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MichaelJanowich
member
Reged: 10/26/04
Posts: 27
Loc: Herndon, VA
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Any advice as to which scope would be better? I currently have a 4.5" Short Tube EQ reflector. It gives decent views of brighter DSO's but I can't put much magnification on a target. I'm looking for a good utility scope, with good FOV for clusters and nebula and the ability to get decent magnification on planets (maybe with a barlow) and to possibly start looking at binary stars.
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Michael Janowich
Orion Sky View Pro 8 EQ
NOVAC member
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lighttrap
Reged: 02/06/04
Posts: 3833
Loc: cloudy, foggy, humid NC, US
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Have you considered the SVP 8 EQ? It's not all that much physically bigger than the SVP 6 EQ, but would show a lot more detail on clusters, nebula and galaxies, and would allow you very decent magnification on planets and all else.
Something else to consider as you weigh the options of EQ Newt vs. Mak Cass, is that generally the open Newt designs don't dew up, as does the corrector plate on Maks and SCTs, and generally they cool down lots faster, to reach thermal equilibrium and better seeing faster.
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18" Starsplitter II f/4.5
8" Hardin Dob f/6
C5 workhorse mini SCT f/10 or f/6.3
70mm TV Ranger dual purpose birding/astro
77mm Leica Televid APO
16x70 Fujinons on UA Deluxe Mt.
12x50 Nikon SE
8x30 Nikon E2s
and many others
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5121
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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Hi Michael, and welcome to the forums.
I agree with lighttrap. If you can swing the 8" scope, you'll be getting a LOT more for your money. The Maks are excellent for planets and binary stars, they're actually rather renouned for it, but they aren't really general purpose utility scopes. That's the job of the 8" Newt. And the Mak's dew problem is very real, I assure you.
You'll also get a lot more bang for the buck going from 4.5" to 8" than you would just coming up to 6". The 8" really isn't all that much heavier or more expensive either.
If you end up really getting into the planets and doubles, then a specialized scope is in order, but you'll always have good use for a nice general purpose scope no matter what else you might get in the future.
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The crwth will set you free!
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30031
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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The advice they've given you pretty much charts out how I made my decision to go with the SVP 8EQ. I have a very strong interest in lunar observing, a comparable interest in DSOs, and a passing interest in planetary observing. Trying to cover the bases without compromising the lunar aspect, I ended up (thanks to lots of advice locally and on this forum) selecting the 8" newt on an eq mount (for the sake of tracking. If automatic tracking doesn't matter much, an 8" dob might be a good choice for you.) So far this scope has been a good general purpose instrument. I have yet to test it in a way that left me disappointed. So I would add my opinion to the others. Go all the way to 8" if you can.
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
Edited by desertstars (11/01/04 04:51 PM)
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MichaelJanowich
member
Reged: 10/26/04
Posts: 27
Loc: Herndon, VA
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Wow, that's a good suggestion. I didn't realize it was only $80 more (with dual drives) than the SVP 6. I guess the reason I never considered it is because I thought it would be too big to quickly set up in the back yard, where I'd do most of my observing, but the tube is only just over 3'. I'm borrowing my club's 8" Orion dob right now and the tube is just too big for my liking. Now that I realize the SVP 8 is 6" shorter, I'll give it serious consideration.
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Michael Janowich
Orion Sky View Pro 8 EQ
NOVAC member
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Bill Grass
Prince Regent
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 11652
Loc: Denham Springs, LA
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I agree with all of the above. I recently got the SVP 8, and I've been very impressed with it. It's a heavy setup, but I don't think it takes me more than 5 minutes to get everything (scope, mount, observing stool, eyepiece case, etc.) from the house to being set up in the driveway ready to observe.
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5121
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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Actually Michael, you'll find that with EQ mounted scopes, it's the mount that takes the most time to set up (a couple of minutes). The difference between handling the tubes is very small, and the mount is the same with either scope, so your not saving much by going smaller but loosing a lot. In reality, there's little difference in set up but a world of difference in performance.
I use the 6" SVP long tube version myself, but I'm strictly a lunar and planetary man, and hardly ever do the deep space activities the others do (the 6LT is specialized for planets). If I did deep space, I'd certainly trade up to the 8".
You won't regret it, even if you have to save up a little longer.
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The crwth will set you free!
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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Posts: 12070
Loc: San Diego, California
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I have an Orion XT-8 Dob and a 8 inch F5 Newt mounted on a CG-5. There is no contest which is easier to deal with. The DOB tube is a bit longer but much easier to place on the mount. The mount itself is quite a chore as well what with the counterweights and all.
I do agree that 8 inches is the place you want to be, but before buying something, get a look at the effort involved in dealing with an 8 inch EQ mounted scope. From my standpoint, I find it easier to deal with my 12.5 inch DOB than with the 8 inch ED Mounted Newt when it comes to setting it up in the back yard.
jon
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desertstars
Deja moo
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 30031
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Although I believe the alleged difficulties of setting up an eq mount are frequently overstated, definitely try to check one out and see what you think before buying one. They aren't for everyone. (A truism for any piece of equipment.) Since you belong to a club, that shouldn't be too difficult to arrange; attend a star party and make it known that you want to see what goes into such an operation. Someone will almost certainly oblige.
Setting up an eq is more work than setting up a dob. But now that I'm used to the SVP, I couldn't live without it. 
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Tom W.
SVP8 'She turned me into a 3-legged Newt' EQ
Ralph, the All-Purpose 102mm Refractor
Under the Desert Stars
Alcohol and calculus do not mix. Please don't drink and derive.
Edited by desertstars (11/01/04 04:58 PM)
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MichaelJanowich
member
Reged: 10/26/04
Posts: 27
Loc: Herndon, VA
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I'm pretty much sold on the SVP 8" now. I took another look at the stats and it has a good focal length (1000 mm) for easier magnification and a f 4.9 for wider field viewing, just what I was looking for.
As for the dob mounted scopes, I really hate dobs. It's just my personal preference. I know EQ mounts are more expensive, but for me it's easier to point a scope on an EQ than a dob.
Now all I have to do is convince the wife...
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Michael Janowich
Orion Sky View Pro 8 EQ
NOVAC member
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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Posts: 12070
Loc: San Diego, California
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As I said, I have both DOBs and EQ mounted scopes. Most nights its a DOB that goes out, but thats just my preference. I like the simplicity of the DOB, the solid mount and I find constantly rotating the tube as well as straddling the counter weight to be unnecessary issues.
As DesertStars says, setting up a EQ mounted Newt is more work, its definitely doable, just a bit more effort. And as he says, checking out the operation of the EQ mounted newt is a good idea too.
jon
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