One Scope To Rule Them All

[Kunama]

I think the real benefit of these threads is to increase one's post count....
We all know there is no such thing as 'onescopetoruleall'. I have had a few nice scopes over the last decade and a lot of poor ones before that but if I had to pick one that stood out as an ideal scope for a senior citizen like me it would be the Tak FS128.

[rrussell1962]

Agreed Matt, there is no such thing as a one scope does everything. But as I get older I am starting to think about the interaction between ease of set up and the views provided. I have had my Obsession 18 inch classic for around 5 years now and have been around the sky 5 times with it. On every class of object, subject to cooling and seeing, it is hands down the best telescope I have owned in over 40 years. But, to be honest, my Nexstar 8SE is getting used more and more. Perhaps it is my job, typically working from 4p.m until midnight. I will give it a few years and make a decision. As a final only telescope I can see an Evolution 9.25, or whatever is around in that size when I need to make a decision. Visual only. LVW's.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by Kunama

I think the real benefit of these threads is to increase one's post count....

And it's raining.

[xelasnave]

Hi Lewis
I have had an accident and only can type with left thumb.
I was looking specifically for your praise on the espirit.
Alex

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

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.

I certainly was not excluding dobs, and mount presence assumption only applied for those scopes requiring them, as otherwise the mount cost eats up the budget.. There are some great bargains among dobs up to $5k. The Skywatcher Stargate 18" truss dob is on sale right now at $4999; and you can get a full Goto 16" collapsible dob for less than $4k.

And for the record i don't care about my post count. At least thread topic relates to astronomy.

[rrussell1962]

Oh Dear, can I change my mind? I have just set up my old Vixen ED80 F9 on the Green GPD with Skysensor 2000PC for an evening with the moon. The Vixen is a thing of beauty.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Hi Lewis
I have had an accident and only can type with left thumb.
I was looking specifically for your praise on the espirit.
Alex

Optically, excellent. That's what matters.

Mechanically, pretty good focuser. Slips a little too easily under a surprisingly small weight, but adjustable. I have adjusted mine to my satisfaction. Time will tell if it holds.

Fit and finish - VERY average. Paint is poor (chips easily, looks like a very thin coat, orange peel evident). Fit of the parts to each other is good enough, but not great either. Really LOOKS like a half-arsed attempt at quality, but falls short. I have often considered refinishing it, and have gone so far as custom decals and a custom brass data plate so far. If I go further remains to be seen.

So, optically, yes, it's worth it. If fit and finish are of any consequence, then shop elsewhere as it's not as good as the budget end Vixens even (which are made in China to a higher standard than usual chinese products).

I like it, as thankfully the optics are superb, but it falls WAY WAY WAY behind a Tak FSQ-85 in every other respect.

[xelasnave]

Hi Lewis
Most interesting
Thank you for taking the time.
My choice probably the 80 mm binnnos
Not flash but I enjoy them.
Alex

[casstony]

It's gotta be two scopes: a 4" refractor for portability/visual/imaging and a larger aperture for visual DSO's.
Within the $5000 limit I might buy an Esprit 100 and a 12" Dob.

[Saturnine (Jeff)]

One all rounder scope, my choice would be an 250mm Newtonian with an OrionOptics, or similar quality mirror, f6 or f5 in a light weight solid tube, that could be mounted as a dob or on something like an EQ6 via a set of rings.
Quality optics for visual or photography, enough aperture for dsos' and would give good planetary images and resolution with todays astro webcams. Would be small and light enough to fit in most cars for dark site travel and for most people to be able to manage, weight wise and would have change left over from $5 k .

[DJT (David)]

Oh dear...sorry Glenn

With my imaging head on, for me a Bigglier GSO RC would be awesome, ( waiting patiently for Paul to dump his on classifieds now he has his new toy..)just not sure it will fit in my shed.

But then again, the Tak FSQ106N for wide field...having lots of fun with that..

