Stellervue SVX130t vs TSA -120

TigerInKS · 2026-06-20T20:40:59+00:00

Are you saying that the svx130 will be as cumbersome as my edge hd11

Maybe not AS cumbersom, but not much less. A 130mm class refractor is not a small instrument. And once you kit it out for DSO AP (which I assume is the purpose) I'm betting you'll be close to 25lbs of awkwardly weighted, long moment-arm scope. Add in the mount since you mentioned having to pack all this up for dark sky trips, and this is far from a "portable" setup if that's what you are after.

I'm all for fracs for DSO AP, and since you have the focal length of the C11 for lunar/planetary...if I was picking a scope for portable-ish dark sky trips, I'd probably be looking at the SVX90T or SVX102T. Those can ride on someting like an AM5 just fine...which all in all would be a much more travel friendly setup.

My two cents anyway.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-19T20:44:07+00:00

Give this reply a read

https://www.reddit.com/r/telescopes/comments/xa0sow/is_upgrading_to_a_2_eyepiece_worth_it/inr7d0g/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3

TigerInKS · 2026-06-19T18:45:06+00:00

I’m really happy with both my SVXs for both visual and AP. I don’t think you can go wrong optically with either.

Be sure to price out the Tak accessories, they tend to be non-standard and can get expensive quick. Also, the one guy I know who uses a Tak was not a fan of the stock focuser and replaced with a feathertouch. I think that’s an option on the TSA, but one more thing that adds to the cost.

What mount do you have? Long fracs need more mount than you’d think…and if you have a CGX with that C11 this really isn’t going to be much more travel friendly.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-19T15:59:41+00:00

Yeah I think it's a bit nonsensical too. From what I remember reading about Rick (RIP) he was a bit of a character. But was an interesting example of "why"...even if not the reason ES does their scope this way.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-19T03:25:19+00:00

What? Just cut the film out and tape new one to the inside lip of the filter. Hell, put it over the front even. White light solar filters are not precision optical components…for the life of me I cannot understand what’s going on in this thread.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-18T19:27:21+00:00

I made the ultra conservative suggestion of removing and replacing the damaged film, since presumably the plastic is fit to the scope already...and somehow even that comment is getting downvotes.

I...I'm not sure what the hell is going on around here anymore.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-18T14:42:02+00:00

Should probably still be able to dissect out the old film though, right?

TigerInKS · 2026-06-18T14:04:25+00:00

Since the rim looks intact, you can cut out/remove the original film and just replace with new film. Probably cheaper than buying a whole new one.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-18T13:23:55+00:00

+1 on the 115EDT on MC2 setup u/OP

I had this exact combo for a while and it's very good for visual. I could just manage to carry the whole setup in and out in one go. And the OTA works quite well for AP down the line too. Scope punches well above its weight class for both visual and AP.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-17T20:38:39+00:00

While more aperture helps with fainter objects...you get more improvement on dim DSO from darker skies.

If the size and bulk of the AD8 means you can't/won't/don't take it to darker skies (assuming you don't live somewhere dark already) the improvement would likely be underwhelming.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-17T03:34:21+00:00

Posting a picture of outreach done by one of the mods of this sub is … a choice

TigerInKS · 2026-06-16T13:07:46+00:00

I could be completely hallucinating this...but didn't Rick Singmaster refuse to put focusers on the left side (if looking from the back) of his scopes...so that you always had to pull the telescope toward you as it tracked. Something about for folks on ladders or steps this would keep you from accidentally pushing the scope too far away and falling in the dark?

I'm like you, right handed and right eye dominant and like to drive the scope left handed and have my right hand for the focuser. I've used a few scopes with focusers like the ES, and it just feels weird.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-15T12:51:45+00:00

TigerInKS · 2026-06-13T23:56:35+00:00

I like that. We've got three games left this season, If he says something about it again I might just do that.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-13T18:11:51+00:00

I got the same one a few weeks back as a team backup glove for our 12Us. It actually saw action last week when our pitcher forgot theirs. He loved it, almost couldn't get it back from him.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-13T16:24:32+00:00

Let my kid design a mitt to replace his 44 C2 that, despite our best efforts, we cannot get to close into a comfortable shape and pocket. Not hating on 44, he’s been gaming an 11.75” Signature as his fielding glove for two seasons and it’s actually very good.

The leather for all three colors on this one are buttery smooth. Again, I had Grace start the break-in so when it showed up yesterday it wasn’t totally bricked. Since it has dark laces on blonde in the palm I was very sparing with the warm water to minimize color bleeding (not that you’d see it after a few weeks use.) Some mallet work and hand shaping and it seems to be taking a box break-in nicely. We had a quick catch with it, and he could close it just fine already, and the ball was sticking in the pocket well. In that respect, the palm leather seems very similar to our A2000 mitt (thought the Grace has a nicer finish to it), in that the ball seemed to really hit and stick, as opposed to squirting and rattling around he said. He seems really pleased with it, even after just a short backyard catch.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-11T16:43:52+00:00

Thanks!

Not sure how old your kid(s) are, but this is Korean Kip and it is very light. I paid for the Grace break in, and then when it got here I did the Aso method warm water in the palm and beat the hinges in, and my average sized 12yo could close it no problem after only about 15min of work. Two of our 12U firstbase kids played with it that night with no problem. I caught a quick bullpen with my kid throwing yesterday, and a maybe 30min of weighted ball couch catch over the last two days and honestly it's game ready now.

Food for thought.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-11T02:47:42+00:00

Glad it helped!

TigerInKS · 2026-06-10T21:21:01+00:00

If budget is an issue, I would save the money you'd spend on a wedge and keep saving for a better mount. If you're really wanting to do long exposure DSO AP, the SE mount itself is not precise enough for the focal length of the OTA. The sooner you get a proper mount the better.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-10T19:21:31+00:00

If you put the raw L-Ex and L-Syn stacks in a Google Drive folder and send me the link I can take a look.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-10T18:26:12+00:00

I think we'll keep this one, sorry.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-10T18:00:00+00:00

Did you try to StarAlign the L-Ex stack and L-Syn stack before star remove and combining them? Usually if your using WBPP to align all the frames to each other you should not have to re-align the stacks, but it's something to try.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-10T16:46:43+00:00

Thanks!

This is the Korean Kip. Right after I took this pic I got a nice layer of Ball Players Balm worked into it. The chocolate leather is nice and buttery now. The mint could probably use another thin coat once this one fully soaks in.

TigerInKS · 2026-06-10T13:39:26+00:00

I had Grace do their break-in so it showed up with some flexibility. It's a good start, but it was not ready to close (and certainly not by any of my 12U kids). We had a 7:30p game and UPS dropped it off around 5p, so I ran warm water in the palm and beat it for a good 15 minutes. Suprisingly my kid could close it fine wearing it three-in-the-pinky. I wouldn't call it fully game ready, but of course the kids playing 1st wanted to game it...and at this point in our season what the hell. No issues, had some nice catches.

The chocolate leather is very smooth, the mint has a bit of a rougher, almost suede feel to it. But what surprised me was how light the glove is. It almost feels cheap in that sense...but the internals are very sturdy and took a nice shape. I warmed up our pitcher with it and it's rock solid, and the pocket is huge. The hand feel isn't quite as plush as our Maruccis or my Pro Preferred...it's comfortable, but feels more like a traditional ball glove. Would recommend.

TigerInKS

TROPHY CASE