Ok, ok, I know this means different things to different people, but I wanted to pick you guy's brains. I'm a visual observer, spoiled to aperture. Currently my primary scope is a 14.5" Nightsky dob with Pegasus optics. I love it, but sometimes I just want something quicker and easier. The standard answer is a small refractor. I've owned several, including a 4" Takahashi, and have never been content with any of them. Just sold my most recent one. The bottom line is, no matter how precise the optics, a 4" scope is still just a 4" scope. At sizes above 4", APO refractors are cost prohibative, and cease being portable. I have an old 8" sono-tube dob, and it's as close to a perfect quick look scope as I've owned, a little bulky to transport, but can be set up ready to use in under two minutes without breaking my back lifting. I'd still like something a little more portable, and just as quick to set up, without giving up optical ability. I've never owned a catadioptric scope, but something tells me that ones I could afford, arn't up to the optical standard I'm acustomed to. I think a high quality, ultra portable 8-10" design like those from Teleport, Infinity Telescopes, or Compact Precision Telescopes would be ideal. Unfortunately, these are all somewhat cost prohibative, in some case costing as much or more than my big scope. Complicated truss designs are portable enough, but not nearly as quick or simple to set up, and while I'm not totally incapable, I'm no ATM fanatic either. Thoughts/Suggestions?
Quest for the ultimate "Quick Look" scope.
Started by Boxlock, 10/08/2004 06:42PM
Posted 10/08/2004 06:42PM
Opening Post
Posted 10/08/2004 07:25PM
#1
I think there is no one "Quick Look" scope that works for everyone. Seems like you are almost there with you 8 inch Sonotube DOB. I suggust that a slightly more compact version of the same thing might do the trick.
I had an old 8 inch Pirate Instruments DOB but when I saw the first Orion XT-8, I was enchanted, that 45inch OTA was considerably smaller than the sonotube scope and so far has been pretty good as a quick look scope.
jon
I had an old 8 inch Pirate Instruments DOB but when I saw the first Orion XT-8, I was enchanted, that 45inch OTA was considerably smaller than the sonotube scope and so far has been pretty good as a quick look scope.
jon
Posted 10/09/2004 05:29PM
#2
We just had a lenghty discussion on my astro club's forums about this. The scope most people deemed "best" for tossing in a car and having it for whenever was none other than an Edmunds Scientific Astroscan. Really. 4" of aperture, sturdy, mount is included, smaller than comparable dobs...
Posted 10/09/2004 06:06PM
#3
I just bought the Orion XT8 this summer as my quick-look scope. My other quick look scope is MN56 on Super Polaris. But 5" is 5" 
The MN56 is great for when the moon is out or for the planets because the mount has tracking. I am primarily a DSO observer and the 8" is the smalles portable quick look I am willing to go with when there's no moon. The XT8 tube is rolled metal so it's very light. I am very happy with the XT8. I just got a 26mm Nagler Type 5 and this combo easily satisfied my quick look cravings.
My light bucket is a 15" f/5 discovery truss dob and it's always setup with the wheel barrow handles and ready to be rolled out of my garage. However, the 8" XT8 has one advantage: I can move it to the side of my house that is protected from our frequent high desert wind. The 15" is bound to driveway outside of my garage.
You may have the best setup already. It's hard to beat an 8" dob for its simplicity, cost, and light-grasp. The more I used it, the more I asked myself how come I did not buy a 8" dob years ago? These are my opinions; they are based on the fact that I live at 6300 feet, outside of a city of 60,000 and have dark, unobstructed, desert sky. I don't need to drive anywhere.
Nat
Santa Fe, NM
The MN56 is great for when the moon is out or for the planets because the mount has tracking. I am primarily a DSO observer and the 8" is the smalles portable quick look I am willing to go with when there's no moon. The XT8 tube is rolled metal so it's very light. I am very happy with the XT8. I just got a 26mm Nagler Type 5 and this combo easily satisfied my quick look cravings. My light bucket is a 15" f/5 discovery truss dob and it's always setup with the wheel barrow handles and ready to be rolled out of my garage. However, the 8" XT8 has one advantage: I can move it to the side of my house that is protected from our frequent high desert wind. The 15" is bound to driveway outside of my garage.
