The only scope I wish I had never sold was a garage sale find I made over 15 years ago,an early 80's Unitron 3" in pristine condition with the un-earthly rare searlized objective lens cell No. 5121 with multi-coatings probably made by Pentax,so rare that according to uniton aficionados It might be the only one known,I paid $150 for that scope from the original owner,he said he paid $850 for it new in 81' or so and I listed it on eBay in 2009,it fetched nearly $2000. The views through it were extremely impressive. Wish I still had it.
John D Johnston. I am a refracter man. I am 85 yrs now. I got into astronomy way back in the 1970s and started with an 8 inch reflrector. The mirror was a gift to me. I built the telescope by hand on a used and worn equatorial and it served me well until 1986 when I discovered refractors. I have had many over the years. My last was a Celestron XLT 102. At 4.5 inches it was the largest telescope I could handle at my age. I had to pawn it nearly 2 yrs ago to cover vetinary and creamation costs for my dog. I was unable to retreive the Celestron and it has nearly broken my heart. I can now afford to buy another, but a Celestron will be too much for me. I will acquire an Orion 90mm. This is the next best refractor to XLT 102
Ed - your videos and your website are some of my favorite things on the internet. Thank you for doing these! My biggest regrets: selling my Starmaster V-8 and my TEC-6 Maksutov. Both were really great scopes.
I feel your pain. In 2017 I decided to get myself out of crushing student debt and sold everything that wasn’t tied down, including my vintage mint condition Celestron c8. Best scope I ever had, and I’ve had a few. Crafted in Torrance in 1978. Optics second to none. Best view of Saturn I ever had was through that scope. I wish we never parted ways, but it did help me get debt free.
Carl Zambuto! One of the few craftsman/artists in making super smooth reflecting mirrors. You pay top dollar for one of his mirrors, but it's always worth it.
I ordered an 18” f4.5 from Carl this past January. The wait time is approx. 16 months, but I’d happily wait double that for his optics. At this level of precision, only an Astro-Physics or Lockwood mirror are said to match his.
Great video! I bought both the Astro-Physics 130 mm (5-inch) f/6 and 155 mm (6-inch) f/7 EDF Starfire triplet refractors in the 1990s. Still have them today. Of all the telescopes I bought these are the best. I recently got the Celestron EdgeHD 9.25-inch SCT with their 0.7X reducer. Unfortunately it does have mild chromatic aberration. Celestron does admit to this when used at f/7. Not a problem with my Astro=Physics scopes, even at f/4.5 with the AP reducer on the 130 f/6 when used for astrophotography.
Thanks for your videos! Years ago I built a 10" f/6 using a Coulter mirror that I bought from a friend. This is back when Coulter mirrors were excellent and this one was. I got amazing views of the planets that were jaw-dropping in my memory. My Dad still talks about how good it was. But it was a little long for my Ford Pinto with the seats folded down, so I sold the mirror and diagonal, shortened the tube and changed to a Coulter f/4 primary. The f/4 version never performed and I fought collimation problems off and on until I sold it. So I totally regret selling that 10" f/6!
I had a Criterion RV-6 back in the 1970s. I used it often during my high school years. I sold it near the time I entered college. It was a sweet scope and I have had seller's remorse since. Ed: I thoroughly enjoy your TH-cam channel. Clear skies to you, Sir!
I have the opposite, a scope I'm glad I did not sell. I managed to pick up a Vixen FL102 for a very reasonable price, mechanically it was in poor condition but optically excellent. Someone wanted to buy it off me for considerably more than I'd paid but I managed to resist the temptation. That was over a decade ago (and I still need to get that scope a new OTA) but I'm so, so glad I didn't sell it. The views are simply exquisite with those trademark pinpoint stars and absolutely zero false colour. Other than that I don't miss a single scope I've sold. They served their purpose until circumstances changed and then it was time for them to go to someone who could still use them to their full potential. I also have an Intes-Micro M706, a 7" f/6 Maksutov that I'm thinking of selling but I have a suspicion that might be a mistake. Even though there's a lot of money tied up in it it's not like I can get another one if I decide I shouldn't have sold it after all...
Sold my FS-102, with EP’s, bino, reducer, EM10 Mount, etc. over 17 years ago and still miss it....but I recently purchased my brother’s FS-78, which was only ever used once (by me), and has spent over 17 years sleeping in its custom case... so the loss has been somewhat lessened. 🤷🏻♂️
Bought a used C9 about 3 years ago for a pretty decent price and been loving it to pieces since. Don't know the exact year it was made, but judging from the construction and the grey tube, it looks to be one of the final American made ones from around the mid 2000s. Unfortunately it hasn't seen use for almost the last one and half years as the motors on my mount gave out and I just haven't been in the position to pay up for a replacement set. This year though I am looking at getting a set for my mount finally, so I'm hoping to be once again getting that C9 out under the stars come spring and onwards.
Great to see you Ed! I had a Meade 4.5" f/8 reflector OTA that I got for 50 bucks on the old Meade outlet store - it came with tube rings so what the hell, I figured I'd have $50 worth of fun just playing around with a little reflector. Well the images were shitty, but they were shitty in an interesting way - very astigmatic, but identical on either side of best focus - aha, the secondary isn't flat. I replaced it with an Antares 1/10th wave which cost as much as the $50 tube, and a miraculous scope emerged - it was *perfect*. I had a good night of seeing and spent hours on the Moon - it was like being in orbit. I am certain that scope could hold its own with any scope of 4" aperture. I gave it away to a friend when I got my 5" Meade ED (also a great scope). Here's a straight, unprocessed undriven video from that scope. th-cam.com/video/qPw-2stFJhE/w-d-xo.html
Remember the astronomy year 1997 well.. thanks for sharing Ed. Was on the list for an AP 130 when I go the same call from Marg after years of the dreaded waiting list, just couldn't afford it at the time, so I had to pass. Many years after I am fortunate to now own a few AP's, including Roland's signature eyepieces that I will never sell. :-)
Ed, technically not a scope, but I really wish I had not sold my 22x60 Takahashi Astronomer binoculars - despite the fact that they went to a friend who is a fine person and a good astronomer, and I converted the cash into a badly need Losmandy mount. They were absolutely amazing, and I know that there is very little chance that I will ever sniff another pair... It is wonderful to see you TH-cam channel - I just now discovered it, having read your scope reviews for years. Clear Skies!
Original Oak Classic. But I reacquired another one. This one ought. Serial number 001. Annealed in Carl Zambuto’s oven ground polished coated… bought it from another individual for a ridiculous price. But I’ve never looked back. Exquisite.
1) Celestron/Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite. My favorite grab n' go. Used to use it on the sidewalk in SF on an EQ-1 motorized mount next to John Dobson, which annoyed him, but he did not criticize the views! BTW, I now have two--wanna buy one? 2) Astro-Physics Traveler. Used as an imager back in 1999 with 2.25 FILM. Sold to put a down payment on the then newly introduced TEC 140. Canceled order since Yuri was not going to make large correctors for it (only one other guy wanted one). Have a recently acquired TEC 140 now; but shoulda kept the Traveler! 3) Takahashi FC100. At one point I had it piggy-backed on my 17.5" homebuilt Dob. Traded it and an AP 6" f/9 with mounts for a BMW motorcycle. (BTW: I don't regret getting rid of this older AP with vintage AP mount; not nearly as good as the stuff coming out of Astro-Physics just a few years later and now, of course.) 4) Coulter 4.25 f/4 "coffee-can" scope. Great wide field views. My favorite finder on my 17.5 homebuilt Dob: Same orientation as the big scope; able to get all of the Veil Nebula in for example, and used to match star finder fields when looking for faint Hickson's, e.g. in the big scope. 5) Celestron 8" Starhopper Dob. Excellent star test! Those adjustable altitude bearings came in handy for the inevitable balance issues. I think I traded it for a Kodak digital camera circa 2000. Still have the camera, but it's not worth two cents now. Nice seeing you, Ed! Like others, I have been reading your reviews for decades! So much better than S&T reviews: Have they EVER met a scope they didn't like?
