Quantity or Quality?

[DaveS]

I'll probably get flamed for this, so donning my aluminised suite here goes.

I'm still trying to put together my re-starter telescope package and going round in circles. What I first came up with was a Megrez 90 on a HEQ 5 Syntrek mount, 3 eyepieces rings etc from FLO, then looked further and realised that I could get a Skywatcher evostar 150 on a EQ6 Synscan and a Baader SA filter for the same or less.

My situation is that due to my narrow garden an obsy is out, also due to encroaching trees I need to observe from just outside my back door to see East and North-East, while to see South I have to move 40'+ down the garden, so it needs to be reasonably movable, though I could break the lot down if need be.

LP in west London is pretty nasty, so I'm thinking planets and the odd brighter DSO, with some photography of both, but 70-80% visual.

I still have the main bits of my old 8" f/8 single-beam Newtonian which I may resurrect. For reference, the optics come in at 12Kg, which I find fairly easy to maneuver

So.....after rambling on a bit, a small-ish high quality semi-apo on a mid-sized mount or a big-ish achro on a big-ish mount? Would I be right in thinking the HEQ 5 wouldn't be up to the job of mounting the old Newt?

If you've born with my ramblings this far, thanks and I hope someone can crystalise my ideas.

Dave

[blinky]

An HEQ5 will handle up to around 14KG's Scope weight (for visual anyway, slightly less for imaging)

[DaveS]

Thanks Blinky, so I can save a bit on the mount (And save my back!) and go with the HEQ5.

What of my main point Megrez 90 (Quality) vs Evostar 150 (Quantity)?

Dave

[FLO]

I have owned both. If I had to make a choice it'd be the Megrez-90. There is something special about that scope, it seems to exceed the sum of its parts. Very nice to use and great for casual grab & go observing.

[alfi]

hi

i have a 6" f/8,3, it is really nice, and opens the possibility for DSO in a way a small scope wont.

i also have others, ed80 X2 and a newt., but i will not get rid of the 6" before SW comes with a 6"ED.

alfi

[DaveS]

Many thanks Steve.

I guess it's getting to check-the-bank-balance time.

Dave

Um alfi posted while i was typing.

But for practical reasons I'm still leaning to the Megrez, unless anyone says the Evostar is easily portable as in my OP.

[alfi]

hehe, how big are you?

its a big boy

alfi

[FLO]

If you decide to opt for the Megrez-90 then there is no hurry. A typhoon stopped production so we haven't been able to source them for about two months. We have however been promised a delivery in 2-4 weeks.

[DaveS]

hehe, how big are you?

its a big boy

alfi

5' 9", 11 st!

But I rig stage lanterns weighing 91/2 Kg, and I used to keep my 8" Newt "Tube" indoors and that comes in at 64" long and 12 Kg.

Dave

[alfi]

hehe, well then your sertainly big enough!

but it is not really a grab-and-go no

alfi

[Colan]

I feel your pain with the light pollution in London, also the long thin garden :-(