TS-Optics 12" f/4 UNC Newtonian Telescope with Fused Quartz main Mirror and Carbon Tube

The UNC series from Teleskop Service is THE alternative to Newtonians from far east but also to high-end, high-cost instruments. UNC is a price effective telescope line without compromises. UNC stands for Universal Newtonian Telescope with Carbon tube. Individually optimized, Made in Germany!

The 12" f/4 UNC Newtonian is a transportable telescope for astrophotography. The fast focal ratio f/4 allows very deep galaxy and nebular images with short exposure times. We suggest the famous Skywatcher EQ8 Goto mount as base for this big telescope. Also the Celestron CGX is an alternative, if you want to move the telescope.

TS UNC Newtonian advantages:

High quality carbon fibre tube, individually manufactured in Germany

Optimized focus position according to customer´s demands for best field illumination

Primary and secondary mirror cell improved by Teleskop Service

Easy collimation without tools

Blackened secondary mirror edges

Mirror substrate is fused quartz (thermal properties similar to Zerodur)

TS UNCN2-G2 2" RAP focuser - one of the best systems in its class

Secondary mounted with correct offset

Diffraction limited system

TS "Black" anti-reflective paint for maximum contrast

Many of our UNC and all ONTC Newtonian telescopes use the TS-Optics "Black" anti-reflective paint. It darkens the inside of the tube just as well as velour foil. The illustration shows how dark the anti-reflective paint is. The diagram (at the images at the top of this page) shows the direct comparison between the commonly used chalkboard paint and the anti-reflective paint.

Quartz glass mirror substrate:

Each material has its own coefficient of thermal expansion. This is essential for the mirror´s reaction to temperature changes. The lower this expansion coefficient, the less the mirror reacts to changes of temperature. It is ready to use more quickly and, above all, the focus drift during astrophotography is reduced.

The mirror blank of fused quartz has no recognisable expansion, so it is superior to popular mirror blanks of Pyrex or Suprax, similar to Zerodur. For this reason, a quartz glass mirror is particularly suitable for astrophotography. Due to its excellent surface, we also recommend this mirror for building high-resolution Newtonian telescopes for visual observation.

Three focus positions possible:

Pos. 1 - Astrophotography with normal coma correctors - 65 mm distance from the 2" connection of the focuser (STANDARD Version)
This version is perfect for nearly all 2" Newtonian coma correctors like the Baader MPCC, TS Komakorrektor, GPU corrector, ASA Quattro, ... For visual observing, you will need a 35 mm 2" extension tube TSV235.

Pos. 2 - Astrophotography with ASA 2" Reducer/Corrector - 90 mm distance from the 2" connection of the focuser
This version is made for the famous ASA 2KORRR Reducer and Corrector. The focal ratio will reduced from f/4 to f/2.8 with really good field correction.

Pos. 3 - Optimized for visual observing and TeleVue Paracorr VIP-2010 - 35 mm distance from the 2" connection of the focuser
This version is perfect for amateur astronomers looking for a telescope for visual observing. For this version a 63 mm secondary mirror can also be chosen.

How do I order the correct version?

If you order online from our shop you will come to the page where you can choose the payment method. There you find a text field. In this field, please write down the version, you would like to get.

The TS UNCN2-G2 focuser:

A centerpiece of the TS PowerNewtons is the advanced TS UNCN2-G2 focuser. The focuser carries heavy cameras without tilting due to oversized ball bearings and a lateral guide. Only with this short focuser we could optimize the focus position. Despite the high luminosity, we get by with a secondary mirror of only 74 mm diameter in the small axis, which reduces contrast-reducing obstruction. Other features and benefits:

high stiffness with an extremely short overall length

generous back focus of 65 mm without reducer corrector - space enough for all common coma correctors and accessories like off-axis guider or filter wheel

precise 1:10 micro-reduction - for perfectly focused astrophotographs

Motor focus can be removed

equipped with additional thread M54x0.75

More information about the focuser UNCN2-G2

Primary mirror fan for faster cool-down time:

We have chosen to equip this telescope with a fused quartz primary mirror and a cooling fan to accelerate cool-down time to ambient temperature. Until a mirror is properly cooled down it will create currents of warm air that will deteriorate the image - no matter which mirror substrate is used. Only after the mirror has cooled down this effect stops.