You get the like for A, annoying Dobson by bringing one of them "lens scopes on an EQ mount" around him, and B, for sharing the regret of selling an 8" f/8 Sonotube Starhopper. None of the other brand sonotubes call my name, but I want mine back too.
Ed, the scope I regret selling the most was the 7 inch Starmaster Oak Classic, which was sold to you! Others I regretted selling, such as the TV Oracle, but I purchased one of those again.
My Intes-micro MN78 delux that I swapped for a celestron C8 aa it was more portable. Most beautiful views I have ever had. Now have a MN76 but it has an oversize secondary for fully illuminated views ..... it’s not the same :(
I recently sold a B&L Criterion 4000 to a retiring coworker. Old, 110V AC drive Schmidt Cass 4" tabletop. It was with a mostly complete eyepiece set and a couple of extras and had given me some of my best views of Saturn on a night of great seeing... He had never had a scope before and came back a couple of days later telling me how he and his son saw the moon! His face literally lit up as he talked about it! It was a great moment to sell it and help him get started, but I also miss its convenience and solid build. Might have to replace that some day if I can find room in the house... 👍
Great video Ed, and yes I have two scopes I regret selling , but one I found another here goes. Bout 10 years ago i came across a C102F OTA, absolutely loved it, but reasons that I can't get straight in my head I needed money to purchase another scope and sold...regretted it for years!! 2 years ago a friend of mine passed away, he was an avid observer, and one of his prized possessions was a beautiful C102F OTA w a moonlight focuser...I now own that both incredible and sentimental scope, which someone will have to pry out of my hands...I'll never sell that one!! The second scope I regretted selling was a most fantastic TMB 100/800...probably the finest optical instrument I ever looked through....don't ask my why did I sell, I still smack myself on the head for that one...Bob Midiri
I never should have sold my little Orion 90mm MCT. That wee thing was my first-ever telescope and only now with hindsight do I realize how its utility far outstrips what anyone pays for it, even new. Incidentally, I recently cleaned and boxed my utterly superb AP Traveler, intending to keep only my new (and truly excellent) Stowaway. Thanks in no small part to you, though, I still cannot convince myself to part with it!
Great videos. I regret selling my 9.25 as well. I think I saw the best views of Jupiter with it. As well as nebulas and DSO’s. Lately, I’ve realized that I just love the views through APO’s, but I can’t afford a TEC or AP. I was about to pull the trigger on a Tak, but WO released a 91mm Fluorite recently and I couldn’t give up the chance to get it. 91mm. Great size.
Yeah...a couple. My Televue 76 (I have an 85 and love it but that 76 was just awesome) and my Celestron C5+ on the single-fork wedge. That was a little scope that could and did. I have a Meade LX90 ACF that doesn't star align properly and the TV-85...the Televue gets all the love. What I really want is a C8 on a solid equatorial mount.
I had a wonderful Takahashi FS-128 and have regretted selling it ever since. It was in pristine condition and gave extremely clear views of the stars and planets.
I regret selling my Takahashi 102 FC, it was perfect optically. The moon looked like it was covered with diamonds at low power and it soaked up power like a sponge. At the time I thought I had too many scopes. Big mistake as using my LCX-200 14" is a time sink and at 60 lnb for the tube it's a serious working out to set it up.
Robert Hodgson - Regrets? None! The Saturn/Jupiter conjunction event rejuvenated my interest in amateur astronomy. I dusted off my Edmund Scientific red & tan Voyager 6001 refracting telescope. I pulled the little gem from long-term storage and had a great viewing experience with my family at home in Northeastern Florida. This morning I found the Edmund SKY GUIDE by Terence Dickinson and Sam Brown which was included with the telescope. I WILL NOT SELL THE VOYAGER SCOPE OR THE GUIDE. I cannot be bought! The rest of the story includes finding the gold in the Ed Ting video series and the realization that it takes time to learned the craft of observing the heavens as an amateur. I became a new member of a local astronomy club. Thanks Ed for your amazing video series.
I bought my Televue Pronto in 2000 but sold it 5 years ago for a Skywatcher Equnox 80. While I had the Pronto I used it for looking at the Moon, planets, brighter deepsky objects. Although the Equinox is a true apo, I still miss the Pronto.
Hello Ed great videos. I was in at astrofest Kankakee I'm thinking the same year. Dave from Tech 2000 and I wandered around looking through Scopes including the starmaster 10.5 and astrophysics. If it was the same year Saturn was absolutely beautiful. The seeing was outstanding there was some clouds but Saturn just stayed away from the blockage. When we looked through the 10 and 1/2 in Star master with the go to tracking drive on it we could see the dark line spokes in the rings of Saturn. That's when Rick introduced us to the idea of zambuto mirrors blowing away refractors. So we thought let's go down to the astrophysics display and see how Saturn looked in a great refractor with the great seeing conditions. No comparison. Zambuto mirrors Plus starmaster and Rick a great combination. I personally own a cave 10 inch F7 a astrola 1961. What a great scope crappy clock dry but a great scope. Also I have a 12 1/2 inch mag one Porta ball super portable telescope with a zambuto mirror. I paid $125 for the cave and $1,100 for the Porta ball. But I feel so lucky I will never sell these two scopes. Congratulations on your videos
Folks are going to laugh but... my old 60mm Tasco with the reflex finder, on a German equatorial mount. It was my re-entry into astronomy. Bought it at Montgomery Ward, a long-gone department store chain. Legendary performance? Nope. But it was a one handed carry and I took it out into the yard every night there was a even cheater hole. Saw things that were legendary to me - because I was out under the sky with it. It succumbed to aperture fever and I've regretted selling it every night since that wasn't "good enough" to take out a larger scope on a heavier mount.
The summer after I graduated H.S. i sold my 10" Dob I built for a school science project. I took that money and bought a used Odyssey 13.1 purple beast. I built a roller and would roll it out and have neighbors waiting in line to take a peek. I went in the Air Force and the scope sat for years in my fathers garage. When I got out of the service I sold it on a spur of the moment decision, would luv to have them back...but hope they are being put to good use.
Still missing my first SCT - a Celestron C5+. What a beautiful little telescope. But somehow I managed to keep its (sloppy) half fork mount. Later I got one of the newer C5 OTA, but... not the same emotion (and implementation).
I kind of want back my first good telescope, an 8" sonotube Celestron Starhopper. It's outclassed across the board and the tube is way bigger than it needs to be for an 8" f/6, meaning that only the very largest of my vehicles can fit it... it left to make room for a 12" Skywatcher flextube. It was the right move for sure, but there's something I miss about it. Probably just because it was through that telescope that I realized that yes, I am the kind of person that will stay outside all night regardless of temperature so long as it is clear and calm. I'd have rather kept both of the 6" f/8s I've owned too, but the capability is just too similar to my current 8" f/6.
Meade 7"f/15 mak/cass UHTC ota with built in fans and locking mirror, it was only 22 lbs and i put a feather touch micro on it. It was one best views i ever got of Saturn at 300 to 400x powers back in about 2008 or 9 ish. i sold it about 2013.
I regret scrapping my 16". It had a really nice 1" thick plate glass primary that was right around 1/4 wave, super nice images at low and high mags. Sold the mirror for a few hundred bucks to finance my 20.5" which had absolutely garbage optics.
Oh man. As soon as you mentioned "telephone call from Marge" I knew what you were going to say! My regretted sales include a Celestron/Vixen 90mm f14.4 achro, a TS 90mm f6.6 triplet apo with the most perfect optics I'd ever seen, and a 150mm f8 achro that I completely stripped down, refinished and tricked out. Why did I sell? Probably to buy other things. Won't sell my Tak though! ;)
Did you ever manage to get your grey FC-100 back from Mike? I see it's in your garage in your State of the Collection video 2022 ? I'd love to see a video review of it, including shots of the lens cell. I have a grey, year 1985, FC-100 incoming with a MC lens (replaced by Tak I believe).
My 1970's orange C-5 with the dual synchronous drive motors. I also let go of the tripod I used - made for the C-14 (the telescope was VERY stable when set up ;) )
150mm Skywatcher f/8 refractor, blue tube version. Although not an apochromatic, the views were crystal clear and a 495 long pass filter reduced the colours to a very low level. It actually was damaged by the shipping company during transit so now nobody is enjoying that big refractor, sad loss.
