To some extent I am still wandering in the wilderness looking for the "ideal" kit. I may be there already though I am still debating whether or not I could be a moderately large (14' to 16") Dob guy...jury is still out on that point. But I could be perfectly happy with my current gear which centers around three scopes: an EdgeHD 11, a TEC 140 Apo, and A Skywatcher 100ED Pro Apo doublet. There are some auxiliary scopes that fill specialist roles, but the big three are the core.
First the SW 100ED Pro. This is the smallest of my main scopes, it fills the mobile, grab-and-go role in support of the other OTAs. My big scopes are mounted in my back yard roll-off roof observatory which has a restricted but acceptable patch of sky. If I need to look somewhere the obsy scopes can't see I use the SW 100ED. It has terrific optics that give me razor sharp, color free Apo views and it punches well above its weight performance-wise. It has stood toe-to-toe in comparison with significantly more expensive premium scopes and done itself proud...this scope is a keeper with all the advantages its 4" breed has to offer. It is light weight, cools quickly, is easy to mount, and with the addition of a 2" dual speed MoonLite focuser it is a joy to use. It is a fine generalist scope and in addition to visual work it has turned in some very fine solar, lunar, and planetary images...an all around fine instrument.
Next, the big gun: the EdgeHD 11. This scope is versatile and handles many jobs with ease. Folks often say the SCT is a jack-of-all-trades and master of none - I think that's hog wash. The 11 is my primary lunar and planetary imaging scope and provides crisp, detailed images - if it had no other virtues the SCT could be considered the master of lunar and planetary imaging and the choice of the majority of the worlds LP imagers, including many of the greatest talents in the field. It is also my big binoviewing scope and has the light gathering muscle to ensure that globular clusters and many planetary nebulae are plenty bright and show lots of detail, and it truly kicks it for lunar and planetary bino work, fields are sharp across the entire optic resolving stars into pinpoint lights...the views can be breathtaking. Equipped with TEMPest fans and living in the observatory it is always ready for use on short notice. I understand and manage its thermal management needs and in return I get a compact and highly versatile work horse. I'm keeping this one.
Finally we come to my most prized scope, a TEC 140 Apo. If I could only keep one scope it would be this one. Not because it can go super deep and do everything that larger scopes can do, those kinds of claims are nonsense. It is because it is the total package: exquisite optics, first rate mechanical and finishing features (the Feathertouch 3545 focuser is a work of art by itself), and general ease of use. Oh yeah, I can't forget the best part - the views are phenomenal in the way that only a good Apo can truly be with fantastic contrast, super sharp images that resolve star fields into the poetic "scattered diamonds on a velvet black background", and on a good night you can just keep piling on the magnification. I love to explore the lunar surface, contemplate a Galilean moon transit across the face of Jupiter, split a difficult double, and cruise the summer Milky Way with this scope. The things one can reasonably expect a scope of this size to do the TEC 140 does to perfection...and it's a pretty dog gone nice scope to just look at as well. This is my life time keeper scope.
So that is an overview of my first string line up, I would hate to be without any of them. Perhaps a big Dob will win a place in the future, but if not I will still be quite content

Clear Skies,
Brian

 

A good selection of scopes Brian. In my case, as I am not an imager and like a wider field of view, I'd swap out a premium Dobsonian (14"-16") for the 11" SCT, and life would be good. Of course, finding a home for them under good sky is the biggest challenge of all.

-Brian

 

For many years my only scopes were an Orion XT-6, and an AT72ED I bought when they first became available. My sky was darker back then and the XT-6 was used almost nightly because of the convenience. I remember being able to see galaxies and other deep sky goodies from home. The AT72ED is great for low power views. Both scopes have been with me out in the Everglades many times. About a year ago I sold my 6" Dob, but still have the AT72ED.

Over the years I have bought 5" and 6" Maks. The 5" is a great grab-and -go planetary instrument that rides my Twilight I mount well. The 6" iOptron is more involved to set up on the CG-4 with an RA drive, and WO binoviewer. But, on good nights with ample time to let it acclimate, this setup has rewarded me with stunning views of Jupiter, Mars and Saturn.

I don't remember when I bought my little Vixen A70Lf f/13 achromat. This is a great little scope I mounted on an aluminum tripod with a wood mount. It lives in my garage. It's very light and I use it for early morning observing before getting ready for work. Quick and easy to take out, I'm not afraid of falling and breaking my old bones at 5:00am with this one.

In addition to my beloved AT72ED, I have an AR102 f/6.5 and a TV-85 that I recently bought. The AR102 is an all-purpose (beater) scope for those times when conditions are not that good, and a scope I don't mind letting anyone use. The TV-85 is nothing short of perfection in every respect. The views are super sharp and contrasty. I have never seen crater rays on a full moon so detailed in any scope as I have through the TV-85.

About a year and a half ago I gave myself a 10" Skywatcher Dob as an early retirement gift. This is as big a scope as I want to handle, and do so in two pieces. The collapsible tube makes it really easy. I'm very impressed with the views of globulars with this one.

