NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Loc: New Hampshire
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settling on one scope?
#2511847 - 07/10/08 10:54 PM
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Recent back injuries, and dwindling free time to work on dob projects, have me waxing philosophic about settling on one lifer scope to keep me happy long term. I'm thinking apo. I'd like to hear what others would pick?
I enjoy planets/doubles/lunar and bright DSOs and clusters .... strictly visual use. Given just one scope, I can justify splurging a bit.
My short list ....
TEC-140
AP-130 (used probably)
NP-127
I'd love a 6" apo but I think my back would not!
I'd love to hear peoples opinions.
Rob
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Loc: Brooker, FL
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2511956 - 07/11/08 12:08 AM
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TOA-130 (A bit heavier than the others)
However, consider a 7" or 8" MCT, or maybe even Deep Sky's 10" RC or Astro-Tech's R-Cs; a bit of messing with can make a very good visual scope, despite their not being designed for that.
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NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Loc: New Hampshire
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: Rusty]
#2511961 - 07/11/08 12:16 AM
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Rusty,
The TOA is nice but, for 130mm I'd probably opt for a lighter OTA ...
FS128, AP130, TMB130, etc.
An MCT is nice for more aperture but not for a general purpose scope. IMO.
Rob
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cvedeler
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/20/05
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2511980 - 07/11/08 12:32 AM
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That is what I did. My back is fine, but I have very little time. About a year and a half ago my name came up for an AP160 and so I sold every other scope I had and now only have this one exceptional scope. No regrets. I go to star parties to get my big dob fix without having to own one. Given my current life situation (two jobs, business owner, divorced father, "stuck" in an urban location) my current setup is perfect for me.
Good luck!
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insinu8
sage
Reged: 01/22/08
Loc: Sunnyvale, CA
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: cvedeler]
#2512120 - 07/11/08 03:05 AM
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NP127
or
TMB130
Smaller, but not too small.
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NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Loc: New Hampshire
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: insinu8]
#2512234 - 07/11/08 06:43 AM
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I hope to get the AP160 call someday but ...
perhaps a TEC160ED?
The NP127 intruiges me but it's a bit pricey for its aperture compared to others.
Rob
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naglertized
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/10/07
Loc: Jacksonville Florida
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: insinu8]
#2512235 - 07/11/08 06:44 AM
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My vote goes for the NP 127. An extremely versatile scope that will take extreme amounts of magnification, but will provide plenty a widefield view. Seeing your sig line, you know you will be getting a quality insturment.
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Dave Novoselsky
sage
Reged: 06/16/08
Loc: SE Wisconsin/Chicago
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: naglertized]
#2512330 - 07/11/08 08:28 AM
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I'd also consider the new TMB 130 SS. I am about 3/4 of the way through an extended review/comparison against some of my other 5" APOs and so far, quite impressive. One consideration in favor of this scope is price, $3995 vs a bunch more for the TV.
Another possibility which I am currently exploring for purely visual is the APM/TMB 130 f/9,25 in the LW (light weight) tube. I have a dicey back myself, courtesy of Uncle Sugar circa 1969 when I was wearing a green suit, and the overall weight of the APM is under 15lbs. That means not only a lighter load on our respective (and rickety) backs, but a lighter mount and less strain getting it up and down.
As for an AP, the only choice IMHO is the discontinued AP 130 f/8.35, basically the last generation 155 f/7 with a reduced aperture and designed for purely visual work with the longer focal length and, as I and many others have discovered, the best lunar/planetary scope Roland ever built. Relatively light and easy to mount.
Of course finding one of those is going to be no simple task. Mine will get buried with me, and the others I know who have them will sell the kids first. But if one shows up on the market, grab fast and dig deep. It will be worth it.
Dave
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Mr. Mike
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/08/05
Loc: Churchville, NY
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2512338 - 07/11/08 08:34 AM
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Yeah... REALLY tough decision.... The Ferrari, The Porsche, or The Lamborghini. Find a three-sided coin and flip it.
