TEC 140 to Portaball 12.5

Reflector-virgin here, looking for some advice. I've always been a refractor guy and currently own two. The 4.1" apo is my grab & go, airline portable scope; I can't imagine ever selling it. My TEC 140 is a wonderful scope, and delivers better, brighter images than the little guy. But recently I've been wondering how much better would I do with something like a Portaball 12.5 (which costs about what I could sell the TEC for)? A few things. I'm strictly visual. Live in a light-polluted suburb, but try to get away to darker skies on a fairly regular basis. I don't like to fiddle with equpiment and often don't have a lot of time for cool-down, which is part of the reason I like refractors. I'm happy to star hop, so giving up my go-to mount wouldn't bother me much, but I do like having a drive, so with the money I'd raise by selling the mount I could get a platform for the Portaball. Finally, I know Portaball is under new management. Anyone in a position to comment on how this has affected construction quality, customer service, etc.? Anything else I should know about?

Thanks for your thoughts,

Jim

PortaBalls are fabulous scopes for visual.
I've got a couple 8" Peter Smitka versions.

The ability to rotate the tube is a huge plus
-- you can often remain seated while observing --
and you can put the observer down-wind from the scope
to get better seeing.

I was a bit put off by the 12.5" model, since the
sphere was large and heavy, and I saw it causing
future back problems for me -- but might be fine
for you. (There is a transporter dolly for it,
but even so.)

I expect the build quality is better
than ever -- David Juckem (new owner) made many of the
components under the previous ownership, and he
seems to have addressed the known weaknesses.

Cooldown can be a minor issue. The sphere does
not breath quite as well as a open rear cell dob
design. The fan fixes this, but can make a little
vibration at high powers (perhaps Juckem has
fixed this, too). I usually ended-up re-mounting
the fan on springs to eliminate the vibration.

Views are rather refractor-like, owing to
smooth optics, minimal obstructions
(no mirror hold-down clips, smallish secondary),
and curved spider.

I advise not to sell the TEC and get the PB. Why not have both? You only live once. Try both for a while, and then decide if you have to sell one. Going from refractor to reflector is a big change, whole new way of doing and seeing that takes time to learn and adjust to.

No problems selling either.

Maybe you can find a used Portaball here on AM.

By all accounts the Portaball is to reflectors what the TEC is to refractors.

Hey, look, one just hit Astromart! No lines, no waiting... 8)


http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=650320

Doug
Midway, FL