Being older, and with more frequent cloudy weather down here, I find myself using my smaller/lighter scopes frequently, the ones I use on my Twilight I mount. Those are my refractors and the 5" Mak. Don't get me wrong, I still love the 10" Dob and 6" Mak on the driven GEM.

Ed D

 

Well, I am about 2 years into my return to the sky. I have had a chance to use a few different scopes so I can tell you which is my favorite but my experience is still somewhat limited.

I have an 80 mm Goto refractor, Meade ETX 80 - Short focal length wide field scope.
Add a 127 mm Goto Mak, Mead ETX 125 - Long focal length narrow field scope
Add a 203mm/8" computer assited Dob, Orion XT8i Intelliscope. - Overall most versatile but also the largest and least portable.

These are my current scopes. I have also had a 60 mm refractor and an 76 mm reflector but they have been given to others.

The XT8i is my current favorite. It sits on a cart in my garage so I can roll it to my observation area, down the sidewalk, in minutes. Lift it off the cart and I am set. Add observing chair and my accessories bucket and I am ready to observe in 15 minutes. The Intelliscope takes only a few minutes to align and then I can find almost anything even though I have major parts of my sky that are blank due to light pollution. I have a red dot and an 9X50 RACI finder which work well as a team.

The XT8i easily goes in the back of my Ford Escape so it is easy to take to local darker sites. But it is too big to take on driving vacations with my wife. For that I have been using the ETX 80. This is a small, wide field scope that I can get up to about 150x with good results. The GoTo is easy to use. I also have a Revolution Imager R2 video kit mounted on this scope. Just starting to get to know it.

The ETX 125 just came into the fleet. It is used but seems to be working well. This might become the travel scope of choice at some point. This is expected to be my planet, lunar and double star scope but time will tell if it will replace the XT8i for that purpose.

Each scope is of a different design, different aperture and so has different performance characteristics. But for now the XT8i is my favorite.

 

I'm down to:

12" LX90ACF

200mm F4 GSO Rich-Field Newtonian Reflector

150mm F12 Skywatcher Maksutov-Cassegrain

127mm F9.3 Achromatic Refractor

80mm F5 ST80 Refractor

15 X 70mm (63mm really) Celestron-branded Binoculars

8 - 20 X 50mm Vivitar Zoom Binoculars (When Vivitar made excellent ones - works great!)

These cover all the bases I need or want regards the variety of targets one would likely go for. And that's that! Whew!!

Enjoy yours!

Dave

 

I was bored. It rained a lot last weeks and I made my onw C8 scope. Just kinding.

Now.

Many books and many people say that the Newtonian Reflector 200mm F / 6 and 150mm F / 8 (8 "and 6") are the best cost-benefit ratio. At least that's common to say in Brazil. Curiously, it are the telescopes I least see in talks about telescopes. It does not matter which the country.

 

We must visit different forums as 6-8 inch/150 to 200 mm Newtonian are probably among the most popular I see. Based on what I read these are most often on Dobsonian mounts.

If someone is talking about a 6" Dob he is talking about a 150 mm Newtonian on a Dobsonian mount.

 

I have visited forums over the years to tell some statistics. I will talk about on statistic over CN because it is the most numerous.

There are 2058 threads on Reflectors, 46393 theads on Cats, 13373 on specific Nexstar, 1298 specific Questar, 9295 on specific Computer Meade, Large Total 107766 threads on telescopes designs.

There are 289 threads that 8 "or 200mm F / 6 or 6" 150mm F / 8 are the central subject. It represents about 1.4% on the total reflectors and about 0.3% on the overall total. Enter the posts count of type "Look bought one", "My accessories for this telescope" and comparisons with different models.

The last count was updated in January 2017. It has been done since 2008.

Of course, 289 threads about two models of telescopes indicate that there are many people who use it, but on the ocean of sort of telescopes it can not be said that they are popular among the debates (0.3%).

So far I'm talking about certainties, they're counted numbers. Now I'm going to talk IMHO.

I agree these two models are excellent value for money, especially on dob based. But they are minor challenge.

Those who regularly debate in forums and likes challenges, prefers discussing differences between a Maksutov or a Maksutov Cassegrain, by example.

So they are popular models for sales, but not necessarily popular for discussion. They are not the most rated for favorites opening and design.

 

I don't see counting threads in forums is any indication of what people are buying. I am sure the AP forums are full of threads but I would not expect that more than 10% of all backyard astronomers are serious AP devotees.

Discussion counts might be an indication of which models are causing the most problems based on reliability or complexity. My observation is that computerized scopes drive far more forum discussions as there is more to know, more to learn and more to go wrong with the mounts. Batteries, power tanks, tracking issues, alignment issues, people having trouble learning how to use them. And a very high percentage of computerized scopes are SCTs from Celestron and Meade.

