Advice Sought - Looking to start over in 2015!

[GC - South Aus]

G'day All

My name is Gav from South Australia.

As a result of experiencing some family and personal issues late last year and early this year, I sold off pretty much all the equipment I had. I am currently getting by with a pair of 10x50 bino's at the moment, and have a couple of EP's waiting to see light again.

After some time off from astronomy, I want to come back and I am looking for a cheap, simplistic but yet effective (future proof) setup.

I want to make sure I don't make all the mistakes I made before, by rushing in and buying and trading things that I didn't really need. Now I wouldn't consider myself an expert, but not a beginner either. I would like to think I have learnt something from my mistakes!

One of the things I have learnt is the value of other people's opinions. Now we are not always going to agree on things, and we will have different opinions and interests. But any advice can be learnt from.

I really want to get back in to imaging again (eventually), but I do like a little visual observing too. I want something that will grow with me and meet my future AP interests.

I have already formed a general opinion as to what I want/need. I am currently advertising a wanted advert/post for the following:

MOUNT: Celestron CI700, Losmandy G11-S (Non Goto) or perhaps CGEM (Goto) or similar (push and go DSC system perhaps - that is for the CI700 and G11-S).

I would also like any of the following - MI250 or CGE Pro and whilst not really important to me perhaps the nicety of GOTO. But on my meager funds/finances these are probably going to be well outside my purchase ability.

OTA: I am looking primarily at a refractor ED/APO. Anything in the 100-130mm (4-5") range. Ones of particular interest are - Skywatcher ED100 or ED120 gold tube, Orion 110mm Premium ED, Orion 100 or 120 EON or a Meade 127 APO.

The above have not only just been chosen based on capability, but my financial situation too. They have also been chosen based on the age of the items and the likelihood someone may have moved on from these and have them sitting around in their obs gathering dust. So in providing advice please don't recommend TEC140's, Paramount MX or AP900's etc. I am basically stretched and any potential purchase really is pushing my finances out of the comfort zone.

I am also interested in the refractor and above mount sizes because I want something portable and not completely back braking! I know I could probably get a very large Newt, reasonable sized SCT or MAK or an Orion Atlas/EQ6 mount etc fairly cheap. But these aren't really what I am after.

So what do you think? Advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Gav

[pluto (Hugh)]

Hi Gav,
I haven't used one but I've had my eye on the iOptron CEM60. I think it's interesting as it has about the same capacity as an EQ6 but weighs much less, plus the initial reviews sound positive.

[GC - South Aus]

G'day Hugh

Would be a very nice mount I am sure.

But, it is unfortunately completely out of my price range.

They range new from $3500 basic to $5000 enhanced encoders on Telescopes and Astronomy website.

I am in a ultra low budget, hence I am looking at much older secondhand mounts such as the CI700.

Whilst I did list the MI250, CGEM and CGE Pro. This is just fanciful thinking, unless someone wants to throw one away dirt cheap.

I basically have $2000 max, pushing it to my upper most limits, for both OTA and mount.

Cheers

Gav

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

All of those mounts are larger and heavier than an EQ6...just thought you should understand that, if you don't want to break your back

[GC - South Aus]

G'day

I wasn't too clear in my initial post.

I was meaning more the OTAs being heavier, longer and wider (clumsier etc), such as newtonians, SCTs and MAKs. I was also meaning clumsier and difficult to carry mounts (I.e. Fork mounted SCTs such as LX or CPC range), not just heavier.

I previously had and sold an NEQ6 Pro, yes these are heavy, I just wasn't that taken by it. I have also used a friends G11 so I appreciate their size and weight. I am interested in the CI700 and G11-S more for their accuracy and payload capacity. This mount would eventually be a more static mount in an obs, maybe in another 5 years.

I think at the moment I can manage lumbering such a mount (especially broken down) with a 4"-5" refractor around. But in another 5 years it will become a more permanent set up.

Maybe later on I would saved up for a smaller and lighter, but capable eq mount for remote imaging (perhaps moved to more widefield work).

I guess there is no getting away from the relationship between requiring a large/heavy eq mount for accuracy and being able to carry a bigger payload in the AP world.

Cheers

Gav

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

All of those mounts are larger and heavier than an EQ6...just thought you should understand that, if you don't want to break your back

[GC - South Aus]

G'day All

I might have an opportunity to buy a Stellarvue 110ED, I don't know much about this scope. Even googling didn't bring too much up. I understand that it is a discontinued scope now.

Can anyone provide any advice or information from a personal use basis?

Cheers

Gav

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Gav, if you have the budget, the AZ-EQ6 is a cracking mount and a little lighter than the standard EQ6 and addresses a few of the issues too...my biggest gripe with my EQ6 is the altitude adjustment. It's possible to make it work, it just takes patience, but it IS a challenge.

The weight and size is a given if you want to mount and guide a scope of a certain size.

