We use a platform on our 12.5 Dob a lot because it would physically about kill us to keep running to the scope and change it. You can get find them sold quite a bit and the prices I have seen have been pretty good. Long term...I recommend one. Better after that, buy an astro video camera rather than any more EPs. Not only do you get much better views of objects, but you can be seated and actually study the object. We use this setup 1/2 the time regardless of scope.