Vixen Custom 8M Refractor + Alt/Az Mount & Tall Tripod — 100% Made in Japan

Description: Classic high-performing telescope set on tall tripod — Japanese-built to last **Item added to listing! To allow use of 1.25" eyepieces and diagonals with this telescope, a brand-new Vixen 36.4mm x 31.7mm (1.25") adapter is now included in this listing. Also see related note about field of view (FOV) below.** This optical tube assembly (OTA), mount, and tripod set exemplifies build quality of a bygone era before the wave of offshoring swept the optics industry. All components of the set are entirely nihon sei (made in Japan); estimated date of manufacture, circa late-1970s to early 1980s (see photo of page from Vixen's 1976 catalog showing the same scope on a different mount). All painted components of this scope/mount/tripod set are in classic Vixen white & black livery for a unified look. Optical specs: objective diameter, 80 mm; focal length, 910 mm (f/11.4); light-gathering power, 131X; resolving power, 1.45 arc sec Weighty, all-metal objective cell, heavy-duty cast R&P focuser with brushed aluminum tube, and removable dew shield Thick-walled and well-baffled OTA tube Very stable Vixen altazimuth head, mounted on tall tripod made of ash wood stained a beautiful reddish/brown color; with tripod legs fully extended, from top of legs to tip of feet measures about 57.5" OTA length, 36 in / 915 mm; weight, 5.5 lb / 2.5 kgIn NRO field testing, we were very impressed with the sharp, contrasty views through the precision-figured Japanese glass and by the effortless snap-to focus achievable with the well-tuned focuser. Our 6-foot-tall field tester really liked the tall tripod... For horizontal terrestrial use, retracting the tripod legs about 6-8 inches allowed comfortable viewing with no bending; for astronomical use, extending the legs fully allowed minimal bending/neck scrunch even when viewing targets at around 70 degrees above the horizon. The do-it-all 8M (later named by Vixen as 80M) is an excellent instrument for both terrestrial and astronomical viewing, providing stunning views of everything from distant birds and deer to lunar craters, planets, and double stars. If one could just have a single telescope, this would be a good choice. The OTA's visual back is fitted with the original 36.4mm x 24.5mm (0.965") adapter and can accept any older 0.965" accessories. The focuser can be readily converted for use with 1.25-inch accessories through use of the included 36.4mm x 1.25" adapter (Vixen part 3720). NRO compared the field of view with the included Kellner 20mm eyepiece attached to (#1) the included 0.965" diagonal, (#2) the included Vixen 3720 adapter and a 1.25" diagonal (not included in this listing), and (#3) a hybrid 0.965" x 1.25" diagonal (not included in this listing) by focusing on regularly spaced fenceposts about 150 yards away, and here's what we found: With #1, the FOV spanned 30 fence posts, and with either #2 or #3, the FOV spanned 48 fenceposts — a 60% increase! Important notes: (1) The design of the alt/az mount is such that the slow-motion controls rotate the altitude axis only through a roughly 30-degree range rather than through the full 90 degrees from horizon to zenith. "Resetting" the viewing range higher or lower requires shifting the altitude axis assembly backward or forward, which is easily done when the dual-nut axis tensioning system is set correctly; for guidance on proper axis tensioning, browse for "Adjusting a Vixen Custom-D Mount site:cloudynights.com" (especially comments by jkmccarthy). (2) Although the OTA, mount, and tripod are in excellent condition functionally (especially where it counts the most: the objective, focuser, and mount), they are not museum pieces and show visible signs of wear/age (almost inevitable for astronomy equipment of this vintage). As always, NRO has tried to describe all cosmetic flaws and/or depict them in photos; please review carefully. This set performs just as well but is older — and rarer — than similar sets NRO has listed; because it has more cosmetic flaws, the price has been adjusted accordingly. In addition to the OTA (with attached tube rings), this complete set includes everything needed to get started viewing right away. Listing also includes:Vixen 6 x 30 finder scope with crosshairs (probably not the original finder, given that it shows a bit less yellowing than the OTA tube) Vixen altazimuth mount with flexible slow-motion control handles for optimal viewing ergonomics Vixen wooden tripod with original black metal leg stabilizer/accessory box holder; tripod feet have removable rubber tips Original Vixen 24.5mm zenith prism diagonal and erect-image porro prism diagonalThe 3 Vixen eyepieces originally sold with the 8M package: 20mm Kellner (an outstanding eyepiece), 12.5mm H.M. (Huygenian/Mittenzwey), and 6mm orthoscopic, providing magnifications of 46X, 73X, and 152X, respectively Original Vixen lidded green plastic accessory box Original Vixen wrench for adjustment of altitude axis (see note above) and black right-angle bar for attachment of a camera to the top of the forward tube ring Everything depicted will be packed using original Styrofoam blocks and shipped in original factory inner box shown in photos. The inner box may be shipped inside original factory outer box or, at NRO's discretion, shipped inside an alternative outer box. **Please note: Adult signature required on delivery.** Thanks for visiting Nippon Rare Optics!Premium optics sourced from Japan ▪ Fast, free shipping from U.S.-based seller

Price: 549 USD

Location: Prospect, Kentucky

End Time: 2025-01-06T22:38:56.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD

Product Images

Item Specifics

Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer

All returns accepted: Returns Accepted

Item must be returned within: 14 Days

Refund will be given as: Money Back

Brand: Vixen

Type: Refractor

Lens Coating: Multi-Coated

Model: Costom 8M

Objective Lens Diameter: 61-100 mm

Features: Dew Shield, Lens Cover, Mounted, Slow Motion Control

Aperture: 80 mm

Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan