I have been looking at buying a scope for a while and have become information overloaded with which way to go.
Im pretty set on a 8" reflector with crayford focuser. I'd like to have some means of aligning my scope as star hopping seems a bit intimidating which led me to think of a eq5 mount.
then there is the cost issue and the polar alligning!
Id like to know if there is any of the shelf dobson mount with analogue setting circles or even something like the orion 8" intelliscope style upgrade for say a 8" skywatch dobson that is reasonably priced.
I'd like to keep my initial purchase to $600-700
Great site by the way, I will be working my way through all your articles soon.
An 8" scope is a fine instrument BUT your wish of digital setting circles will more than blow your whole budget. How about thinking about manual setting circles as described in this article on CN?
