Antares 90mm f11 or Vixen 80mm f11?

[Caldwell14]

OMG , I never thought I would see the day, what in the name of god possessed you?

(Mind you Mr Refractor here now only owns one scope, and it's a Newtonian)

[Caldwell14]

I once owned a Vixen frac, a SP 4 inch, I totally regret selling it, totally.

[Caldwell14]

thanks Nick

I have a diagonal en route, just a 1.25" kindly sent to me by another SGLer for postage cost.

totally agree on the pillar extension. even with the HEQ5 tripod on full extension it was only just usable.

last night (as I have no diagonal currently) I tried a quick view 'japanese style' and you need a very flexible nex. this morning I awoke with a condition I well remember (fracback).

I am certainly not turning my back on dobs but it's nice to have a difference experience once in a while.

initial impressions were doubles and moon excellent, Saturn - meh.......neck - achy  LOL

Refractors are made for the summer months when observing time is in short supply and fuzzy blobs disappear against that light grey summer Newtonian background.

[Moonshane]

Ha ha. I must be losing it. I am definitely not using it again until I have the diagonal!!

It is a lovely looking scope that's for sure

[F15Rules]

Hi Shane. Been on holiday and just saw your thread. I think you will like the Vixen. I have an older 1980s 80mm F11 and its a peach, especially on doubles and Luna.

Enjoy your new toy and welcome to the world of "Proper Scopes" LOL!!

[Moonshane]

^{Hi Dave}

^{I'm sure they do, but I hope that people realise that my 'hatred' of fracs was always with my tongue firmly lodged in my cheek. I just find newts more used friendly and comfy to use. As I said earlier in the thread though, the view of the sun in white light through a Vixen 100mm f11 with a Herschel wedge is what's driving this purchase.}

[Dude_with_the_tube]

newts or dobs are the best for DSO`s,but its hard to beat a nice frac on white solar and lunar.enjoy the views Shane and clear skies!

[Moonshane]

no matter what I am looking through I'll always do that

[Moonshane]

here's some pics

[nightfisher]

Looking nice Shane, when i spotted this for sale i was surprised to see Vixen still making the 80M, and looking so nice in the more modern trim, will have to put a pic of my old 80M custom

[Stu]

Lovely :-)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[John]

I've been away too so I'm just catching up on this. I think you made the right choice Shane