Stardaze

Thanks for the info John. I think on balance, it's more of a faff to find a little enclosure to strap the batteries onto the side in. I'll live with it, shouldn't look too out of place on a 10"?

I do have to work on filling one first though.....🤣

Thanks for this, looks just the job, I’ll check it out!

Cheers chaps, I'll have a read tonight 👍

I have to say that I'm happier with the feel of the Telrad but can't help think that surely it can be made smaller? Is there a gap in the market? Scope delivery due tomorrow... actually first time I've been excited about new kit for quite a while!

I should have also said that comparing the 68 degree versions against the 82 degree, is very interesting. I have been contemplating my next EP as being in the 24-30mm range and this comparison has helped me firm up that the ES 24 (82) is still a touch wider than the 28/30 options I was looking at, and wider than the TeleVue Panoptic 27, see here:

What I find handy, is using the Cartes du Ciel comparison on the FLO website. You can add your scope and various eye pieces and see what view you get. It's in each EP section. Helped me to work out the field of view of 68 and 82 degree options. I've concocted a nice spread of EP's that I can work towards with a mix of the Nirvana and some more expensive additions. The Nirvana 16mm is being delivered tomorrow..

Have been looking for a little bag to carry maybe 3-4 EPs and Cheshire etc, can’t seem to find anything. There’s plenty of little bits bags in fishing that could be converted I think for next to nothing.

Maybe that’s the one to ‘aspire to’ but there’s not much difference in price between the 24 and 27, so there’s the dilemma right there - but a nice one to have 😁

I'm going to use the scope for a bit and see what I fancy, probably in readiness for the winter nights. The aero is the sensible option, but it may depend on how flush I'm feeling at the time too 😆 I do like the look of the ES 28 68 deg which is £100 cheaper than the 82 deg version and half the weight. That could be the one (2 inch too)

Have you suffered much coma John with any of the eyepieces?

Can't comment properly just yet, but due to he same question posed, I've gone with the Bresser. Hopefully due to be delivered tomorrow. I was considering SW 250PX, but the focussed swung it for me, it's German built so has to be good. Nowhere has them in stock it seemed for me last week, so Telescope House are the main UK dealers and ship them directly from the factory. John, you should be taking commission 😀

Ah well, I've added the 16mm nirvana to my order, so I'll compare them and keep the one I prefer.

I have a preference for DSO I think so the bigger aperture makes sense (it’s why I have a camera bag full of top end primes 😁) In the end, I also like the idea of going manual. A go-to might help the learning process in some ways initially, but I like the idea of plodding around manually and finding my own way. The problem with any hobby if they take hold, is that they can affect your wallet badly. But if you get a lot of enjoyment out of it... it’s only money..😁

I’ll take full responsibility 😁 Funny thing is, I had considered going the Nexstar 8SE route, which I think you had too? So this is half the cost-ish. Well, that’s the story to the wife, less some VAT 😉

I think we’ve all done that with kit over the years, expensive mistakes but part of the ‘learning curve’ 😂 I’m going to sit on the GAS for now and use what I’ve got (sensible for once!) There always has to be something ‘to aspire to.’ Besides, if what I’ve ordered so far doesn’t measure up, it’s all John’s fault! (Still think it’s the sensible option to some others I considered...)

I’m so tempted to order the nirvana’s and put the BST’s up 😱

Ah, that's bad timing for me really, I've just bought the 9x50 and a few other bits this week. I probably need to use the kit first to work out what I use most. If it's the 25, then I'll probably invest in the best 30 that I can. I do like the look of the SE but that's a proper lump, thinking the SW 28 was a compromise. Tough to know whether the SE is much better at £260, maybe a bit better corrected at the edges I'm guessing. I like the look of the SE range as they pretty much cover everything and nice to not have to change focus when switching from one FL to another. Again, if the mid-range becomes my most used (it seems to be at the minute) then I'll probably go the SE as they're not too badly priced. It's early days, I have to remind to use what's coming first. Do you not see a need for spending 3x the price on the exotic stuff yourself?

Yes I noted the weight, looked a nice piece of glass. How does that affect the balance on the scope? Is it easier to have lighter optics? Much difference in IQ? Sending the Rigel back and plumbing for the Telrad. Disappointed with the marks on the perspex tbh.

You sound like you've tried fair few over the years John. I think those FL's look about ideal, I can't see a need for the bits in between. What's the 30mm? Partly thinking that I've probably jumped in a bit too quickly with the BST's will use now and move over to the 7 & 16 soon. Might put that SW 28 at the top of the list first, though the nirvana's aren't bank breaking lenses. Do you store your dob with a shower cap over the end, or not that fussy?

In your opinion John, how much difference in general IQ is there between the 16mm nirvana and a BST? Obviously the FOV is the big benefit but wondered if there's a discernible difference with the overall IQ? I have the 8 & 18 BST's and so am tempted to try the wider FOV but they overlap. Whichever upgrade route I consider the BST's would need to be replaced I guess. Not anything for the now, but am intrigued by 82 deg.

Hope so. Then I'll probably get obsessed with eye pieces - seems a given!

I’ve always said that with anything these days, mid-range will buy you capable kit that will last. Top end, doesn’t always make a significant difference per £s, but is worth it to those that can/need/want. Interesting. Dobs don’t look the fashionable end, but seem the best bang for the £s, so looking forward to hopefully a decent step-up when my new one arrives.

I've been thinking that, you can buy a fairly capable setup, for a reasonable outlay (coming from a photography background where I do have £'000s invested) But as with most pursuits, there are extremes. Looking at your gear list, I think that pretty much looks like the other end of the stratosphere. I'll enjoy the naive early years of learning, but as always, do wonder what that kind of kit can produce in capable hands?

Very nice!