Growing equipment at $10k only

[TareqPhoto]

I don't know how to start this or even mention it, but i want to see how this will go so far with others as much it is nice to know sometimes.

Assume that you have equipment right now that is not high end yet but it is not very cheap as well, and you gained somehow say maximum $10k, what will be your next wish list or plan for equipment then?

[silv]

An !environmentally friendly! means of transport to a dark-er site. AND a subscription to an escort service...
:D not what YOU think... I just need a strong (looking) male to accompany me to the dark site away from city lights and to stay with me as body guard until I'm safely back home.

[LewisM]

I'd take the wife and kids on a holiday.

Personally 100% satisfied with what I have now - finally - so no amount of money will change it.

[multiweb]

Cloud free summer and not too hot.

[silv]

on second thought: I'd spend the 10k to bribe a city council member... so he'd change the recent decision on LED lighting to make the skies above Rostock darker with new energy saving lighting concept, not brighter. This way, I'd not have to get some form of transport and body guard because I'd not have to spend time away from my safe space @home.

[Wavytone]

If you'd asked a few weeks ago I'd have traded my Santel Mak for the last of the APM big maks - a 10" with LZOS optics and Matthias Wirth OTA - though it has sold (and quickly).

[JeniSkunk]

I already have a shopping list with prices. Of that $10,000, I'd be spending $2165 on kit. As for the rest, I'd have to think about how I'd use it.

$975 SkyWatcher 127mm AZ-GTi Maksutov Cassegrain - GoTo WiFi.
$545 Saxon Cielo HD eyepieces, 2.3mm, 4.5mm, 9mm, 18mm, 25mm, $109 each.
$158 Meade Short Focus Barlows 2x and 3x, $79 each.
$238 Saxon 6x30 Finderscope with Bracket (90 degree) x2, $119 each.
$249 SkyWatcher 12v PowerTank 17Ah Power Supply.

I could use the OTA from my existing scope, a SkyWatcher Heritage 130P Dobsonian, on the AZ-GTi mount, or use the 127mm Mak on the Dobsonian mount of the 130P.
I already have the 6.5mm and the 12mm of the Saxon Cielo HD eyepieces, so completing that set is something I do want to do.
The rest of the accessories list is pretty straight forwards. Better quality Barlows. Finderscopes that are more comfortable to use than the stock red dot finders, would make things a lot easier. And a decent capability power source.

[Karlzburg]

A motorised observatory on top of the hill on my property linked to the house 500m away. But still think I'd go sit in there to get away from Keeping up with Kardashians :lol:

[silv]

wha'?

[Atmos]

From where I am now, new camera and ROR observatory!

[Karlzburg]

Yes Annette sadly, though most nights I'm stacking and editing photos as I am now. Law and order is on at the moment whilst I watch kappa-sigma count down on DSS

[RyanJones]

I'd watch a DSS stacking count over 90% of TV to be fair.

As far as MY $10k. It would have to be a good future proof mount EQ6 pro etc... and probably a retractable section of roof in my garage. It may sound like that's over 10k but I'd build the roof myself, just need the materials.

[leon]

Just be satisfied with what you have if it all works for you, you don't have to keep up withe the big boys.

Leon

[TareqPhoto]

Well, sounds the comments aren't encouraging after all.


Thanks anyway.

[N1]

G'day Tareq, I think it's worth remembering that producing a sensible "shopping list" can be hard work for just $1,000 let alone 10, and few (if any) would be prepared to invest the hours required to do that work on the remote possibility that 10 grand (that they wouldn't need for anything else!) might just fall into their lap. An equipment growth plan with such increments probably isn't something most IISer have in mind, and the replies to this thread so far reflect this.

[TareqPhoto]

I saw that just now, i didn't know, i thought i may got so many options or suggestions/recommendations that are worthy, but as you said, no one want to do the homework then, that is fine, i am not forcing anyone to, and i appreciate it.


Thank you very much again!

[redbeard]

Hi TP,

The equipment I have now sounds a little like that, not high end, but not cheap for what I have. It's a Meade 10" LX200GPS on a wedge, and tripod and I use a Canon 450D on that. There is a Orion ST80 and a QHY5 on that. Add in a focal reducer, Moonlite focus, adapters, dew heaters and all the other stuff etc.....

