of color correction of the Ortho-Apochromat Series without saturated color and, thanks to the numerous knife-edged baffles, it displays amazing contrast - all packaged in a short, 38" tube with the dew preventive lens shade retracted that weighs just under 43 pounds. It even has an optional convenient handle at the rear - located just before the focuser - which will allow for an easy grip for carrying and setting up the optical tube.
Takahashi quality... Through and through!
Photo shows a Takahashi TOA-150B OTA with the optional viewfinder, bracket, and handle.
Important Note: Takahashi America requires that their telescope optical tube assemblies be shipped via 2nd Day Air or faster in order for the full warranty to be in force. Please make sure you choose the appropriate shipping method in your shopping cart or, if you speak to an OPT associate, request 2nd Day Air or faster. If you are purchasing a telescope and mount package or any accessories to accompany an OTA, please contact OPT for a shipping quote, since only the OTA is required to ship second day air but all other products can be shipped separately via any other available shipping method. Thank you!
