How often do you upgrade your telescope?

[04Stefan07]

Had my first telescope (Celestron 60AZ) almost 2 years ago then upgraded quickly in December 2011. The first scope was only a budget one to introduce me into the world of Astronomy.

I probably won't be upgrading (my 130SLT and Skywatcher) for another few years.

How about you?

[ZeroID]

Whenever the aperture or gadget fever gets too much to bear .... :D

[Ric]

I upgraded from my C8 orange tube to the LX200R 12" after 30 years.

I'm very happy with both and still spend equal time with them.

I'd like to upgrade my CCD camera to some a bit more modern but I'm currently restoring a motorbike which is also absorbing money like astrophotography, I think the camera will have to wait until next year. :D

[LewisM]

Until I found the RIGHT combo for me, it seems I traded off every month.

Vixen FL102S and a Vixen VC200L are the spot on duo for me. No plans on changing it, unless a Tak FSQ106 comes along cheaply ;)

[Larryp]

I went through a few refractors during the past year until getting my Stellarvue SV90 Raptor-which is absolutely brilliant!
I don't think I will be doing any more upgrading.:)

[blink138]

an fsq 106 was sold today on iis for $1500! would that have been cheap enough?...... what a buy!!!
pat

[LewisM]

Bugger. Wish I had seen it :(

That's it - I quit work so I can watch the classifieds all day for when the next FSQ comes along.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Bugger is right Lewis, :sadeyes: I was looking at IIS classifieds this morning and went out about 10 minutes before it was listed. Wouldn't have mattered though, it was only listed for 6 minutes before it sold. 6 minutes! :eyepop:

Damned if I am going to sit here staring at the screen hoping that an FSQ comes up. I would like one, but I am not that keen. :P

I am hoping to pick up a high quality 'short focal length' refractor when in the US in July / August. May even find something at Stellafane! wooohoo, can't wait. :D

I have wanted to go to Stellafane for years and it is happening this year. Airfares and accommodation booked, just waiting on registration to open on 1st May, or thereabouts, according to the convenor.

Cheers Peter

[seeker372011]

Does one really have to keep upgrading a telescope like you have to keep upgrading Windows ?

After some years of buying the next-usually meaning more expensive DSLR/CCD/mount- I finally gave up and now just try and extract what I can with what I have

And I have so much gear and so little opportunity to use everything I own already...

[blink138]

absolutely right narayan.......... for me i have bought my equipment as a minimum five year plan.......... after that i will re look at options
but since i have not even come close to managing my rig and imaging gear after two years, i have a fair old hard road ahead and i am really looking forward
pat

[brian nordstrom]

:) Yep , I like Lewis , Laurie and many others spent years buying and selling ( ;) Just to see how good it was ) gear untill I now have all I need , 63mm - 210mm , Zeiss and Takahashi , thats me :thumbsup:.
You get to a piont when to get any better , by a small amount costs megga $1000's and most of us cant afford it .
And like me and lots here , are happy with what we have now , but its taken years to get it .
IIS classifieds are the perfect place for an up/down grade .:eyepop: .
I have to really watch myself there .
Brian.

[Steffen]

I haven't sold any of the telescopes I have bought so far. I'd like to think that's because I've done my research carefully and chose wisely. Or it could be that I'm just a hoarder… ;)

Cheers
Steffen.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Hi Stefan,

I have often asked myself, why do I have 4 telescopes? The simple answer is that they each serve a different purpose.

I could go into a justification for that, but I won't. The fact is, I just buy 'stuff' I know I like and I don't sell that 'stuff' either, in order to buy more 'stuff', as the 'stuff' I originally bought does what I bought it to do.

If 'stuff' comes out that my 'stuff' doesn't already do, then I just buy more stuff! :D

Oh 'stuff it', who am I kidding...............he who has the most toys wins! :lol:

[garymck]

I've wasted heaps of money over the years swapping , changing, being dissatisfied, just like most others.

