paulastro

I've had several C5s over the years (all C5+ versions), and have fond memories of a fantastic three weeks in Crete with a C5+. This was in May 1995, blimey, 24 years ago! My love affair with this scope lasted for many years off and on. I can remember how good the three spokes of the Triffid Nebula looked in my C5+, much better than most view I'd had in UK skies at that time with larger telescopes Now I use a small refractor for grab and go and travel. Mainly for the reasons others have mentioned, better optical quality (an apo) wider field views, robustness, takes less room and is easier to mount, easier solar viewing etc. I'll always have a soft spot and fond memories of all those C5+s I had the pleasure of using though.

I had an 80 mm Equinox as my G&G for some time, excellent in every way. I now have another G&G which I consider to be in the same ilk, though in a slightly smaller package. My main scope is now a SW 120ED, which in itself is a very portable telescope - I can very easily carry it about on my AZ4 when it's not in the observatory on the Ercole mount. Though, I can't take it everywhere I might want to observe and can't carry it about ready for action easily in one hand. These two factors are two essentials for what I consider to be a truly G&G. They are not the same as everyone's definition of a G&G - but it's quite right we all have our own requirements in this respect. Anyway, back to the plot. My G&G is the SW 72ED on a Manfrotto gimbal-type lens mount (ie a fork!) on a sturdy photographic tripod. I really could take this anywhere, even in a rucksack on a bus if I needed to, and easily as carry on luggage on a plane. It stands all set up ready to go in my 'office' with a 1.25 diagonal and usually with an eyepiece up the spout. I can easily use it with my binoviewer and pairs of orthos. It's easily balanced when used with a heavy load as the Manfrotto head comes with its own version of a dovetail as can be seen in the pic showing the lens. Optically excellent, it's a fabulous telescope, and it will easily pass x150 on the Moon and planets in better conditions. It's nice to know with the vagaries of the Yorkshire weather I can be out whenever there is an unexpected break and make the best of any observing opportunity.

Excellent Mike, though nothing exceptional - I've got used to you turning out these high quality drawings on a regular basis! For most of us, it is something of a dream to be able to produce such wonderfully executed drawings of our observations.

There's nothing new under the sun, if my memory is correct there is an illustration in one of the three Telescope Making Handbooks which is very similar, and they go back a long way! .

Mmm, this setup has an uncanny resemblance to the five inch triplet taken to Kelling last September by Peter Drew - picture below. It's on the mount Peter made for it ages ago, of a similar design. Peter is to the right of the tent.

Well done Steve, it's wonderful to see the ISS shape through a scope isn't it. It was so good, I'm tempted to try this more often. The only slight snag is, I don't know about repeating the feat once in 20 attempts, I'd be surprised if I could do it once in 50 attempts . Mind you, with practice it should be possible to improve the success rate.

Ditto Mark, and I'm sure Mike would be up for it if he's available. Do get in touch if you're ever heading this way, and I'll do likewise if I'm in your neck of the woods. Thanks for your info re the TeleVue. I know they are good, but pricey for me, even used, but I just have the silly idea of matching it up with a AT diagonal to be in-keeping with the scope's appearance. I've actually googled Astro-Tech diagonals and the information I found re the dielectric versions was that they performed well and about their weight so to speak.

Yes, it is a great refractor Mark, as you and Mike both know it's myself that is the current custodian of it - and I expect it will be the last scope I will ever own prior to having to retire from active observing, if that should happen before I fall off my perch . It's the telescope's 11th birthday on April 21st - and the date is on my calendar so I can buy myself it a birthday present . In fact I've been thinking of advertising for an Astro-Tech dielectric diagonal for it. It's funny you should mention the Mercury transit you observed with it, that's exactly what I'm planning to do with it this November 11th! I quite like Mike's idea of you plying me with drink to try and get me to hand it back. If we should meet, please ply me with as much drink as you like, though I can't guarantee you will be successful ? PS Forgot to mention, last night I was using the scope and observing in Gemeni and I saw the ISS coming toward my field of view. Amazingly, I managed to lock onto it (using a 17.5 Morpheus) and managed to keep it place for 10 - 15 seconds, I could see the shape of the ISS including the solar arrays either side of it. Amazing, never done this before - though I've never really previously made an attempt, I had thought about trying it.

I think you should buy the rest of the Morpheus eyepieces to go with the 17.5 you already have Mike. You could then lend them to me for a few years to try them all out .

