"Tom" wrote in
:

Man, I have got the fever and I have never even looked through it. I
didn't realize it had an H-alpha filter in the package (it does,
right?) I just made
my Dob purchase, but in the future, would it be a waste to buy the PST
when you can buy a regular refractor and just add the filters? One, I
have heard that it can damage your optics, and two, those filters seem
to cost four figures. Am I missing something here, or is the PST the
only affordable
way to view the sun in all it's glory (most of it anyways)?

PST (with 12mm eyepiece) = $499
Add 18mm CEMAX eyepiece = $99

Total price = $598

Disadvantages:

1. Solar scope ONLY. Cannot be used for night time or terrestrial
observing.

2. Diameter of internal etalon filter is only 25mm.

For the same setup on a regular refractor:

Small Refractor = $500-2000
SM-40 HA filter = $995
Blocking filter = $455
Adapter plate = $175
12mm eyepiece = $125
18mm eyepiece = $125

Low end price = $2375
High end price = $3875

Advantages:

Can be used as night time or terrestrial scope.