And for all of that I can get galaxies, nebulas and other DSO, but that's where it stops as the pictures only get so so, compared to just about every other photo here on IIS taken with CCD's etc.

So, If I had 10K, here is my list, not an any order:

* Decent CCD camera (or new tech CMOS)
* Filter wheel and filter set.. RGB, Ha, OIII others...
* Decent Planetary camera

* Nice F4/5 Refractor setup on EQ mount plus bits and pieces...

* Observatory, Roll off roof shed
* Pier for scopes x 2

Hmm, I broke it down into 3 different 10K shopping lists. I want them all, but I see 30K. I'd go with the cameras and filter wheel first though.

Also want a decent 1 shot colour CCD, better guide camera, extra filters............................ ................... and the list goes on.

Cheers,
Damien.

[TareqPhoto]

Nice, this is a nice list you posted above, making the decision easier or it can enlighten what i should think about then.


Sounds my main item i will buy first if i will get that $10k is a Takahashi FSQ-106EDX4, i tried to find any scope that can smash smoke outperform this scope but it is less price than this and i couldn't find, so i keep it now as my first choice and later i can think about what i can do with the rest of the budget [again, if i have it].

[mynameiscd]

$10000 would let me take the time of work to be able to clean up our house and 75 acres in Yorke Peninsula S.A. and put it on the market.
Ive been trying to get there for over a year now and somthing always pops up!!!!
If we sell this 75 acre, 600m beachfront, bush block with zero light polution ( sounds like an ad doesn't it ) then we mortgage free and have all the available income to get any astro gear we want.
Cheers
Andy

[TareqPhoto]

Good for you, you know what to do for yourself if you get this budget or more.


I have another house that if i sell it then i can have any astro gear even 1-2meter scopes, but i am not an idiot to sacrifice a property to think about my hobbies and equipment, i can have time if i live long to buy stuff one by one, just i asked so i want to start right or wise, so far all gear i have is not bad but not the best to be used, so that i think about some upgrades for long term.

[mynameiscd]

Thanks TP, for the encouragement
I would love to keep the beach block but it costs about $20,000au a year and getting no use except a few nephews a couple of times a year. We lived there for about 8 years but circumstances change and now we are 600km away.
I've even got a basic observatory there with an empy pier at the moment.
It's just time vs $ and at the moment I've got no time and no $!
It will work in the long run and then it's time to slow down and stop and look at the little things along the way.
Cheers
Andy

[bojan]

For 10k, I would invest in EQ8 (or larger), permanently mounted on a pier.

[sn1987a]

Put it all on red and let it ride. Sydney or the bush!:P

[casstony]

If we're talking wish list versus reality, I'd replace my AVX mount with a Vixen SXP; it seems that the SXP is very capable but not too heavy.

I'm hoping Celestron will release a lighter weight version of the CGX as a mount I can actually afford to upgrade to.

[that_guy]

a CGEM?

[casstony]

CGEM is too heavy for me; a smaller capacity, lighter weight CGX with the spring loaded worms and improved latitude adjustment would be good.

[JeniSkunk]

The majority of items comprising my list, is stuff I could purchase as individual items over the course of a number of pension cheques. The sole large lump sum that would require saving for is the 127mm Mak kit. So it's less wish list and more in the realms of what could actually be purchased over the course of a year list.
But acquiring that $10,000 and being able to purchase the lot in one go, still would be nice.

[TareqPhoto]

Thank you very much!


Sounds nice to hear others comments or ideas.


I decided if i get this budget is to buy a nice scope, premium or not not sure, but i feel i better go with premium so i will never look back and it will be like a wise decision for lifetime, mostly premium scopes are hard to beat or to replace if it will serve your needs, so i will start with that and later i will see what else i can get with remaining budget or even if it will increase again.

[JeniSkunk]

For me, physical space needed for use, ease of setting up and storing, OTA weight and mount compatibility, and how much space is needed for storing, are the limiting factors in what telescope kit I'd get. Price tag isn't.
If I knew of what premium OTAs would work with my weight and space limits, I'd definitely want to check those out.
I'd like to consider better eyepieces, but there is a weight limit that comes into play with the plate the helical focuser is mounted on, on the 130P. About 250g. Too heavy an eyepiece, or eyepiece and Barlow, and that plate starts bending, throwing collimation and focus out.

