Scopes that I have owned. Add your list after mine!

Edmund 4-1/4 F/10 Newt on GEM.
Criterion RV-6
Dynamax 8 (I built this one myself!)
Criterion 6" F/6 Newt on GEM (built with fellow Criterion employee)
Edmund Astroscan
12-1/2" F/6 homebuilt DOB with Cave optics
Edmund Astroscan (again)
Criterion Dynamax 4 (great telephoto lens, poor telescope)
Meade 10" Starfinder on GEM
Tasco 4-1/2" F/4 newt on GEM with Astroscan optics (grab and go!)

I only own the last two scopes on the list now. Best scope was the
Dynamax 8, because I built it myself when I worked at Criterion.

What's your list look like?

My list is a lot smaller:

1st telescope if you can call it that is an optical right angle viewer that
has 3 filters built in and two targeting targets, is white in color and I
think it's a 4inch front lens, was used at White Sands Proving grounds. So
it just might have seen early rockets and also abomb testing, has electical
pins on it's base. Was given to me years ago, still have it. It's about 7x I
think.

2nd scope, Orion 12.5 f4.8 DSE dob I had in Hawaii, I do miss that scope,
had to sell it to help pay for my move back to mainland after mother passed.

3rd scope Stargazer Steve f9 4.25inch Dob, donated by SAA user, first scope
used as Sidewalk astronomy scope in Rosamond. Still have it.

4th scope ... The Year was 2002, the last best chance for a bigger
telescope, Babylon 8, a f8 8 inch Dob that I built out of parts donated by
other Astronomers. It is still in use to this date.


--

The Lone Sidewalk Astronomer of Rosamond
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
Astronomy Net Online Gift Shop
http://www.cafepress.com/astronomy_net



"Gil" wrote in message
oups.com...
Edmund 4-1/4 F/10 Newt on GEM.
Criterion RV-6
Dynamax 8 (I built this one myself!)
Criterion 6" F/6 Newt on GEM (built with fellow Criterion employee)
Edmund Astroscan
12-1/2" F/6 homebuilt DOB with Cave optics
Edmund Astroscan (again)
Criterion Dynamax 4 (great telephoto lens, poor telescope)
Meade 10" Starfinder on GEM
Tasco 4-1/2" F/4 newt on GEM with Astroscan optics (grab and go!)

I only own the last two scopes on the list now. Best scope was the
Dynamax 8, because I built it myself when I worked at Criterion.

What's your list look like?

My first scope as a Christmas gift December 2000:
Gallileo 70mm F11 (HSN POS)

After that it was all down hill (in chronological order)....
Tasco StarGuide 4
Celestron Ultima 8-PEC
Celestron FS-80EQ WA
Orion XT10
Celestron C5 on UniStar Light Deluxe
Meade 12.5" Starfinder Dob
Orion StarMax 127
Celestron C102-HD (F5)
Meade 12.5" optics transplanted into a 14" Discovery PDHQ structure
Celestron GP-C102-ED
Orion 80ED on UniStar Light Deluxe (same mount as above)
Celestron AS-CG-5GT mount for the following....
Konus Konusky 200 (8" F5 Newt) OTA
Hardin Optical StarHoc 8-4 (200mm F4 Newt) OTA
Losmandy G-11 to replace the CG-5GT
Celestron AS C9.25GT (sold the mount to get the OTA cheap)

What I'm left with after selling off all the unwanted stuff:
Losmandy G-11 w/DSCH and Argo Navis
C9.25 (from the GT) w/Astrozap aluminum dewshield and a DewBuster
Orion 80ED w/red dot finder, piggy backed on the C9.25
Losmandy mounting hardware for the OTAs
ScopeBuggy
PowerTank

Here's a picture of my personal Holy Grail:
http://home.comcast.net/~smarshallpaul/index.html

(Love the 80ED as a super finder with 2.5 degrees of field in the 24mm Pan.
The orange bricks in the background are Hawker 12VDC 26AH SLA batteries that
I get for free from the scrap pile at work. Sorry, I won't ship them so
don't ask for one. However, if you're local, I'd be happy to grab you one.)

The eyepiece collection:
35mm Pan
24mm Pan
13mm NT6
9mm NT6
Celestron Ultima barlow
TV BinoVue (for planet viewing, and bright globs)
2x18mm Celestron Ultimas (156x)
2x12.5mm Celestron Ultimas (225x)
2x9mm UO HD Orthos (313x)

Photographic Equipment:
Rebel 300D unmodified with TC-80N3 and necessary telescope adapters
F6.3 R/C for use in both scopes
ST-4 autoguider, with parfocal eyepiece
STI Stilleto IV focuser for Canon Digital EOS cameras

I know this is sacrilege to some out there, but I enjoy just looking at this
setup almost as much as I do looking through it. It's a monument to my
miniscule personal achievements in the hobby, as well as an inspiration to
achieve even more, by getting the most out of it. Certainly with all that's
invested here, I can't help but be driven to get outside at every
opportunity, even if only for an hour.

