Aperture fever gets us all Stu. The only medication seems to be money, and then that's only till the fever strikes again. I found slapping myself and the words "get over it" are helpful so far.
What targets have you found so far? Have you been able to see the wonders of Carina, Crux and Centauri yet? From what I remember last time, your view to the south weren't good.
Stu, the Jewel Box cluster (NGC 4755) is located in Crux. Locate the left hand bottom star on the Southern Cross, directly under that you will see a dimmer star - point your finder around just under it and vola! It is a spectacular and famous cluster.
Also, the Beehive cluster just above Mars is pretty spectacular also.
I think that once you spend some time with a number of different scopes (which is what I would advise any beginner to do i.e. through joining a club) from small to large you develop a sense of what the optimal aperture is for your own personal use. There will be some scopes that are just too small to produce the kind of images you are after and there will be others where their weight, bulk, ep height, mirror cool down times etc are too high or too long for you, even if you like the images that they are capable of producing. After you spend some time with a number of different sized scopes you will find your own equilibrium between aperture and ease of use. Also by spending time with fellow amateurs and their scopes you will get to meet some interesting people and see some great views.
I have had the opportunity to use a number of different scopes from 2” to 25” and I would have to say that optically a 16” f/4.5 would satisfy me well as a personal scope. The best view I have had of M104 was last year at my clubs dark site through a fellow club members modified 16” LB and an 8mm TV Ethos (228x). The galaxy looked like this (zoom in), the top and bottom sections of the galaxy above and below the dust lane were bright as was the oval core and the dust lane was as plain as day with direct vision. While it is not a 20” or a 25” a 16” is a very decent scope. Indeed, through a 16” galaxies look the way you would want them to look for the most part, planets are contrasty, and nebula are quite bright and detailed. But for me not only are the views good, the ep height at f/4.5 would allow me to keep my feet on the ground or allow me to be seated for much of my viewing. However, the weight and bulk of a 16” commercial scope is too great for me to transport easily and in this respect I feel that a 12” commercial dob would be more appropriate for me... or a premium 16".
Whatever the case, I would urge you to go to a star party and get a good look through a really big dob; 20”+. It is not a cure for the fever but it is a temporary relief.
Warning: temporary relief may exacerbate symptoms when usage is stopped .
Whatever the case, I would urge you to go to a star party and get a good look through a really big dob; 20”+. It is not a cure for the fever but it is a temporary relief.
1", 2", 5", 10", now 17.5". Best bit, I've still got them all.
I guess I should add a shared 8" scope acquired about 4mths ago. And still looking, .
Having acquired my boyhood dream scope af a 17.5", and having rebuilt it too, I'm happy enough now not to go bigger. Originally the 17.5" Odyssey II needed me to use all three steps of a three-step stepladder. Now the most I use is just the first step, but I still need the ladder.
The experience I've got now, no way would I go any bigger. Sure the views will be even more amazing, but I'll leave it to someone else to lug around a 20"+ giant. I have enough issues with my 17.5".
My 1" was a toy pirate scope. The 2" a Tasco refractor. 5" a Celestron C5, great one for on the move in a backpack and tripod for celestial and terrestrial viewing. The 10", really compact and easy to use DIY dob, set-up time less than 5min. The 8" f/4 reflector is an amazing rich-field scope, touchy with collimation, but spectacular in light polluted areas (left a 10" f/5 and 13.1" f/4.5 scopes for dead in a recent side-by-side comparison in Sydney).
Aperture fever can be a real problem. But it does not mean you need to jetison the smaller ones. The all serve a purpose. Some are easier for novices to use. Some are more portable. Some are just fun to use. Same for eyepieces. I keep some just for public viewings as these will be lavishly coated with all types of eye-makeup and gunk. Other eyepieces are for more serious observing.
Still, the 'big ones' do trigger a nervous twich in me...
Hey Stu Stop looking at those big scopes. Don't listen to them Stu. Good things come in small packages. Stu, listen to me, once you start the obsession it will never stop. They may have big scopes, but are they really happy? You can't kiss and cuddle a scope (oh wait, I do), it doesn't have a conversation with you (hmm scope doesn't answer back), It doesn't tell you how good you look (oh wait it shows me beauty).
You don't want to encounter nose bleeds & dizzy spells to get to the eyepiece now do you Stu? Still with us Stu? Hmmm... I think we lost another one... He's been quiet for a while. Think we dangled too many scopes at the poor guy. Wonder if he had to sell the car, house and pedigree dog?
hey bryan, is that a electronic collimation on your primary?
Yes Brendan. Peter built a remote collimation for me.
I plug in a small ctrl box which I hold in my hand while at the EP & adjust the primary from there.
time to go get another tatts ticket 
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Stop looking at those big scopes. Don't listen to them Stu. Good things come in small packages. Stu, listen to me, once you start the obsession it will never stop. They may have big scopes, but are they really happy? You can't kiss and cuddle a scope (oh wait, 
