Having realised that the C130 will not do what I want it to do, I started looking for an alternative:
- Easy to set up
- Easy to store away
- Very good photographic capability
- Very good visual capability
- Solid and rugged
- Price
I also did some soul searching, accompanied by a lot of reading, and concluded that one doesn't need the biggest mirror in the world to be amazed by the delights of the cosmos. In the end, the question cam down to: For £800, should I buy a 12" Newtonian OTA, or a 3-4" Apochromat refractor?
A 12" Newt will bring loads of faint fuzzies into view, but it is big, heavy, and difficult to store or transport. Build quality will have to be exceptional.
A small Apo plus field flattener will give me access to a lifetime of wonders, while being easy to store and transport. In-line camera means less balance issues too.
In the end, I settled on a Sky-Watcher Equinox 80ED, due to the good reviews and relatively low price. When I placed my order, it turned out that they were out of stock. Only the Widescreen Centre had any left in stock and were willing to fulfill my order. After a few days, they too informed me that they were out of stock. They were, however willing to substitute the scope for a PrimaLuce Airy 80APO, which is a far better scope and out of my original price range.
Excellent customer service from Dr Simon Bennet at the Widescreen Centre. Not to mention Zoltan, who keeps everything ticking like a clock.
The Airy 80APO is certainly rugged. All cast aluminium and steel. Lovely crayford 10:1 focusser with no slack. It oozes quality. Terrestrial targets showed superb detail with no colour fringing. The Nikon D7200 also seemed happy with it at maximum digital magnification.
Next on the list: A proper tracking mount.
- Easy to set up
- Easy to store away
- Very good photographic capability
- Very good visual capability
- Solid and rugged
- Price
I also did some soul searching, accompanied by a lot of reading, and concluded that one doesn't need the biggest mirror in the world to be amazed by the delights of the cosmos. In the end, the question cam down to: For £800, should I buy a 12" Newtonian OTA, or a 3-4" Apochromat refractor?
A 12" Newt will bring loads of faint fuzzies into view, but it is big, heavy, and difficult to store or transport. Build quality will have to be exceptional.
A small Apo plus field flattener will give me access to a lifetime of wonders, while being easy to store and transport. In-line camera means less balance issues too.
In the end, I settled on a Sky-Watcher Equinox 80ED, due to the good reviews and relatively low price. When I placed my order, it turned out that they were out of stock. Only the Widescreen Centre had any left in stock and were willing to fulfill my order. After a few days, they too informed me that they were out of stock. They were, however willing to substitute the scope for a PrimaLuce Airy 80APO, which is a far better scope and out of my original price range.
Excellent customer service from Dr Simon Bennet at the Widescreen Centre. Not to mention Zoltan, who keeps everything ticking like a clock.
The Airy 80APO is certainly rugged. All cast aluminium and steel. Lovely crayford 10:1 focusser with no slack. It oozes quality. Terrestrial targets showed superb detail with no colour fringing. The Nikon D7200 also seemed happy with it at maximum digital magnification.
Next on the list: A proper tracking mount.
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