|
Hi Peter welcome from me to ICEINSPACE ....
I notice you are not into photography yet so I suggest that maybe you consider a cheaper 10 or 12 inch DOB... the dob mount is easy to use for visual.
If you are thinking of photos well think mount first..it is the mount that to a very large degree determines photo quality... the eq5 is a great mount but the eq6 is bigger .... a very good set up would be an eq6 with the 9.25 and an 80mm ed (approx 750 mm f/l)... each scope can be used to photograph thru while the other is used as a guide scope... and believe me you can get wonderful photos with a 80mm.
My gear is a 6inch sn (a reflector with a corrector plate) with an 80mm x 400mm that I use for guiding... for photos and a 12 inch dob for actually looking at objects.
I think the 12 inch GSO dobs are excellent value for money and it will be a long time before I go up to a 16inch dob..if ever..thats how happy I am with the 12 inch.
But when you move to photos and you probably will think along the lines of getting the best mount...even if you have to put your $200 Kmart scope on it cause you spent all your money on the mount.
Yesterday I pulled the eq6 apart and I am very impressed with how good they are...they can be better with more expensive bearings and replacement gears but stock they are real bang for the buck...and I think in this game no matter what you get one will always be looking at small improvements to the stock unit.
I like the 9.25 and many do ... but I would be puting it on an EQ6 mount rather than an eq5... the eq6 is heavy duty gear and will take the various items you will add to the set up if you get into photos... and you probably will ..once you take one it gets you in.
Again welcome to the forums ... in ending I will say any of the items you have listed will make you happy until you want something bigger...and there is always something bigger...
Also dont overlook a set of 80mm binos..they are great best value out there..but they need a good tripod or appropriate mount..I have a set and use them more than the 12 inch.
alex
|