Jump to content
  • Join the online East Midlands astronomy club today!

    With active forums, two dark sites and a knowledgeable membership, East Midlands Stargazers has something for everyone.

Grab n go suggestions


Tweedledee

Recommended Posts

I'm thinking of getting a decent visual grab n go to replace my cheapo ST120. I'm not happy with the quality of the star images in the 120, though it is a fine and acceptable scope when you consider the next to nothing price tag. Although I'll be sacrificing aperture and running to 100mm or maybe less, my thoughts are that I won't lose anything, since sharper stars should make it easier to see fainter ones. Hopefully there is some truth in that, and it's not just my way of trying to justify the expense :) Ideally I'd love to have Rob (Bino-Viewers) FLT132 DM6 setup, but he might be offended if I offered him £600 :)

Any thoughts on this or suggestions for second hand OTA candidates would be much appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

An ed80 is a good compromise better colour and stars but less apeture, a favourite of mine awhile back was one of the orion usa 102ed doublets, it wasnt until I sold it that I realised just how good it was and how much I used it. Under the badge it was a Allied/Kunming scope. Something similar would be a good portable set up and 102 is a reasonable apeture to pull stuff in

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wouldn't quite consider my FLT132 as being 'grab & go' Pete  :lol:  More like 'lug & go'


And the stars in my scope certainly aren't textbook either. A lot of that is probably cooldown related though.


 


If you want a really nice 80mm sort of size, there's one scope that sits above most of the others : a Takahashi FSQ-85 ED.


And one day, i plan on owning one. 


Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would say a Televue 85mm APO in Ivory on a Gibralter Mount with Sky Tour.


  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is your dob not on wheels Pete, how much more grab and go do you want?

:P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How about a TAL 100? Reasonable price, not too heavy and highly recommended optics. That on a ALT/AZ maybe.


Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have one of the original purple colour lens Tal 100r and the optics are brilliant, it's only let down by the focuser, it's only 1.25".


Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks very much Phil and everyone for all your suggestions. All very helpful since I haven't owned many refractors, and never anything of any quality.


 


Short of a lottery win, some are just way out of my price range, and probably well OTT since I'm staying firmly away from the dark side :) . The Tak and Televue would certainly be absolutely superb I'm sure.


 


So far, I'm thinking that a 102ED F7 Doublet OTA might be the right animal for providing an improvement in clarity over the ST120 for use mainly on, clusters, doubles and planets. Seems I could get one new for about £600 or maybe a good deal secondhand.


 


Ron, I have an AZ4, and would plan to use that until I can afford an upgrade. It carries the ST120 OK, so should be good with the 102ED, though some of my eyepieces might push the weight limit.


 


Martyn, a TAL100 is much cheaper by comparison, but at F10, I think I'd miss out on the wider fields I enjoy.


 


Thanks Mick, I didn't realise the TAL only took 1.25" eyepieces. The only one I have is a Televue Plossl. I'm not too fond of 50 degree AFOV anymore :) .


 


To Rob and Darren, when you've been messing around with a 14" dob, even a 200p starts to look very attractive as a grab n go :D . Not too worried about cool down as it will mostly be stored near to outside temperature.


 


I will give it some serious consideration.


 


Cheers. :thumbsup:


Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mine is the older one so only 1.25",  the newer ones had a 2" focuser but I've heard the optics aren't as good.


Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to have a William Optics GT81 and that was a great grab and go scope.


 


You can pick up one of them for about £500.


Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have a look at my first light and 1 year on review of the 102ed Pete. I was mightily impressed with this little scope, I initially bought it for visual, at which it didnt dissapoint, but I soon started to image with it, very versatile.

http://philjay2000.tripod.com/usefulstuff/102second.pdf

http://philjay2000.tripod.com/usefulstuff/102first.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The older Tal having better optics is a myth. I think it was Neil English who did a side by side comparison, and found no discernible difference.

No manufacturer of that reputation is going to take things backwards.

A moot point as it still won't meet Pete's needs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Phil, those reviews are an excellent read. :thumbsup:

If you haven't already had them published in S@N or AN they should be.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The older Tal having better optics is a myth. I think it was Neil English who did a side by side comparison, and found no discernible difference.

No manufacturer of that reputation is going to take things backwards.

A moot point as it still won't meet Pete's needs.

Useful to know thanks Martin.

I'm just hard to please :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Pete.........i see the £ / € situation is looking much better.


My currency exchange app is showing a new high : €1.40 to the £  :)


 


Worth looking at Teleskop-Express (they have a great range of OTAs, doublets & triplets.)


It was the weakening € that made me go for the Mk V a couple of months ago.


 


Just something to factor in anyway.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheers Rob.


 


Hadn't really noticed the exchange rate, but I will now have a look at Teleskop Service and the other european suppliers again. I do have an account with TS but unfortunately, money is definitely an object to consider, and that big triplet is probably a bargain but way, way over my budget :o .


 


I have had very good dealings and very quick service from TS on several occasions. They always seem to have someone available on the phone who spricht gut Englisch :)


 


I always have a giggle when I look at the 12x80 RACI Winkelsucher I purchased from TS a while back :D .


  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pete.........i see the £ / € situation is looking much better.

My currency exchange app is showing a new high : €1.40 to the £  :)

 

Worth looking at Teleskop-Express (they have a great range of OTAs, doublets & triplets.)

It was the weakening € that made me go for the Mk V a couple of months ago.

 

Just something to factor in anyway.....

Thanks guys, just checked ts for the lacerta 1/10 focuser micro transmission I keep eyeing up. Last time I looked £75 + postage. Just ordered one from them with postage for what works out to be £60. The raci finders look tempting as well, maybe next month. More mods!

Happy chappy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks very much everyone for all your help and advice on this thread. This forum really is the best for this sort of thing  :good3:


 


After much consideration, I have decided to take a slightly different approach. :chin_scratch2:


 


After re-appraising the much maligned ST120 and weighing up its many pros and cons, I have come to the conclusion that it serves a very useful purpose as a robust wide field yet reasonably large aperture grab n go scope, ideal for viewing DSO's. I don't want to loose the facility to see a massive 4.2 degree, rich field view with excellent light grasp as provided with my ES 25mm 100 degree eyepiece at 24x. This really is a most spectacular vista, which few other scopes would be capable of, least of all one costing next to nothing! I shall definitely keep the ST120 and make good use of its strengths. ;)


 


I now intend to supplement my scope collection with a 127 Mak on an AZ goto mount. The Mak should fill my gap for a grab n go that should give good quality higher power views of planets, double stars, and some DSO's. This would also mean the purchase of some little 1.25" eps just for use with the Mak. The goto mount will also be fun to use, and I can always swap the Mak for the ST120 OTA on the same mount for wide field gotos (pushing the weight limit a bit as I normally do) :o .


 


With such a line up of scopes, I will be able to experience several completely different optical configurations as well as a few binocular views, and be spoilt for choice  :2thumbsup: .

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
×
×
  • 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.