A Decision .... Now for the Loot!

Shano592 (Shane) · #1 21-05-2009, 08:53 PM

Right, so the first scope wasn't what I would call a success. Note to all beginners - the Chinese and eBay ones really are toys. I think if I can find an F9/150mm Saxon mirror, then I can fix it, but I won't hold my breath for it. If anyone has a 150mm shorty OTA that is damaged with a good F/9 parabolic mirror, please let me know.

Instead, I have found my new scope, but it will take a little saving...

I was looking for a Newtonian that was truly massive in aperture, so I wouldn't be constantly looking for something with another 2 inches of light gathering power, but instead, I stumbled onto this :

http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/t.../25/index.html

Now, including the ServoCat, Argo Navis, a few extra bits & bolts here & there, and delivery to Sydney ( I have to collect, or arrange a courier), at today's exchange rates, it comes in at a cool AUD$25000 plus GST and any applicable Duty.

I will be getting one, but the minister for finance says I will need to earn it. I figure I only have about $25000 to go in that case.

I have been going back each day to look at some of the imagery from the scopes in their range, and I am completely blown away by the detail. Have a look through the gallery, and you will see what I mean.

So I guess I will have to borrow light from others for a year or so, while I save. Then I can pay back with some serious light to my light-creditors when it turns up.

I think it resolves down to Magnitude 17.

Any takers on a bulk buy? Maybe we can get the price down for multiple orders ...

Apparently, they do a 30-inch too. Bad news is that you need a small truck to cart it around with. Seriously.

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #2 21-05-2009, 09:10 PM

Hi Shane,

Keep the money in Australia Man!

Check out SDM telescopes from Australia

http://www.sdmtelescopes.com.au/prices.html

You can pick up a "fully loaded" SDM delivered installed and trained from an Australian company who, by all reports provide exceptional telescopes, service and support for a world class product.

Check them out if you have the BIG DOB fever. Well worth the investment, customised with your own name plate also. A one of a kind telescope is hard to beat.

Cheers

Chris

p.s. if you ask around here, you will no doubt find a number of SDM owners who LOVE their scopes and can give you the low down on the product. I am not affiliated to SDM in any way, just a proud Aussie, who is proud of advertising a fabulous Aussie product.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #3 21-05-2009, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

Hi Shane,

Keep the money in Australia Man!

Check out SDM telescopes from Australia

http://www.sdmtelescopes.com.au/prices.html

You can pick up a "fully loaded" SDM delivered installed and trained from an Australian company who, by all reports provide exceptional telescopes, service and support for a world class product.

Check them out if you have the BIG DOB fever. Well worth the investment, customised with your own name plate also. A one of a kind telescope is hard to beat.

Cheers

Chris

p.s. if you ask around here, you will no doubt find a number of SDM owners who LOVE their scopes and can give you the low down on the product. I am not affiliated to SDM in any way, just a proud Aussie, who is proud of advertising a fabulous Aussie product.

No doubt that Obsession makes a great scope...I'd highly recommend that you consider the SDM scopes as well. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to enjoy the views in both and in my opinion, the SDM are at least the equal and maybe better in terms of fit and finish of the two. There are a number of forum members who have these scopes and they are quality!!!

Having said that, I have the impression that you are a less experienced observer and it is a pretty big leap to go from an e-bay scope to a custom built piece of art...I'd recommend that you consider a more modest "real" scope to get your feet wet and make sure the stars are in your blood. Don't misunderstand my comment...I reckon you should get the best gear that you can and use it and enjoy it as often as you can. However, a big scope, is like a car in that once you "drive it off the lot" the resale value declines pretty quickly...a several thousand dollar mistake could be an expensive one.

You can get a respectable good quality GSO scope for a few hundred dollars...enjoy those views while at the same time saving for your dream scope...just a thought (I always like to have my cake and eat it too).

andrew2008 · #4 21-05-2009, 10:37 PM

Very good comments so far.

