I have a Fever…… Aperture Fever!

[Matty P]

Since the first time I looked through a telescope. I have always wondered just how much more I could see with a larger one. From that day on there was no turning back. I quickly upgraded my 80mm refractor for a Celestron 8” SCT.

Now that I have started imaging the planets, the urge for a larger scope has been overwhelming. I suppose it is just human nature, always wanting more when we really don’t need it. (Would be nice though) :whistle:

Has this happened to you before? :)

[edwardsdj]

Last time was twelve months ago; I ended up with a 12" Lightbridge :)

[xelasnave]

I have never heard of such a problem...you say you want something bigger..most curious...but before you fall further to the sickness please realise that until you have developed the anti bodies from the realisation that it is the mount that limits your app size you will forever be in a state of confussion.

I have no plans to go bigger than the mount will carry ...mmm maybe a 24 inch dob but other than that no worries.

alex

[Rodstar]

There are only two remedies that I am aware of:
1. Gouge out your eyes; or
2. Throw caution to the wind, and buy a bigger scope.

[xelasnave]

I have wondered do you have something bigger in mind?:lol::lol::lol:
alex:):):)

[spacezebra]

Hi there

Yes, it bites hard! Moving from a 12" to a 20"

Cheers Petra

[Satchmo]

No theres one more:

Build a binocular scope and start utilising that other unused eye and get the equivelent of a 40% larger scope to boot :).

[Rob_K]

No :shrug:.

Cheers -

[KenGee]

I got to 16 inches before my fever broke. Now a 5 inch refractor does it for me for the mo:whistle:. Some peoples never do and that's alright to, Just try to get the most out of the scope you've got before moving up.

[Rodstar]

No, the Mary Rose has cured me for the time being (I am advised, though, that sometimes the symptoms can return, not sure what I can do next time, except perhaps, as Satchmo suggests, I might need to go bino :scared:).

[Matty P]

I'll take number one thanks, it's cheaper. :lol:

I am hoping to upgrade to a C14 in a few years when I have the funds. :whistle:

Is there a cure?

[Louwai]

The scurge of my existence.

I currently have a C8S GT & am now tossing up between a C14 or a 20" Obsession fully loaded.

[Rodstar]

I have three letters for you......SDM :thumbsup:

[Zuts]

Geez, I hope this affliction is not catching, otherwise Astronomy could get to be an expensive hobby :)

Paul

[citivolus]

lol!

[Ric]

Hi Matty, I resisted the urge for 30 years and then went from a 8" to a 12".

Pending any major lotto wins I don't plan any more upgrades. :whistle:

Cheers

[Matty P]

Wow! 30 years. :eyepop:

I've got to ask, How did you hold out for that long?!

I'm pretty sure you are immune from this sickness.

[Ric]

Hi Matty, Basically I was very happy with the 8" and it did everything I wanted for mainly visual astronomy, it was only in the last two years when I decided to get serious about astrophotography that I decided to upgrade as well.

The C8 which is a 1976 model still gets a lot of use and is pristine condition.

Cheers

[rumples riot]

Ah yes this happens frequently to me. Kind of like going into the Hilti store to buy more tools for my business.

Got C14 but wish they made a C16, got the SDM and that is cool but it is hard to move in an out of my unit. Perhaps I will one day own a 20" Meade ACF on Max mount. That would cover all the bases, just need to buy a crane to go with it.

Aperture fever is really hard to deal with I am afraid.

[Louwai]

Yes, I hear you.
Since the last post I've been doing some research & yes the SDM is starting to look more attractive than an Obsession.

To date, the one biggest down-side to the Obsession / SDM as to a C14 is that with a C14 I don't need to go climbing up ladders to look at stuff.

As long as the SDM came with EVERYTHING, then the ladder thing is really the only difference. (other than apature). I have fallen asleep in the chair before, while sitting at the EP of my C8. Wouldn't want to do that atop a ladder.

[Starkler]

As an SDM owner I can say no ladder for me :D
Mine was planned that way from the very beginning that the eyepiece height at zenith matched my standing eye height.

Both Deep Sky optics and SDM were happy to work with my requirements in a custom built scope, which is something you wont get with Obsession.

[Starkler]

By the way, I think aperture fever is a preventable disease, you just have to resist temptation and NOT look through scopes bigger than your own:scared2:.
I caught it by looking through an 18" obsession.:help3:

[PhilW]

Mine has the same logic. At 35cm and F/4.6 I can view the zenith without a ladder, even when the scope is mounted on a tracking platform. In fact, given that you're rarely viewing right at the zenith, you can get away with a slightly bigger scope (say 40cm F/4.5) and very rarely have to use a step stool.

[Matty P]

Can you please enlighten me what SDM stands for? Sorry if it is a stupid question but I honestly have no idea.

[Starkler]

http://www.sdmtelescopes.com.au/

Size does matter.