You may have the best setup already. It's hard to beat an 8" dob for its simplicity, cost, and light-grasp. The more I used it, the more I asked myself how come I did not buy a 8" dob years ago? These are my opinions; they are based on the fact that I live at 6300 feet, outside of a city of 60,000 and have dark, unobstructed, desert sky. I don't need to drive anywhere.
Nat
Santa Fe, NM
Posted 10/09/2004 06:43PM
| Edited 10/09/2004 06:44PM
#4
I've owned many different scopes of all types, ranging from 3"-16" aperture. If I was forced to live with one scope (there's a thought)it would be an 8" dobsonian-mounted tube reflector utlizing a premium (Zmbuto, Royce, Spooner, Harry)mirror. Why?
1. Enough aperture for decent deep sky performance
2. Great planetary performance if it uses one of the aformentioned premium mirrors.
3. Reasonably short focal length means I don't give up wide field views. My 8" F5 has a 1015mm F/L (1160mm when used with a paracorr). This yields a 2+ degree FOV with a 31mm Nagler.
4. Very fast setup, faster than any other scope/mount combo. This is a big deal for me. Setup is almost instantaneous and not a backbreaker at all. I do spur-of-the-moment viewing when the gas giants are up. No need to fiddle with mounts and alignment, just place the tube on mount and start viewing.
5. Easy and hassle free transport in back seat of my car to dark sites. No fiddling in dark with mounts, trusses etc etc.
6. No corrector plate to dew up or retard cooling. This is a big factor in ease of setup and quickness with which one can start viewing.
Pictured is my 8" F5 Royce reflector built by Chuck Fellows. I use it with a Paracorr. It's beautiful to look at as well as look through, and images are pinpoint and contrasty with very little coma. This is the third tube dob I've owned, and it's my opinion that 8" (either F5 or F6) is the sweet spot for a tube dob. I store the scope so the mirror is at or near outside ambient temperature most of the time, which minimizes cooldown.
Rob Mackie
1. Enough aperture for decent deep sky performance
2. Great planetary performance if it uses one of the aformentioned premium mirrors.
3. Reasonably short focal length means I don't give up wide field views. My 8" F5 has a 1015mm F/L (1160mm when used with a paracorr). This yields a 2+ degree FOV with a 31mm Nagler.
4. Very fast setup, faster than any other scope/mount combo. This is a big deal for me. Setup is almost instantaneous and not a backbreaker at all. I do spur-of-the-moment viewing when the gas giants are up. No need to fiddle with mounts and alignment, just place the tube on mount and start viewing.
5. Easy and hassle free transport in back seat of my car to dark sites. No fiddling in dark with mounts, trusses etc etc.
6. No corrector plate to dew up or retard cooling. This is a big factor in ease of setup and quickness with which one can start viewing.
Pictured is my 8" F5 Royce reflector built by Chuck Fellows. I use it with a Paracorr. It's beautiful to look at as well as look through, and images are pinpoint and contrasty with very little coma. This is the third tube dob I've owned, and it's my opinion that 8" (either F5 or F6) is the sweet spot for a tube dob. I store the scope so the mirror is at or near outside ambient temperature most of the time, which minimizes cooldown.
Rob Mackie
Attached Image:
Posted 10/09/2004 09:15PM
| Edited 10/09/2004 09:16PM
#5
My situation allows me to have an 11" Starmaster as a quick look scope. I have it on an eq platform that is on wheels. It is always set up in the garage. The time from making the decision to view to actually viewing is usually less than 2 minutes. If I decide to collimate (usually not required) it's 4 minutes. I can go out, look at M42 and Saturn and be back inside in less than 5 minutes. If it's nice, I stay out.
So, I feel I have the ultimate quick look scope: an 11", f/5.4 Starmaster with a rolling eq platform, a nice Catsperch chair and binoviewers. Now if I just had clear, steady skies more than 10 times a year, I would be in heaven.
Tom
So, I feel I have the ultimate quick look scope: an 11", f/5.4 Starmaster with a rolling eq platform, a nice Catsperch chair and binoviewers. Now if I just had clear, steady skies more than 10 times a year, I would be in heaven.
Tom
Posted 10/10/2004 04:03AM
#6
I too have been thinking about this, due to the long cool down on my 11" SCT. I have been thinking about the 210 Mewlon on an alt-az. I think it is a one trip scope (I have to cross the street to the park.) Although, the picture of these gorgeous 8" dobs on this thread have me re-thinking the Mewlon.
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