Dave, Thanks mate, That helps, the store i am buying from has a good deal on where i can get it for $999, so i think i will now purchase it, Thanks again, Aaron
Thats not a bad deal, with practice you will really get to enjoy it.
The club is a good idea, a lot of people buy scopes and try on their own to learn the sky; hense more often than not the scope just goes to storage.
I have had Newtonians, refractors, Cassegrains, Maksutovs, Maksutov-Newtonians, Newtonian Dobsonians, and I gave them all up and settled on 2 exquisite refractors.
I have had Newtonians, refractors, Cassegrains, Maksutovs, Maksutov-Newtonians, Newtonian Dobsonians, and I gave them all up and settled on 2 exquisite refractors.
Hi Lewis,
I have to admit I am heading that way myself, but I wouldn't get rid of my light bucket (16"), as I then have the best of both worlds. Mind you, I am finding that I am using the refractors more than my Cassegrain now days. I just received my latest refractor this week, an AT65EDQ astrograph and I think it is an amazing little scope.
Vixen NA140SSf ....5.5"inch f5.7 ...absolutely outstanding wide field Scope.
4 element Petzval optical design.
Views have that ' wow ' factor every time I look through it.
I have other Scopes on hand ....but this NA140 is something else....and it's not a heavy Scope.... coming in at 6kg's 5.5 inches of Japanese optical goodness...
I'm hooked..
Flash.....
Last edited by FlashDrive; 05-10-2013 at 06:31 PM.
My Vixen DED108SS is also a 4 element Petzval Nagler, with DOUBLE ED elements at the front. The visual through it is absolutely mind blowing, but of course it absolutely excels at photography.
My FL102S is currently in pure visual mode, but now I have my second CCD, and a seond Vixen mount, I am spoiled able to image with both, simultaneously
Ah, refractors vs dobs again?
For visual dso, nothing beat a good big dob.
Refractors are good for astrophotography but most will not be able to afford one above 5 ins.
My latest acquisition is the AT65EDQ, which I think is a very nice astrograph, considering its price ($697 delivered) and quality of construction. It is an amazing little scope and will become my mainstay grab-n-go, as well as AP. Currently in is mounted on the EQ6Alt Az along with my WO 110mm.
But, just when I thought my scope purchases may actually be coming to an end, Vixen releases the VSD 100 f3.8, damn! No indication of yet. I will make sure I am sitting down
Vixen NA140SSf ....5.5"inch f5.7 ...absolutely outstanding wide field Scope.
4 element Petzval optical design.
Views have that ' wow ' factor every time I look through it.
I have other Scopes on hand ....but this NA140 is something else....and it's not a heavy Scope.... coming in at 6kg's 5.5 inches of Japanese optical goodness...
I'm hooked..
Flash.....
Now that is a MINT grab n go setup! If you ever sell I've got dibs!
My current scopes:
12" F/4.4 SDM dob ...eats galaxies for breakfast
8" F/6 dob ..............eats planets for breakfast
4.5" Meade Newt. Aside from the plastic focuser this little guy is a great grab n go performer with my M1 mount. It's also my first proper scope which my parents got me as a Christmas Gift way back in 2000.
I want to own a 4" class Vixen refractor with an alt-az mount for the ultimate all-round grab n go fun
But, just when I thought my scope purchases may actually be coming to an end, Vixen releases the VSD 100 f3.8, damn! No indication of yet. I will make sure I am sitting down
What camera/ccd combo with this scope were you thinking about, if you bought this scope?
The field of view of this scope with most cameras is so large that it could easily take in all but the largest objects in one shot. With an Atik460EX, it easily shoots the whole Rosette, Trifid/Lagoon combo, most of the North American neb, a great chunk of the Veil, Orion and the Running Man, Horsehead/flame and IC434...all in one shot for each target. If you've got CCD Calculator, just add the scope's stats and run it through with your camera's stats.
The scope may have an FoV that covers a medium format 645 chip, but I wouldn't bother with matching a camera with such a chip to the scope. The FoV is so large that even the Veil looks ridiculously small on the chip. Not only that, you're paying through the nose for such cameras.
Confession time I have a small family of Celestron SCTs. Yeah yeah, I know what everyone says about 'em, but for me they're a good compromise between aperture and portability. It started off with the C6, then I wanted more light grasp and got the C8. Then in a moment of madness/frivolity, a C11 Edge HD joined the family (I think the 8 is my favourite but don't tell the 11!)
Loving the views with them here in Oz though and so far I haven't suffered with dew anything like back "home" where dew management was mandatory, I think I've only used the dew shield once since I've been here. It'll be interested to see how it is over the summer months.
Anyhow, until there's a nice big 18-20" Dob with a lightweight mirror (that I can afford!) they'll have to do
90 sct,
6 inch mak
150mm mak newt
80&88 wo refractors
8 inch sct
c14 +hyperstar
From the data above ....my favourite scope c14.....will I get rid of any of my scopes.....no ....all....keepers...Cheers By the way Merry Christmas to all members and Happy New Year....and hopefully extra $'s to spare on their dream gear next year ....again Cheers Tom
For viewing faint things I have a 10in dob
And for just grabbing and getting out I purchased a gso SkyView alt-az for chrissy , to go with my little Vixen 80x900 acro , which for a little cheapo scope Is quite surprising , in terms of CA and views .
All it needs is a decent 2in focuser
I'm a happy vegimite
I have an ETX 90 and a 5" newt. I used to have an 8" Dob, but I found the etx was getting more use, due to its easier portability and travelability (if thats a word!).
I recently picked up the 5" second hand, but even it seems a little unwieldy to me...
I am starting to think the goldilocks size scope (ie. not too big and not too small) might be something like a 5" or 6" mak or sct, maybe on an unpowered AZ mount (or maybe even a simple EQ). Can anyone proffer an opinion on this?
My new favourite scope is my Kson 102 mm tabletop dobsonian. I used it over the Christmas break to take camping, sharing some of the eyecandy DSO's with some friends who had largely not looked through a telescope much or at all. They were certainly impressed by what they saw & I have been pleasanly surprised by the level of Optical Quality & finish of these scopes. (in the interests of disclosure, yes I sell these scopes on my website, everythingastronomy.com) So having now used this in the field I am very confidint in recommending this scope to my customers !
. Perfect choice for traveling.
By the way Merry Christmas to all members and Happy New Year....and hopefully extra $'s to spare on their dream gear next year ....again Cheers Tom
