cajen2

Ah, it's lucky for the manufacturers that we're all different....otherwise they'd only sell us one scope, one mount,......

Depends how addicted you are to a wide FOV. These days, I find less than about 76° a bit of a trial.

I see you've gone full Clicklock!

It has a large sports field with hard standings and leccy. I know the management there are keen to sort out more astronomy weekends.

A minor thing, but the lens cap on the Svbony zoom is designed for the rubber eyecup to be folded DOWN, after which it fits perfectly. In view of the tight eye relief, that's probably best anyway.

I've joined the mob and bought a Svbony 3-8mm zoom, which arrived today. Can't wait to try it out and do comparisons with my fixed f/l EPs.

Ah, but the zoom gives more flexibility - out to 8mm to centre the target, then in to get close ups. Just another string to my bow. I have a couple of decent Barlows: an ES 2x focal extender and the 2.25x one for the Baader zoom, but I prefer not to use them if I don't have to.

I've got the Svbony zoom on order. I'll be fascinated to see how it compares to my Morpheus 4.5 and 6.5mm. It'll give me a chance to go higher than 159x mag in my Starfield 102ED, for the moon, Saturn and double stars.

Basically, you have two options: 1. This is what many people do. They buy good quality cheap EPs, like the Starguider range. After a bit of experience, most start to upgrade these to something with a wider field of view. An example would be the Baader Morpheus range, which I find to be excellent. 2. Go straight to something like a Morpheus. This sounds expensive but constant upgrading is even more so. Since as you say, money is an issue, option one might be best. Also check out OVL Nirvanas.

Just ordered one - the price is going back up....you people do realise you're costing me a lot of money....😛

A warm welcome to the Lounge from Britain.

I'm a point and squirt merchant - don't want to be messing about with EQ alignment. I don't do AP anyway. Alt/az: point and go...😛

Not that I've heard of. If they ARE very expensive, I see no reason for preferring the mount over a dedicated go-to, say an iOptron alt/az Pro.

Another 50° option is a Vixen NPL. I bought the 30mm for my very first scope (coincidentally a Heritage 150p) and while I've replaced the other 'starter' EPs I bought, I still use the Vixen. It gives a nice clear image across the FOV so I use it as a 1.25" 'finder' EP when I can't be bothered to use a 2". It's cheap, too! 😉

Sorry, mate, I just didn't see this till just now. Don't worry about the light: have it as a gift!

That's a great scope (I have one myself...😆). Shame to waste it on AP! 😉

My partner "wasn't entirely happy" when she saw my new 8" dob for the first time .... Lawd knows how she would have reacted to a 14"...😨

Hi Sirico and a warm welcome to the Lounge. Good choice for first scope.

Now that sounds really good. I have the feeling you're going to be very pleased with your acquisition!

Mmmm, I'll look forward to that - those Taurus scopes look gorgeous! Which optics are you getting? Loads of pix, please, when it comes! 😉

Same with me while l I had an 8" dob. I'd always take the base out first and then the OTA. Yes, I could lift the two together but I wouldn't trust myself not to trip over the step and drop the lot. 😉

'twasn't me, it was Richard. I was busy drooling over the Pleiades with the Starfield at the time....

No, as I said, R was using a Morph 6.5: relatively high mag so I think that was the limiting factor. We were both well dark adapted.

Sure but Richard was using a high- mag EP (Morpheus 6.5mm iirc).

I also think using such a small aperture and focal length scope with any filter is counterproductive. When we tried an Astronomik UHC, it did nothing for the view except make it darker. I have to say, though, that Richard's Meade was an extremely competent all-round scope when you consider its cost