SMF

Hi Andy, Been looking into this as well. Lowest cost option I’ve seen so far is: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-maintenance/jump-starters/4-in-1-jump-starter-594335.html Machine Mart do a few alternatives as well: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/c/clarke-jump-starts/ Then this on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/BEAUDENS-Portable-Generator-Phosphate-Emergency/dp/B07MC7TV2G/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=portable+power+bank+12v&qid=1608416316&sr=8-9 Not made my mind up yet, convenience of Lithium or low cost of sealed lead battery. Hope helps. Steve

And here. Big fan. Frankly I don’t try and understand much of the technical stuff. Just go with what I like after trying the kit, gut instinct, and I like the Pentax. Had others but something didn’t quite gel. Then I got the Pentax SP 10x50s and just love them, something I can’t describe just slots into place. I too had a pair of Zeiss since childhood. Shame about the Pentax lens caps though, but not a big deal at the end of the day but, yes, for a few quid more I’d have paid for better ones.

Hi, I also have the 200p F5 1000mm EQ mount and an OO VX12L dob, live in a Bortle 4 area on the south coast and to be frank rarely get seeing that allows the use of a 5mm eyepiece let alone higher mag. My most used for Jupiter, Saturn and Mars this year has been a 7mm. I also have a 3.5mm and it’s used on exceptional seeing conditions. Great to have when useable but I sourced a 5, 7 and 10 first and like I said it’s the 7mm that’s most used. The difference between an eyepiece that came with the scope and any upgrade from Celestron X-Cel to Pentax XW is night and day.

Hi Andrew, You might find something useful at this company: https://www.cases-and-enclosures.co.uk/ I’ve used them for work and my astro equipment. You need to cut the foam for yourself but a very sharp long knife with a good point works well. I raided the kitchen and used a honed carving knife. Hope helps. Steve

Completely agree Neutron and the Morpheus range is very nice and those ES are incredible value! As the cost goes up the difference in performance gets ever smaller. I was happy to stop at the XWs and being ocd needed a matching set so went on the long journey to collect them all. Mostly second hand or occasionally when on offer or after selling other items to finance them I bought new. Second hand is a sure bet for any eyepiece if you can find them particularly on this forum. I saw a 14XW on ABS recently for 195 and I paid between 165 and 195 for most of mine. The 30 and 40 being released helped. I love them for no rational reason I can put my finger on. Just so comfortable to use. To be honest found that whatever suited someone else didn’t necessarily suit me so buying second hand meant selling on at no cost if I wasn’t happy.

You’ve just dobbed in over 2.5k on a first class scope. It deserves a couple of high end eyepieces whatever the make. It’s taken me an age to get my set of XWs. I went through loads of others getting here but I’ve a lot of grey hairs and all the kids have flown so easier for me to be a little frivolous. In the real world we watch the pennies but it’s a hobby after all and at my age not meant to be rational. I’m not Televue frivolous though. That’s an expense and rationale to far 😉 Sorry to all you TV fans.

Hi, I can’t talk tech spec much I’m afraid though but I’ve got the VX12L on a dob mount and a 200p EQ and absolutely love my Pentax XWs with them. The 5 and 7 for planets but for DSOs the 10 and 20 get used a lot. Actually they all get used loads right up to the 40mm. They’re not to everyone’s taste I hear but they are my ‘life time’ set. Very comfortable to use for long periods. I like the eyecup design, eyerelief and are easy going with or without glasses. I think the view they give is awesome, widefield, sharp and to me contrast is excellent. I’d not part with them, scopes might come and go but decent eps will stay with you forever. The VX12L was my first ‘large’ scope and it blew me away, I think you’re in for a real treat with the VX14 🙂

Hi All, For interest I’ve used this company for work and for my astro set up. Decent variety of sizes, fair quality at good prices and spare foam is readily available from them. I got through a few as I grew my set up. https://www.cases-and-enclosures.co.uk Hope this helps anyone. Steve