Tele Vue NEW for 2018: NP101is, NP127is OTA Accessory Packages, SCT Rich Field Kits, & Diagonal Packages

All Tele Vue telescopes now come standard as optical tube assemblies (OTA) that can be turned into “complete” units with optional, customized accessory packages.  The package costs can be substantially less than pricing each component individually. In a prior installment, we discussed the packages for the Tele Vue-60, Tele Vue-76, and Tele Vue-85 scopes. Here we’ll take up the multi-purpose Imaging System, or “is,” scopes and their associated accessory packages.

Al Nagler took Petzval’s portrait lens concept, using widely spaced doublets, and patented a fast telescope design version for the purpose of testing eyepieces. The 5”, f/4 MPT (Multi-Purpose Telescope) with its fast speed, wide, and flat field, led to a series of continuous improvements, primarily in color correction. By 2001, the NP101 (Nagler-Petzval) scope was the ultimate culmination of 30-years of refinement toward optical perfection for the “multi-purpose” concept. A review in the Backyard Astronomer’s Guide said: “optics don’t get any better than this.” But we did not rest on our laurels: with the CCD imaging revolution challenging telescope optics beyond anything ever placed at the focal plane, we were determined to make the NP series optically, mechanically, and functionally as perfect as possible for imaging on chips with up to 50-mm diagonal without penalty to its near-ideal visual operation.  With Tele Vue Imaging System (“is”) telescopes, we have refined our instruments and optional equipment beyond anything a CCD chip has seen.

All Tele Vue telescopes come with a 5-year Limited Warranty.

This 101-mm objective diameter, 540-mm focal length, f/5.4, APO (4-elements in 2-groups, Nagler-Petzval) refractor has an OTA length of 25.5″ without diagonal. The maximum field-of-view is a huge 4.9° with 55-mm Plössl (10x) or 41-mm Panoptic (13x).

This 127-mm objective diameter, 660-mm focal length, f/5.2, APO (4-elements in 2-groups, Nagler-Petzval) refractor has an OTA length of 33.5″ without diagonal. The maximum field-of-view is a huge 4° with 55-mm Plössl (12x) or 41-mm Panoptic (16x).

The objective end of the telescope drawtube has a 3″ opening that reduces to 2.4″ aperture for imaging on 50-mm chips without vignetting. Included end ring inserts allow use of standard 2″ accessories or our 2.4″ Imaging System components.

The standard Focusmate dual-speed 10:1 focuser allows for fine-focus and accepts the optional motorized FDF-2004 Focusmate Driver for vibration-free, variable-speed, electronic motor control down to 0.0005″ increments. This system can achieve repeatable focus positions to 0.0001″ accuracy with the optional 1 Micron Fine Indicator Kit. The focuser can handle 12-lbs / 5.4-kg of payload.

Jam and jack screws on the end ring can be adjusted (and locked) to compensate for any tilt effects seen in CCD imaging. Two tension screws on the top of the focuser body can be adjusted to add resistance when using heavy equipment or lock the draw tube in place once focus has been achieved. These tension screws tighten against a brass clamp ring, which then cinches down on the Teflon sleeve in which the drawtube slides.

The OTAs come with a sliding metal dew shield and screw-on metal lens cover. Each scope model has its own custom-designed hard-shell carry case with room for all standard accessories.

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Our diagonal bodies are machined from solid blocks of aluminum. This means heavy accessories can’t force the diagonal body to “unscrew” from the barrel as with other brands. Permanent alignment is CNC-machined into the diagonal. They feature brass clamp rings, anti-reflection threads, 48-mm filter threads, and now include our 2”-1¼” HiHat adapter with  brass clamp ring. The “high-hat” adapter is specially designed with a high rise head to keep Tele Vue Barlows and Powermate™ amplifiers away from the diagonal mirror. We offer two mirrors with our diagonals: Everbrite and Enhanced Aluminum.

Whiter and brighter images. Simply put, that is the benefit the Everbrite mirror coating. This exotic, dielectric, nonmetallic coating is 99% reflective across the full visual spectrum, resulting in the “whitest,” most natural image available. The sophisticated process of laying down more than 50 layers of coating is applied to a Pyrex substrate with 1/10 wave surface accuracy.

Our Enhanced Aluminum mirror coating provides a 96% reflective surface across all but the extreme ends of the visual spectrum. The enhanced coating provides extra reflectance versus competing standard aluminum coatings. The final coating stage applies a tough overcoat to protect the aluminum.

• TV-NP101is page on our website (mobile version)
• TV-NP127is page on our website (mobile version)
• Tele Vue Telescope Recommendations and Specs (PDF)
• Imaging System Accessories Table (mobile version)
• Diagonals and Prisms on our website (mobile version)
• 2018 Accessory Packages for TV-60, TV-76, TV-85 OTAs blog post

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