Folks, prior to leaving Tasmania to return to live in WA I decided that I didn't want to keep astronomy as a hobby any more and also to lighten the financial burden of removal costs I sold all of my scopes and equipment at fire sale prices. The scopes that I had were LX90, PST (cheap EQ mount), ETX with Thousand Oaks solar filter and all I have left is my laser pointer and a compass.
But I now lament the fire sale - especially the PST! - as I have had this itch that won't go away to rekindle my interest in astronomy. But my budget now is very modest. (SHMBO is not too keen on a big splash out given my last episode and I also don't want to spend too much in case the itch subsides.) So I have about $500 - 600 to spend.
I look at Bintel's 8" dob and think that will give me the minimum aperture that I need for DS viewing. It comes with some EPs too. But I have not been happy with my contact with dobs before as it irritates me to put my eye to the EP and have the OTA move! Second, without the tracking that I have been used to I know that showing someone else an object is fraught with 'what am I looking at?' as the image runs off the FOV.
Now that I have poured out my life story and woes I'd be interested in any comments from others, and dob owners in particular.
Cheers!
Popeye