Dobs are spoken of as telescopes but they are not. They are Newtonians on Dobsonian mounts. So you won't see many threads about my Orion XT8 Newtonian. You will see threads about Orion XT8 Dobs.

My main scope is an Orion XT8i Intelliscope which is a Newtonian on a computer assisted Dobsonian mount. It works like a manual Dob when I don't turn the computer on. A manual dob is as simple as a scope can be. Easy to use and extremely reliable. No real reason to start a thread about how to point and track with my Dob.

I have over 2500 posts on CN. I might have 10 posts in the Newtonian forum even though my most used scope is a Newtonian Dob. And I don't think I ever started a discussion there.

 

Hi!

I never said "counting threads in forums is any indication of what people are buying".
I said considering de Newt 8"F/6 and 6"F/8 are considered best money for several people there are few posts about them.

I said the other scopes has greater challenger.
You said "Discussion counts might be an indication of which models are causing the most problems based on reliability or complexity".
Anyway reliable is not necessary the subject but complexity are.

I considered in my accounting aperture 8" 200mm 6" 150mm, Newt design, independent which mount is used. Equatorial Mount, Alta Azimutal Mount, Dobs, Manual, Motor Driver, Encoders or Computer has no difference to this criteria.
But, I considered only F/6 and F/8.

You said "I have over 2500 posts on CN. I might have 20 in the Newtonian forum even though my most used scope is a Newtonian Dob". This is not much diffence that numbers calculated.

But, this is not the point. The point is favorite thingh is not means equal popular thing or ordinary thingh.
My favorite food are deserts but I can be diabetic, example. My ordinary food must be another.

The ordinary telescope is probably Newt size between 5 and 10". It is not mean is favorite. This scopes 8" F/6 and 6" F/8 usually are boughted as unique scope. Not always, but usually. To be a favorite, you must have 2, 3 or more other apertures and other designs to chose one.

 

My favorite is an AstroView 90EQ! (only one I have)

 

I would presume that that many factors are at play that people have no real control over. And these can negate, or at least greatly influence, any polls regarding one's "favorite." Such things as what is available on a given market-area. And costs - as influenced by economic situations in said market-area.

If only 8" SCT's - costing $1,500 - and up to 8" Dobsonian Newtonians - costing $400 - are available, you'll see an artificial favorite-vote for the 8" Dob-Newtonian created. More so still if you have a very high rate of unemployment. So, as I read it, it's really a moot point.

As Zigarro has indicated, his favorite is the only telescope he has in his possession. Which also throws the result in one direction only.

My vote would also toss the results into a bonfire: I have 5 major (large) telescopes. And none of them are my favorite. I also have no favorite color. Or genre of music. Or..... We could be here all night!

My 2¢,

Dave

 

Zigarro, you open a third way. I have two small scopes and two medium size scopes. I could say my favorite is the most used. But is not.

Dave, there are more factors at personal restrictions. My site is a complicated place to backyard astronomy. I use a pilar extension, open legs, 150mm refractor and heavy diagonal to raise objective and gain more unobstructed view. Is this my favorite scope? No, it is the most usable.

Favorite, single/unique, popular or ordinary are different choices. Semantics? Yes!

 

Thinking about this, one way I might gauge my favorite would be what scope I dream of owning next. Since I have 3 computer assist scopes and plan to have all future scopes be computer assist, I guess I like that.

I have a refractor, a Mak and a Newtonian. To be honest the Mak is new to me to it has not had a chance to gain my affection so this might change over time.

But if a bucket of money fell in my lap the next scope would be an Orion XXL14G or 16G. Final consideration on size and weight would be the likely deciding factors

So I guess I like the Dob design and I like Goto. But I like it on a scope that will also me to use it manually

 

Eduardo - Indeed! Semantics don't work to define. I'd say that, in the last analysis, the question needs to be more open-ended. That way a better reply (more detailed) could be constructed.

Dave

 

Well, I'm a poor boy in the Tennessee hills, putting my two boys through college so they won't be poor.....in theory.
So.... I love my 60mm f13 Tasco refractor. LOL.
I do hope to upgrade soon to a 90 or 102 refractor. It'll still be under $300. But, I love my planets and objects that I hunt down from the book, " Easy Things To See With a Small Telescope ".

 

Pleiades - in that case, allow me to recommend the Meade Infinity 102, a 102mm refractor that sells brand new for $199:

https://www.highpointscientific.com...6890xgRYo1CQB6K-plu6Zr6mzXIt95xUaAm0ZEALw_wcB

It also comes with three Kellner eyepieces and a 2x Barlow. The Kellners are decent, but Plossls would work better for you. This would be a nice upgrade from your 60mm scope.

 

I do believe that would be perfect for my needs!!

 

Happy to help!

 

I enjoy the solar system too and have an Orion 90 that I've enhanced with a GSO 2" dual sp. focuser and a 2" dielectric diagonal. So far, I'm content, but for solar system viewing it's hard to beat a Mak and you can get a great deal on a gently used one if you look hard enough.