Soooo...No one scope that fits all, but 2 for less than $5k?(well...with a bare bones pre-loved FSQ OTA you could just about afford the focuser upgrade to go with the RC8)

We won't mention visual or Collimation

[g__day (Matthew)]

Hubble

[MigL (Miguel)]

A Tak FS-128 or a TEC 140 over a DM6 AltAz mount + Nexus DSC + High Qaulity Binoviewer.

Visual observer only here, for short time to start observing, grab&go setup and daily observations !!


If only I were not Just dreaming...

[skysurfer]

The "One Size Fits All" principle ?

Well, for me I am happy with my ED110 f/7 travelscope. Lightweight and eligible for carry-on air travel and renders nice and crisp images even at 190x. With the field flattener, the FL is only f/5.6 (600mm) which makes really nice views with the Pan24 (2.7 degrees).

But when the budget allowance is $5000 (I assume Aussie dollars, not US$ or Euros, which is equivalent to about 3800 USD/EUR), I'd go for a WO FLT 110 f/7 real triplet.
I do both visual and photography.
And the budget allows an extra 250mm Dobson for visual faint fuzzies if two scopes are allowed.
OR: one hand grenade (Nagler 31 or Pan 41 for A$1000) for excellent wide field views under dark skies.

About the CaNikon lens mentioned earlier upthread:
It is a telescope in this 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.

as it is an optical device that does this, but that is way beyond budget as my dream lens Canon 400mm f/2.8L or 600mm f/4L costs A$15000. Putting a DIY 32mm eyepiece adapter ( + diagonal + barlow) makes an excellent visual instrument of such a lens.
A nice 14cm APO refractor, even with Barlow it is f/5.6 resp f/8. And an excellent astrophoto performer.

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by skysurfer

The "One Size Fits All" principle ?

About the CaNikon lens mentioned earlier upthread:
It is a telescope in this 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.

as it is an optical device that does this, but that is way beyond budget as my dream lens Canon 400mm f/2.8L or 600mm f/4L costs A$15000. Putting a DIY 32mm eyepiece adapter ( + diagonal + barlow) makes an excellent visual instrument of such a lens.
A nice 14cm APO refractor, even with Barlow it is f/5.6 resp f/8. And an excellent astrophoto performer.

Skysurfer, i understand your enthusiasm for those lenses but in terms of this tread they are "Out of Scope" so to speak, and of course way over budget anyway. As with the Nikon 400mm f2.8, mentioned by JA earlier.

A separate thread exploring camera lenses only needs someone to start it.

[Tropo-Bob (Bob)]

Only one scope? This feels like a nightmare...

Is it also to have only one mount and one EP?

Some years ago I was asked me if I could have any vehicle I wanted, what would it be? I said that I would have the largest telescope I could find, put 4 wheels on it and call it a car!

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by Tropo-Bob

Only one scope? This feels like a nightmare...

Is it also to have only one mount and one EP?

Some years ago I was asked me if I could have any vehicle I wanted, what would it be? I said that I would have the largest telescope I could find, put 4 wheels on it and call it a car!

Bob the mount is not inclusive in the budget, it is assumed. Likewise EPs are out of scope. Just looking at the scope itself. It can be any scope design, inc dobs, SCTs, Maks, etc.

[astronut (John)]

I've owned my 12" Lightbridge since new in 2006.

Both mirrors were checked an found to be exceptional in performance.

They have been recoated by Isaac at Chi Qin, in 2010.

I have pimped the scope to my satisfaction: Good quality e/pieces + filters.

A mounted green laser, and 9x50mm finder.

Dew heaters for all the optics, and a 2" filter slide.

Recently I added the Nexus DSC.

Cases galore, wooden observing chair.

All in all, I'm sure I'm heading very close to 5K.

Which scope would I want?

Definitely the one I have!

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by LewisM

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.

Sorry Lewis, FS128 is not ideal for imaging. I had a Tak FS152, beautiful for visual (still some of the best views ever for me) but not ideal for imaging, too much chromatic aberration due to being a doublet and not really an APO.

Greg.

[LewisM]

Matt is purely visual, so imaging wasn't in the consideration Greg, but I understand your point.