Parabolic primary mirror:

The very precisely figured parabolical primary mirror of this telescope is not made of cheap float glass, but rather of fused quartz that is free of internal stress. Thermic properties are generally better than borosilicate glass. For easier collimation the mirrors are properly center marked.

Every single TS Carbon Imaging Newtonian is star tested on our optical bench before shipping:

You don´t buy "a pig in a poke" but you receive an individually in auto collimation tested telescope. UNC Newtonian telescope are handmade telescope "made in Germany".

Assembly and collimation instructions

The telescope is delivered disassembled into several units for safety. The assembly and adjustment are not complicated, you can download the instructions in advance. The PDF can be found here.

Astrophotographic results obtained with this telescope on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this telescope model: Link to Astrobin

General product video

Teleskop-Service has made an information video about the UNC and ONTC telescopes:

Astrophotographic results obtained with this telescope on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this telescope model: Link to Astrobin

The new TS Carbon Imaging Newtonian series - a comparison with standard "far east Newtonians":

Meanwhile there´s a great number of Chinese Newtonian telescope that´s claimed as "ready for astro photography". But such telescopes are mass production and therefore in some cases a compromise.

Their main problems:
- high amount of obstruction cause seeing problems because more light energy is distributet into the diffraction rings. Thus resulting to larger
  star diameters and less image definition. A too small secondary, on the other hand, leads to less field illumination.

- Too less free aperture due to a too small tube. The result is an increasing amount of off-axis vignetting.

- Focuser drawtubes reach into the telescope causing reflections.

- Too long focusers need a focal plane far outside the tube resulting in vignetting or the need of large secondaries and focusers.

Newtonian telescopes without compromises are normally something for ATM or specialized manufacturers with high prices. Our aim is to offer optimized Newtonian telescopes with the option to fulfil individual demands. The main task of TS Carbon Imaging Newtonians is astro photography with a minimum of vignetting and a minimum of obstruction at the same time.

The background: After many years of own experience in astro photography, we know how far obstruction influences the image definition. Telescopes with small obstruction (less than 30%) show significantly less seeing influence in deep-sky images. The effective resolution - important for lunar and planetary imaging - becomes better, too.

Our new TS Carbon Imaging Newtionan series are the result of these considerations:
A carbon tube has nearly no thermal expansion and therefore nearly no focus drift. We use the TS UNCN2 focuser because it is one of the shortest precision focuser available. A dedicated motor drive is available. With our optimized focus position, 2" are sufficient.
We offer different focus positions above the tube:
1.: 90-100 mm. Allows good field illumination even with small secondary mirrors. With a 70mm secondary, the 10" model has a 100% field
     diameter of 17 mm. On the other hand, DSLR cameras can be used only in combination with the TeleVue Paracorr.
2.: 110 mm. The compromise position for standard applications.
3.: 131 mm: Necessary if the ASA 0.7x reducer/corrector is planned for photography.
4.: Individual position. We manufacture the telecope according to your needs.

Individual size of the secondary mirror
According to the sensor size and the individual applications, you may want a special secondary mirror diameter. After we know the position of the focal plane, we can calculate the necessary size of the secondary mirror. Minor axis diameters of 50, 63, 70, 88 and 100 mm are possible and also intermediate sizes for a special price.

We can fulfil your individual ideas by assembling an optimized telescope for you, e.g.:
- a planetary Newtonian with minimized secondary
- an Allrounder for a wide field of use
- a photo Newtonian with exceptional field illumination for your sensor size
- fast astro cameras with f/3.5 reducer/corrector

Please feel free to drop us an email for further recommendations: info@teleskop-service.de