Regarding the 110ED...great visual scope, not sure how it'd fare for imaging as it's "only" a doublet, meaning one of the primary colours isn't necessarily brought to focus at the same point as the others. This isn't really an issue for visual, but once you accumulate some time on a camera sensor it becomes more obvious. Sorry I don't have more specific information than that.

[GC - South Aus]

Hi Cameloopardalis

Thanks for the response.

Well it looks like I may end up having to save up some more for something like the AZ-EQ6. I haven't seen one yet, maybe I will try and find someone with one first and have a look. It looks like there is not much going on out there in the used market (mount or telescope!).

I have picked up an lxd55 from the forum, I thought this would be a handy little portable mount for a small refractor 60-80mm in the longer term. But, may still be useful for a 4-5" refractor in the interim whilst I am looking for a heavier duty mount (I.e. CI700, G11 or CGEM/CGE).

I know the ED doublet telescope is not going to match a triplet, but it is just a matter of finances. I used to have the TMB92 (pristine), sold it off to another IIS member at the beginning of the year. Regretful sale!

The Stellarvue sale is already off, the price was good the condition of the OTA seemed like new. But, the shipping cost was US$400. Which just didn't make it worth it, especially with the AU dollar value going down. Bad timing all round.

Cheers

Gav

Originally Posted by Camelopardalis

Gav, if you have the budget, the AZ-EQ6 is a cracking mount and a little lighter than the standard EQ6 and addresses a few of the issues too...my biggest gripe with my EQ6 is the altitude adjustment. It's possible to make it work, it just takes patience, but it IS a challenge.

The weight and size is a given if you want to mount and guide a scope of a certain size.

Regarding the 110ED...great visual scope, not sure how it'd fare for imaging as it's "only" a doublet, meaning one of the primary colours isn't necessarily brought to focus at the same point as the others. This isn't really an issue for visual, but once you accumulate some time on a camera sensor it becomes more obvious. Sorry I don't have more specific information than that.

[raymo]

The AZ-EQ6 with a Skywatcher 190 Mak/ Newt would tick all your boxes.
raymo

[GC - South Aus]

G'day Raymo

Thanks for the input mate. Yes that seems like a pretty sweet set-up. But alas, once again out of my reach it seems.

I have come to the realisation that I am going to have to change my wants/desires in the short term. My $1600-2000 just is not going to stretch very far. But, I guess I already knew this, wishful thinking more like it! Plus used market seems very dry at the moment!

So, since I am desperate to get back into owning a scope and not just a pair of binoculars. I have decided to take another tact with the issue.

I now have (well not yet) a hypertuned LXD55, this will become an interim visual and AP mount. I am downgrading my OTA search to either an ED80 (3kg) or ED100 (4.5kg). I also have a couple of Canon lenses which can be swapped out with the OTA for even wider field imaging. I also picked up a relatively cheap Orion Guide Scope from the sales forum. I am hoping to combine this with an Orion SSAG or other webcam guider and my Canon 300D modified DSLR (eventually upgrade to an CCD, perhaps Atik 314L). I feel that an ED80 with a flattener and CCD is going to be better than any other refractor with just a stock standard DSLR!

I have already done the math. As a visual scope the LXD55 had a general consensus that its max load capacity is 30lbs (approx 15 kg). I am basically halving this to no more than 15lbs (approx. 7 kg) for AP/Imaging. With this weight limit I can make varying combinations with the above listed items below or slightly on (perhaps slightly above) the 7 kg self imposed limit.

With the money left, it will be timed to bank it and start saving my dollars slowly so I can eventually get a more permanent imaging rig (i.e. CI700, G11, CEM60 or AZ-EQ6 with a 5" APO or maybe the MN190).

Eventually the above LXD55 combination will become my portable (go anywhere rig).

Sorted

Cheers

Gav

Originally Posted by raymo

The AZ-EQ6 with a Skywatcher 190 Mak/ Newt would tick all your boxes.
raymo

[raymo]

Your $1600- 2000 budget would, I think, get you a used HEQ5, and
a used ED 120mm. or similar.
raymo

[GC - South Aus]

Hi Raymo

I would have thought so too, but the opportunities just aren't coming available.

Looks like everyone is happy to sit on their current and potentially excess gear.

So far I will spend about the following:

LXD55 $210-215 (including postage)
Orion Guide Scope $80 (Including postage)
ED80 $300 - $400 (estimate only)
or ED100 $550 - $650 (estimate only)

I am not in a rush for the Orion SSAG as I have a Philips SPC900N I can modify if needed.

So if I get an ED80+LXD55+Guidescope, that will equal just under $600.00. This will leave me some money to put in the bank, approx $1000. Start saving for the next year or two (probably 3!) for something I really want.

Starting over again has turned out to be a bit of a buggar!

But at least this may scratch an itch!

Cheers

Gav

Originally Posted by raymo

Your $1600- 2000 budget would, I think, get you a used HEQ5, and
a used ED 120mm. or similar.
raymo