Finally, Telescope Choice made!

[Decimus (Richard)]

After all of the discussion under 'Which scope?' and 'Crunch Time' - and many thanks to all of you for your input - I have purchase the following equipment:

APM-LZOS Telescope Apo Refractor (triplet) 152/1200

Officina Stellare 10x60 Finderscope

William Optics Quartz 1/15 wave dielectric diagonal

Full set of Pentax XW eyepieces: 3.5, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 20mm, plus 1 Vixen LVW 42mm

Mount: Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 SynScan GOTO Mount

Busted the bank but am very happy with my choice. Accessories arriving next week, telelscope (and a custom-made case) in late May or thereabouts.

I am ridiculously excited. Oh, the joys of retirement!

[Atmos (Colin)]

I think anyone would be excited with that arriving :-) Look forward to hearing when it all arrives

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

Richard, a really nice bunch of equipment! When it arrives you may find that the AZ-EQ6 tripod has a few shortcomings for such a large refractor. You may want to put it on a pier, the best type for large refractors are the tension leg style as sold (and copied by others) by Astro-Physics.
Looking forward to some pictures and obs reports after it arrives.

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Nice one Richard, look forward to hearing more about it when it arrives

[Kunama]

Great scope and ancillaries Richard. I have a Progress Saver account going at the moment entitled "APM LZOS 152/1200LW" so am very interested in your thoughts on this scope when it arrives.

[Decimus (Richard)]

Thanks, Colin, John, Dunk and Matt. I won't be doing any photography when it arrives as I will probably spend most of my time observing - and reading about astrophotography, a since I am clueless. I have yet to buy a good camera, anyway. The pier set-up mount you mention is ideal, but it'll have to wait. I watched a video of an ASA Astrosysteme mount and could not hear it even with the sound maxxed out! What a gorgeous mount - but $16000!

If anyone has any suggestions on good texts on astrophotography, I'd be grateful.

Thanks again.

Cheers,
Richard

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Be honest, you were always going to get that scope regardless of what others were going to recommend.

What a package you've got there though! Merry Christmas and happy retirement!

[Decimus (Richard)]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Be honest, you were always going to get that scope regardless of what others were going to recommend.

What a package you've got there though! Merry Christmas and happy retirement!

Well, the Tak was under consideration, and the CFF 160 APO and the TEC too, Steve, but some friendly advice and experiential knowledge from the retailer persuaded me otherwise...And the Tak 150, great scope that it is, is a bit too heavy and has a focuser which is not as good as the one on the APM....Apologies to Tak afficionados...

Cheers,
Richard

[Brian3. (Brian)]

Excellent choice with the right accessories. Hope to be following you in a few years!

[Decimus (Richard)]

Originally Posted by Brian3.

Excellent choice with the right accessories. Hope to be following you in a few years!

Thanks, Brian. Scope is on the way here. Mind you, it might take me a few years just to master the scope for observing, let alone take astrophotographs. And I am no spring chicken...

Cheers,
Richard

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Decimus

Well, the Tak was under consideration, and the CFF 160 APO and the TEC too, Steve, but some friendly advice and experiential knowledge from the retailer persuaded me otherwise...And the Tak 150, great scope that it is, is a bit too heavy and has a focuser which is not as good as the one on the APM....Apologies to Tak afficionados...

Cheers,
Richard

Nice scope.... But it's still not an Astro-Physics

But an EQ6? Seriously? I think those lovely optics deserved better....

[Decimus (Richard)]

Well, Peter, I wasn't going to wait 7 years plus for an AP whose optics (I am informed) are arguably no better than the APM's.

You are right that the AZ-EQ6 is not the best of mounts for this scope, but I have it at home and am impressed by its quality build....As I will not be doing astrophotography for some time, it is a good choice for a rank amateur (and the CEM60 from IOptron was the only contender, given my budget). The Astro Systeme DDM60 would be wonderful, but at $16K (with tripod), that's for much later....if ever.

Cheers,
Richard

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by Decimus

If anyone has any suggestions on good texts on astrophotography, I'd be grateful.

This one's quite good and covers a wide range of relevant topics: http://www.amazon.com/Astrophotograp...dp/113877684X/

Cheers,
Rick.

[Atmos (Colin)]

If all you're planning on doing is visual work for quite some time, what is most important for you is simple hand controller goto (don't need an external computer) which is what the SkyWatcher does well

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Decimus

Well, Peter, I wasn't going to wait 7 years plus for an AP whose optics (I am informed) are arguably no better than the APM's.

You are right that the AZ-EQ6 is not the best of mounts for this scope, but I have it at home and am impressed by its quality build....As I will not be doing astrophotography for some time, it is a good choice for a rank amateur (and the CEM60 from IOptron was the only contender, given my budget). The Astro Systeme DDM60 would be wonderful, but at $16K (with tripod), that's for much later....if ever.

Cheers,
Richard

APM are lovely instruments....but I fear they haven't quite got that divine optical correction That AP are revered for ( I believe Roland Christen will be Canonised in time to come ...(don't take me seriously on this subject...then again....I have had 5 AP scopes over the years...all are divine )

7 years for an AP? Well not always.....I had an AP130 for sale late last year but no IIS subscribers were interested.

I too have looked at the ASA range...unfortunately users report a raft of interesting problems that direct drive system induce. For those seeking perfection I'd suggest a worm drive with absolute encoders comes close....in any event I look forward to hearing about your experience with the new system in time to come!

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by Decimus

After all of the discussion under 'Which scope?' and 'Crunch Time' - and many thanks to all of you for your input - I have purchase the following equipment:

APM-LZOS Telescope Apo Refractor (triplet) 152/1200

Officina Stellare 10x60 Finderscope

William Optics Quartz 1/15 wave dielectric diagonal

Full set of Pentax XW eyepieces: 3.5, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 20mm, plus 1 Vixen LVW 42mm

Mount: Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 SynScan GOTO Mount

Busted the bank but am very happy with my choice. Accessories arriving next week, telelscope (and a custom-made case) in late May or thereabouts.

I am ridiculously excited. Oh, the joys of retirement!

Gee I dont know that you bave made the right choices.

Just kidding. Great selection dont get too frustrated waiting for the opportunity to use it all.
Good luck alex

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Gee I dont know that you bave made the right choices.

Yeah, I think we should volunteer to take it off his hands. Stop him feeling frustrated .

[Decimus (Richard)]

Originally Posted by RickS

This one's quite good and covers a wide range of relevant topics: http://www.amazon.com/Astrophotograp...dp/113877684X/

Cheers,
Rick.

Thanks, Chris - much appreciated. I'll put that text on the 'buy now' list as I have no doubt it will take me ages to absorb it all!
Cheers,
Richard

[Decimus (Richard)]

Oh and thanks, Alex and David for the humour!

All that is needed now (apart from the scope) is a powertank which has proven difficult to source for the AZ-EQ6....Have ordered one, but again, the waiting, the waiting...
Cheers,
Richard

[Decimus (Richard)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

Yeah, I think we should volunteer to take it off his hands. Stop him feeling frustrated .

Sorry, Rick. Why did I call you Chris? Apologies