I've finally got just what I want and need (if need describes a scope obsession....). A VC200L (my second, after I stupidly sold my first on IIS) on a GPD2 for imaging, and a CPC 1100XLT for visual and planetary imaging. These are now it......except maybe for a piggyback refractor......or Hyperstar for widefield......or solar scope.....but no more selling.

cheers
Gary

[noswonky]

I never go more than 25 years without upgrading.

[DavidU]

Not often enough :stargaze:

[allan gould]

I dont upgrade just accumulate.
Make sure the colour schemes match and SWMBO doesnt notice. :D

[Steffen]

Funny you should say that. I just ordered a MoonLite focuser in black (although I would have liked bright red) for the same reason :rofl:

Cheers
Steffen.

[Larryp]

:thumbsup::rofl::rofl:

[allan gould]

All my moonlights are red, helps with the confusion.

[Terry B]

I have only "upgraded" when the current scope has not been suitable for the purpose.
I bought my C11 as I needed more aperture for my spectrascope. My 127mm refractor is sitting on the floor. Maybe I should sell it.
My other scope is my VC200L and it was my first propper scope. I'm not sellinig it ever.

[DJT]

Whenever my none smoking fund hits the amount I want to spend on the piece of kit I really really want (there is a plan) ;-)

Gave up smoking last year when I realised how expensive this lark could get. Admittedly my spreadsheet has a fair number of IOU's from the last 12 months but am on a roll now. $9200 so far since quitting and totting it up every week. More importantly, there is food on the table and I havnt hocked the wifes camera kit to get the next scope :thumbsup:..oh yes, and am healthy and dont keep loosing my night vision whenever I spark up!

Upgrade..naah, get it right first time! ooh, then change your mind...:lol:

[dannat]

i don't think I've held a scope longer for a year -but then i forgot I've had a pst now for nearly 2 yrs -sometimes its just months

i have recently just had 1 working scope - but now 2 ore will soon be on the way

[LewisM]

After outlaying for the initial gear, I have actually spent quite a small amount on the upgrading - I continually trade, or art-trade with people.

All told, in the last 2 years:

5 mounts

10 scopes

And a truck load of odds and ends.

Settled on 2 scopes, 1 mount, one CCD, and 4 EP's. No need for anything else - in fact, time to sell all the DSLR bits.

[Stardrifter_WA]

I had a discussion with someone recently who said that I was wasting money buying more scopes. :D Yeah, right!!! :P Well, actually, he might have a point, but only to a degree. :sadeyes:

But then, we worked out what it was costing him for booze and smokes in a year. He hadn't really considered what it was costing him on a yearly basis, or simply was in denial about it, not sure which :question: However, he was more than a little surprised by how much he was spending on an annual basis. It worked out around a conservative estimate of $12,000 a year :eyepop: Let alone the cost of being a social pariah.

Furthermore, I pointed out that my scopes won't kill me, unless I am hit my a meteorite or freeze to death in winter. :lol:

So, who is the one really wasting money? Not I :D

And no, I don't smoke and I rarely drink alcohol.

So DJT, good on you for giving up smoking, you will be the richer for it. :)

Cheers Peter

[omegacrux]

Myself I started with an 8in Dob
Sold that purchased a 6in acro , then a 127 mak sold it about a year later , just didn't do it for me , don't know why
Now have a 10in Dob , still have the acro , thinking of a ed80 now
Each scope has its pros and cons , I'm finding out .
All over about 2 to 3 years
A learning curve but enjoying it !

David

Ps a big thanks to all those members I acquired stuff from !

[multiweb]

Haven't changed my gear in over 5yrs. Just added bits and pieces to it.

[Gem]

1985 - 50mm refractor
1995 - 10 inch dob
2009 - 80mm achro
2011 - 9.25 SCT
2012 - 16" dob and 80mm apo

Still got the lot except for the 50mm. The 10 inch is interstate in a shed though... :)
When you look at that cost over a 28 year period as my only hobby... much cheaper than getting a boat and going fishing!!! Besides which I only bought one of the scopes myself, the rest were given to me as presents.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Totally agree Grant, you don't have to convince me. 'You got to spend your money on something'; there is really no point in being the richest man in the graveyard, as the saying goes. Besides, there are a lot of worse things you could do. at least, that is how I justify it :D

Cheers Peter