Oh boy, I had a 10” F6 Starmaster with the first 10” mirror ground by Zambuto, serial Number 10-001 on the mirror with a .95 strehl. Unfortunately I sold it because I just couldn’t get away to a dark site more that once or twice a year, my work is demanding. So I decided to let it go as it sat for months at a time. Now I find myself getting ready to move to a place under much darker skies with lots of space to keep the scope set up but, it’s gone.
I don't sell anything, I have 3 car's in the garage, and a growing amount of telescopes, and so far they all have their purpose and get used for that. The planet killers don't get used often because deep sky I way more interesting, but they stay, you never know when you need them!😉
damn 1977 1:16.. you look young then. again Ed Ting, it is such a shame you don't put any value in these things..if you cant remember any of the prices, hence all these sales and purchases, sure fair enough, but it is highly fascinating to sense price-evolvement over time, particularly with older telescopes not least across the globe from viewers abroad where prices vary greatly. It makes such a big deal when the viewer can relate to all these relative terms, of _ cheap and expensive & good deals, and a bad deal.. It doesn't need to be on the figure just rough ballparks. Ahh. you did it on number 1.. perfect.. thx a lot +1 though would have been fitting if you also stated what you sold it for, to that guy where money was no hindrance, as that can perhaps put it into perspective your financial motive at the time..
#1 80mm Vixen FL, I didn't really have a good mount for it so I sold it instead. #2 DGM OA 6.5 off-axis newtonian. Collimating this was something I never got great at and the skies out here aren't the best for planets. Or so I told myself. #3 Starblast 4.5 - a silly little scope, but I sure used it a lot.
I purchased a Meade LX200 8 inch. I only had it for a few days and discovered that the right ascension Drive plastic gears were stripped. I returned it to to seller. I should have kept it and upgraded to metal gears ⚙️
I bought an old orange Celestron C8 back in 1978. Owned it for 10 years. No, the optics weren't the best but they were decent and the aperture was too. It was easy to set up, I used it all the time. I still remember the first time sweeping through Sagittarius, checking out all the nebulae and star clusters. After 10 years, I got a bad case of aperture fever, sold the Celestron and built a 17.5" Coulter Dobsonian. I overbuilt the mount and it was really heavy. The views were amazing, the optics were decent, but I hardly used it. It was too big and painful to set up. I should've kept the C8. Oh well, maybe again in the future.
I sold an AP130GTX I got new in a moment of weakness. I have other really nice scopes, including a new AP Stowaway, but I'll never stop regretting selling that one. I learned my lesson though. The Stowaway is very clearly not for sale!
My name finally came up for an Astro Physics scope - something like 5+ years after I signed up. The price had more than doubled! I passed. I probably could have afforded it but it just made no sense. Cost per performance (I don't image) was way out of wack. I blame you for my Pronto! :D Which I still have.
Ed not sure if you will see this but I have an opportunity to pick up a a Tak What do you think a fair price is for a Tak FS 78 Number 1 for 1998 in a wood presentation case with Tak finder, bracket, clamshell, losmandy plate and Takahashi 2 speed focuser? Thanks
Umm...that would be all of my scopes! The TV 101, the Astro-Tech 90t, the 8”/10” Orion dobs, the TV binoviewers, now rebought! The Borg 76/100 Eds. Sold the Capewise 8” carbon tube version, bought it back! It’s the Astro-Tech 90t I miss the most, excellent scope, combined with the TV binoviewer...wow! Just wow!
I am a Newtonian guy. I do have a 6” refractor but I don’t use it very often. My first telescope was a Cave 6” f/8. I used it for 14 years and loved it, but I finally broke down and upgraded to a 10” f/5. To make a short story long, one day my friend came over and saw the two scopes sitting next to each other so he said he wanted to buy the 6”. I told him it wasn’t for sale, but every time he came over he kept insisting that he wanted it. Finally he said “How much do you want for it?” I quoted a price that was about double what I paid for it, thinking he’d tell me I was out of my mind. Unfortunately he said yes, so I had to give it to him. Sure, I had my 10” and it’s great (I still have it 36 years later) but I really loved that 6”. Well, after over 30 years what happens? I see a completely restored 6” Cave f/8 for sale and it’s in better than new condition so of course I snapped it up right away! So I have three scopes that I really like and probably won’t buy another one. It turns out now that my wife is now interested in astronomy so I may just give her the 6” Cave. At least it will stay in the family.
I have a C14 edge and dont use it much at all. I cannot sell it as I wanted one since I was a child. To me, its the Beethoven of amateur scopes but its weight is restrictive.
I should not have sold my Takahashi FS128. I have had several telescopes os all types… but this Taka was the best, even better to me than my two Celestron C9.25 that I sold twice, as Ed Ting did, my Taka TSA 120, Celestron 11 SC. The other telescopes Meade 10SC, Vixen 80 achromat, Vixen NA120, Vixen 102 ED, Skywatcher 10 dobsonian and Zeus telescopes are not in this category. Eduardo Galan
Ed, I regret selling my custom made 10” dobsonian. Just a dream with ball bearing in the base for buttery smooth movement and excellent optics. Still regret selling.
Ed, I got on the Astro-Physics waiting list in Dec of 1999 for a 152mm. I kind of forgot about it. I got married and moved cross country. Fast froward 13 years 8 months. Valentines day 2013. I get a call from Daleen at Astro-Physics, she informs me they are no longer producing the older 152's or what the 152's have evolved into, the 155's or what the 155's evolved into, the 160's. But, she says Roland has a few extra blanks for the past run of 175 EDF's left over (5 to be exact) and he will be making those available to the old 152/155/160 list. She states, if all goes well with the manufacturing process, do I want one? Heck yes! I am ecstatic! After hanging up the phone, I am left wondering how I am going to pay for this new scope. I sell off everything I can think of and take out a small loan from the local credit union. I explain to the loan officer how this is a once in a life time thing and it WILL only go up in value. I get the loan and convince my wife this is a good move for us financially, she buys into it, but just barely. I take delivery in November 2013. It is a huge beast of a scope. I have to buy a new mount, obviously, my CGEM just won't handle it. I find a used AP900 (which is a beautiful mount btw). I keep the scope for 5 years use it occasionally from my glaring suburban home in Chandler, AZ (burb of Phoenix). Unbelievable views of Saturn! Financial issues with Wife leaving her job, I get the idea to sell it. Needless to say, I miss it. It was my once in a life time scope. David
Well you had it and I'm sure you made money on the sale. My regret? I was offered a 152 Starfire back in 1987 while waiting for the 6 f8. It would have been the first of two Starfires made made. Like many I was concerned about the extra cost (Roland said $2300) as compared to $1400 for the 6 F8. I realized later that it would have been superior optically even though it would have been slightly longer at F9. And 35 years later the money is insignificant.
My biggest regret was selling a Takahashi TOA 130, I still miss it apart from the weight at 4am getting it on the mounting and realising how bad it would be to drop it. Still it was a case for having a roof over my head and food to eat. Or having the scope. The decision prolonged my agony for only a few month and I ended up living in my car for over 2 years. It would have been a little cramped if I had to share that space with my Tak. Still the happy news is that I am recovering and have 4 modest telescopes now. The next on my list would be a Tak 60mm FS assuming the Gods give me a break
When i started stockpiling scopes, my wife suggested I give to Goodwill the Jason 313 my dad bought me when I when I was eight years old. I did. Dumb. I later replaced it with someone else's as a reminder (close enough). I sold a Nexstar 11 GPS that had a refigured mirror. Best planetary images. I remember Jupiter moon transits where you could make out the moon against the face of Jupiter. Nothing's ever been that clear to me. Sold an Ed Beck 16" f4.5. That really nice mirror should have been a keeper to swap out dobsonian structures around. I am keeping (til I give up the hobby) a 17.5" coulter that I picked up at my in-laws in Michigan. Terry Ostahowski wouldn't touch it for two years, until he needed to pay for a new coating machine. He made it a 0.98. Amazing. Heirloom, if my son has any interest.
