so i just ordered my z12 deluxe dob =D im so stoked.

what are the important accessories for the scope? the ones i have heard are, new primary mirror springs, new secondary screws, telrad, observing chair, eyepatch...

so what do you guys think, are these good to have, or unnessecary? and if you had to prioritize some what would your list look like?

Congratulations on the new scope. Replace the RAF w/telrad, observing chair, cart/casters for ease of transportation, secondary screws, primary screws and finally the eye patch.

Too bad they can't come up with a RA Telrad. Even on it's riser, it's still a neck & back breaker, I rarley use it.

I got the Baader RDF for my Z10 and I think it fit just right. Although, I'd still like to see a Telrad in action.

I got the Baader RDF for my Z10 and I think it fit just right. Although, I'd still like to see a Telrad in action.

Congrats on the new Z12! You won't be disappointed!

Must Have:
*Collimation Spring Upgrade (Take one of them down to Ace Hardware to find suitable replacement for a few cents)
*VelStraps to make carrying the OTA much easier. You can find them at Ace Hardware, Lowes, etc. for about $8-$10. You can spend the dough for ScopeTotes, but VelStraps are MUCH cheaper and do the job just as well.
*Manual Setting Circle and a Digital Angle Finder - I would strongly encourage you to research implementing a manual setting circle for your dob. Finding DSO's will be like shooting fish in a barrel. I use an HTC Evo with an app called WhereIsIt to get Alt/Az coordinates. There are a number of alternatives. Feel free to PM me with questions.
*A red flash light. You can spend the $$ on a so called astronomy flash light, but painting the lens of a regular flash light with with red nail polish will produce the same end result.

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Nice to Have:
*Telrad or some type of red dot finder. I'm not a big fan of finder scopes in general. I use an Orion red dot finder.
*Cart or dolly for moving the scope from point a to point b. It's big and heavy. In fact, you really don't realize how big it is until you set it up for the first time. The VelStraps make it easier to move, but using a dolly to roll it out is the ideal solution...but also more expensive.
*A variety of eyepieces. The combination I find myself gravitating back to is the included 2" Zhumell 30mm EP and a Zhumell 16 mm 2" 100 degree FOV eyepiece I picked up along with a night pollution filter. The scope comes with a 30mm and a 9 mm. At the very least, I would recommend something intermediate in the range of 16mm. As a side note, I have a barlow, but I rarely find the need to use it.

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*Light pollution filter. I use the Orion Skyglow filter. An O-III filter will be nice for viewing planetary nebulas, but a light pollution filter will give you good results as well. For most observers, having both is probably over kill. But, if you live in an area of even modest light pollution, a light pollution filter will definitely enhance your observing experience.
*A green laser pointer. Definitely not necessary, but nice for pointing out objects in the sky when you're observing with friends or at a star party.


Hope this helps.

-Steve

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*Light pollution filter. I use the Orion Skyglow filter. An O-III filter will be nice for viewing planetary nebulas, but a light pollution filter will give you good results as well. For most observers, having both is probably over kill. But, if you live in an area of even modest light pollution, a light pollution filter will definitely enhance your observing experience.
*A green laser pointer. Definitely not necessary, but nice for pointing out objects in the sky when you're observing with friends or at a star party.


Hope this helps.

-Steve

The suggestions above are good. The most important accessory may very well be a good observing chair.
I don't know if you need new springs and knobs and all that. Mine have been fine but only you can tell if your new scope needs those items.