It was great to part with all the other stuff, and invest into something of
high quality, versatility, and useability. My new motto, when it comes to
the equipment, don't f*ck around with the cheap crap, unless it's all you
can afford (Disclaimer: "cheap crap" doesn't necessarily equate to "useless
crap". I had a lot of fun with every piece of equipment I experimented with,
except that damn 70mm F11 refractor from HSN).



"Gil" wrote in message
oups.com...
Edmund 4-1/4 F/10 Newt on GEM.
Criterion RV-6
Dynamax 8 (I built this one myself!)
Criterion 6" F/6 Newt on GEM (built with fellow Criterion employee)
Edmund Astroscan
12-1/2" F/6 homebuilt DOB with Cave optics
Edmund Astroscan (again)
Criterion Dynamax 4 (great telephoto lens, poor telescope)
Meade 10" Starfinder on GEM
Tasco 4-1/2" F/4 newt on GEM with Astroscan optics (grab and go!)

I only own the last two scopes on the list now. Best scope was the
Dynamax 8, because I built it myself when I worked at Criterion.

What's your list look like?

Beautiful 'kids"!

Doink

"Stephen Paul" wrote in message
...
My first scope as a Christmas gift December 2000:
Gallileo 70mm F11 (HSN POS)

After that it was all down hill (in chronological order)....
Tasco StarGuide 4
Celestron Ultima 8-PEC
Celestron FS-80EQ WA
Orion XT10
Celestron C5 on UniStar Light Deluxe
Meade 12.5" Starfinder Dob
Orion StarMax 127
Celestron C102-HD (F5)
Meade 12.5" optics transplanted into a 14" Discovery PDHQ structure
Celestron GP-C102-ED
Orion 80ED on UniStar Light Deluxe (same mount as above)
Celestron AS-CG-5GT mount for the following....
Konus Konusky 200 (8" F5 Newt) OTA
Hardin Optical StarHoc 8-4 (200mm F4 Newt) OTA
Losmandy G-11 to replace the CG-5GT
Celestron AS C9.25GT (sold the mount to get the OTA cheap)

What I'm left with after selling off all the unwanted stuff:
Losmandy G-11 w/DSCH and Argo Navis
C9.25 (from the GT) w/Astrozap aluminum dewshield and a DewBuster
Orion 80ED w/red dot finder, piggy backed on the C9.25
Losmandy mounting hardware for the OTAs
ScopeBuggy
PowerTank

Here's a picture of my personal Holy Grail:
http://home.comcast.net/~smarshallpaul/index.html

(Love the 80ED as a super finder with 2.5 degrees of field in the 24mm
Pan. The orange bricks in the background are Hawker 12VDC 26AH SLA
batteries that I get for free from the scrap pile at work. Sorry, I won't
ship them so don't ask for one. However, if you're local, I'd be happy to
grab you one.)

The eyepiece collection:
35mm Pan
24mm Pan
13mm NT6
9mm NT6
Celestron Ultima barlow
TV BinoVue (for planet viewing, and bright globs)
2x18mm Celestron Ultimas (156x)
2x12.5mm Celestron Ultimas (225x)
2x9mm UO HD Orthos (313x)

Photographic Equipment:
Rebel 300D unmodified with TC-80N3 and necessary telescope adapters
F6.3 R/C for use in both scopes
ST-4 autoguider, with parfocal eyepiece
STI Stilleto IV focuser for Canon Digital EOS cameras

I know this is sacrilege to some out there, but I enjoy just looking at
this setup almost as much as I do looking through it. It's a monument to
my miniscule personal achievements in the hobby, as well as an inspiration
to achieve even more, by getting the most out of it. Certainly with all
that's invested here, I can't help but be driven to get outside at every
opportunity, even if only for an hour.

It was great to part with all the other stuff, and invest into something
of high quality, versatility, and useability. My new motto, when it comes
to the equipment, don't f*ck around with the cheap crap, unless it's all
you can afford (Disclaimer: "cheap crap" doesn't necessarily equate to
"useless crap". I had a lot of fun with every piece of equipment I
experimented with, except that damn 70mm F11 refractor from HSN).



