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Erik
Site Admin
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 3089
Location: Big Island of Hawaii On the slope of Mauna Loa 4500 feet mag 7 sky :)
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 Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats on the new scope, OD! When I lived in the SF bay area, I was always thinking that I wanted to go up to Auburn and visit the Stellarvue facility, but I never got around to it. In talking with Vic on the phone though, I've always been impressed with his knowledge and dedication. My little SV 80ED is the best small refractor I've ever owned. 
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-Erik Wilcox
Homebuilt 16" Truss Dob
SV 80mm ED Nighthawk NG on M1 ALT/AZ
Nikon Prostaff 65mm spotter on Trekpod
Konusvue 20x80 binos/Peterson pipemount
Orion 10x50 binos
Homebuilt 80mm f/5 refractor
Mirador 60mm f/12 1960's refractor
Evolution is both fact and theory. Creationism is neither. -Anonymous |
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Chopin
The Grand Mustachio
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 842
Location: a place or situation occupied.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:33 am Post subject: |
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OD, very nice addition. I know more people with these SV 80's. It must be one of the most common amateur scopes these days. And why not!?! Ultra portable, yet visually capable. The SV's are of a quality that surpasses their price, as well. Let us know how you like it (and when you get the 115  ).
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ŠJason
"A word to the wise isn't necessary, it is the stupid ones who need all the advice."
--Bill Cosby |
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pollux
member
Joined: 27 Jul 2008
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:05 am Post subject: |
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Well, my scope set has been quite stable right now. Nothing really dramatic has happened.
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Scopes:
Vixen NA140SS, VMC260L
Pentax 75SDHF, 105SDP
Mounts:
Vixen Sphinx SXD, GPD2, Porta
Synta EQ5
Eyepieces:
Entire Pentax Series - XW, XO, XF Series |
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Firestar
member
Joined: 10 Nov 2008
Posts: 11
Location: Cleveland,Ohio,USA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:35 am Post subject: |
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I keep my eyes open on craigslist and the other astro sites for good deals.
I have mostly refractors,but use my dobs mainly,because I haven't bought a really good mount yet.
I enjoy collecting scopes,as much as using them.
My next purchase will most likely be the cgem,then my refractors can get some use.
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Banned from coast to coast!
Antares 12" Dob,Antares 8" Dob
Meade 8" SCT,
Refractors->Zhumell 152 mm,Antares 127
Orion short tube 90,Celestron 80 ED |
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pollux
member
Joined: 27 Jul 2008
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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Mr. Fire...if you are looking for a new refractor.....look for either:
1) Pentax 150SDP
or
2) TEC200
or
3) Any AP refractors 6-inch and up
....those are the last refractors you would ever want  
_________________
Scopes:
Vixen NA140SS, VMC260L
Pentax 75SDHF, 105SDP
Mounts:
Vixen Sphinx SXD, GPD2, Porta
Synta EQ5
Eyepieces:
Entire Pentax Series - XW, XO, XF Series |
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Kawx4d
member
Joined: 04 Nov 2008
Posts: 24
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:24 am Post subject: |
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Well,
Selling the 10" Spooner and replacing with a Tak Mewlon 210. Just better and easier to handle for backyard lunar / planetary work.
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Kerry
- 92mm AP Stowaway (f/7 version, uh...actually f/6.57 )
- Takahashi Mewlon 210
- Giro 3 Twin View
- 10x42 Audubon Equinox
- Bogen 3221 tripod / 3047 3-Way Head
- Denk Std BV
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llanitedave
super member
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 473
Location: Amargosa Valley, NV
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:04 am Post subject: |
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My scope list is now complete for the forseeable future.
In addition to my 10" (which definitely needs some mods as soon as I have time to get to them, maybe even a refiguring on the mirror) "Sauron's Other Eye" is now officially operational.
So, I have a 10" dobsonian f/5.6
And a 16" altazimuth "dob-oid" f/4.5
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"Eye of Sauron Observatory" on the horizon |
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Square_peg
super member
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 668
Location: Maple Valley, WA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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What? No widefield refractor? 
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Tom (Pegster) |
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Chopin
The Grand Mustachio
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 842
Location: a place or situation occupied.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:47 am Post subject: |
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Tom, you laugh, but every time I go to buy one, I spend my money on something else. I still regret not owning one, specifically one of the 66mm variants. The fun of putting a scope in your backpack anywhere you go, that can take all of your pre-existing eyepieces...uh.
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ŠJason
"A word to the wise isn't necessary, it is the stupid ones who need all the advice."
--Bill Cosby |
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Gary
super member
Joined: 14 Feb 2008
Posts: 113
Location: USA Louisiana
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:54 am Post subject: |
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I second the wide-field refractor as a "must have." I finally acquired a high-quality one and am having a ball with it. In fact, it's all I carried to the last major star party I attended. When an unidentified voice stopped by my spot in the field late one night and asked what I was looking at, the most accurate answer was: "Everything!" The .4° (15x) field of pin-point stars felt that wide.
I'm getting a similar experience though from the MN56 I traded for about 6 months ago. I can get >3° (27x) of pinpoint stars with it and the views are, as they say, "almost" apo like. The little scope also kicks butt on planets, the moon, and doubles.
But for shear ease of use from ultra-wide field to high magnification (minimal waiting for cool down, almost permanent collimation, portability, ease of mounting, and more), the little apos are truly a class of their own (in my ever changing personal opinion). |
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llanitedave
super member
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Posts: 473
Location: Amargosa Valley, NV
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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So far I'm happy with my 10 x 50 binoculars as my "wide field refractor". Heck, half the time I'm just staring up at the sky naked-eye anyway -- sometimes I even forget to look into the scope!
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"Eye of Sauron Observatory" on the horizon |
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Erik
Site Admin
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 3089
Location: Big Island of Hawaii On the slope of Mauna Loa 4500 feet mag 7 sky :)
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Chopin wrote: | | Tom, you laugh, but every time I go to buy one, I spend my money on something else. I still regret not owning one, specifically one of the 66mm variants. The fun of putting a scope in your backpack anywhere you go, that can take all of your pre-existing eyepieces...uh. |
That's where I find the Nikon spotter to be so much fun. It's the perfect size to throw in a backpack, and we often take it hiking with us. It actually does pretty well at night too, though it's a bit aperture limited.
_________________
-Erik Wilcox
Homebuilt 16" Truss Dob
SV 80mm ED Nighthawk NG on M1 ALT/AZ
Nikon Prostaff 65mm spotter on Trekpod
Konusvue 20x80 binos/Peterson pipemount
Orion 10x50 binos
Homebuilt 80mm f/5 refractor
Mirador 60mm f/12 1960's refractor
Evolution is both fact and theory. Creationism is neither. -Anonymous |
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