nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

As some of you know, I ordered the AT65EDQ from Astronomics in late January. I have been on a waiting list since..... I have called every two weeks since April - and each time I am told, they are due in any day. In fact during one call I was told that they were putting the logos on the scopes and would be drop shipped the following week. I called last month for an update and was told, it may be mid July. I called for the last time last week, hoping for some good "sooner than July" news and was told, "I don't know who told you it was going to mid July...but we have no expected day for the scopes to arrive - it will be when it will be. So I canceled the order.

I called Stellarvue and for their recommendation on an equivalent scope and today - no wait list - FedX is delivering the SV70T with Reducer/Flattener and the FeatherTouch focuser.

So.....I have now forked out almost three times what I was going to pay for the AT65EDQ. Just as sure as shoot'n, and after 6 months of waiting - I expect to be getting an email from Astronomics that the AT65EDQ has just arrived!

I told my wife - go buy something - I don't care what you spend just get whatever you want - I told her I am feeling guilty again about blowing money on something that I clearly do not need. She laughed and told me that I was incapable of feeling guilt. After 49 years of marriage, I am wondering what she meant by that :) Hum, do you think I should send the SV70T back and buy her a new CROCK POT!

What say you SONNY?

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

Lol, that totally sounds like my luck.

Matthew

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Well Ed, I got on a waiting list when the Tamron 150-600 mm lens was in short supply.
Sat for several months, and the few email inquiries got terser and terser replies. Not a good way to treat customers, especially new ones.
So I went hunting, and I found one very near me. I sprang on it like lion on a Gazelle. Then around 9 AM, when the store opened, I called to confirm my luck.
Yep, it was mine! Next, I emailed the 'List Holders' and informed them I was not waiting any longer.
So my opinion of lists is not good at all. I think the vendors look at it as fresh kill they can wait to process. No hurry... half-bagged meat.

So, I'm glad you got something. It looks to be a good scope, and I bet that Feathertouch focuser will be the cats meow!
Interestingly enough, the Vixen bar shown is like mine I bought for my scope. Solid bar aluminum.
I'm curious about the field flattener you added to the package. Is that because you prefer to use your Nikon's as your cameras?
It's going to be easy to set up. Which mount are you planning to set it on?

Mine sez I just go buy what I want anyway. I did get a Crock Pot at the Goodwill store for $4.95 a while back. I use it in the shop to melt bullet lube for another hobby of mine.

This is the hardest part, waiting for delivery. http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/hand-gestures/impatient-smiley-emoticon-1.gif
Looking forward to the images!

And Congratulations! (Just in time for Hurricane Season. Are you nutz?)

Albuqshutterbug Loc: Albuquerque NM

Isn't buyers remorse a wonderful thing?
I just purchased an Orion Starshoot All in one kit so that I can learn autoguiding.
I did a couple of AVi's of the sun on the 3rd and processed them today.
This is going to be an interesting learning curve but I'm game.
I bought it used here in Albuquerque and I totally ignored the directions and just jumped in.
It looks new and the sensor and covers are all quite clean so we shall see, the directions leave a lot to be desired.
Buy her whatever she wants, after that many years she's worth it.
(34 years here..)
Jim the confused and lost Pilot....

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

I got the losmandy bar with risers (2.5 inches)...that way I can balance the OTA. Yes, I do plan to use the DSLR - no back focus issues with that camera and I should (fingers crossed) have some flat stars. Not so easy to rig the Atik383L and the ASI1600MM-C but I have every spacer known to man and need 55mm to make it work. This lens is not really a good fit for full frame cameras so vignetting will expected with the DSLR. I have gotten to the point the only mount I am using is the Atlas Pro.....which as a losmandy saddle as well as vixen. I have a vixen bar that I may end up using - should I go light and use the ZEQ25 mount.

It arrived a hour or so ago.

This is a pic of me, sitting on my front porch (see my trees - oh how I curse them)...out was flying a drone waiting for FedX.

(Download)

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Eyes in the Sky, watch out FedEx!

So many toys!
I hope you get Clear Skies for a while to try out the new Telescope.

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

I think the trees are far enough away from the house that you are safe to set them on fire. 😀

I have a new toy coming tomorrow...

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

PS my wife doesn't know it yet, still trying to figure out how to keep it hidden.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

No way you can hide that.
That is going to be the elephant in the room.
Huge!

Does that come with a trailer? Or a weapons carrier?
What's the specs?

Is it the 10 inch? https://www.astronomics.com/telescopes-ritchey-chretien_c581.aspx

That explains this darned June Gloom....

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Holy Cow! Now that's a toy! My imaging partner bought a 14 inch and a paramount me mount to support it. He is having a heck of a time collimating it. They are a collimating challenge....but once done, they can pick up pubic hairs on the moon!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

"they can pick up pubic hairs on the moon!"

Alien ones?

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

It's the 10", I have been looking at these for a while, the RASA is great wide field, so I wanted something to go after the smaller targets. I was trying to talk myself into going with the 12" (always 2nd guess decisions after the fact), but then they had this one as a demo from the Texas star party, so I took it as a sign that I should get that one.

I am hoping to get to be a collimating expert, my RASA is in need of it too. If we can can the darn clouds to go away, I'll get around to trying it.

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

Yup, just like a Hoover.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Do you know the difference between a Hoover and a Harley?
On a Harley the dirt bag goes on top...



But both can collect pubic hairs....

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

😂