"Gil" wrote in message
oups.com...
Edmund 4-1/4 F/10 Newt on GEM.
Criterion RV-6
Dynamax 8 (I built this one myself!)
Criterion 6" F/6 Newt on GEM (built with fellow Criterion employee)
Edmund Astroscan
12-1/2" F/6 homebuilt DOB with Cave optics
Edmund Astroscan (again)
Criterion Dynamax 4 (great telephoto lens, poor telescope)
Meade 10" Starfinder on GEM
Tasco 4-1/2" F/4 newt on GEM with Astroscan optics (grab and go!)

I only own the last two scopes on the list now. Best scope was the
Dynamax 8, because I built it myself when I worked at Criterion.

What's your list look like?

Hello Gil:

You pose an Interesting question.. I had planned on being in the
mountains this evening but it does not look good so I here waiting for
the Padres (not my Padres) to play St. Louis.

I have a fairly long list. I tend to buy anything that seems like a
good deal and then keep the ones I like, either give away or sell the
rest.

The order is somewhat vague and I am sure there are some I have
forgotten. I have included a few symbols. The * means I still have
it. The G after a scope means I gave it away, sometimes to a friend,
sometimes to a club, the S means I sold it. TG means I have promised
it to someone as a gift but not shipped it yet.

1. Garage Sale 60mmF15 refractor, don't remember the name (Stolen)
2. Garage Sale 60mm (?)
3. Orange Tube C-8 First serious scope.(S)
4. Meade 97-ER (G)
4 1/2. Monolux 60mm F15 refractor (G)
5. Cometron Jr. 125mm F8 (G)
6. Pirate Instruments 8 inch DOB, my first DOB. I believe PI changed
its name to something better known. (S)
7.* 12.5 inch F4.06 Discovery DOB It's been an experience getting this
scope to work the way I want it to. But with the Novak mirror cell,
the refigured mirror and a Paracorr, it does the job and it's not much
bigger than an Asian 10 incher. When tested the mirror was decent but
since it was out, I had the work done.
8. Orion XT-8 (G)
9. Meade ETX-70EC (S)
10. Orion 120mm AstroView F8.3 (S)
11. Meade ETX-90 RA (S)
12. Apogee Inc (Ganymede 185) ST-80 Clone (G)
13.* Celestron C-5 OTA
14.* Orion Space Probe 130 ST (130mm F5 Newtonian)
15. Jason Comet Catcher 480 (sent to Uncle Rod) (G)
16.* TeleVue Pronto
17.* OPT Starhunter 10 (GSO 10 inch F5 DOB)
18. Meade ETX-125 (S)
19. Blue Tube Coulter 13.1 inch (G)
20. Celestron 80mm F5 EQ widefield refractor (G)
21. Celestron First scope 80mm EQ (F11.4) (G)
22.* Konus 200mm F5 Newt, currently on ASGT mount
23.* Tasco Starguide 60 (Part of a Tsunmi relief deal-TG)
24.* Burgess Optical 102 F6, objective was replaced with an Orion
100F6 objective with very pleasing results.
24 1/2 Edmunds 6 inch F8 Newtonian on EQ mount. (G)
25.* Meade 12.5 inch F6 Research Grade Newtonian + Mount Wife says,
this one will never be sold. Takes a ladder to use and lives in the
Garage.
26.* RV-6 #1 Good condition, nice images.
27.* Baytronix 150/1400.* The classic EBay 6 inch Short Tube Newt
that comes in a variety of colors.. This one was Maroon. Bought it to
review for Cloudy Nights. I do not recommend this scope, sad optics.
(T-G)
28.* Celestron C-102HD Looking for a home
29.* RV-6 #2 Better condition and only $40, what could I do. (TG)
30./31* Tasco Rocket scope/Orion Funscope. Under $50, these are
clones of the AstroScan, 76mm F3.7 Parabolic Newts. Slight mods to the
focuser allow slip and slide focusing with 1.25 inch eyepieces, nice
images.
32. Jason Comet 480 (tentative G)

33.* Meade 1020. This is an ~1980 Meade 102 mmF10 SCT made in Japan
with a Helical focuser. Nicely made but big CO and well, I am not a
cat fancier, it is looking for a home, someone who would use and
appreciate it.

Some late recollections

24 1/4 Infinity 4.5 inch F8 EQ mounted Newt (G)
24 3/4 Meade 4500 (G)
26 1/2 Meade 60AZ-A "Fifty Dollars at Walmart" for Skywatch (G)
2? 1/2 Sears/Towa 76mm F15 Eq. Mount (S)
1? 1/2 Tasco 76mm refractor (G)

------

I like fooling with scopes, making friends with them, enjoying them for
what they are and then letting someone else enjoy them. When the price
is right, I will buy most anything. The Coulter 13.1 was $100 and in
decent condition with a new premium secondary.

