Post by patrickm on May 22, 2011 17:45:50 GMT -6
I am resurrecting this idea into a new thread because I am starting to get really serious about this. The trip to Jamaica only sharpened my desire for a scope with the best possible balance of stability, portability, and aperture. I don't need for it to necessarily be backpack portable, since we hike but don't really camp. I do need for it to not be an albatross on flight changes and in airports. My thoughts:
Given my parameters, I am leaning heavily toward the Sumerian scope. I look forward to return mail from him with some more specifics in it.
Here's a good cloud nights thread on travel scopes that raises issues with them all. Nobody there has tried the Sumerian scope though.
Julia and I plan on getting back to doing a lot of the traveling that we have put off over the last few years. We have some catching up to do, but it now feels like a necessity for me to take along a telescope to catch the skies as we do this.
PLEASE give me your feedback on these scopes and my crazy ideas. Where am I off? Or am I?
- At a size suitable for carry-on, refractors fail the aperture test.
- Infinity Scopes is in Indiana.
- The box for the 8" scope has a 10" length that would not pass airline carry-on muster. It also looks like it could really use a rolling case, and thus fails the portability test.
- The price difference from 6" to 8" also seems like a really big jump for the aperture increase.
- The 6" seems like the best value here and the more portable.
- Comfortable viewing from seated position
- Total weight is 18lbs and will fit in overheard.
- Set up time=three minutes.
- Cost with anodizing & carry strap and no shipping as I would pick up: $2745
- Wait time is 6-12 months.
- The box for the 8" scope has a 10" length that would not pass airline carry-on muster. It also looks like it could really use a rolling case, and thus fails the portability test.
- LiteScope is in Germany.
- The 12" Mountain Eco-C scope looks like the one to go with here. Will take heavier eyepieces. Cost=$1900
- A huge advantage in aperture over the Inifinty.
- Perhaps oddly uncomfortable viewing positions, as you mostly need to lie on the ground to use it. People seem split on whether this is a cool thing or not. My knees are still good, so I consider it only a minor inconvenience. It does make it less than practical for group viewing though.
- Needs a dew shield: $101 and light shroud: $169.
- Very sensitive to wind.
- Total weight is 17-19lbs and will fit in overheard.
- Total cost is $2300 including shipping to US.
- Wait time 7-12 months.
- The 12" Mountain Eco-C scope looks like the one to go with here. Will take heavier eyepieces. Cost=$1900
- My new favorite is Sumerian Optics out of The Netherlands.
- His designs are fantastic, almost works of art. He is designing a new 10" travel scope that will weigh 20lbs.
- I have sent him email asking about dimensions, as those are more important in US than weight.
- Regular scope comes with secondary heating and fans, but I have to guess that this will not be included on the new travel scope. If that is the case, then this price should come in cheaper.
- Set up time?
- Best guess on pricing: 10" scope=$980
- Optics: Orion Optics 250mm f-4.8 1/10 PV + 50mm (?) secondary $1263
- TS 2 "Crayford 1:10 delay $208
- TS 8 x 50mm $75
- Total US$2526 and I have to get it here from Netherlands, but I have a friend there, so that should be no problem.
- I see no indication of wait time on his website, but I have to guess it is similar to the previous two.
- His designs are fantastic, almost works of art. He is designing a new 10" travel scope that will weigh 20lbs.
Given my parameters, I am leaning heavily toward the Sumerian scope. I look forward to return mail from him with some more specifics in it.
Here's a good cloud nights thread on travel scopes that raises issues with them all. Nobody there has tried the Sumerian scope though.
Julia and I plan on getting back to doing a lot of the traveling that we have put off over the last few years. We have some catching up to do, but it now feels like a necessity for me to take along a telescope to catch the skies as we do this.
PLEASE give me your feedback on these scopes and my crazy ideas. Where am I off? Or am I?