Jump to content

Banner.jpg.b89429c566825f6ab32bcafbada449c9.jpg

If you could only choose one telescope for everything


Recommended Posts

39 minutes ago, L8-Nite said:

The older I get, the simpler I like things to be, and as a visual only observer I don't care to fuss about with unnecessary gadgets. So, considering that  my Wife and I like travelling to dark destinations, our little kit  here would be my one scope choice.

.

PICT0001 (Medium).JPG

PICT0002 (Medium).JPG

PICT0003 (Medium).JPG

Love it! what a beautiful Questar setup! 

I had a lot of fun with the poor mans equivalent (ETX90) throughout my uni years. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, Alien 13 said:

I would have the Questar too over any other scope even those TAK thingies, I do have its poor relation though...

Alan

They have a great reputation. Still never looked through one. Maybe I’ll be at a star party where we get to use scopes one day.....

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is the Questar much better, in terms of the views, than, say, a Meade 90mm mak though ?

I'm sure I read a very experienced user here had compared the views between the two and found very little difference.

I'm sure the build and overall quality of the Questar are superb though.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, John said:

Is the Questar much better, in terms of the views, than, say, a Meade 90mm mak though ?

I'm sure I read a very experienced user here had compared the views between the two and found very little difference.

I'm sure the build and overall quality of the Questar are superb though.

 

The reviews say they're about on par optically. The differences lay with the mechanics and aesthetics I think. Info from this guy who compares the Questar, C90, and ETX90:

 

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it was for night time only I'd go for a dobsonian of up to 12", but if it was for solar as well then maybe a refractor up to 120mm.

In either case I'd get the biggest thing I could easily handle up to those aperture limits and downsize over time as I got older.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm purely visual. My one scope with enough aperture but not too big to put me off setting it up would be a 12 inch GOTO Dob

I have less time to observe than I used to so tend to use refractors a lot but I'm always conscious of what I'm missing over a decent sized Dob

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 hours ago, Rick_It said:

Yes, but a C8 is not a rich-field scope, so it's not universal. For example, you can't frame the Pleiades. With a 200/1200 you get up to 2.26° FOV.

Does it count if I use the F6.3 reducer?  (I don't have it yet, but will soon).

?

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great vid Chris, your years of experience shine through in your words. I don’t have the wide experience of different scopes that some other folks do, having owned 7 scopes in total - those in my sig plus a 6” F8 Newt. I have often thought about the perfect single scope for my needs and I think it could be a 120ED, kind of in between your two very well considered suggestions, but a step up in price again, especially versus a budget Newt. I guess if it is a single scope one is willing to pay a bit more! ? I would love to spend some quality time with an 120 ED to test my theory. 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hving had some good sessions with my 12 inch F/5.3 dob this week I think I'm swaying towards it as a one-scope option, if I had to have just one. I have some great refractors but the 12 inch dob takes me deeper and further into the Universe than any of them and if one of my scopes is going to still show me new stuff after the years that I've been in the hobby, it's the dob. 

Setup and tear down time is as quick as any of my other scopes as well.

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, RobertI said:

Great vid Chris, your years of experience shine through in your words. I don’t have the wide experience of different scopes that some other folks do, having owned 7 scopes in total - those in my sig plus a 6” F8 Newt. I have often thought about the perfect single scope for my needs and I think it could be a 120ED, kind of in between your two very well considered suggestions, but a step up in price again, especially versus a budget Newt. I guess if it is a single scope one is willing to pay a bit more! ? I would love to spend some quality time with an 120 ED to test my theory. 

Thanks Rob :) Got to say the ED120 is a great choice for a single scope, it wasn't easy for me to rule that one out other than it being less flexible mounting wise, and has a longer cool down and less transportable. It's hard to cover every base and where to draw the line when picking just one scope, I know the ED120 would have been a better compromise on DSO observations. 

I've heard some premium 4" fracs such as the Takahashi seem to punch above their weight comparing well to the ED120 on DSO's. I only have experience with the tiny FS60 which I'll admit did a very good job for it's tiny aperture.  

Edited by Lockie
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, John said:

Hving had some good sessions with my 12 inch F/5.3 dob this week I think I'm swaying towards it as a one-scope option, if I had to have just one. I have some great refractors but the 12 inch dob takes me deeper and further into the Universe than any of them and if one of my scopes is going to still show me new stuff after the years that I've been in the hobby, it's the dob. 