Since all are superb, maybe just get the one that has the most pleasing asthetics?
Enjoy.... lucky you! 
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NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Loc: New Hampshire
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: Mr. Mike]
#2512360 - 07/11/08 08:59 AM
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Dave,
I actually had a TMB130 f/9.25. It was awesome. Unfortunately, I had to cash out on my equipment to deal with bills. It was lightweight but, also a longer tube.
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waterdog
member
Reged: 06/23/07
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2512842 - 07/11/08 01:06 PM
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Rob-- I've had my TEC140 for a little over a year and I've been really thrilled with it. The aperture splits the difference between a 5- & 6-inch scope and it is relatively lightweight, well-balanced, and very easy to handle. I've been impressed with the sharpness and contrast of the oil-spaced optics--great for pulling in brighter nebulas and galaxy cores even in my mildy light-polluted backyard. And I've been really pleasantly surprised this summer with how well it's been able to resolve individual stars on the bigger and brighter globulars. Great performance on open clusters, lunar, and planets goes without saying. Any of the scopes you listed would be great ones--my opinion is that the TEC140 kind of optimizes all the best qualities in one package. It's turned out to be a pretty great "do it all" scope for me. Good luck with your choice.
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Ziggy943
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/11/06
Loc: Utah
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2513102 - 07/11/08 03:25 PM
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Quote:
I hope to get the AP160 call someday but ...
perhaps a TEC160ED?
The NP127 intruiges me but it's a bit pricey for its aperture compared to others.
Rob
Good luck on the AP 160. I'm on their waiting list. I have -0- regrets with the 160 TEC. I don't find it difficult at all to set up even with my bad back. The 160 is a little small but it is a very good compromise considering age, herniated disks, cost, portability, etc. I do consider an APO refractor as a niche telescope not an all-around telescope. The good thing is when you go to star parties there are always, ALWAYS, bigger scopes around.
I think my choice for one scope, one that is generally available, and if I didn't have access to other scopes, would be a 12.5" f/6, dare I say it, reflector. Wash my mouth out with soap.
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davidmcharg
super member
Reged: 05/29/05
Loc: Scotland, UK
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2513134 - 07/11/08 03:42 PM
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Makes sense. Did the same thing a few years ago, sold all my scopes/kit and settled on a little TV85 and a nice set of eyepieces. My advice would be the NP127 because of its size and weight. To be honest with any of the 5" APO's you really can't go wrong, for me its more about the size/weight etc and thats where i think the TV scopes are great.
Cheers
David.
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Eddgie
Postmaster
Reged: 02/01/06
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2513136 - 07/11/08 03:43 PM
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I am SUCH a fan of the Televue Petzvals that it is hard for me to speak without bias.
Of course their chief advantage is that they can generate a HUGE field of view. And a MAGNIFICENT one at that. Sharp to the edge of time and field of a 31mm Nagler.. WOW. I don't own one but every time I put my 31mm Nagler in my Televue 101, I WISH I did.
If you go this route, you are "Covered" from the standpoint of having a great wide field scope, a great high power scope, and a great imaging platform with no need for flattners and such. This is one scope that can truely do it all...
Between it ant the 130, hands down, I think I would go for the NP127. Smaller, lighter, bigger True Field, similar planetary performance.... Will work on a CG5 Mount!!! WOW!
BUT.. Hard to argue with the TEC 140. That extra 12mm of aperture will show on many many targets.
But not THAT much.. In light polluted sky conditions, I just don't think that the extra aperture will make a big difference on most targets.
Under dark skies, the uber-wide field of the NP127 will be glorious.
So to me, the vote would go to the NP127... One day when I can't manage the giant freaking mount for my 6" APO, I am going to sell both the 6" AP, and the 4" TV101 and get an NP127....
