One Scope To Rule Them All

[glend (Glen)]

If you could only have one telescope to use for the rest of your life, which one would you choose and why? For the purposes of this question and realism to most people, consider a sub $5k budget, ease of use, and portability. Specify if your choice is visual, imaging, or all- rounder.

Assumptions to level playing field:

If your choice is a scope that requires an EQ or Alt-Az mount, then the assumption is you already have a suitable mount.

Assume it must be transportable to a dark site in a car and can be used at home or in a home based observatory. No remote site operation.

For imaging choices it is assumed you have the necessary gear, choice is scope only.

Give your reasons for your choice.

Thanks for playing.

[Zuts]

Hi,

I like my TV85

1) Good for wide field visual scanning
2) Can get good planetary views with a 3-6 tv zoom
3) Fine for AP
4) Good for terrestrial viewing
5) OK for deep sky on large nebula under dark skies
6) Well made, light and easily portable

I have had it for 10 years and may never sell it.

Cheers
Paul

[LewisM]

Sub-$5K doesn't buy me a new FSQ-106, so unless it was bought used, I guess I'd have no scope for life.

Quality costs, unfortunately

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Sub-$5K doesn't buy me a new FSQ-106, so unless it was bought used, I guess I'd have no scope for life.

Quality costs, unfortunately

Lewis why do you show other scopes in your signature?

Alex

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Sub-$5K doesn't buy me a new FSQ-106, so unless it was bought used, I guess I'd have no scope for life.

Quality costs, unfortunately

My thoughts too Lewis. An FSQ106EDX would fit that category. Although Suavi's new CFF106 is looking pretty good and that is under $5K.

Greg.

[Octane (Humayun)]

An FSQ-106N.

H

[Wavytone]

Big glass - the Russian Tank plus a counterweight consisting of a Skywatcher 180mm

https://www.cloudynights.com/uploads...1501381185.jpg

The 130 APO I had just didn't get used with these two to choose from.

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Sub-$5K doesn't buy me a new FSQ-106, so unless it was bought used, I guess I'd have no scope for life.

Quality costs, unfortunately

There is plenty of quality available to folks up to a $5k limit in this survey.
It might not say Takahashi on it.

[Atmos (Colin)]

For me it would be a used TSA-120 although if it had to be new price I'd still possibly consider the FC100DL with its dedicated flattened/reduced or an Esprit 120.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Lewis why do you show other scopes in your signature?

Alex

Because that is what I currently have. If I wanted one scope to do everything, then it has to be the FSQ line - FSQ-85, FSQ-106 or FSQ-130.

Only the -85is under 5K, but the Esprit does the same, just as effectively, though built NOWHERE near as nicely. Optically though, it's close enough!

No Glen, sorry, I cannot think of any other scope I'd want again than the FSQ's, both visually and imaging. I adore my A-P Star 12ED, but it is not particularly practical as an imager (I can reduce it to f/6 but that's it). Conversely, the Esprit is only a so-so visual scope. Happy medium and exquisite optics - FSQ.

It's not snobbery, it's reality, otherwise so many hundred top imagers wouldn't bother.

[JA]

Originally Posted by glend

If you could only have one telescope to use for the rest of your life, which one would you choose and why? For the purposes of this question and realism to most people, consider a sub $5k budget, ease of use, and portability. Specify if your choice is visual, imaging, or all- rounder.

Assumptions to level playing field:

If your choice is a scope that requires an EQ or Alt-Az mount, then the assumption is you already have a suitable mount.

Assume it must be transportable to a dark site in a car and can be used at home or in a home based observatory. No remote site operation.

For imaging choices it is assumed you have the necessary gear, choice is scope only.

Give your reasons for your choice.

Thanks for playing.

OK based on all the above - a manual focus Nikkor 400mm f2.8 (or Canon equivalent, if you're that way inclined). Sure it's one telescope ( lens), yes, but used with various bodies and accessories (Teleconverters & focal reducers, etc -you didn't specify a limit there) it can give a wide range of focal lengths / performance and still maintain its speed, even relative to its telescopic brethren and is it's very sharp and portable.

1. On a FF body - 400mm f2.8
2. On a DX body - 600mm f4
3. On a FF body + a quality 2x TC- 800mm f5.6
4. On a DX body + a quality 2x TC - 1200mm f8
5. Or Adapted to a Mirrorless or Astrocam / CCD with focal reducer for even possibly faster / improved results

It takes 52mm filters which screw in to a holder that drops in to the lens body.The new AFs VR (you hardly need that!) versions are expensive with the most current at nearly $16,000 in Australia. The manual focus lens ranges from about $3000 - $5,000 used. Obviously the suggestion is focused on imaging, but you could always add a Nikon Lens Scope Converter or similiar gizmo for visual observation.

