If you could would you?

[RAJAH235]

Just a plain old 'no'. I'm quite happy with my current gear. Does exactly what I want & fits nicely in the car, np. L.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by gaa_ian

I voted no, as my 10" is the best mixture of light gathering ability & portability.

Same for me .

My other scope, the ed80 was something of a waste for me and rarely gets used.

[Stu]

I really like that observatory scope Dave! But they also make a 200mm version so I think that would be my choice!

[DRCORTEX (Lance)]

Hmmm, perhaps the question should have included "all things being the same".

Neo

[Jonathan]

Good question.... I had to vote "unsure". I am happy with what I've got but maybe I could have done better.

I bought my ETX125 as a starter scope over a year ago, but knowing what I do now I would have gone straight to something bigger and put the money towards that. The ETX is a great travel scope now anyway so I'm not worried.
I'm happy with my C-11, but if I started over I might have gone down a different road.

[Striker (Tony)]

I am happy with what I have...But I would love a huge Ritchy C and a gorgeous APO....what the hell...this year has a long way to go....lol

[Ziggy Stardust]

I am very happy with what I have now.... six years down the track...

I started with a nice size 6 inch refractor and no "go to" stuff, which made it mutch more user friendly...
and then got the Borge for traveling and the LX200 in a moment of weakness ( thats what I tell her ) when in Hong Kong, in the middle of the SARS Flu scare...( all prices where down abotu 40% at that time!!!!)

If I had to change, it would be to add another scope... even though a Richey Criten does "turn my focus nobs late at night"... I'd never use it to it's max potential.

I would how ever love to make a MONSTER DOBB one day, say 30 to 40 inch one. I had the pleasure of peeping for a few minutes through a portable one in africa, set up on a trailor to travel... and all I'll say is OOOHHHH WOWWWWWWWWWW... it makes fuzzzzy balls in to crips pin cushions...but my wife would cut bits off me ( which I still need) if I came home with one more toy!!!

Tony


Tony

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

That's an impressive no vote. I voted Yes.

I'm happy (VERY) with the 20", but my other two - a 220mm f7ish newt I made myself and an etx 125 are rather surplus to requirements. So here I am having spent something like $8000 on equipment I rarely use which may have a resale of 2.5K (how the prices have tumbled). So if I had the money again, would I use it differently? You better believe it!

If I started again I'd have the 20" F.5 for visual and a pair of great 10x80 bino's for holidays. I have dabbled in astrophotography, but am really not committed enough to warrant the expense.
And I really need to upgrade my eyepiece collection ...

[barees63]

I voted no, if the question was "if you had more money would you change" it might be different, but for the money I've spent I don't think I could get a better setup (10" dob with Argo Navis).

[Lester]

Gday all,
I voted yes; as I have just ordered 14" SCT Meade OTA to replace the DS16" f4.5 and 8"SCT which have had for over 20years. Will be putting the 14" SCT on to "Goliath" GE mount.

[NightOwl]

I voted no; I'm happy with my lot.

[DRCORTEX (Lance)]

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

That's an impressive no vote. I voted Yes.

I'm happy (VERY) with the 20", but my other two - a 220mm f7ish newt I made myself and an etx 125 are rather surplus to requirements. So here I am having spent something like $8000 on equipment I rarely use which may have a resale of 2.5K (how the prices have tumbled). So if I had the money again, would I use it differently? You better believe it!

If I started again I'd have the 20" F.5 for visual and a pair of great 10x80 bino's for holidays. I have dabbled in astrophotography, but am really not committed enough to warrant the expense.
And I really need to upgrade my eyepiece collection ...

Give you $500 for the 20"

[AstroJunk (Jonathan)]

Nice try

[Roger Davis]

Wot?! No aperture fever?
Many years ago using ones telescope showed its inadequacies in light grasp. This, more than often, led to the desire to buy a new and larger scope to grab the extra photon for resolution.
Now that we are inundated with pictures of planets and deep sky objects by your average amateur astronomer with a webcam, CCD or digital camera has the quest for that elusive photon disappeared?
Have we been well and truly innoculated against aperture fever?
I hope not.
Ahh, to be tilting at windmills again ... hmm, grinding!
Sancho, my horse!!

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

I voted no.

At present I am purely a visual observer. My 10" dob represents the ideal package in terms of its portability/transportability and what you can see with the thing.

Having said that, I intend to purchase a 4" APO in the next couple of years, so that I can have a go at imaging and also do some astrometric work with double stars. I actually have Louie's (Atalas) broken Vixen GP/DX in my garage which I am going to try and fix for him in the hopefully not to distant future. When I eventually find the time (and brains ) to fix it, I will probably consider buying the mount off him to stick the 4" APO on The 4" APO I intend to purchase is a Takahashi FSQ 106. That's really the only telescope upgrade I am considering. So I will end up with a 10" dob and a 4" Tak, which will keep me happy for years to come, particularly as both telescopes get heavier as I get older

CS-John B