Agreement here. A standard DSLR lens will work fine on an inexpensive mount.

As with any mount, keep the vibrations to a minimum. Don't set it on a deck and have a dance.

If you want "star trails" with Perseids shooting through, then of course you need no tracking mount whatsoever.

He would point to the south pole star, you insensitive clod!

(if he can see it!) :-)

In case you haven't noticed, it already has blown up in their faces and killed 11 workers.

I looked at Voicestream/T-Mobile before. Get 10 miles off an Interstate or away from an urban area and you've got nothing...at least that's the way it is (was) here in Indiana a couple years ago.

I really don't travel internationally so GSM is not an issue for me.

(and yes, there are a couple urban areas in Indiana)