Upgrade Path - what shall I do first? Please help me decide....!

[PhotoGav]

So, with all this bad weather I have been spending far too much time considering my kit list and drooling over my wish list. I don't have unlimited funds, so the question is: what shall I do first?

A). Astrodon filters - 5nm Ha, OIII SII Narrowband set (to replace Baader filters). £834

. Takahashi FSQ85 with reducer and bits (to replace 80ED & reducer). Approx £3500

C). ZWO ASI120 mono camera with filters & wheel (to replace Orion SSSSIV). Approx £600

D). Altair Astro 8" RC scope (to replace EdgdHD 800) Approx £1100

E). New mount to replace HEQ5 - no idea what, but something better that has a higher payload to take bigger instruments. £????

F). Build an obsy (to replace mount left in middle of garden with bbq cover over it!). Upwards of £2000

I have £3600 sitting in the AstroFund bank account, tempting me into doing something.

The devil on my other shoulder keeps on whispering in my ear: "why spend anything at all... Your doing OK with what you have... Money won't buy you clear skies..."

I look forward to hearing your opinions and ideas.

[PhotoGav]

Hee hee, SGL seems to have shown me its opinion by interpreting my listing convention with a smiley! Baby Q, here I come .

[Owmuchonomy]

Oh did I misread the price, 36 Million not 3,600.

Actually i would probably put obsy top of my list. 

[Ant]

I think if it was me it would be the obsy that would come first. Then the mount, maybe an EQ8?

Cheers

Ant

[DaveS]

I think the obsy would be my first choice if I had the room. I was also going to suggest an upgrade to Astrodon filters, but the 3 nm type, that way you can sepparate Ha and [NII]. But at a price

Other than that, perhaps the mount would be worth looking at, the AZ EQ6 looks good for the money and would work with your software, no need to learn new stuff. Of course, if you had the budget I might suggest going as far as Mesu / 10 micron territory.

I think your Edge HD is pretty good, might get the Celestron reducer for it.

Or get the Baby Q but leave out the reducer for the mo.

I expect others will be along shortly, we love spending other people's money

Edit; ha, two came in while I was typing!

[giorgio_ne]

If I had the space to fit an obsy that's what I wou do first. The easiness and speed to start your sessions will put your hobby into an entirely different perspective.

[DaveS]

Thinking on, an obsy, AZ-EQ6 and a Celestron 0.7 reducer for your Edge HD should just fit your £3600 budget.

[PhotoGav]

Very interesting. It is becoming pretty clear what should be top of the list. Essentially I should start 'from the ground up'!

Obsy - Mount - Glass

(OMG!)

Thinking on, an obsy, AZ-EQ6 and a Celestron 0.7 reducer for your Edge HD should just fit your £3600 budget.

I am fortunate enough to have the Celestron reducer already!

[ronin]

Observatory first, then mount.

The observatory is just for the absolute convenience, means you will make more use of the equipment.

The mount second since if any scope is heavier then the HEQ5 could be insufficent so negatge any advantage in getting a better (heavier) scope.

Would you buy an observatory, convert a shed or "design" one yourself?

[DaveS]

Depending on budget and space, one of these?

http://www.iankingimaging.com/show_products.php?category=184

If you didn't want to go the self-design / self-build route.

[laudropb]

Yes I definitely agree with above, Obsy, then mount

[PhotoGav]

Good stuff. I am far more inclined to go down the IKI provided solution. I would love to see one in use though. I might have to start a new thread to pursue the obsy questioning further.

Thank you for your help folks.

[baggywrinkle]

Obsy.....

[swag72]

As much as I like shiny new toys..... I think that an obs would revolutionise your imaging to a far greater extent than your other bits. You can be out imaging in minutes, no more setting up in the dark and thinking it may not be worth it for the odd hour.

Assuming that you are then in this for the long haul, the next upgrade for me would be a new mount, one that will be capable of carrying potentially 2 scopes (An RC and a Tak that can come later) - That should eat up for astro fund for a while. Mount wise you are looking at a few ££'s!!!

[cfpendock]

I would have thought that you could do more than just the obs for £3600.  For example, just now on astrobuysell there is someone who wants to buy your HEQ5 mount, and there is also someone who wants to sell a Losmandy G11 Gemini V4 for £1500.

Chris

[DaveS]

Mount-wise I'd be thinking of something that could take pretty much anything you could throw at it, which means bypassing all the lesser mounts and going staight to Mesu / 10micron / ASA territory.

I'm thinking that for the money the Mesu is hard to beat.

[lensman57]

I'd forget all the upgrades and put the money for a rainy day. All the stuff that you have listed will not allow you to make better use of the limited " Sky Time " that we have and for that you need to appeal to a higher authority, as for the obsy, it is more of a luxury than a necessaty. I don't know about you but when I am in the mood I can set up in less than 10 minutes and get guiding in 20.

A.G

[r3i]

I'd go with what many have already said.  Start with the observatory first as it will really increase your productivity. Then probably the mount as this will give you the foundation to build upon later.

I've got an Altair 8" RC and love it but I'm not sure I'd consider it as being an upgrade to an 8" Edge, more of a sideways step perhaps?  Guess you'd have to ask yourself why you're not happy with your current scope.

[happylimpet]

Observatory undoubtedly for me - but you'll have to consider the dimensions carefully with all these possible mount upgrades!

[fondofchips]

Obsy & AZ EQ6 GT mount, works well for me.  Also you can get sneeky peeks in between the clouds, warm room is a real luxury.  Makes the whole stargazing thing more relaxed.

[PhotoGav]

Thank you all for your input.

This evening is a case in point for an obsy - it's clear at the moment, but the forecast is for cloud in an hour or two and the potential for snow showers. I have not set up....

I am now researching observatories. I have a 9'x9' slabbed area at the end of the garden that I could remove the shed from and plonk an 8'x8' obsy on instead. Bit of 'leccy and we are good to go...

I will then be researching beefy mounts and piers.

@lensman57 - that is exactly what the other half of me is thinking. If only the weather would sort itself out I would be spending my time imaging rather than looking at how to spend my money!

@r3i - yes, a side step. The edge is great, but I find the SCT just a bit soft, especially when compared to RC 8" images.