Guest Steve Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) Hi all, Moved this from the Welcome area... I've been watching the planets hanging up there over the winter months, getting more and more frustrated that there is so much to be seen, but just out of reach. So I've decided I'm going to take the plunge and get out there and buy a scope. I've been madly researching for the last few weeks, including re-reading a copy of Rod Mollise's CHOOSING AND USING A SCHMIDT-CASSEGRAIN TELESCOPE that I bought in 2001! Is still seems full of good advice though. I separately saw advice that a first timer should go for maximum aperture to avoid disappointment, (I am aware of aperture fever!), and with a physically restricted, light polluted back garden, portability is going to be important. I intend to be wide-eyed, looking at everything out there initially, but I feel strongly that I will want to go down the astrophotography route - planetary and deep sky and, why not, some solar. I have Canon 450D SLR as a starting point. So I had a plan. Get a Celestron C9.25 SGT-XLT GOTO on the new CG-5 mount - FLO seems to have the best price on this, and this fits nicely into my initial budget of ~£1,500 to get started, and seems to be at the limit of reasonably movable. But last night I went to see Nik Symanek's excellent talk at the Leicester Astronomical Society and this has muddied the waters a little. Should I go for a smaller scope and better mount? Ah, still ruminating, but I'd welcome advice/reality check or whatever. Anyone care to comment on my thought process to-date? Cheers Steve Edited April 11, 2012 by Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Hi Steve, welcome to EMS. I cannot be of any use to you at all, as I only do visual, Iam sure however that someone will be along shortly to help you empty your bank account. There are one or two that practice the dark art on here, so you will be in good company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmic dave Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Steve, the mount a very important part of any set up. Doesn't matter what size scope u get if it wobbles like a jelly its no good for astronomy. There are loads of scopes out there, fast scopes ie short focal ratio are better for dso's, scopes with longer focal ratio perform better on the planets. So I guess u are looking for an all rounder ? Have you considered buying two scopes ? A big dob and a smaller more portable scope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) Hi Steve and welcome to EMS I agree with cosmic Dave's advice Edited April 12, 2012 by Rusty Strings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Doh, just finished writing war and peace in answer to your question in the welcome section, can't be bothered to type it all out again as I am on my phone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Me too Darren - I answered in the welcome section Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyboy1970 Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Astrophotography is all dependent on a good mount and its well worth getting a HEQ5 or NEQ6 as its easier than buying then deciding to upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 Hmm, A tough one. The 'new improved' CG5-GT is bundled by FLO with the C9.25 for £1,365, a saving off the separate prices of £285. But the bundle price with the CGEM mount is £2,285, giving a grand saving of a fiver off the separate prices! Do you reckon it is worth pinging the general Stargazers community to see if anyone has one of the new CG5? And will FLO provide reliable info on how good the mount is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyboy1970 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 I have both the EQ5 and HEQ5 and the difference for Astrophotography isn't just the weight capacity, the drives are far finer and pointing seems far more accurate. The EQ5 and the CG5 mounts are identical however the drives are different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 I asked FLO for advice - got a bit - "The newer version has better servo motors and thicker tubes for the tripod legs". I'm not really sure when the New kicked in as there appear to be a few reviews of the 'new' CG5 going back a couple of years. I'm still tempted as the FLO price effectively includes the CG5 for £270, where as the standalone price is £525, so I could maybe move it on for cost price further down the line if I feel the need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Trip to Kim and Di's last night. What a collection! Ended up with my first live views of Saturn and Mars which was brilliant. I now have a lot clearer view of what I'm going to do for a first scope... I think! I still need to get to an observing session to see a variety of scopes. Unfortunately I'm already committed for Saturday, so can't get to Kelling - next year maybe! Many thanks to you both - I really enjoyed talking scopes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 There's Kelling in the Autumn, our own EMS1, and The Peak Star Party if you want to go camping. We will be at Kelling, and EMS1, so you are very welcome to share the views. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgolder Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Did ypu not manage to see all kims scopes, I think kims showroom counts :-) pretty sure he has 3 or 4 of everything Sent from my GT-S5830 using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Aladdin's cave! Thanks Martyn, I'd better shake out the tent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Kim's the guy you go to before you buy anything, he's probably got one. Us mortals can only aspire to a collection like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Yeah, I was only there for 4 hours - barely scratched the surface... At least I know how to put an ironing chair up now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 We enjoyed your company too Steve - and it's allways good talking astro Lol @ ironing chair! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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