Thats my plan and I'm sticking to it.. LOL.
MAN that is a hard choice though.. But if you made me pick ONE that I had to live with forever, NP 127 looks mighty fine.
But only if you can afford a Televue 31mm Nagler... NO other eyepiece on the planet is going to be so dazzling when used with this scope...
They are all great choices though..
Man is life good, or what!
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NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Loc: New Hampshire
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: Eddgie]
#2513251 - 07/11/08 04:55 PM
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Hi Ed,
I like the views through the TV101. I am tempted to go for the 127. I don't think I could justify $8K for a 6" OTA. Somewhere around $5K is my pain threshold so I will be in the 130-140mm range.
I'm thinking 130mm.
Rob
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CESDewar
GorillAstronomer
Reged: 01/16/05
Loc: Blue Ridge, GA, USA
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2515549 - 07/12/08 08:46 PM
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The NP-127 is indeed an expensive scope, but it is also has magnificent optics and is lightweight at 14lbs for the OTA. And a lighter OTA means a lighter mount - I have it on a DM-6, but the much lighter DM-4 would carry it and I suspect it would also work on the new Half-Hitch as well. The difference between 127 and 140mm may be noticeable, but it's not that noticeable - the weight difference is not minor though.
Couple it with a 13mm Ethos at 50x and a 2° FOV and you have a perfect scope for viewing larger clusters. the finest view I ever had of the double-cluster was with this combination. And with a 38mm SWA at 17x and a 4° FOV, views of the Sagittarius and Cygnus regions and the Orion belt stars and environs are just amazing. Equally, on nights of good viewing, it easly supports 330x with virtually no trace of image breakdown. Color correction is superb - even the brightest stars coax no color out the scope.
And for AP, the fast F5.2 and flatfield of the Petzval optics are a plus too.
But when all is said and done, you are indeed paying a significant premium for this scope, so the light-weight, premium optics and suitability for AP really have to be worth it to you to consider it.
The TEC140 is another obvious choice in this range - you can't really go wrong with either of them, and the difference in cost would buy some fine eyepieces or a better mount that alone might make it a better choice.
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NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Loc: New Hampshire
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: CESDewar]
#2515570 - 07/12/08 09:03 PM
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Hmmm ... how about a WO FLT-132?
Rob
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MacRoberts
sage
Reged: 08/25/05
Loc: Redlands, CA
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2515991 - 07/13/08 04:29 AM Attachment (20 downloads)
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For strictly visual, a non-"is" NP-127 would be ideal if you are willing to wait until one comes up used here or over on Astromart. They do come up from time to time and I think the average asking price is just above 5K.
I have an NP-127 primarily because it is so very portable for it's aperture and quality, among other reasons. My 42 lb. Alt-Az rig goes out the door in one trip, sort of a grunt and go, but two trips would still be a fast set-up and very easy on the back.
"I enjoy planets/doubles/lunar and bright DSOs and clusters .... strictly visual use." The NP-127 excels in this role. Had a look though one?
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NHRob
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/27/04
Loc: New Hampshire
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: MacRoberts]
#2516069 - 07/13/08 08:12 AM
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Hi Jim,
Nice rig. I have a TV101 and I like the Petzval design a lot. Still, as a visual guy, a used FS-128 might be a good value. The TV-101 will be going to help pay for the apo upgrade.
Another thought ... go cheaper ... a EON 120ED. This would leave a bit more $$ for eyepieces. The EON has gotten a lot of good press but ... it wouldn't compete with a Tak, TEC, AP, TMB, or TV I bet.
Rob
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zjc26138
Loved By All
Reged: 02/24/05
Loc: Mingo Junction, Ohio
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Re: settling on one scope?
[Re: NHRob]
#2516509 - 07/13/08 01:43 PM
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I think the EON120ED would be close to the top brands in terms of optical performance, and the EON120's mechanical quailty seems to be fairly decent.
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