I have a CPC800 but I find some nights I just can't be bothered or honestly have the time to lug the thing all the way from its spot in the basement to the yard and then wait for it to cool down and its really cutting into my viewing time.
I have been pondering for a good while a silver grade refurb ES127ED FCD100 for what was originally $500 off and now with the recent price increases is $700 off the current new price (so its $1500).
My logic for that specific scope is that 127 seems to be the sweet spot for me in the cost/weight/magnification balance since I think anything smaller wouldn't show me enough to stay interested. I had actually considered an 80mm in the same FCD100 series also a refurb when one was available but decided everything would be too tiny for me to enjoy properly despite it being much lighter to carry and find a mount for. Maybe a 102mm but none of those on refurb at the moment and its not really a ton cheaper or lighter like the 80mm would be.
I want to pony up the cash for the FCD100 because I hate feeling like there is a significantly better version of what I have that I am missing, and the thing I think I loved the most looking through a scope ever was a view of the Pleiades on a rare excellent seeing (for WI) winter night all crystal clear blue white and shiny (like hurt your eyes bright) and I decided right then and there that I wanted the sharpest clearest views I could get from then on (budget permitting).
I'm the type of cheeseball that dropped a ton of cash on a 2" baader bbhs sitall clicklock mirror diagonal just because I wanted nothing whatsoever to be lost turning the corner on the way to my face.
Plus with this scope at that much of a discount its not worth getting a lesser version just to save money.
Looks like the soft case for it is even on sale right now.
As far as the exact mount I'll figure that out later (on another paycheck), I'm looking at a manual mount to keep things simple and then maybe I can understand what all the very heated arguments that occur every time a manual vs goto thread pops up is all about.
Basically I want something I can plop down on the grass, push the scope to point at the general area I want and then fine dial it in with the knobs to look at something specific. Sort of a heavy grab and go.
I have the 2" ES 9mm 120 and 20mm 100 degree eyepieces for use with my CPC 800, if I got this scope I would pick up the 5.5mm 100 next time its on sale (probably next year).
EDIT: Actually screwing around with astronomy.tools it looks like I could get better results just doing a 2x barlow or focal extender (still a little unclear on that) on my 9mm 120 degree rather than the 5.5mm.
I think the real question for me is does this sale make this the right scope for my purpose? Were in not for the discount it wouldn't be worth it to me as I always wait for sales to make a move and over 2k for just the OTA would be too much. I probably wouldn't even be able to use it until the right mount comes up on sale but then I am patient in putting it all together as I already have my other scope to use.
This is a big drop of cash and sort of the wrong time for me financially, but if the deal fits, buy it.
Edited by PPPPPP42, 17 June 2019 - 01:29 AM.