O.K., Ed. I have one that I regretted selling and one that I've never let go of. The regret? The Meade 2045 4" SCT. Perfect scope for all my needs. What a dummy. Never saw one again, either. The other that I DIDN'T sell? My pride and joy and first serious scope purchase, the Meade LX200 Classic. 20 years of tremendous views, pictures and adventures together. Many mods to keep it up from the dreaded electronic failures, including a full spare set of everything that makes it work. It will leave me when I'm dead. Oh, and the ONLY signed copy of my Burgess 1278 5" refractor. Only 200 made. Good luck finding one. There ya' go.
Never sold my 6" F8 AP refractor. Delivery at the time was a year. But back when there was still a Yahoo AP group I had to laugh when a few years ago one Greek amateur was offered a new 175AP, passed on it, and then asked to be put on the "next" large lens list. I had to laugh: That ship has sailed forever!.
I live in Seattle probably the worst place in the country for astronomy but recently there was a Questar 90 mm in like new condition with all the accessories and the original carrying case for 2500 on craigslist. Then a few days later the price dropped to 2000. I could have easily afforded it but when I thought about it it really was just what it was and not a scope that performs well, was the reason I wanted it. In other words it would have been a status symbol instead of a practical purchase. But I still kind of regret not buying it.
Takahashi FS102. Love, Love, Love. Then I thought I could afford an FS128 but only if I sold the FS102. The FS128 was great but it started to not get used due to a heavy work load. My 80mm got most of the star time so then the FS128 went. I want to start over with the FS102 and not look for anything more.
You should always keep one different style from each category of telescope the biggest you have or the best and then get rid of other things but always keep one staple from each category of telescopes that would be my advice good day. Vancouver Canada I'm getting back into astronomy myself. Look at buying a sky view 16 in Trussell dobsonian telescope❤🎉❤🎉😂😂😂😂
I gave one to a family member who wanted into star watching. That person lied to me about getting into the hobby and just wanted it to sell. I didn’t know the person had got on drugs and was lying to family to get money for their addiction. The real sad part is after they took my telescope they felt so guilty about robbing me I never seen that person again.
now with mars approach this year, i regret selling twice my mewlon 210. i sold it first time over decade ago because my em10 was bit too lightweight. i found the exact same scope (same serial number) years later. again i sold it because i felt my newer em11 was a bit too lightweight. now that i have em200....oops
Sorry you sold your 12 and 1/2 in. Portable I have one and I love it especially on a equatorial tracking platform. It will never leave me. I did sell an lx200 that told me nothing and it was a great scope. It was, it real well and had really good images. Have to sell it for some money worst mistake
I think the insanity comes from having too many scopes. There is a redundancy factor that floats around along with the prospect of making money from the sale, then realizing quality the true value was not necessarily the money, at all.
I sold an old C8 that had incredible optics. It gave the best planetary views through any scope I've used. Must have been a lucky one. Regret selling it.
Should make a "top 5 telescopes that I DONT regret selling." I'll start #1 Celestron powerseeker 127* *I sold my only good moon filter with it....which I regret.
I’ve got an an offer to buy a second hand TAKAHASHI FSQ 85 ED - very good condition for around 1900 USD 🧐 Should I get it ? I mean… is it worth ( price wise ) - My current and only telescope is an Orion XT8 Classic. My budget is around 2500 $ maximum - and searching for un upgrade to complement the XT8 - start astrophotography & be more mobile. Thank you!
That does not sound like enough money for that scope. Keep in mind the FSQ series is heavily skewed towards imaging. Astrophotography begins (and ends) with the mount. It is the one thing you must master before doing anything else. Be sure you have the mount squared away before you even think about buying an optical tube.
@@edting Makes perfect sense and I already watched many of your videos to ( all thou not fully focused on astrophotography ) to learn that the mount is more important than the telescope itself. Forgive me if I was a bit unclear in my initial comment - what I meant is : my next scope budget alone would be around 2500 $ max. For the mount I'm planning to get an - Sky-watcher AZ-EQ5 Pro - . So, my question was if I should go ahead and buy the Takahashi FSQ 85mm ED - second hand - for about 1900 $ - given my scope budget. Or should I opt for a new Celestron Edge HD - 8 inch for example? Can't make up my mind...
Please please be very careful here. If you are serious about astrophotography you are likely committing yourself to a 2-3 year learning curve at minimum. You didn't specify which branch of imaging you are interested in - Nightscapes, Webcam Lunar/Planetary, or Deep Sky. They are vastly different. If you want to do Deep Sky (very difficult BTW) an apo is your best choice. After mastering the mount you need to master the autoguider and PixInsight, then sort out the issues with your camera (ie, don't use an unmodded DSLR/mirrorless). The optical tube is last on the hierarchy. Many beginners make the mistake of paying all the attention to the optical tube which gets you nowhere if you think about it. If Webcam Lunar/Planetary is your thing get the SCT, but you don't need the Edge version.
@@edting Deep Sky it is indeed that I wish to have the honor of photographing! But not just to photograph… observe as well. Time to needed to learn doesn’t worry me, I will enjoy the process of it! If God’s keeps me healthy and well, what else is better there to do when you have some moments of peace, other than marvel at His creation, search it and learn about it! I read that the Tak FSQ 85mm is amazing for visuals as well and its a different experience than the Dob XT8. I guess in this situation- I should go for it. I will probably get the Celestron Edge 8 Inch later as well 😅. That would be my : “ THREE ON A BUDGET! “ THANK YOU ED FOR ALL YOUR VALUABLE INSIGHT AND TIME TO REPLY! God bless and clear skies!
Not so much a telescope but I truly regret selling my 9mm 100 degree Explore Scientific EP to a friend of mine. Of all the EP's that I have (and sold) that's the one I have the biggest regret. (Still hurts especially at their (ES) price point now!)
Maybe you'll be happy with the 9mm Myriad 100°, it's the sharpest and whitest of my three Myriads. It seems to turn an achro into a semi-apo, and a semi-apo into an apo. 365astronomy sometimes stocks them and asks only 185€.
The only scope I wish I had never sold was a garage sale find I made over 15 years ago,an early 80's Unitron 3" in pristine condition with the un-earthly rare searlized objective lens cell No. 5121 with multi-coatings probably made by Pentax,so rare that according to uniton aficionados It might be the only one known,I paid $150 for that scope from the original owner,he said he paid $850 for it new in 81' or so and I listed it on eBay in 2009,it fetched nearly $2000. The views through it were extremely impressive. Wish I still had it.
John D Johnston. I am a refracter man. I am 85 yrs now. I got into astronomy way back in the 1970s and started with an 8 inch reflrector. The mirror was a gift to me. I built the telescope by hand on a used and worn equatorial and it served me well until 1986 when I discovered refractors. I have had many over the years. My last was a Celestron XLT 102. At 4.5 inches it was the largest telescope I could handle at my age. I had to pawn it nearly 2 yrs ago to cover vetinary and creamation costs for my dog. I was unable to retreive the Celestron and it has nearly broken my heart. I can now afford to buy another, but a Celestron will be too much for me. I will acquire an Orion 90mm. This is the next best refractor to XLT 102
Ed - your videos and your website are some of my favorite things on the internet. Thank you for doing these!
My biggest regrets: selling my Starmaster V-8 and my TEC-6 Maksutov. Both were really great scopes.
Could you please advise me before you sell the next telescope you will regret selling?
Ed: "This is my most prized possession. I will never let it go."
pause...
..."Would you like to buy it?"
I feel your pain. In 2017 I decided to get myself out of crushing student debt and sold everything that wasn’t tied down, including my vintage mint condition Celestron c8. Best scope I ever had, and I’ve had a few. Crafted in Torrance in 1978. Optics second to none. Best view of Saturn I ever had was through that scope. I wish we never parted ways, but it did help me get debt free.
The latest XLT C8s are so darn good, though admittedly they’re Synta/Chinese made. Still, you owe it to yourself :)
Carl Zambuto! One of the few craftsman/artists in making super smooth reflecting mirrors. You pay top dollar for one of his mirrors, but it's always worth it.