[xelasnave]

Mmmm I think I have reached that figure in the last 12 months☺ all the money saved from not keeping the boat.
Alex

[h0ughy]

I think you need to see what interests you, then that may guide you through what you need. If your in a city and can't get away then work out if it's visual or imaging you like.

A refractor and a good Mount which is portable for you, or easy to set up. Being in the uae I have no experience as to your skies, but an ed80 is a great starting scope which can then progress to be a great guide scope later. Maybe a eq6 for a nice Mount to start with, or a losmandy g11 but thatcreallyvcomes down to your preferences

[JeniSkunk]

Unfortunately where I am in Brisbane, I have the 'fun' of skies light polluted to Bortle 8.
For me, heading bush, to the decent regional dark sites, is highly unlikely to happen, and would remain so, even if I did get that $10,000.

[TareqPhoto]

I live in suburban or city yes, light polluted, but i can get a glimpse of some targets of DSO, and DSO imaging is my priority, but i just included solar system imaging to my plan too, so planets and sun/moon are not a problem at all.


I think after some thinking i will start with a premium scope, expensive, so i will never look back to upgrade later, a premium mount can wait, then i will see what else i can buy after this scope with the remaining budget.

[Atmos]

You're better off getting a premium mount first. If you use a mount that isn't up to the task then your premium telescope will never live up to what it can do.

[TareqPhoto]

That is absolutely true, but it will be the same if i have a premium mount but my scope is just crap then it is like pointless to have a premium mount first place, my imaging scope is ST80, this is like a CRIME to buy a premium mount to use it with my ST80, while a premium scope will do a great job with my current mount which is not bad anyway, i am sure i will do A LOT with a premium scope and my current mount than a premium mount with my ST80, think about it and you will know that i am RIGHT.

[bojan]

Absolutely true.

There is a saying "the chain is as strong as the weakest link".. and in our case (AP) it is almost always the mount. Especially when the mount is much more expensive part of the whole system

[TareqPhoto]

I said that is true, but what is holding me back is that the mount is still new, only last year i bought it and i didn't use it much yet to understand it, so a new premium mount now is like too early, although i know that i should get that first, but there is a mount in my mind that is maybe not top premium but it rated for really nice capacity payload, i will plan to get that later after i get the premium scope, i saw many using that premium scope on same of my mount currently i have which means it can do the job, i don't have any good scope for DSO except my Newtonian, but this is medium to long views, it won't be good enough for many wide field targets, so a scope now is likely first priority.

[sil]

I had a similar decision once and went with a purchase I couldn't justify myself ever saving towards to buy. Go for a decent tripod mount and spend it all on just that, no extras. the extras you can pick up later. But a good mount will last a lifetime, even if you have crap scopes to put on it now. No matter what you do with telescopes it all starts with the "base" a solid, accurate mount solution. Its always a requirement. OTAs are always improving, cameras improving FAST, but a well engineered mount you can use today and in ten years time. if you seriously think you'll get a 2m scope then nothing you buy at 10k today is going to be of use at that stage except education.

[morls]

Maybe you should sell it now while it still has good value?
It seems most people here are advising you to get the best possible mount, as this will be the foundation for everything else, and there's a lot of experience in these forums to draw upon.
Just my 2c...
Cheers
Stephen

[TareqPhoto]

The question is, which premium mount then? and which one that can be around $10k and it will be for lifetime and can handle up to 50kg? and only brand new? answer this then the mount will be my first choice over a scope.

[Atmos]

My vote would be for the Mesu 200

[TareqPhoto]

In fact this is the mount that i was looking for to buy, someone recommended it highly, but i wasn't sure if Mesu is a high brand or premium anyway, because the only names i hear are :10Micron, AP, and SB[for Paramount models], and i thought anything else isn't a high end at all.

[TareqPhoto]

Other thing is, i don't see so many reviews about Mesu 200, i got few reviews which all said nice things about it, but is that enough to build a decision on? i still have time and no budget yet, and if i get Mesu then i can squeeze more to have a good premium scope too, but i will wait and see more opinions and watching budget hopefully.

