About to Buy a Large (20

Michael, FWIW, once I figured out how to dial in a Starmaster (and thus, didn't need a whole lotta support from Rick anymore), the main reasons I bought other Starmasters was that 1) they work pretty well, 2) I understood how to fiddle with them, and most importantly 3) they had Zambuto mirrors in them.

#3 above was always the biggie for me. These days, though, I think I might be a little more open-minded about mirrors, although I know I'm getting excellence with a Zambuto.

Your sweet scope structure with Zambutos in them? No one could touch you. :-)

Doug

hey Gregg,

When I read your initial post,
I thought I was looking at a mirror...

...I'm approximately the same age, same health, same field of work, same family status, same observing habits.

But I'm just a step ahead of you...so perhaps this will help.

I'm going from XT8 to Starmaster 12.5.
While not the same jump in aperature, it's a comparable leap right?

and like you, just prior to pulling the trigger on the deal...
(2 days ago BTW)
...I really had the jitters.

but I decided to commit and I'll tell ya that my cold feet got even colder as I started thinking that perhaps I made a mistake and went in over my head.

But as the date when I will be picking up the scope approaches, those doubts and fears are rapidly being replaced by unbridled anticipation and excitement.

so no, you're not crazy...

make the purchase and endure those last second doubts.

Trust me - they'll start to fade...

and when you take delivery of your new scope, you'll think you were crazy to think them in the first place...

...at least I'm betting on that

Mr. Pollner, nice collection of scopes! Question if I may... between the 17"-15" & 12.5" as far as viewing pleasure and resolution quality, which scope affords the best satisfaction? I have heard the truss/dobs can be a chore to erect and break-down.. have been thinking about the Discovery line of PDHQ's but can't decide on what size?? thank you. PS is that a little 102 f/5 Celestron you are using for your finder? how do you keep the Dob bal.? thought it would be too top heavy..regards, JM

Michael,
See my post to Floyd about innovative designs.
Regards,
Bill Meyers

Gregg,

You'd be crazy not to!!! I have had several SCTs (8"-12"), looking for the "best" image. Decided to try a TV102, images great but dim. Begin quest for quality and bigger: Read reviews and notice how often Zambuto comes up in "best lists" (Todd Gross) along with APOs. Order up 11" Starmaster for "experiment" to see if better than SCTs.
Several months later; first light and at a dark site, play with 102 & SCT until very dark and temperature/mirror cool. Insert parracor and Nagler, point towards Milky Way, focus... priceless.... (not really, sellers are always able to come up with a price). That was the image I had been looking for; crisp/clean image (MUCH better than ANY SCT) and bright. Know then, the rest of scopes will be sold when I get around to it.
This is good but need more. Order up 24" SM w/CZ. While waiting for delivery, a 16" becomes available and I decide it would be nice to have large dob that I didn't need a ladder for. Did I make a mistake going to a large dob? NOPE. Only mistake was taking so long to get there. After this, my friend buys a used 18" Obsession at great price (also gives up on other types of/smaller scopes) to "try" Obsession and we both agree that it would be difficult to justify trading-up to anything else. If buying new, I think he would get the SM for the small price difference...CZ mirror and removable mirror cell the biggest reasons, also the SM seems much less likely to slide out of the rocker box when using the transport handles.
I would stick with the standard coatings, Carl's and Rick's reasoning makes sense to me; better contrast, smoother surface. Enhanced coatings on flats only.
Planetary/deep sky...with a quality big dob you get both!! Read Todd Gross' review SM 14.5.
In short, get the biggest you can handle, I'm sticking with mine because if I drive 2-3 hours to a dark site I want it to be worth it. I want to SEE something!! Having a small scope because you observe mostly from the city doesn't make sense to me because 1) It's always brighter and more resolution in a big scope (isn't that why we use scopes to begin with?). Conditions limit magnification, not mirror size. M42 is much bigger/brighter @100x in a 16" than 100x in a 4"? Yes? 2) You don't buy a car that only does 30mph because you drive mostly in slow traffic do you? No. This is a hobby, a luxury, something we do for pleasure, so go get one now and be ready to go WOW...and bring your family and friends out so they can go WOW too. Life is to short to go through without at least one "big" scope.
Ralph Skogen

Gregg,

Just a thought on the Argo Navis, unless it has changed recently, there is no USA repair station. The Sky Commander is US made and serviced.

Rick's/SM Sky Tracker could not be easier to use. I figured it out in a couple of minutes without reading the instructions.

Be sure to call Starmaster before you buy. Let us know what you get, and a first light report. Also, get the Feathertouch focuser, it's a "must have" on any scope. Ralph