Takahashi vs pleiads 111?

Takahashi FSQ-85ED Refractors Buying Advice
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Takahashi FSQ-85ED or WO Pleiades 111?
Multiple choice poll 23 votes
78% (18 votes)
22% (5 votes)
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Claudio Boicu avatar
Claudio Boicu avatar
hello everybody, so im just trying to get some opinions on this because im still thinking about what scope I should buy.
so I was planning on buying the WO pleiades 111 to use, because the f number seems so good on that ( and honestly I don't know many telescopes manufacturers). I will be using a qhy294M with Chroma filters (LRGBSHO) and im still thinking about later in the future to buy a Full frame mono camera( still deciding if from qhy or zwo) and everything paid up with the eagle. now In the future I want to do huge mosaics (that's why full frame later down the road), and in genera I like a more wider field than most people. now my question is, what would be better suited, the pleiades 111 or Takahashi? on paper i guess the Takahashi takes the place bc as I said I want to do mosaics and i can pair up the Takahashi with a reducer and get wider field with lower f. I want to know what your guys experience is with the Takahashi FSQ-85ED. smile
Claudio Boicu avatar
Claudio Boicu avatar
I also recently discovered the Takahashi FSQ-106 ED wich I think is more suited for full frame? I just saw the video of bray falls showing off all the scopes that he has and he talked good about this scope. specs also look good, that price is a bit soaring to look at but ive been saving up for a long time anyway, I want to get something really great that will pump out great mosaicssmile
Marco Luigi Tassi avatar
Marco Luigi Tassi avatar
The Takahashi FSQ 106 for astrofotography is fantastic, too better that Pleiades 111.  The Pleiades is very good how TS Optics 110 flatfield or Tecnosky 110 OWL. I have the TS Optics 110 flatfield but i have used for six monts the FSQ 106, another category, plus brigthness and plus sharpness.
Dave Rust avatar
Dave Rust avatar

I love the Tak85. It’s a forever scope for me. I have no doubt you would really like the 106. It’s famous for a reason

HOWEVER…some thoughts

The Tak focuser has internal parts that can fail in 24-7 heat…such as in a remote observatory in the south (Mine is in Texas). Easily fixed by replacing the focuser with a Feather Touch (one is made especially for the Tak FSQ85). But then you have to add another $1.2K to the cost of the scope. If you are using it on occasion and then bringing it inside, then no issues with the factory focuser, which is also really good.

Moving up, the Takahashi TSA 120 has incredible optics, too. And guess what? It comes standard with the Feather Touch focuser (the focuser is made in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, thank you very much). I would say no one is producing a direct competitor to the TSA 120, so if you want best-in-class, this is the one (unless you want to move up to the 130).

https://takahashiamerica.com/collections/refractors/products/takahashi-tsa-120-refractor-telescope

And some other models that are so close that Takahashi can feel their breath on its behind…

The Red Ultra Cat series from WO is killer. Pretty much matches the optics of Takahashi, is more robustly built, has an internal focuser that will never flex, a nice rotator, and easy to access tilt adjustments that can be adjusted while on a target in real time. It is a Pezval and is therefore very forgiving with how the optic train is assembled…keeping tight focus over a large range. I haven’t handled an Ultra Cat yet, but I suspect it’s also a forever scope.

https://williamoptics.com/search?q=ultra+cat

Lastly, Askar’s SQA line performs similarly. It’s built in a more conventional fashion and I suspect the series would make users very happy. It doesn’t come with quite the number of features as the Ultra Cat, but it fundamentally produces similar images.

https://www.highpointscientific.com/shop?q=askar+sqa+telescope

My affection for the Tak is a little old-school. The crafts folks who fashion the optics are unparalleled. I enjoy rewarding their efforts. These other scopes are made in a more factory-automated way and companies have refined the process to produce optics very similar to Takahashi. As a result of the more automated construction, the prices on them are lower.

Have fun picking one. You won’t regret your choice of any of these!

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