moffer

Oops!... just noticed that I've previously posted about my Elite's. 

Opticron Elite 9x35 porros. I bought them in the mid 1980's for birdwatching. They're showing their age now - leatherette is pretty worn but are mechanically sound (had them serviced just the once) and have excellent optics. Probably a bit on the small side for astro but are light in weight, which I prefer. 

10x50 Bresser, 10x50 Opticron Elite, 10x80 German ww2, 25x102 self built, 50x150 self built, 50x300 (reflecting) self built.

Peter,

I never knew that Opticron did a 10x50 Elite. I thought they only ever sold one size - the 9x35 Elite, which I own. I bought them for bird watching back in the mid eighties, presume your's are from that era? Like me they are looking their age now, but are still mechanically sound and the optics are excellent. Think I would have to pay a substantial amount of money for a pair of modern bins to better them.

Same thing with mine. It's a skywatcher 9x50 RACI, delivered a couple of days ago.

Hi sparkyjon, thanks for the welcome. It certainly is a friendly place - I feel like one of the gang already.

The 200p does seem to be a well respected scope on the forum. Don't think we can go wrong really.

Tony

That'll be ideal Gareth, thanks very much.

Tony

Thanks Anthony, look forward to having a look through your 200p. Unfortunately Ryan's just phoned me to say that he can't make it for saturday's meet - his missus has other things planned for the evening and he certainly doesn't want to upset her, at least not before he buys the scope. He won't be ordering it until some time in march anyway, so should be time enough for us to attend a future date.

Tony

That's great - thanks Steve and hope you feel better soon.

We're not familiar with the area but have gleaned directions for the site, shouldn't be too difficult to find - hopefully anyway. Looking at an O/S map methinks the best route from Caerphilly would be via Newbridge, Abertillery to Brynmawr, take b4248 to Blaenavon, then onto b4246 and finally a right turn toward radio masts car park. Obviously easier said than done, especially with me navigating (Ryan's the driver), so it would be a big help if someone who's familiar with that route could let us know about any features etc to look out for.

Cheers

Tony, keeping fingers crossed for decent weather...

Thanks. I'm in Senghenydd, Ryan's in Caerphilly.

Hi all, My name is Tony and I live just outside Caerphilly. My son Ryan has recently developed an interest in astronomy and is seriously thinking about buying a 200p dob in the near future. Not having looked through an astronomical scope before I've suggested that it might be a good idea for him to have a look through a 200p or something similar before he forks out his hard earned, just in case his expectations on what can be seen is too great. I used to be the proud owner of a fullerscopes 81/2" newt back in the 70s so have given him a good idea what to expect, but think it best for him to see for himself. So we would very much appreciate if someone would be kind enough to let him have a look through a scope/s at your next meeting as we would very much like to come along. Would love to have a look through a scope again myself too, it would bring back some very fond memories.

Regards

Tony