4.2" Takahashi FSQ-106 f/5 530mm Apochromatic Refractor/Astrograph
Takahashi NJP-160 Temma 2 German Equatorial Mount

The Takahashi FSQ-106 is  a "dream scope" in every sense of the word, and it is my most prized telescope. The quadruplet modified Petzval design gives amazing star images, flat fields, color correction and fast speeds.  When used with the Extender-Q, its 850mm F/8 visual performance meets or exceeds anything in its aperture range. The 88mm image circle and built-in camera angle adapter will give vignette-free images with a variety of cameras in many different formats.  The newer versions, designated FSQ-106N, have a retractable dewshield, making the scope around 22" in length.  That makes this scope as portable as any 4" scope around.  

The majority of images presented on this site are taken with this telescope, and there is a reason for that.  The Tak 106 yields very pleasing results and is much easier to use than scopes of longer focal lengths.   The widefield images provided by this scope - especially when matched with the big chips of the SBIG STL cameras and the new digital SLRs - represents the simplist and most effective way into "prime focus" imaging.  And when paired with a great mount like the Tak NJP, it's almost easy.

The Takahashi NJP mount is among one of the finest in its class.  With payload capacity of 65 lbs, a conservative rating by the maker, this mount will hold a variety of visual and imaging instruments.  It has very low periodic error, in the 5 arc second range.  Because it has one of the most accurate polar alignment scopes build into the dec axis of the mount, the Tak NJP is one of the best mounts for quick setup imaging.  I regularly use this mount at public star parties where faster setup times are very necessary.  Within 30 minutes of dragging the first piece of equipment out of the truck, I can be taking an image.  It's not a light mount, but it's still quite manageable.  It is perhaps the most "turn-key" mount available...if you want to get good guided images right out of the box, this is your mount!