Quote:
Originally Posted by Colin_Fraser
Overwhelming is an understatement.
I've called a few different suppliers and they all say something different. CGT is better, refractor is better. Cellestron is better than the rest, and so on. Big aperture is supposedly better but it's hard to imagine getting a better picture than the ones I've seen using an ED80.
I am now leaning towards a refractor type.
Seems a big difference in price from brand to brand. A Saxon ED80 for instance is around $1000 and a Skywatcher Black Diamond ED80 OTA is around $1800. Guess they are just better scopes.
So I suppose a good starting point would be the Skywatcher and a decent mount. I will probably attach a camera at a later date.
I'm going to the Snake Valley club tomorrow night. Hopefully the skies will be clear and I will be able to check out what others are using.
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Hey Colin
I think you'll find most "ED80"s are the same, but some are better than others within their own respective brand. E.G skywatcher has two different types of ED80's one you can get for around 500-600 bucks or the black diamond ED80 for around 1000 bucks - but 1800 bucks for the BD ED80 is way too much mate, currently there are a few sites selling it for about 900 bucks.
If you're interested in imaging, the ED's are going to be really good scopes and for the money you can get a higher apature ED series refractor. Yes they get great pictures, but remember for plain old simple visual observation apature will be king - so a 10 inch dob/newt is going to give you a much more thrilling view through an eyepiece than an ED80 will.
Honestly, for 4k I'd get an EQ6 with an ED80 for about 2.5k and then spend about 350 on an 8inch newtonian and you've got a grand to spend on imaging. That would have been my wishlist if you gave me 4 big ones, but it's just preference.