Definitely agree with Scott. Try a 10" or 12" dob first. Even with an Argo Navis could be had around $1500 and up. $500 just for the dob.

Shano592 (Shane) · #5 22-05-2009, 01:27 AM

Thanks for the link, Chris. I'm glad I threw this out there ... I had never heard of SDM.

I'll definitely have to give this a closer look over the coming months.

In the meantime, I'll probably pick up a 10-12 inch dob, and maybe convert it into a guidescope later ...

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #6 22-05-2009, 09:36 PM

Thats Ok Rimmer, er I mean Shane, sorry, the avatar brought back Red Dwarf memories.

I would go for a 10" solid tube Dob if you felt the need to follow the dream of the SDM/Obsession later on, especially because when you upgrade to the monster, you can always use the 10" as the portable one or rip the tube off the base and whack it on an HEQ5Pro or Eq6 Pro and have a 10 inch DSO photography scope.

Plus, by settling for a 10 inch version, you will only spend around $800 as opposed to $1200-$1500 for a 12" dob so you have more money in the monster scope fund to get you started.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

Chris

Kevnool (Kev) · #7 24-05-2009, 12:14 PM

25" Dont forget to buy a ladder........Cheers Kev.

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #8 24-05-2009, 01:29 PM

Last year I watched a group put together a 25" Obsession, it took a couple of hours in daylight, and they were experienced and had practice. If you are planning such a scope, will you be using it by yourself, will you have daylight hours to put it together etc are important questions. I wouldn't have the patience to have to work for that long before I can start observing.

Shano592 (Shane) · #9 27-05-2009, 01:11 PM

Hi Malcolm,

Patience (and a ladder, thanks Kev) I have. I have been married for 13 years, so I know patience on a first-name basis.

I have also had plenty of practice pulling things apart and putting them back together ... with only minimal spare parts!

Sometimes, groups just make things more complicated, too. You know ... too many chiefs ...

Shano592 (Shane) · #10 01-06-2009, 12:47 PM

Hi Malcolm,

I just watched the DVD that Obsession sent to me, and a 50kg, 40+ yo little old lady from Pasadena puts it together, from the back of her van, in just under 10 minutes ... all the while, she is talking to the camera.

I think the guys you were watching may possibly have been recovering from something from the night before ?? (Kidding)

They just appear to be drop-in poles with screw tighteners, with a click-over locking mechanism on the top section.

Looks like the construction of the the Obsession is pretty much on a par with the SDM design, from the looks on the two web sites.

It is also good to note that SDM are adjusting the prices fairly, to accommodate the climbing AUD!

Currently, including shipping, Customs, GST (but NOT port charges), SDM is several thousand $$ cheaper for the 25-inch.

Now, I just have to wait for 97 cents on the USD again.

dannat (Daniel) · #11 01-06-2009, 01:38 PM

I agree about the ladder if you are looking at a 25". I had the opportunity when living nearby to Peter from SDM to visit a few times, the 15" are great, can use just standing but when we looked at the 25" it was huge. I was scared just moving it in/out of the shed(solid as a rock though). Not the kind of scope to move around. The views however killed any other scope and looking thru anything else is a let down - but you have to move the ladder around which i found a bit tedious

Shano592 (Shane) · #12 01-06-2009, 03:24 PM

Hi Daniel,

I'm not too fussed with moving the ladder around. Truth be told, I am pretty comfortable sitting, looking in one area for quite a few minutes at a time, so moving every 5-10 minutes isn't really going to bother me a great deal.

I think I may have to fashion a ladder with some sort of viewing seat on it, though. I can't imagine my feet being too pleased about supporting 85kg on relatively thin rungs ... A seat perhaps, with vertical adjustment.

Perhaps I can get an adjustable viewing seat and fix it on.

I have some pics on my wall, of images taken through an 18-inch Obsession, of Saturn and it's rings in good detail, and Jupiter being occulted by the Moon. Simply staggering, in my opinion.