Setup and tear down time is as quick as any of my other scopes as well.

I feel another video coming on - Best single scope for visual.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've often thought about a one scope solution, the Force is strong on the Dark Side. I could easily depart from my Reflectors and my SW ED72. But I would find it very hard to depart from my C80ED & C100ED scopes, as you can't buy them new no more and their classics. But having a 120ED again is really tempting. Only if Celestron made a 120ED in Gloss Piano Black with a R&P focuser. Drooooooooooollll. :D

Edited by Skyline
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Ben the Ignorant said:

I'm afraid one telescope only would be impossible for me because of the differences between a light bucket and a rich-field scope, but two would be possible. A 12 inch dob and a 115mm apo.

 It's not impossible, but you obviously have to compromise on abilities. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, laser_jock99 said:

Maybe my 8" F4 Newt is a good compromise scope- fast enough for imaging and a medium visual FOV. I could always add a barlow for planets.

Would the f/5 version be a better compromise? 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, Paul73 said:

They have a great reputation. Still never looked through one. Maybe I’ll be at a star party where we get to use scopes one day.....

 

I'm confident you will get a chance Paul, I had it at the South Wales star party in Brecon where I recently met you ;  Unfortunately the weather was uncooperative so most of us just ended up in the Pub instead of bringing our scopes out.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, L8-Nite said:

ended up in the Pub instead of bringing our scopes out.  

True. But we did talk a really good game about scopes, mirrors, etc etc etc.

Paul

ps. The Jura malt (and Dob Mob emergency vodka rations) lubricated some very animated scope discussions back at the camp site until really quite late........??

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The near perfect all round scope for me is the Celestron C11 with a 6.3 focal reducer and Hyperstar.....Which I have all ;)

Focal lengths of 2800mm 1760mm and 560mm...And yes, with Hyperstar, M45 fits in FOV for imaging.

All in one piece of kit. 

What more could ya want :p

 

Edited by Star101
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In answer to the OP`s question, i did this very thing, i decided to concentrate on doing what i can do and enjoy doing, and settled on the skymax 127 Maksutov, and ended up repurchasing the very scope i had sold a few years back, this is now my only scope, as a Luna and planet scope its all i need or want plus its not to shabby on some DSO`s but they dont really interest me these days.

This has proved to be a very good decision for me, i am in a better place with regard to astro, i dont do a lot lately but when i do i am happy with what i do, the scope is cheap enough, if i needed to i could easy replace it like for like and its easy to mount, all in all happy days

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like Dave, earlier on in the thread, the nearest I could get would be with a six inch (ish) refractor with large corrected field. With a full frame camera (or better still one with a 36x36mm chip) you can go fairly wide:

spacer.png

...and with a small pixel camera you can do as well or almost as well as with a much larger reflector on small targets:

spacer.png

Visually you don't have the light grasp for the faintest of the fuzzies but those which it can deliver it can deliver with exquisite clarity and a wonderful sense of immersion in space.

I'm glad the obligation to lose our short FL apo and larger reflector is only hypothethetical, though. :D

Olly

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

Visually you don't have the light grasp for the faintest of the fuzzies but those which it can deliver it can deliver with exquisite clarity and a wonderful sense of immersion in space

I do love this about refactors. I'm happy seeing less, but less with beautiful depth, contrast, and sharpness. I think this is why I was happy to sacrifice a bit of aperture refractor wise (in this hypothetical situation) in favour of more versatility with mounting, faster cool down, and transportability (if that's a word) 

P.s. awe inspiring images as always, Olly. 

Edited by Lockie
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, nightfisher said:

In answer to the OP`s question, i did this very thing, i decided to concentrate on doing what i can do and enjoy doing, and settled on the skymax 127 Maksutov, and ended up repurchasing the very scope i had sold a few years back, this is now my only scope, as a Luna and planet scope its all i need or want plus its not to shabby on some DSO`s but they dont really interest me these days.

This has proved to be a very good decision for me, i am in a better place with regard to astro, i dont do a lot lately but when i do i am happy with what i do, the scope is cheap enough, if i needed to i could easy replace it like for like and its easy to mount, all in all happy days

That 127Mak is defo the right scope for you, Jules. I know you've tried plenty of scopes to get to where you are (pot calling the kettle black here ;) ) 

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.