Hello
I was lucky enough to buy not one but two older 8"sct's ($900 for both)one being a Meade 2080 and the other a 1989 Ultima. Both with all original equipment and in pretty good shape considering their age. The Ultima has the super wedge, 8x50 RA Polaris, and JMI Mini Max DSC. It's also the "non-PEC" version with the rechargable battery and not the 9 volt. But no Dec motor or hand unit which I'm trying to decide if it's worth it or not.
For a hand unit and Dec motor it'll run me about $230 or so. The Meade does have all that but it's even older than the Ultima. I'm pretty much certain I'll end up selling the Meade later on. It's just if it's worth "upgrading" the Ultima. I'd like to get a bit more into astrophotography later on. Right now I'm working on piggybacking and staying with film. But if I decide on "autoguiding" will the Ultima mount work say with GuideDog or some other guiders? Some have suggested getting the Atlas and using the ota with it till I get another one (refractor or 10" sct) then moving it back to the original forks. I really hate to part with it since when it's all up it really does look impressive even if it's just an 8". What's my best course of action?
Kenny J.
1989 Ultima 8"
1981 Meade 2080 8"
Orion XT8 Dob
I was lucky enough to buy not one but two older 8"sct's ($900 for both)one being a Meade 2080 and the other a 1989 Ultima. Both with all original equipment and in pretty good shape considering their age. The Ultima has the super wedge, 8x50 RA Polaris, and JMI Mini Max DSC. It's also the "non-PEC" version with the rechargable battery and not the 9 volt. But no Dec motor or hand unit which I'm trying to decide if it's worth it or not.
For a hand unit and Dec motor it'll run me about $230 or so. The Meade does have all that but it's even older than the Ultima. I'm pretty much certain I'll end up selling the Meade later on. It's just if it's worth "upgrading" the Ultima. I'd like to get a bit more into astrophotography later on. Right now I'm working on piggybacking and staying with film. But if I decide on "autoguiding" will the Ultima mount work say with GuideDog or some other guiders? Some have suggested getting the Atlas and using the ota with it till I get another one (refractor or 10" sct) then moving it back to the original forks. I really hate to part with it since when it's all up it really does look impressive even if it's just an 8". What's my best course of action?
Kenny J.
1989 Ultima 8"
1981 Meade 2080 8"
Orion XT8 Dob