Best
JA

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by JA

OK based on all the above - a manual focus Nikkor 400mm f2.8 (or Canon equivalent, if you're that way inclined). Sure it's one telescope ( lens), yes, but used with various bodies and accessories (Teleconverters & focal reducers, etc -you didn't specify a limit there) it can give a wide range of focal lengths / performance and still maintain its speed, even relative to its telescopic brethren and is it's very sharp and portable.

1. On a FF body - 400mm f2.8
2. On a DX body - 600mm f4
3. On a FF body + a quality 2x TC- 800mm f5.6
4. On a DX body + a quality 2x TC - 1200mm f8
5. Or Adapted to a Mirrorless or Astrocam / CCD with focal reducer for even possibly faster / improved results

It takes 52mm filters which screw in to a holder that drops in to the lens body.The new AFs VR (you hardly need that!) versions are expensive with the most current at nearly $16,000 in Australia. The manual focus lens ranges from about $3000 - $5,000 used. Obviously the suggestion is focused on imaging, but you could always add a Nikon Lens Scope Converter or similiar gizmo for visual observation.

Best
JA

JA, not wishing to offend, but perhaps there should be another thread survey on camera lenses. The question raised was about telescopes, which have historically had optical advantages over camera lenses. I realise lenses have made great advances but i think many here would argue they are not telescopes.

[Kunama]

$5K budget...... Takahashi FS128NSV
Or better still, a $5K TEC 8" Mak.......

[el_draco (Rom)]

W.O. 132 ... with change for a focuser upgrade, (if required). Very impressive all round scope if you get a good one.

[JA]

Originally Posted by glend

JA, not wishing to offend, but perhaps there should be another thread survey on camera lenses. The question raised was about telescopes, which have historically had optical advantages over camera lenses. I realise lenses have made great advances but i think many here would argue they are not telescopes.

I tried to give you the best answer to your question on the basis of all the parameters you proposed, including one which you didn't -good to excellent optical performance. A telescope is simply an optical device to facilitate an enhanced view. In the case I cited it was for imaging, which could also easily be extended to visual.

Not my definition....

telescope
ˈtɛlɪskəʊp/Submit
noun
1.
an optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear nearer, containing an arrangement of lenses, or of curved mirrors and lenses, by which rays of light are collected and focused and the resulting image magnified.

BTW - No offence taken.

Best
JA

[issdaol (Phil)]

I find these threads to be interested get but also partially pointless......

Someone puts up a proposition about "One Scope To Rule Them All" then applies a list of conditions and limitations.

The fact is everyone will have different perspectives, preferences and constraints for their choice of what their "One Scope To Rule Them All" will be.

Based on the them but ignoring the constraints it would be my TOA150 as an alrounder as it's portable, a good imager, great visually, has no need for mirrors to be recoated

I would have said my Mewlon 300 but the main drawbacks are it's less portable, while I have seen very good Mewlon 300 images they are not ideal for that purpose and as it ages Mirrors need recoating. But its main advantage is excellent visual performance across all targets in a permanent observatory.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by Kunama

$5K budget...... Takahashi FS128NSV
Or better still, a $5K TEC 8" Mak.......

See, now those are the choices of a connoisseur


I am by no means well heeled financially presently but still capable of owning Taks snd A-Ps.

[LewisM]

I hsve made a lot of BAD choices in my long road to finding a Ruling Scope. Nearly all those poor choices were Chinese (the Esprit is proving the exception). I have yet to find a mirrored telescope that satisfies my needs though Maksutovs come close (I have found EVERY SCT I have used to be VERY sub-par).

So, I stick with what I know is good from LOTS of exposure to the rest.

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by issdaol

I find these threads to be interested get but also partially pointless......

Someone puts up a proposition about "One Scope To Rule Them All" then applies a list of conditions and limitations.

The fact is everyone will have different perspectives, preferences and constraints for their choice of what their "One Scope To Rule Them All" will be.

Based on the them but ignoring the constraints it would be my TOA150 as an alrounder as it's portable, a good imager, great visually, has no need for mirrors to be recoated

I would have said my Mewlon 300 but the main drawbacks are it's less portable, while I have seen very good Mewlon 300 images they are not ideal for that purpose and as it ages Mirrors need recoating. But its main advantage is excellent visual performance across all targets in a permanent observatory.

That is the point Phil, everyone will have different perspectives, etc and that's important. There are minimal constraints, just enough to create a bit of a level playing field. This is not suppose to be anything other than fun on a cloudy day.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

I'm not an imager so the answer is 'the biggest good quality dobs you can get for under $5k with Argo Navis and ServoCat'. However, the OP assumes that you have a mount so then the answer is the biggest newt OTA with a quality mirror for <$5k. I'd prefer it to be f/4.8 but I'd settle for f4.5 to f/5.