The pics are there to remind me of what I am working towards.

rmcpb (Rob) · #13 01-06-2009, 03:51 PM

Shano,

Would you just stop thinking about this scope. My skies have been terrible for a couple of weeks now. Imagine what they will be like when you actually get the scope!!

Cheers

mozzie (Peter) · #14 01-06-2009, 05:06 PM

hi shane while at astrofest last year there was a sdm scope there i think 25" and the quality of the scope was amazing the gentle let me have a look out of it and man o man ideas went through my head of buying one then remembered married kids morgage forget it

but seriously they are a beautiful scope keep the dollars in aus
mozzie

wavelandscott (Scott) · #15 01-06-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shano592

Hi Malcolm,

I just watched the DVD that Obsession sent to me, and a 50kg, 40+ yo little old lady from Pasadena puts it together, from the back of her van, in just under 10 minutes ... all the while, she is talking to the camera.

I think the guys you were watching may possibly have been recovering from something from the night before ?? (Kidding)

They just appear to be drop-in poles with screw tighteners, with a click-over locking mechanism on the top section.

Looks like the construction of the the Obsession is pretty much on a par with the SDM design, from the looks on the two web sites.

It is also good to note that SDM are adjusting the prices fairly, to accommodate the climbing AUD!

Currently, including shipping, Customs, GST (but NOT port charges), SDM is several thousand $$ cheaper for the 25-inch.

Now, I just have to wait for 97 cents on the USD again.

I am a recent purchaser of an Obsession 15 inch (slightly used) and it is a magnificent piece of work. It is in most every way nicer than my Discovery 12.5 inch reflector (which is quite nice).

Having said that, I've had the good fortune to view through and see a couple of the SDM Telescopes and I would say that they are at least the equal of the Obsession in terms of quality and build and likely fractionally nicer as they are each customized.

The hardware used (mirror, focuser etc.) can be identical, depending on what you order, so the real difference, if there is one, is in the wood craftsmanship...I think SDM might have the edge.

Don't misunderstand me, the Obsession is top shelf and if it was made in Australia I would be raving about it to you...I suspect for the money, Peter will build and deliver you a better scope than Obsession can.

Do yourself a favour before you order one from overseas and check out the SDM stuff in person and compare it to the Obsessions in Australia (there are a few of them around).

Shano592 (Shane) · #16 02-06-2009, 02:26 AM

Hi Scott,

I reckon you're right - there doesn't seem to be a lot of difference.

Really, if anything is going to sway me, it would most likely be the fact that being made in Australia, any unlikely warrantable issues can be sorted out quickly.

That, and the fact that I won't be sweating on international delivery, being at the mercy of the many sets of hands that typically move cargo.

Peter/Mozzie .... no kids, mortgage that will be history shortly (hehe).

Rob .... so, you think I should get it delivered to QLD, and give it first light up that way? Then drive it back down after a few weeks? Personally, I think first light should be under the best skies, and I think the Pony Club isn't far off that.

That, and summer delivery, to be safe. At least then, the rain will be welcome, to some extent.

sally1jack (Phil) · #17 02-06-2009, 11:06 AM

Hi , I met you up the pony club a few months ago & you were looking around then. I just took delivery of an 18"SDM #34, If you are looking seriously at a big dob then ring peter at sdm & have a chat, he's a great guy.
When comparing Odsession to SDM ( they both are great scopes)you have to take into consideration what you get for your money, SDM's are fully loaded , heaters fans etc, plus & a big plus is after market service.
When ordering my scope Peter went out of his way to make it how i wanted,& I'm pretty much a novice , so experience definetly helped me.
As for setting up i haven't set up a odsession 25 but my 18 takes NO longer than 10-15 mins.
I have looked through Norm's 14.5 &it was great , IMO 14.5/15 & up is what you want to look at,
I will not be at P.C in june but will be there in july so if you want have a look, also I'mabout 173cm & 2/3rds of viewing is on the ground & the rest on 1st step not a worrie.
So save your money & do it you won't be sorry.
Phil