I ordered an 18” f4.5 from Carl this past January. The wait time is approx. 16 months, but I’d happily wait double that for his optics. At this level of precision, only an Astro-Physics or Lockwood mirror are said to match his.
My problem is that I can't seem to sell a scope once I've bought it.
You must be asking too much and to the wrong people
@@entropytango5348
He means that he can’t bring himself to put it up for sale.
I hear you, they are little works of art
Great video! I bought both the Astro-Physics 130 mm (5-inch) f/6 and 155 mm (6-inch) f/7 EDF Starfire triplet refractors in the 1990s. Still have them today. Of all the telescopes I bought these are the best. I recently got the Celestron EdgeHD 9.25-inch SCT with their 0.7X reducer. Unfortunately it does have mild chromatic aberration. Celestron does admit to this when used at f/7. Not a problem with my Astro=Physics scopes, even at f/4.5 with the AP reducer on the 130 f/6 when used for astrophotography.
Good for you, you kept them!
Thanks for your videos! Years ago I built a 10" f/6 using a Coulter mirror that I bought from a friend. This is back when Coulter mirrors were excellent and this one was. I got amazing views of the planets that were jaw-dropping in my memory. My Dad still talks about how good it was. But it was a little long for my Ford Pinto with the seats folded down, so I sold the mirror and diagonal, shortened the tube and changed to a Coulter f/4 primary. The f/4 version never performed and I fought collimation problems off and on until I sold it. So I totally regret selling that 10" f/6!
I had a Criterion RV-6 back in the 1970s. I used it often during my high school years. I sold it near the time I entered college. It was a sweet scope and I have had seller's remorse since. Ed: I thoroughly enjoy your TH-cam channel. Clear skies to you, Sir!
I had an AP Traveler from 1995 and it cost me $1995.00. I sold it when I got a 130GT. It was the "smooth" tube. The 130 replaced the Traveler :)
I have the opposite, a scope I'm glad I did not sell. I managed to pick up a Vixen FL102 for a very reasonable price, mechanically it was in poor condition but optically excellent. Someone wanted to buy it off me for considerably more than I'd paid but I managed to resist the temptation. That was over a decade ago (and I still need to get that scope a new OTA) but I'm so, so glad I didn't sell it. The views are simply exquisite with those trademark pinpoint stars and absolutely zero false colour. Other than that I don't miss a single scope I've sold. They served their purpose until circumstances changed and then it was time for them to go to someone who could still use them to their full potential. I also have an Intes-Micro M706, a 7" f/6 Maksutov that I'm thinking of selling but I have a suspicion that might be a mistake. Even though there's a lot of money tied up in it it's not like I can get another one if I decide I shouldn't have sold it after all...
Sold my FS-102, with EP’s, bino, reducer, EM10 Mount, etc. over 17 years ago and still miss it....but I recently purchased my brother’s FS-78, which was only ever used once (by me), and has spent over 17 years sleeping in its custom case... so the loss has been somewhat lessened. 🤷🏻♂️
I wish I had such a brother, priceless to share your hobby with a sibling.
Bought a used C9 about 3 years ago for a pretty decent price and been loving it to pieces since. Don't know the exact year it was made, but judging from the construction and the grey tube, it looks to be one of the final American made ones from around the mid 2000s. Unfortunately it hasn't seen use for almost the last one and half years as the motors on my mount gave out and I just haven't been in the position to pay up for a replacement set. This year though I am looking at getting a set for my mount finally, so I'm hoping to be once again getting that C9 out under the stars come spring and onwards.
Great to see you Ed! I had a Meade 4.5" f/8 reflector OTA that I got for 50 bucks on the old Meade outlet store - it came with tube rings so what the hell, I figured I'd have $50 worth of fun just playing around with a little reflector. Well the images were shitty, but they were shitty in an interesting way - very astigmatic, but identical on either side of best focus - aha, the secondary isn't flat. I replaced it with an Antares 1/10th wave which cost as much as the $50 tube, and a miraculous scope emerged - it was *perfect*. I had a good night of seeing and spent hours on the Moon - it was like being in orbit. I am certain that scope could hold its own with any scope of 4" aperture. I gave it away to a friend when I got my 5" Meade ED (also a great scope). Here's a straight, unprocessed undriven video from that scope. th-cam.com/video/qPw-2stFJhE/w-d-xo.html
RIP Rick Singmaster. The dude made incredible scopes.
Oh my goodness, I didn't know. Thanks for telling me. I just looked it up.
Remember the astronomy year 1997 well.. thanks for sharing Ed. Was on the list for an AP 130 when I go the same call from Marg after years of the dreaded waiting list, just couldn't afford it at the time, so I had to pass. Many years after I am fortunate to now own a few AP's, including Roland's signature eyepieces that I will never sell. :-)
Ed, technically not a scope, but I really wish I had not sold my 22x60 Takahashi Astronomer binoculars - despite the fact that they went to a friend who is a fine person and a good astronomer, and I converted the cash into a badly need Losmandy mount. They were absolutely amazing, and I know that there is very little chance that I will ever sniff another pair... It is wonderful to see you TH-cam channel - I just now discovered it, having read your scope reviews for years. Clear Skies!
Original Oak Classic. But I reacquired another one. This one ought. Serial number 001. Annealed in Carl Zambuto’s oven ground polished coated… bought it from another individual for a ridiculous price. But I’ve never looked back. Exquisite.
I am flipping scopes to a 13-16" Dob... or so I thought. I love all 7, they're going no where!
I enjoy your videos, you convey your thoughts so well!
1) Celestron/Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite. My favorite grab n' go. Used to use it on the sidewalk in SF on an EQ-1 motorized mount next to John Dobson, which annoyed him, but he did not criticize the views! BTW, I now have two--wanna buy one?
2) Astro-Physics Traveler. Used as an imager back in 1999 with 2.25 FILM. Sold to put a down payment on the then newly introduced TEC 140. Canceled order since Yuri was not going to make large correctors for it (only one other guy wanted one). Have a recently acquired TEC 140 now; but shoulda kept the Traveler!
3) Takahashi FC100. At one point I had it piggy-backed on my 17.5" homebuilt Dob. Traded it and an AP 6" f/9 with mounts for a BMW motorcycle. (BTW: I don't regret getting rid of this older AP with vintage AP mount; not nearly as good as the stuff coming out of Astro-Physics just a few years later and now, of course.)
4) Coulter 4.25 f/4 "coffee-can" scope. Great wide field views. My favorite finder on my 17.5 homebuilt Dob: Same orientation as the big scope; able to get all of the Veil Nebula in for example, and used to match star finder fields when looking for faint Hickson's, e.g. in the big scope.
5) Celestron 8" Starhopper Dob. Excellent star test! Those adjustable altitude bearings came in handy for the inevitable balance issues. I think I traded it for a Kodak digital camera circa 2000. Still have the camera, but it's not worth two cents now.
Nice seeing you, Ed! Like others, I have been reading your reviews for decades! So much better than S&T reviews: Have they EVER met a scope they didn't like?
You get the like for A, annoying Dobson by bringing one of them "lens scopes on an EQ mount" around him, and B, for sharing the regret of selling an 8" f/8 Sonotube Starhopper. None of the other brand sonotubes call my name, but I want mine back too.
Ed, the scope I regret selling the most was the 7 inch Starmaster Oak Classic, which was sold to you! Others I regretted selling, such as the TV Oracle, but I purchased one of those again.
My Intes-micro MN78 delux that I swapped for a celestron C8 aa it was more portable. Most beautiful views I have ever had. Now have a MN76 but it has an oversize secondary for fully illuminated views ..... it’s not the same :(
I recently sold a B&L Criterion 4000 to a retiring coworker. Old, 110V AC drive Schmidt Cass 4" tabletop. It was with a mostly complete eyepiece set and a couple of extras and had given me some of my best views of Saturn on a night of great seeing... He had never had a scope before and came back a couple of days later telling me how he and his son saw the moon! His face literally lit up as he talked about it! It was a great moment to sell it and help him get started, but I also miss its convenience and solid build. Might have to replace that some day if I can find room in the house... 👍
Great video Ed, and yes I have two scopes I regret selling , but one I found another here goes. Bout 10 years ago i came across a C102F OTA, absolutely loved it, but reasons that I can't get straight in my head I needed money to purchase another scope and sold...regretted it for years!! 2 years ago a friend of mine passed away, he was an avid observer, and one of his prized possessions was a beautiful C102F OTA w a moonlight focuser...I now own that both incredible and sentimental scope, which someone will have to pry out of my hands...I'll never sell that one!! The second scope I regretted selling was a most fantastic TMB 100/800...probably the finest optical instrument I ever looked through....don't ask my why did I sell, I still smack myself on the head for that one...Bob Midiri
I never should have sold my little Orion 90mm MCT. That wee thing was my first-ever telescope and only now with hindsight do I realize how its utility far outstrips what anyone pays for it, even new.
