[Nab (Darren)]

Having spent nearly 2 years with my 8" dob I've started to think about other options.. Not aperture fever though, in fact the reverse!

The seemingly very windy and cold nights, following a cloudy summer Victoria has had, and the recent purchase of the Cambridge Photographic Moon Atlas has lead me to think about more short or opportunistic observing sessions chasing some 'easier' targets.

Avoiding the Newtonian wait for cool-down, easy handling and quality views are all essential.

So,
I it looks like a refractor fits the bill..

• Light and portable (grab and go), a scope you can take in and out quickly as the sucker holes, weather or opportunity dictate..
• Sturdy Alt Az Mount
• Lunar, wide field, doubles & a bit of planetary and white light solar (w/filter of course!).
• Not interested serious astro photography (and If I ever am I'll invest at the right level then)
• May connect a DSLR for terrestrial wildlife/moon/astro mucking about.

The easy route seems to be a SkyWatcher ED80.. Reading suggests something better than a SW AZ3 mount is advisable though.

I've also been looking at some vixen options: Either the ED80Sf or the ED81SII with a Porta II mount. I'm assuming a Vixen offering would represent better quality than the SW one?

I'd appreciate any collected wisdom or advice about which way I might go.

Thanks.
Darren.