Which Telescope Should I get ?

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:27 pm

I'm thinking of buying a serious scope, since it will help me out also in my SAO classes. As I currently don't drive in SG it has to be fairly portable, yet have decent light grasp.

Here are what I'm thinking of...

1) 127mm MCT (Sky-Watcher and others)
2) 150mm MCT (e.g. Intes MK65 -- a few still float around on A-Mart)
3) ETX-125 or similar
4) C8
5) C9.25
6) C11

I had a 10" newtonian back in the Philippines and ideally I'd want something equal or more -- but with the not-so-dark skies in SG, my lack of transport, and my desire to have EQ tracking I'm pretty much stuck with the above.

The different SCT's pop up pretty often on A-Mart, and 8" are relatively affordable. I think the C11 requires too heavy a mount, so the C9.25 is tempting. They go for around $700 - $800 (US) on A-Mart.

Right now I'm using a W-O Zenithstar 70ED which is nice and all but it's only 2.8" of aperture and too short for planetary..

Any other comments or suggestions? is a 5" Mak "good enough" for now given I used to have a 10" that I hardly hauled out?

Post by **Airconvent** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:47 pm

The 5" is a minimum here in Singapore but i guess the best balance of cost, weight and aperture would be an 8" scope. The smaller aperture like what you have are great scopes in mersing or similar dark and clear places but just not enough for visual use in Singapore. [smilie=cool.gif]

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:01 am

Stuart, that's why I'm interested in the C9.25 -- I looked through a Nexstar 8 at M51 at a dark-sky site in Philippines and was seriously underwhelmed. Of course the 1.25" of difference isn't going to make things amazing..

I do intend to do some imaging but my existing Zenithstar 70ED will probably do for that, I'm not intending to be Rob Gendler! and any long-focal ratio like a C8 or Mak will do with a Toucam for planets.

My other option is to try rebuilding my 10" again. It's the cheapest solution but no tracking again.

orly_andico · Post by **orly_andico** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:02 pm

@croys... :-D not willing to blow $2.5k US on a mewlon

aarenlainey · Post by **aarenlainey** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:51 pm

I have also used 127mm MCT .The 127mm Maksutov has a pretty long focal length. I have one, and it's great for the planets. I would never use it for deep sky though. MCTs are well built, and Orion's is advertised as "never having to adjust the collimation" so that's a plus for portability.

Bergkamp_ · Post by **Bergkamp_** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:04 pm

Ya.. agree with croys.. aperture rules!