Incidentally, I recently cleaned and boxed my utterly superb AP Traveler, intending to keep only my new (and truly excellent) Stowaway. Thanks in no small part to you, though, I still cannot convince myself to part with it!
Great videos. I regret selling my 9.25 as well. I think I saw the best views of Jupiter with it. As well as nebulas and DSO’s. Lately, I’ve realized that I just love the views through APO’s, but I can’t afford a TEC or AP. I was about to pull the trigger on a Tak, but WO released a 91mm Fluorite recently and I couldn’t give up the chance to get it. 91mm. Great size.
I feel your pain, sold a 74' C 14 and Questar 3.5, marriage, new house, work back then just no time,.....big mistake.
I’ve always wanted to look through a Questar
Yeah...a couple. My Televue 76 (I have an 85 and love it but that 76 was just awesome) and my Celestron C5+ on the single-fork wedge. That was a little scope that could and did. I have a Meade LX90 ACF that doesn't star align properly and the TV-85...the Televue gets all the love. What I really want is a C8 on a solid equatorial mount.
I had a wonderful Takahashi FS-128 and have regretted selling it ever since. It was in pristine condition and gave extremely clear views of the stars and planets.
I regret selling my Takahashi 102 FC, it was perfect optically. The moon looked like it was covered with diamonds at low power and it soaked up power like a sponge. At the time I thought I had too many scopes. Big mistake as using my LCX-200 14" is a time sink and at 60 lnb for the tube it's a serious working out to set it up.
Robert Hodgson - Regrets? None!
The Saturn/Jupiter conjunction event rejuvenated my interest in amateur astronomy. I dusted off my Edmund Scientific red & tan Voyager 6001 refracting telescope. I pulled the little gem from long-term storage and had a great viewing experience with my family at home in Northeastern Florida. This morning I found the Edmund SKY GUIDE by Terence Dickinson and Sam Brown which was included with the telescope. I WILL NOT SELL THE VOYAGER SCOPE OR THE GUIDE. I cannot be bought! The rest of the story includes finding the gold in the Ed Ting video series and the realization that it takes time to learned the craft of observing the heavens as an amateur. I became a new member of a local astronomy club. Thanks Ed for your amazing video series.
TV Pronto and the TV85 Loved them and wish I still had them.
I bought my Televue Pronto in 2000 but sold it 5 years ago for a Skywatcher Equnox 80. While I had the Pronto I used it for looking at the Moon, planets, brighter deepsky objects. Although the Equinox is a true apo, I still miss the Pronto.
I have a pronto I haven’t used in a long long time. I might consider selling it. If anyone is interested talk to me.
Hello Ed great videos. I was in at astrofest Kankakee I'm thinking the same year. Dave from Tech 2000 and I wandered around looking through Scopes including the starmaster 10.5 and astrophysics. If it was the same year Saturn was absolutely beautiful. The seeing was outstanding there was some clouds but Saturn just stayed away from the blockage. When we looked through the 10 and 1/2 in Star master with the go to tracking drive on it we could see the dark line spokes in the rings of Saturn. That's when Rick introduced us to the idea of zambuto mirrors blowing away refractors. So we thought let's go down to the astrophysics display and see how Saturn looked in a great refractor with the great seeing conditions. No comparison. Zambuto mirrors Plus starmaster and Rick a great combination. I personally own a cave 10 inch F7 a astrola 1961. What a great scope crappy clock dry but a great scope. Also I have a 12 1/2 inch mag one Porta ball super portable telescope with a zambuto mirror. I paid $125 for the cave and $1,100 for the Porta ball. But I feel so lucky I will never sell these two scopes. Congratulations on your videos
Regret selling 6” maksutov made by the late Max Bray. You have a good video personality BTW.
Folks are going to laugh but... my old 60mm Tasco with the reflex finder, on a German equatorial mount. It was my re-entry into astronomy. Bought it at Montgomery Ward, a long-gone department store chain. Legendary performance? Nope. But it was a one handed carry and I took it out into the yard every night there was a even cheater hole. Saw things that were legendary to me - because I was out under the sky with it. It succumbed to aperture fever and I've regretted selling it every night since that wasn't "good enough" to take out a larger scope on a heavier mount.
I usually give them away to young people in my family and buy new , would love the chance to buy used though .
The summer after I graduated H.S. i sold my 10" Dob I built for a school science project. I took that money and bought a used Odyssey 13.1 purple beast. I built a roller and would roll it out and have neighbors waiting in line to take a peek. I went in the Air Force and the scope sat for years in my fathers garage. When I got out of the service I sold it on a spur of the moment decision, would luv to have them back...but hope they are being put to good use.
Still missing my first SCT - a Celestron C5+. What a beautiful little telescope. But somehow I managed to keep its (sloppy) half fork mount. Later I got one of the newer C5 OTA, but... not the same emotion (and implementation).
I kind of want back my first good telescope, an 8" sonotube Celestron Starhopper.
It's outclassed across the board and the tube is way bigger than it needs to be for an 8" f/6, meaning that only the very largest of my vehicles can fit it... it left to make room for a 12" Skywatcher flextube.
It was the right move for sure, but there's something I miss about it. Probably just because it was through that telescope that I realized that yes, I am the kind of person that will stay outside all night regardless of temperature so long as it is clear and calm.
I'd have rather kept both of the 6" f/8s I've owned too, but the capability is just too similar to my current 8" f/6.
Well before selling any scope I need to buy one first. These things are really expensive for me :P. Anyway Thank you for doing these videos.
Meade 7"f/15 mak/cass UHTC ota with built in fans and locking mirror, it was only 22 lbs and i put a feather touch micro on it. It was one best views i ever got of Saturn at 300 to 400x powers back in about 2008 or 9 ish. i sold it about 2013.
I regret scrapping my 16". It had a really nice 1" thick plate glass primary that was right around 1/4 wave, super nice images at low and high mags. Sold the mirror for a few hundred bucks to finance my 20.5" which had absolutely garbage optics.
Oh man. As soon as you mentioned "telephone call from Marge" I knew what you were going to say! My regretted sales include a Celestron/Vixen 90mm f14.4 achro, a TS 90mm f6.6 triplet apo with the most perfect optics I'd ever seen, and a 150mm f8 achro that I completely stripped down, refinished and tricked out. Why did I sell? Probably to buy other things. Won't sell my Tak though! ;)
Did you ever manage to get your grey FC-100 back from Mike? I see it's in your garage in your State of the Collection video 2022 ? I'd love to see a video review of it, including shots of the lens cell. I have a grey, year 1985, FC-100 incoming with a MC lens (replaced by Tak I believe).
2- I sold a Skywatcher Esprit 120ED and a Celestron C9.25 Edge.
My 1970's orange C-5 with the dual synchronous drive motors. I also let go of the tripod I used - made for the C-14 (the telescope was VERY stable when set up ;) )
150mm Skywatcher f/8 refractor, blue tube version. Although not an apochromatic, the views were crystal clear and a 495 long pass filter reduced the colours to a very low level. It actually was damaged by the shipping company during transit so now nobody is enjoying that big refractor, sad loss.
Oh boy, I had a 10” F6 Starmaster with the first 10” mirror ground by Zambuto, serial Number 10-001 on the mirror with a .95 strehl. Unfortunately I sold it because I just couldn’t get away to a dark site more that once or twice a year, my work is demanding. So I decided to let it go as it sat for months at a time. Now I find myself getting ready to move to a place under much darker skies with lots of space to keep the scope set up but, it’s gone.
