Show us your gear - WHY?

[Ukastronomer]

PLEASE don't take this the wrong way but..........

Every now and again a new thread starts, show us your scope, gear, eyepieces etc etc

Why?

I don't, in fact until I joined here I didn't even list what I have, and still think it is precocious of me to do so.

I know many US sites where people have started such threads and some even admitted they did it to "show off"........... Oh I have £xxx woth of gear Ill start a thread to show it off.

I am happy to talk about my stuff if it "helps" others, and say what I use it for and how and why but surely a "what do you have" thread is just a "look at me" thread, and if thought out can really put people off.

Alex started a GOOD thread asking newby's to show ther images and not be put off by others images, boasting about what you have benefits who? how?

Thank you

[casstony]

"Show us your gear - WHY?"

I'd answer why not? What harm does it do?

Also listing gear in a signature lets others see what you use to take images.

[bojan]

This is individual choice....

As to images and how they are obtained, I provide that info with image (if at all).

[Ukastronomer]

I agree, thanks, I was in a way just asking

[Ukastronomer]

+1

[xelasnave]

Hi Jeremy
I see your point however this is a place where folk discuss stuff like their gear.
The same emotion is in opperation I suspect as perhaps you had when you shared your excellent focuser idea...for some...I have posted photos of various set ups not to show off as a bragging exercise but simply to show how I have arranged things...like you sharing your focuser idea really.
I suppose there may be show offs but hey if that makes them happy I dont care.
I feel like listing my stuff, at least my imaging stuff, so I dont have to type it all each time I post a photo but I admit that I get the feeling you express that ot may be seen as showing off...interesting prospect you raise...I guess finally everyone is different and so will be their motivations.
Alex

[Camelopardalis]

If you don’t want to see, don’t look ;)

[LewisM]

I think it is actually very important in the correct context. Sure, boasting threads are just that, but horses for courses. Threads showing images and the scope involved are very important like Tony’s Redcat vs Sharpstar thread - I’ve been checking out the new Sharpstar quads weighing them against the very good Redcat, and Tony doing this in hand is fantastic (thanks Tony!).

There will always be show ponies - plenty of them in the hobby we love. The “Look at me” narcissists have their day then blend into the background, so just ignore and move on.

[N1]

I think it's not a new "show us your gear" thread starting every so often but a new post to the same old thread. Check out when it started! It's 15 years old. Notice how emphasis of certain aspects changes, or even just how the humble run-of-the mill dob has evolved. It's a great record of what people use for their astro fix, and I enjoy visiting every so often.

[dikman]

Just about every forum I've been on has a "show us your gear" type of thread. This ranges from motorbikes, camping stoves, 3D printers, boolit casting and reloading, computers, leatherwork etc. etc.



You will (almost) always get some who make it an ego trip (my stuff is dearer/better than yours) - funnily enough, the only one where I haven't run into that is on a hunting forum where everyone is genuinely interested in what firearms others have but everyone accepts them for what they are (egos get shot down pretty quick on there ;)) - but most, I believe, are just happy to share what they have/use, plus it can often give others ideas about how to do things. I enjoy looking at other folks setups on here, there are some cool rigs out there.:thumbsup:

[Nikolas]

This is a family, at least that's the way I consider it, the show us your gear is a way of building trust in your fellow astronomers and opens discussion abut future upgrades/downgrades. It also gives you an idea about what is being used for a photo being shown. I don't find it precocious and this being an Aussie group it's not like the yanks who do like to show off, we are more laid back and like to share without being judged. But if you don't feel comfortable with that then it's your prerogative

[AndyG]

Yep, what this Dude said... :cool2:

[Rainmaker]

I enjoy seeing the pictures of people's scopes, setups, eyepieces etc.....
I am not jealous of their good fortune in affording the gear, and more often than not, they have sacrificed other things (restaurants, fast cars etc) to be able to afford the nice astro stuff.....

Bring it on, show off your astro gear by all means......

[Startrek]

I believe it’s important to give as much information ( within reason ) on your images and the equipment used to capture them.
Makes the post more interesting and may provide others ( beginner or experienced) with details to advise , suggest , improve and encourage the results of your work
My image posts tend to be repetitive but I do it for good reason as noted above
Cheers

[JA]

WHY ? ..... Show and tell, an age old pastime (Primary School :D)

Best
JA

[Aron]

which thread is this one? I want to read it

As for the topic..I think you can't filter out anyone, so there would be still some who will boast around and making claims. However, it depends on each person though.

[LewisM]

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=176870

[Tropo-Bob]

I recently showed my 0.965" EPs. I was hoping to touch base with somebody who still also has a collection of these workhorses from a bygone era. Alas, not really so.

[GrahamL]

I've asked and given feedback on gear often enough to see its a usefull thing seeing what others have , you can also watch those who habitually buy and sell at the drop of a hat and often find a bargain .:P


Wondering you might have a problem , seeing others who are much worse is a calming reassurance and overall a good thing :)

[doppler]

This is another interesting thread that pops up now and again. How much is your astro gear worth.



http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=49852&highlight=poll+equipment+worth

[Ukastronomer]

Personally I would rather know why people have what they have not just what they have, Ok then here is mine with a reason for having it

I bought my first scope a Prinz (Dixons photographic) reflecting scope in the early 1970s at about 13, loved watching the Sky at Night on the BBC

Patrick Moore was later a friend of mine, and his love as we all know was the Moon, hence a refractor, also every time you see a review for Skywatcher telescopes and Patrick Endorsing them, see photo, it was ME who arranged it, what a weekend.

I arranged for the scopes to be delivered by OVL, they came on a Friday, we had them until the Monday, his room was FULL of boxes and my sons (16 and 12) and I travelled two hundred miles on the Friday at 4am to be at patricks.

IT RAINED until the Sunday when we had TWO hours of clear sky.

I had to build seven systems and evaluate them with Patrick. I received NO remuneration for this. In between testing the scopes I wheeled Patrick in and out in his wheelchair for him to look at them and through them.

I liked Skywatcher so much from hands on I bought them

Now I have the 120 triplet for Moon watching and imaging, the 72mm for Ha and a Celestron Edge HD 8" for the Moon and Planets.

Financially, I would never have been able to afford any had I not had a retirement lump sum

In the Photo I took when we took Patrick to Herstmonceux, my son Stephen who I talk about here is on the left

[brian nordstrom]

:) Bob , I have a few and will take a photo an post today sometime ,,, Ive been really busy as of late .

Brian.

[xelasnave]

What no photo of your chair😀
Alex

[DuaneDibbley]

I love the show us your setup like posts. I travel through them to find different ideas how I can set my own setup in ways I may not have thought of myself.

Innovative cable routing or that kind of thing. It’s great.