But I also like observing and when the skies are dark, it will be
either the 10 inch or 12.5 inch DOB along with either the Pronto or the
100F6 achro. For the back yard, my favorites are those plus the 130ST
and the first RV-6. If I had to choose one scope, it would be either
the 10 inch or 12.5 inch DOB. Two scopes, one of the DOBs and a
refractor.

Best wishes, clear skies

Jon Isaacs

On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:48:59 -0700, Gil wrote:

Edmund 4-1/4 F/10 Newt on GEM.
Criterion RV-6
Dynamax 8 (I built this one myself!)
Criterion 6" F/6 Newt on GEM (built with fellow Criterion employee)
Edmund Astroscan
12-1/2" F/6 homebuilt DOB with Cave optics
Edmund Astroscan (again)
Criterion Dynamax 4 (great telephoto lens, poor telescope)
Meade 10" Starfinder on GEM
Tasco 4-1/2" F/4 newt on GEM with Astroscan optics (grab and go!)

I only own the last two scopes on the list now. Best scope was the
Dynamax 8, because I built it myself when I worked at Criterion.

What's your list look like?

1974? 3" Unitron refractor
1987 Edmund Astroscan reflector
1999 10" Meade Starfinder EQ(!)
2001 Celestron C8 Black Tube(!!!) *, Takahashi FS 102(!!!), G-11 mount
2003 18" Obsession clone with an incredible mirror* (!!!), Meade 6"
Schmidt Newt (an oldie).
2005 9.25 Celestron SCT (!!!)*, Intes MN 66* GM-8
mount*

(!!!)=favorites of the bunch
(!) =worst telescope I've ever owned.
* = still in the quiver
Of these, the worst was the Starfinder EQ (decent optics, everything else
sucked).
The best was the Tak (perfect star tests), and my favorite is the 18" Dob,
which does an incredible job every time I bring it out. The Tak just
didn't have enough light grasp for my tastes, but it was perfect in every
other way.

I just bought the Intes today from astromart, btw. ;-)
Can't stay away from them scopes.

Regards,
Uncle Bob

My very short list:

Tasco POS 60mm refractor from the 1950's. But I've heard that the
newer ones are
much worse....

As my skies are badly light polluted, and with poor eyesight, a better
scope seems pointless...

Bob wrote:
My very short list:

Tasco POS 60mm refractor from the 1950's. But I've heard that the
newer ones are
much worse....

As my skies are badly light polluted, and with poor eyesight, a better
scope seems pointless...

It would take me hours to type in my list of scopes! Lets just say
over 160 scopes since 1976.

My top 5 scopes, that were my favorite are,

15" Obsession, the best built Dob i've ever owned bar none, and the
best on the planets of any scope i've owned! It had the OMI- Torus
mirror, 1100x plus on the planets with super seeing.

Five Starmasters from the 11" to the 18", all with the Zambuto optics,
again all jaw dropping images of the planets. Guess i would pick my
1st 14.5" Starmaster as the best out of the five others, 1150x one nite
in dead still seeing, i ran out of power could have gone higher!

Older AP-6" F/9 blue tube, best refractor i've owned.

Meade 12" LX-200 i've had four of them, but one was by far excellent,
almost Zambuto like, with sharp pinpoint star images.

Tak FS-78 another killer, the best under 80mm refractor i could ever
use.

One day i will list my top five worst scopes...

Chas

amazing how many scopes some of you have had!
My list is very short:

1983: 80 mm home built refractor on home built alt/az mount. extremely primitive scope, but I
used it for several years for planetary observations , until 1987 when I left home to study
math.
2002: ETX105
2004: 10" LX200

I do not have the refractor anymore, both other scopes I still have.
--
Martijn (astro-at-pff-software.nl)
10" LX200GPS-SMT
ETX105
www.xs4all.nl/~martlian

I started with my dad's 7x35 binoculars, after learning most of the
constellations, and realizing maybe I could see some of that other stuff
I'd read about. A wonderful, exhilarating, experience! I was hooked
for life!

Then, somewhere in the late '60's, got an old, brass, leather covered
spyglass, 1.3 inch aperture. Six bucks at a flea market. Explored the
moon, a few bright DSO's with more magnification.

1975... a 20x50 Jaeger's monocular. Kinda cool, but limited. Shoulda
got the 7x50 version.

1975... a 60mm Jason refractor. Bought it on a whim, but SAW SATURN'S
RINGS! Didn't get a lot of use, but I still pull it out sometimes for
solar projection.

1976... Celestron 11x80 binoculars. LOVE these! Still use 'em all the
time!

1977... My C8. A wonderful scope, and all I've ever needed.

Marty