10 "+ sexy eyepiece or 12" and nada?

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #1 23-08-2009, 10:39 PM

I'm sure this has been asked before but...
Light gathering stats aside how much difference will they're be visually between a 10" and 12" inch Bintel dob. I'm interested in nebulae and globs and my current EP lineup is a 20mm TV Plossl, a 13mm Nagler, a 9mm NLV and a 2x Ultima barlow.
So.
I can afford a 10" + something 'naughty' like a 20mm Nagler or a LVW 22, or a 12" with whatever EP's Bintel throws in.
Thoughts?

mbaddah (Mo) · #2 23-08-2009, 10:45 PM

It's a subjective question only you can answer at the end of the day. I own a 10" LB, and if i had a choice between a 10 + nagler or 12+ plossl i'd go the 10" as looking through a nagler will provide a much more pleasing view then through a plossl if your interest is nebulae and globs...

Ofcourse aperture fever will kick in then and you'll say "If only I bought the 12"..."

Other option is buy the 12", enjoy for now with the plossls then upgrade your eyepieces later... that's my 2cents.

andrew2008 · #3 23-08-2009, 10:58 PM

I'd buy the 10" plus a sexy EP or two. Difference between 10" and 12" isn't huge. Difference between my old skywatcher Plossls and nagler though is substantial.

Davros (Lauren) · #4 23-08-2009, 11:08 PM

I would go the 10, if you want to play with photography later it is as big as you can mount on a eq6. The difference isnt huge and quality eyepieces make a huge difference. I would probably go for a generic 20mm 2 inch for getting in the general area then spend the big dollars on one as powerful as your scope will allow for deep objects.

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #5 23-08-2009, 11:10 PM

Ta chaps!
These were my initial thoughts.

bobson (Bob) · #6 23-08-2009, 11:32 PM

Yes, these were my initial thoughts as well when I was buying the scope.
But...
The fact that 12" gets almost 50% more light than 10" changed my thoughts and I bought 12" Bintel dob and never looked back.
I had a chance to compare 12" and 10" Dobs and I could notice slight difference.

After a while I saved and bought TeleVue eyepieces.

I am sorry to say this but when it comes to aperature bigger is better.
EQ6 will take 12" Dob too, but it would be more stable for astrophotography with 10", no doubts about it.

cheers

bob

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #7 23-08-2009, 11:41 PM

I have the 12" and love it. You already have a 13mm Nagler which I have added to my EPO collection and it is brilliant in the 12. Aperture should always win!

wavelandscott (Scott) · #8 24-08-2009, 01:56 AM

All other things equal aperture will win...

Having said that, the real question is which scope will you use most?
The best scope is the on ethat you use!

Is the difference in size a problem for you to handle?
Will that difference change how often you get the scope out?

If the answer to the above is that the bigger size will not impact how often you get it out then go for the apeture.

The eyepieces that you have will work nicely in the 12 inch...and you can always save for more in the future...

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #9 24-08-2009, 05:54 PM

I have a headache!

Starkler (Geoff) · #10 24-08-2009, 08:10 PM

You can upgrade eyepieces at any time, but scopes are harder.

taxman (Matt) · #11 24-08-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

You can upgrade eyepieces at any time, but scopes are harder.

Agreed - I had to learn this the hard way

Ian Robinson · #12 24-08-2009, 09:14 PM

I'd go for the 12" if I've the money.

Ian Robinson · #13 24-08-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

You can upgrade eyepieces at any time, but scopes are harder.

Seen the price of Naglers , or other so called " high end " eyepieces .... some of these cost as much as 12" dob .

norm · #14 24-08-2009, 09:21 PM

As Scott says, the best scope is the one you use the most.
Is portability an issue ? Are you OK at carting it around in and out of doors, down stairs . Do you need to take it with you anywhere for viewing and will it fit in the car?

Things like these over time can get quite laborious. The 12 inch weighs slightly heavier than the 10" , however, its bulk that makes moving it awkard. Having said that, you can knock up some type of trolley to wheel it in/out.

If none of those are concerns, or you think are manageable, go the 12".
One good thing about using avg eyepieces make you really appreciate the premium ones!

Good Luck

Norm

Jim McAloon · #15 25-08-2009, 05:28 PM

Hi Peter

I've recently supplanted a ten inch with a twelve - both GSO basic dobs so the same as the Bintel ones. The twelve is heavier, as heavy as I'd like to go without an observatory. But, the twelve is a very significant improvement on the ten inch for visual deepsky observation. Easy showpieces like Eta Carina and M17 (the Swan) and M8 (the Lagoon) will blow your mind. You can go deeper, if pushing the limits is your wish. Planetaries at the edge of the ten's capacity are comfortable in the twelve. The difference is very noticeable on globular clusters, too. I haven't used the twelve much as a planetary telescope but one night a few months ago I was able to push it to 500x on Saturn - using a 15mm GS widefield eyepiece and a 5x televue barlow. Norm's comments about portability are well made, but if size and weight are manageable, go for the twelve.

cheers
jim

JethroB76 (Jeff) · #16 25-08-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Robinson

Seen the price of Naglers , or other so called " high end " eyepieces .... some of these cost as much as 12" dob .

Think he may have..
I reckon Geoff was referring more to reselling the superceded gear, bit easier to post an EP than a scope, which limits your market and makes it harder to move.