[morls]

just had a quick look (it's probably the only reason I'm ever going to have to look at high-end mounts...)


http://www.losmandy.com/hgm-titan.html
Losmandy HGM Titan 100lb instrument/175lb total capacity


https://www.highpointscientific.com/telescope-accessories/mounts/telescope-mounts/equatorial-mounts/software-bisque-paramount-mx-plus-equatorial-mount-mxred
Software Bisque Paramount MX+, 200lb equipment/payload capacity. A steal at $9000 USD!!:eyepop:

[morls]

and if you do a search on CN for "Any NEGATIVES to a Paramount MX+ ?" there's an interesting thread...

[TareqPhoto]

Mesu 200 will handle up to 100KG [that is 220lb] for half the price, i think if it can handle up to 100KG then if i use something like 40-50kg it will be a joke and it will do perfect, any mount once reaching its limits even very high premium very high end will have issues beyond its limits anyway, so will you buy that premium for less capacity and not lesser one with more capacity and less price?

[TareqPhoto]

Paramount MX+ is rated at 100lb as instrument, but if instrument and counterweight it will be 200lb [don't know what is that], so it is actually 100lb not 200lb and still very expensive, AP is not less, and 10Micron will smash them both in price for same capacity range.

[morls]

I read the Paramount specs as OTA + accessories 200lb capacity (payload). Counterweights aren't included in that figure.


It seems all these high end mounts have different price points. Is there a difference in manufacturing materials? Drive assembly? Accuracy? There must be some reason for one being more expensive than others (unless it's related to marketing or something non-performance).



I would have thought at this level the differences come down to precision of performance and quality of manufacture, both of which could add $$$ to the price. The last 5% towards achieving excellence is the most expensive...

[TareqPhoto]

No answer by me, and well said!

[muletopia]

As Atmos said Mesu 200.
I upgraded to one and since then the mount has been a joy to use with a 2415 MM FL
'scope, as others have said, here and on Stargazers Lounge, you can just forget about the mount. Lucas Mesu is good and prompt to answer questions before and after purchase.

.
With the magic Sidereal servo controller 11 the go tos and tracking are spot on.
I build a sky map using CDC and have no need to plate solve after polar alignment with Sharpcap (verified by Darve drifts). PHD2 guiding with an off axis guider is pleasingly accurate and the calibration of Phd is a breeze.I have the non split Mesu (as has Billdan on this forum). Both of us routinely get tracking RMS of around .4 seconds, I have had as low as .33 seconds with this long FL scope.


I tried a Losmandy g11 with Gemini 2 but the Mesu with Sidereal puts it to shame.


Cheers
Chris

[TareqPhoto]

Great, so another confirmation that i can go with Mesu confidently.


Thank you, Chris!


Now my plan first to get a scope [a premium one] then the mount will be next in my list.

[netwolf]

You know when I first joined up here and started with a GSO 10” dob , I always wondered how people afford all this gear. Now many years on, while I have acquired better gear the far greater thing was the journey and the friends I made along the way in this hobby. I am very fortunate to have some great buddies that I coloaborate with a lot and we share our gear. Jokingly as Apoman will often say “what’s yours is mine and what’s mine is mine”.
As well as the many many friends I met via Iceinspace , some sadly not with us today also. The summit of the mountain is a lonely place with no one to share. And then there is the understanding family who play a huge part.

Money and gear both will come in time , the struggle to climb is the fun. Best of all are mates and family who help you climb. My first dob seemed expensive to me then and now the next thing looks expensive there will always be something better around the bend...

[bojan]

Beautifully said :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[TareqPhoto]

Nice, thank you very much for your comment and words, the net is open to the world.

[garymck]

My Mesu 200 is the ONLY astro purchase I've ever made that I have no regrets about. It has worked perfectly from day 1. I can judge the seeing simply from my guiding rms..... Carries everything from a 12" f5 newt, down to my Esprit 100 without a moments issue. Only wish would be homing sensors, but they would be a just icing on a really nice cake.....

Gary

[TareqPhoto]

Ok, i think this will save me a lot of money then rather than i go with very expensive 10Micron or Astro-Physics mounts.