Well, the Practical Astronomy Show has come and gone at Kettering, and no-one has posted here and said they bought one, how disappointing. I would like to see a review here from an experienced observer. ?

Your refractor looks very classy on that mount - looking good .

Ah well, I suspect for HA equipment, we must all have to put up with the fact that if it looks too cheap to be true, then it probably is - at least for now?

Gav, how wonderful, I would keep it set up in the lounge so you can admire it - better than TV any time. I wonder if the 160 would fit on my AZ4?

That's what I was trying to say Peter, perhaps not well enough! (.....what they want to see, and how detailed a view they want....) As I said, it depends on the indiviual's requirements. Perhaps I should have put eyesight quality on my list of potential considerations . I seem to remember that one of the great comets of the 19th century was 'discovered' by a whole shift of miners one dawn as they left the diamond mine where they were working. Only naked eye needed for this discovery. Also, the great George Alcock discovered one of his comets using a pair of 10x50 binoculars from the landing on his stairs. Or was this one of his novae?

I've enjoyed reading this topic, lot's of interesting points put forward, not one of them without some merit. Clearly the answer for any individual will be based on all sorts of things, their experience, what they want to see, how detailed a view they want, where they want to observe from, does it need to be portable or transportable etc etc. I think for any individual, the answer will be a combination of the answers to two questions: 'which telescope will I use the most often' and 'which telescope would I keep if I was only allowed one telescope'. There is no minimum aperture which would suit all of us, as we all have an assortment of different requirements. The answer for me is my smallest scope, my SW 72ED. ? If I never had access to any bigger scopes, it would always bring me great observing experiences and I'll remain a happy bunny.

David, I've had both of these and still have the AZ4. Whatever the spec says, the AZ4 is FAR more steady and will take a heavier load. The azimuth slow motion on the AZ5 comes out at such a strange angle from the mount that you will never be able to reach it if you have anything but a short scope - or you have very long arms! True, the AZ4 doesn't have slow motions, but it is smoother to push around, or at least mine is. The AZ5 is prettier, but then looks aren't everything .

Jon, I'm sure your 102, if you go ahead and buy one, will do you proud - especially if you're taking it out to dark skies. At home my skies are not too bad, but I've taken the AT102 to Kelling for the last couple of years in the Autumn, and wow! Just like any scope that's taken to Kelling it will perform like a bigger scope in excellent transparent skies. In such skies the AT102 is a superb deep sky scope offering some stunning views - just a shame I have to come home at the end of my stay. Still, only seven months until my next trip . Best of luck.

Mark, good to hear your comments. I did wonder if you might see this thread and recognise the scope as once being yours. I agree with your sentiment, I love it and it's performance is fabulous. I think this particular telescope proves the point that it's not just the type of glass that makes a good doublet, it's far more to do with the quality of the objective in its' manufacture and that it has a well made cell and nicely darkened/baffled tube to accommodate it. It was in really good condition when I obtained the scope from Shane and I assure you I'll continue to do my best to maintain it in the same way. Thank you for looking after it so well when you were its custodian . It's in safe hands.

Apart from the physical length of course the focal length is much longer, the optimum focal ratio for a four inch refractor is f7 for me. This is because I like to do widefield sweeping as well as planetary, and the combination with my 17.5mm Morpheus is made in heaven for me - literally .

Mike, this isn't quite accurate. The FT focuser came with the scope when it was sold new - nearly eleven years ago. I have the original invoice. It was fitted from new, and says on both sides of the focuser that it was made for both Astro-Tech and for this particular telescope. The focuser has a 9:1 reduction fine focus. The original price when bought new on 21st April 2008 was £825 including VAT. It was sold in this country by SCS Astro Ltd. The scope also came with a nice hard case which I still have.

Peter, now that's just downright cruel That is, unless you've accidentally missed two zeros off after the '1' ?

Thanks Alan. Me thinks that I may have been sussed! ? Thanks Mike, you know me so well

If anyone wants to start a crowd funding thingy to buy me one of these refractors, I'll be more than pleased to post a review when I've put it through it's paces. After all, someone needs to bite the bullet and try it out - only for the benefit for other SGL users and not for myself of course.

Mike, are you going to save up for the extra two mm? Go on, you deserve a full four inches after all this time .

Mmm, I wonder if it will perform better than your short focus 100ED f7.4 Mike? If I actually thought so, I'd commit financial suicide and buy one on my credit card. It would be more than worthwhile to see the look on your face when we do a side-by-side comparison ?