Takahashi TOA-130NS

Users in team Dwarfstars: Baryon (2022.03~)

• Specification

1. Optical design: Air spaced triplet apochromatic refractor

2. Lens diameter: 130mm

3. Focal length: 1000mm

4. Focal ratio: 7.7

5. Weight: 10.5kg (OTA)

• Pros

1. Super-sharp stars and detail

2. Zero aberration guaranteed with focal reducers or field flatteners

3. No concerns about optical axis correction

4. Provides large image circle (Up to 645 format)

5. Looks sexy

• Cons

1. Costs much for its performance

2. Heavy steel-made OTA

3. Extremely slow cooling (especially at winter)

4. Hard to control focuser knob without electronic focuser

5. Suspicious strength of the 2.7inch built-in focuser

• Verdict

Takahashi TOA-130NS is one of the best choices for refractor lovers. Its delicate optics provides super sharp images to your sensor, even to your retina. Combined with the new 645 X.99 field flattener, it shows a superb spot diagram across the whole sensor field, even for medium format sensors. If you are interested in a super apochromatic optical tube, it would be such a nice choice.

However, the limitation of a steel tube refractor is shown clearly in this telescope. For such sharp stars and details, you need to wait until the tube is sufficiently cooled down and it takes quite a long time. You have to spend your precious night time to get a perfect image. Also, it is heavy. You have to prepare a heavy-duty mount for this fatso, even without auxiliary equipment onto it.

If you are sensitive to image quality and if you are using massive sensor cameras, you may have to consider changing its built-in 2.7inch focuser. It is mediocre, but it's somehow flimsy for a 5.1inch refractor. Also, the single-speed focuser knob is hard to control as the focal plane steadily moves when the temperature changes. You'd rather choose TOA-130NFB version for a more stubborn focuser, or use a third-party focuser.

So, this is my final verdict for TOA-130NS. It is surely GREAT refractor. However, it is hard to recommend this telescope to people who need to save their budget. This beast costs at least twice as similarly designed refractors, like the Askar 130PHQ!

• One-line summary

Refractor lover's adorable choice