- Specifications: objective diameter, 105 mm; focal length, 1,000 mm
- Light-gathering power, 225X; resolving power, 1.1 arc sec
- OTA length, 39.8 in / 1,010 mm; weight (with mounting hardware and accessories), 10.6 lb / 4.8 kg
**Please note: This is a large telescope. Although the OTA itself weighs <11 lb, its substantial moment arm requires an adequate mount.** As you can see from the photo, next to an older A105M (same dimensions as the listed scope), a typical 80mm scope looks like a toy. Therefore, this scope is not recommended for use with lighter-duty mounts such as Vixen Porta; instead, think Vixen AP equatorial mount at minimum.**
There's a reason this scope continues to be in demand among optics-savvy consumers in the Japanese market. Compared to faster (i.e., shorter focal ratio) scopes of the same aperture, the medium focal ratio (f/9.5) A105M curves incoming light more gently and thus can provide sharp, high-contrast views at high magnification with affordable eyepieces of simpler designs. Although the potential for chromatic aberration is inherent in all achromats, many users of the A105M have reported negligible CA except when viewing the very brightest night-sky objects (eg, full moon, Venus). Especially for visual use only, buying more aperture instead of $600 eyepieces can be a smart move.
An Apo/ED scope in this aperture class can easily cost $2,000–$4,000 (and will likely be made in China). A well-crafted achromat provides the best balance of performance and affordability.
Listing also includes:
- Vixen XY Red Dot Finder II
- Vixen Flip Mirror Diagonal
- Tube rings and mounting dovetail
- Metal carry handle
- Instruction manual
The flip mirror can serve as a 90° diagonal or be used for straight-through viewing. With attachment of photography accessories to the horizontal barrel, it's easy to switch from visual viewing through the vertical barrel to AP applications at the flip of a switch while maintaining focus. Alternatively, the diagonal
can be replaced with a conventional 2-inch prism or mirror diagonal (not included in this listing) and reserved for AP use.