My 8" Portaball!
I don't sell anything, I have 3 car's in the garage, and a growing amount of telescopes, and so far they all have their purpose and get used for that.
The planet killers don't get used often because deep sky I way more interesting, but they stay, you never know when you need them!😉
For some reason, regrets can be a persons most vivid memories in life.
damn 1977 1:16.. you look young then.
again Ed Ting, it is such a shame you don't put any value in these things..if you cant remember any of the prices, hence all these sales and purchases, sure fair enough, but it is highly fascinating to sense price-evolvement over time, particularly with older telescopes not least across the globe from viewers abroad where prices vary greatly.
It makes such a big deal when the viewer can relate to all these relative terms, of _ cheap and expensive & good deals, and a bad deal..
It doesn't need to be on the figure just rough ballparks.
Ahh. you did it on number 1.. perfect.. thx a lot +1 though would have been fitting if you also stated what you sold it for, to that guy where money was no hindrance, as that can perhaps put it into perspective your financial motive at the time..
#1 80mm Vixen FL, I didn't really have a good mount for it so I sold it instead. #2 DGM OA 6.5 off-axis newtonian. Collimating this was something I never got great at and the skies out here aren't the best for planets. Or so I told myself. #3 Starblast 4.5 - a silly little scope, but I sure used it a lot.
I purchased a Meade LX200 8 inch. I only had it for a few days and discovered that the right ascension Drive plastic gears were stripped. I returned it to to seller. I should have kept it and upgraded to metal gears ⚙️
20" Obsession 6" Astro Physics 2 1/4" Unitron equatorial refractor > Regret Regret Regret. Oh yea And a 6" Criterion
I bought an old orange Celestron C8 back in 1978. Owned it for 10 years. No, the optics weren't the best but they were decent and the aperture was too. It was easy to set up, I used it all the time. I still remember the first time sweeping through Sagittarius, checking out all the nebulae and star clusters. After 10 years, I got a bad case of aperture fever, sold the Celestron and built a 17.5" Coulter Dobsonian. I overbuilt the mount and it was really heavy. The views were amazing, the optics were decent, but I hardly used it. It was too big and painful to set up. I should've kept the C8. Oh well, maybe again in the future.
I sold an AP130GTX I got new in a moment of weakness. I have other really nice scopes, including a new AP Stowaway, but I'll never stop regretting selling that one. I learned my lesson though. The Stowaway is very clearly not for sale!
Ouch, an AP130GT!
Selling my first TeleVue Pronto. Bad mistake. Bought a used one years later and then got a TV76. The second Pronto is still with me.
My name finally came up for an Astro Physics scope - something like 5+ years after I signed up. The price had more than doubled! I passed. I probably could have afforded it but it just made no sense. Cost per performance (I don't image) was way out of wack. I blame you for my Pronto! :D Which I still have.
Ed not sure if you will see this but I have an opportunity to pick up a a Tak What do you think a fair price is for a Tak FS 78 Number 1 for 1998 in a wood presentation case with Tak finder, bracket, clamshell, losmandy plate and Takahashi 2 speed focuser? Thanks
Umm...that would be all of my scopes! The TV 101, the Astro-Tech 90t, the 8”/10” Orion dobs, the TV binoviewers, now rebought! The Borg 76/100 Eds. Sold the Capewise 8” carbon tube version, bought it back! It’s the Astro-Tech 90t I miss the most, excellent scope, combined with the TV binoviewer...wow! Just wow!
I am a Newtonian guy. I do have a 6” refractor but I don’t use it very often. My first telescope was a Cave 6” f/8. I used it for 14 years and loved it, but I finally broke down and upgraded to a 10” f/5. To make a short story long, one day my friend came over and saw the two scopes sitting next to each other so he said he wanted to buy the 6”. I told him it wasn’t for sale, but every time he came over he kept insisting that he wanted it. Finally he said “How much do you want for it?” I quoted a price that was about double what I paid for it, thinking he’d tell me I was out of my mind. Unfortunately he said yes, so I had to give it to him. Sure, I had my 10” and it’s great (I still have it 36 years later) but I really loved that 6”. Well, after over 30 years what happens? I see a completely restored 6” Cave f/8 for sale and it’s in better than new condition so of course I snapped it up right away! So I have three scopes that I really like and probably won’t buy another one. It turns out now that my wife is now interested in astronomy so I may just give her the 6” Cave. At least it will stay in the family.
The Coulter Odyssey Compact 10.1" f/4.5 Dobsonian Telescope is my Number 1. I bought it in 1984.
😢
I have a C14 edge and dont use it much at all. I cannot sell it as I wanted one since I was a child. To me, its the Beethoven of amateur scopes but its weight is restrictive.
I should not have sold my Takahashi FS128. I have had several telescopes os all types… but this Taka was the best, even better to me than my two Celestron C9.25 that I sold twice, as Ed Ting did, my Taka TSA 120, Celestron 11 SC. The other telescopes Meade 10SC, Vixen 80 achromat, Vixen NA120, Vixen 102 ED, Skywatcher 10 dobsonian and Zeus telescopes are not in this category.
Eduardo Galan
Ed, I regret selling my custom made 10” dobsonian. Just a dream with ball bearing in the base for buttery smooth movement and excellent optics. Still regret selling.
Ed, I got on the Astro-Physics waiting list in Dec of 1999 for a 152mm. I kind of forgot about it. I got married and moved cross country. Fast froward 13 years 8 months. Valentines day 2013. I get a call from Daleen at Astro-Physics, she informs me they are no longer producing the older 152's or what the 152's have evolved into, the 155's or what the 155's evolved into, the 160's. But, she says Roland has a few extra blanks for the past run of 175 EDF's left over (5 to be exact) and he will be making those available to the old 152/155/160 list. She states, if all goes well with the manufacturing process, do I want one? Heck yes! I am ecstatic! After hanging up the phone, I am left wondering how I am going to pay for this new scope. I sell off everything I can think of and take out a small loan from the local credit union. I explain to the loan officer how this is a once in a life time thing and it WILL only go up in value. I get the loan and convince my wife this is a good move for us financially, she buys into it, but just barely. I take delivery in November 2013. It is a huge beast of a scope. I have to buy a new mount, obviously, my CGEM just won't handle it. I find a used AP900 (which is a beautiful mount btw). I keep the scope for 5 years use it occasionally from my glaring suburban home in Chandler, AZ (burb of Phoenix). Unbelievable views of Saturn! Financial issues with Wife leaving her job, I get the idea to sell it. Needless to say, I miss it. It was my once in a life time scope. David
Well you had it and I'm sure you made money on the sale. My regret? I was offered a 152 Starfire back in 1987 while waiting for the 6 f8. It would have been the first of two Starfires made made. Like many I was concerned about the extra cost (Roland said $2300) as compared to $1400 for the 6 F8. I realized later that it would have been superior optically even though it would have been slightly longer at F9. And 35 years later the money is insignificant.
My biggest regret was selling a Takahashi TOA 130, I still miss it apart from the weight at 4am getting it on the mounting and realising how bad it would be to drop it. Still it was a case for having a roof over my head and food to eat. Or having the scope. The decision prolonged my agony for only a few month and I ended up living in my car for over 2 years. It would have been a little cramped if I had to share that space with my Tak. Still the happy news is that I am recovering and have 4 modest telescopes now. The next on my list would be a Tak 60mm FS assuming the Gods give me a break
When i started stockpiling scopes, my wife suggested I give to Goodwill the Jason 313 my dad bought me when I when I was eight years old. I did. Dumb. I later replaced it with someone else's as a reminder (close enough). I sold a Nexstar 11 GPS that had a refigured mirror. Best planetary images. I remember Jupiter moon transits where you could make out the moon against the face of Jupiter. Nothing's ever been that clear to me. Sold an Ed Beck 16" f4.5. That really nice mirror should have been a keeper to swap out dobsonian structures around. I am keeping (til I give up the hobby) a 17.5" coulter that I picked up at my in-laws in Michigan. Terry Ostahowski wouldn't touch it for two years, until he needed to pay for a new coating machine. He made it a 0.98. Amazing. Heirloom, if my son has any interest.
