16" vs 12"

sejanus (Gavin) · #1 22-03-2007, 08:55 PM

i know, i know. aperture rules. But tell me, is 16" over 12" a significantly noticeable step up in detail you can resolve on dso's?

If it is, i don't mind buying the 16" but if the 12" was almost there....well it is only 50% the price, or even 33% the price if I bought a conventional 12" dob.

i don't mind the extra weight of the 16" lb, i guess i am just after reassurance that it is such a step above the 12" that it is worth getting.

on another note, i ordered a cheapy EQ1 today to do some widefield stuff, which i think should perk my interest in it a bit more rather than the whole eq6/align thing - can't imagine you need a super accurate 'drift' align for a 16-35mm lens!

casstony · #2 22-03-2007, 09:12 PM

I don't know if this helps, but have you seen Obsessions M13 comparison http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/m13/index.html

mickoking · #3 22-03-2007, 09:15 PM

A 16" is significantly less portable than a 12". Both scopes will show heaps of stuff the 16 incher, of course showing more. It is a personally thing, I once owned a 14" truss tube, great scope but too big for my liking. I settled on the 12" (304mm) as a good compromise between sheer aperture and portability.

h0ughy (David) · #4 22-03-2007, 09:19 PM

well its up to you, are you just going to roll out of the shed most of the time or go to dark sites, if the first then go the 16, if the latter then go the 12, but consider the 16

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #5 22-03-2007, 09:28 PM

There's no way around it. You have to get both.

DobDobDob (Ron) · #6 22-03-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

I don't know if this helps, but have you seen Obsessions M13 comparison http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/m13/index.html

I wish you would not have posted that link

all my life I have heard that bigger is better, but until a few moments ago, I never really understood the true significance of that statement. After seeing this page, after just getting a 6 inch, I can see that I will never be satisfied, in fact there will never be a size that will be sufficient, because no matter what I get in the future, there will always be that size plus a couple of inches larger

I am truly a shattered man...my journey has many many many tens of thousands of dollars to go, numerous trades and back trading, and endless yearning and dreaming and wishing....ah....what a bummer

casstony · #7 22-03-2007, 11:27 PM

The best giant telescope to look through is one that belongs to someone else - easier on your creaky joints and your wallet.

Zuts · #8 22-03-2007, 11:52 PM

Go the 16", you know you want to

casstony · #9 23-03-2007, 12:13 AM

Know that these people telling you to get the 16" are all going to invite themselves over to your place once you buy it

sejanus (Gavin) · #10 23-03-2007, 03:51 AM

heh, I'm only 28. joints aren't creaky...........yet

glenc (Glen) · #11 23-03-2007, 05:45 AM

The image in the 16" is 77% brighter than in the 12" and the resolution is 33% better if the seeing is excellent. But you also have to look at $s (it costs 3 times more), portability and setup time.

h0ughy (David) · #12 23-03-2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenc

The image in the 16" is 77% brighter than in the 12" and the resolution is 33% better if the seeing is excellent. But you also have to look at $s (it costs 3 times more), portability and setup time.

yep and after you weight up the facts go and have a look at one and through one if you can.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #13 23-03-2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenc

The image in the 16" is 77% brighter than in the 12" and the resolution is 33% better if the seeing is excellent. But you also have to look at $s (it costs 3 times more), portability and setup time.

They are all just different ways of saying one is a 12" scope and the other is a 16" scope.

Look see for yerself, sejanus!

Certainly would not want a 16" as my only scope. Like to also have something smaller to use at short notice, take anywhere... 8" Dob works a treat there.

rmcpb (Rob) · #14 23-03-2007, 10:55 AM

Steve hit the nail on the head. Having a lone 16" byitself as your only scope would not be a good idea regardless of how good your back is and the size of your truck.

Peter Bobroff · #15 23-03-2007, 12:55 PM

Go to the South Pacific Star Party next month. There will be scopes of all sizes and unlimited advice from an infinite field of experts.

Perhaps you might decide to build a 16" for less than the cost of a 12" - it is easier than you might think.

There will be 16" scopes that are smaller and lighter than the average 12" and exquisite 12" scopes that the owners would never replace.

Moon_Shine · #16 23-03-2007, 01:39 PM

Hi,
Forget and ignore all the advise above,this is the scope you REALLY!! want,and just think of all the friends you'll make

http://www.astrobuysell.com/au/propview.php?view=257
Cheers

shredder · #17 23-03-2007, 01:43 PM

From your original post, it sounds like you are considering the Light Bridges?

I just got a 12" LB (lucky me!), and I must say its a big scope (even colapsed its big). Its virtually at the limit of what you can manage to move around and put away (at least for me, and I am in my mid 30s and still fit). I would suggest only go for the 16" if you have a. The Space, b. The Strength. c. Somewhere to keep it permanently.

As for seeing, I can't say in comparison to a 16" as I don't have one. But I can say I can now see faint fuzzies from my back yard (something my C8 never could do), and I aren't dissapointed or wishing I got the bigger one. I'm generally wishing all this cloud would just bugger off....(and the mossies)

The 12" is also small enough to work as your only scope (by the sounds of it the 16" isn't). So keep your $ get the 12, and spend a little of the difference on an ArgoNavis would be my suggestion.

M

skies2clear · #18 23-03-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon_Shine

Hi,
Forget and ignore all the advise above,this is the scope you REALLY!! want,and just think of all the friends you'll make

http://www.astrobuysell.com/au/propview.php?view=257
Cheers

What, that puny little thing?

CS

wavelandscott (Scott) · #19 23-03-2007, 07:22 PM

As others are trying to say...if purely after the "deepest" view get the 16 inch...

However, you must factor in transport...

The best scope choice in my opinion is the one that you will use. A 16 would be great but if you only get it out 2 times a year in my mind it diminishes the advantages of the extra magnitudes observable...

Get the one you are most likely to use...I find I use my 2 smaller scopes as often (recently more) than my 12.5 inch...mostly due to time constraints...yes the bigger one is "better" when I use it I just don't get to use it as much as I can/do the smaller ones.

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #20 23-03-2007, 07:59 PM

Mate, you're 28 - don't waste your youth on small scopes like I did!

Eyesight gets worse with age, so start big and get BIGGER!!!

(nobody really expected an un-biased response from me did they?

)