O.K., Ed. I have one that I regretted selling and one that I've never let go of. The regret? The Meade 2045 4" SCT. Perfect scope for all my needs. What a dummy. Never saw one again, either. The other that I DIDN'T sell? My pride and joy and first serious scope purchase, the Meade LX200 Classic. 20 years of tremendous views, pictures and adventures together. Many mods to keep it up from the dreaded electronic failures, including a full spare set of everything that makes it work. It will leave me when I'm dead. Oh, and the ONLY signed copy of my Burgess 1278 5" refractor. Only 200 made. Good luck finding one. There ya' go.
just the second i've seen of you, but you're great.
TEC 160ED serial number 009. Man that was a scope. I cannot replace the sights I had through that.
You should test out the new Stellarvue SVX scopes
Never sold my 6" F8 AP refractor. Delivery at the time was a year. But back when there was still a Yahoo AP group I had to laugh when a few years ago one Greek amateur was offered a new 175AP, passed on it, and then asked to be put on the "next" large lens list. I had to laugh: That ship has sailed forever!.
I would pay to be in the same room just to check one out.
Jim, see my comment above about my 175 EDF.... David Standen
@@davidstanden480 Commented if you can find it
I live in Seattle probably the worst place in the country for astronomy but recently there was a Questar 90 mm in like new condition with all the accessories and the original carrying case for 2500 on craigslist. Then a few days later the price dropped to 2000. I could have easily afforded it but when I thought about it it really was just what it was and not a scope that performs well, was the reason I wanted it. In other words it would have been a status symbol instead of a practical purchase. But I still kind of regret not buying it.
Traveler is probably the only scope that everyone regrets for selling.
Takahashi FS102. Love, Love, Love. Then I thought I could afford an FS128 but only if I sold the FS102. The FS128 was great but it started to not get used due to a heavy work load. My 80mm got most of the star time so then the FS128 went. I want to start over with the FS102 and not look for anything more.
You should always keep one different style from each category of telescope the biggest you have or the best and then get rid of other things but always keep one staple from each category of telescopes that would be my advice good day. Vancouver Canada I'm getting back into astronomy myself. Look at buying a sky view 16 in Trussell dobsonian telescope❤🎉❤🎉😂😂😂😂
I gave one to a family member who wanted into star watching. That person lied to me about getting into the hobby and just wanted it to sell. I didn’t know the person had got on drugs and was lying to family to get money for their addiction. The real sad part is after they took my telescope they felt so guilty about robbing me I never seen that person again.
Ouch to number 1. That would be painful. And I knew your website was awesome, but I did not realise it was so amazing it pre-dated the internet! ;-)
Hahaha! Thanks for pointing that out!
I wish I hadn’t sold my first C-14. The views of Jupiter were AMAZING.
How much did you get for the Astro-Physics scope in 1999?
now with mars approach this year, i regret selling twice my mewlon 210. i sold it first time over decade ago because my em10 was bit too lightweight. i found the exact same scope (same serial number) years later.
again i sold it because i felt my newer em11 was a bit too lightweight.
now that i have em200....oops
I sold a TEC MC250/20 to a friend 10 years ago, when I was more focused on deep sky imaging and remote observatory things. What a mistake!
That sure looked painful...... *. Great content *
Mine was an XT8. I know, it’s not a tak or an AP but you know what, I still regret it. Could’ve had a dog of a mirror for all I know lol
My second telescope I regret getting rid of .. I sold it .. I really enjoyed that more than the telescope my mom gave me I. High school
Oh nooooo. How did I know an AP would be on the list as #1.
Hi Ed, long long time no see. I really regret selling my Portaball 12 1/2 inch Newtonian reflector.
Sorry you sold your 12 and 1/2 in. Portable I have one and I love it especially on a equatorial tracking platform. It will never leave me. I did sell an lx200 that told me nothing and it was a great scope. It was, it real well and had really good images. Have to sell it for some money worst mistake
The only telescope that I have sold was a Sky 90 and I really don't miss it but I have an original Takahashi Fc-76 that I will never part with.
I think the insanity comes from having too many scopes. There is a redundancy factor that floats around along with the prospect of making money from the sale, then realizing quality the true value was not necessarily the money, at all.
I sold an old C8 that had incredible optics. It gave the best planetary views through any scope I've used. Must have been a lucky one. Regret selling it.
Derek OKeeffe, I bought my first telescope in 1980, it also is a C8. I still have it and it is still one of my favorites.
Should make a "top 5 telescopes that I DONT regret selling."
I'll start
#1 Celestron powerseeker 127*
*I sold my only good moon filter with it....which I regret.
As you, few month ago, I sold my c9.25😢, to bought a 12 inches newtonian for astrophotography
I sold my 50th Anniversary Questar with a Tri-stand. What was I thinking? I plead temporary insanity.
Hypnotists and magicians have a private life and hobbies too! This happens all the time.
Lmao! It’s like you went on a drunken bender and sold a telescope. I couldn’t stop Laughing Thx for your videos. Subscribed.
I’ve got an an offer to buy a second hand TAKAHASHI FSQ 85 ED - very good condition for around 1900 USD 🧐
Should I get it ? I mean… is it worth ( price wise ) - My current and only telescope is an Orion XT8 Classic.
My budget is around 2500 $ maximum - and searching for un upgrade to complement the XT8 - start astrophotography & be more mobile.
Thank you!
That does not sound like enough money for that scope. Keep in mind the FSQ series is heavily skewed towards imaging. Astrophotography begins (and ends) with the mount. It is the one thing you must master before doing anything else. Be sure you have the mount squared away before you even think about buying an optical tube.
@@edting Makes perfect sense and I already watched many of your videos to ( all thou not fully focused on astrophotography ) to learn that the mount is more important than the telescope itself.
Forgive me if I was a bit unclear in my initial comment - what I meant is : my next scope budget alone would be around 2500 $ max. For the mount I'm planning to get an - Sky-watcher AZ-EQ5 Pro - .
So, my question was if I should go ahead and buy the Takahashi FSQ 85mm ED - second hand - for about 1900 $ - given my scope budget. Or should I opt for a new Celestron Edge HD - 8 inch for example?
Can't make up my mind...
@@edting Thank you Sir!
Please please be very careful here. If you are serious about astrophotography you are likely committing yourself to a 2-3 year learning curve at minimum. You didn't specify which branch of imaging you are interested in - Nightscapes, Webcam Lunar/Planetary, or Deep Sky. They are vastly different. If you want to do Deep Sky (very difficult BTW) an apo is your best choice. After mastering the mount you need to master the autoguider and PixInsight, then sort out the issues with your camera (ie, don't use an unmodded DSLR/mirrorless). The optical tube is last on the hierarchy. Many beginners make the mistake of paying all the attention to the optical tube which gets you nowhere if you think about it. If Webcam Lunar/Planetary is your thing get the SCT, but you don't need the Edge version.
@@edting Deep Sky it is indeed that I wish to have the honor of photographing! But not just to photograph… observe as well. Time to needed to learn doesn’t worry me, I will enjoy the process of it! If God’s keeps me healthy and well, what else is better there to do when you have some moments of peace, other than marvel at His creation, search it and learn about it! I read that the Tak FSQ 85mm is amazing for visuals as well and its a different experience than the Dob XT8.
I guess in this situation- I should go for it. I will probably get the Celestron Edge 8 Inch later as well 😅.
That would be my : “ THREE ON A BUDGET! “
THANK YOU ED FOR ALL YOUR VALUABLE INSIGHT AND TIME TO REPLY!
God bless and clear skies!
Not so much a telescope but I truly regret selling my 9mm 100 degree Explore Scientific EP to a friend of mine. Of all the EP's that I have (and sold) that's the one I have the biggest regret. (Still hurts especially at their (ES) price point now!)
Maybe you'll be happy with the 9mm Myriad 100°, it's the sharpest and whitest of my three Myriads. It seems to turn an achro into a semi-apo, and a semi-apo into an apo. 365astronomy sometimes stocks them and asks only 185€.