I think we speak too generally and this is too aproximative.
For opinion is better a real comparative with a specific model A and B.
Comparation (1)
New Owon SDS7102 (350 Euro) VS Used good state Tektronix 2465 (250 Euro). Only performance is prioritare for me, not functions or features.
What is the best ??
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Comparation (2)
New Rigol DS2072 (700 Euro) VS Used good state Tektronix 2465 (250 Euro). Only performance is prioritare for me, not functions or features.
What is the best ??
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Comparation (3)
New Tektronix TDS2012C (1100 Euro) VS Used good state Tektronix 2465 (250 Euro). Only performance is prioritare for me, not functions or features.
What is the best ??
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I will use only few hours / years (I' am a hobbist my real work is software developer).
So the probability to break are not very high on my case.
This comparing is nearly fun.
But also there you compare Rolls-Royce to cheap Nissan.
But which one is better in use. It depends 100% and exatly what you do and what is your need.
If you need 400MHz oscilloscope for continuous or repeating waveforms (exept slow speed can also be not repetitive) this old 2465 beats these others just 10-0
If you need capture 20ns pulse what randomly appear some times per second or minute.. nearly every cheapest digital scope beat this 2465 like 10-0. These can capture it and you see this pulse... and with 2465 you do not see anything(1) what ever you do...even if you work in "dark room"
(1) exept if you have set trigger right, it blinks every time this pulse appear.
For more complicated things situation and comparing go more and more complex.
It NEED know what is use and what want see and what not and it need personally think.
If you have posibility to go some place where you can use old (good) analog oscilloscope and today cheap digital oscilloscope please go and look with person who can also use these equipments. After then you know what you need. This is nearly only way.
Or, buy this 250eur 2465 and use it and then if you meet situation later that something you really can not do with it, then go and look this day digital scopes. But how 2465 price can be 250
if it really is good? (or what it means this "good", is it fully functioning and it can also proof and is it also good condition if look real accuracy.
If someone have disturbed internal adjustments (or loose calibration) it need knowledge, equipments and work for do full internal adjustments/clibration procedure as service manual read and it is not 5 minute bisquit. And if it have timer/counter option (really nice option) it need more accurate equipments for this work. Also if I remember right, it need also external and good oscilloscope etc)
With today cheap digital scopes you do not walk to this situation never.
Personally in many kind of mixed repair/service/adjust many test equipments I want use good analog oscilloscope. This is for me, not for recommend to others.
With cheap or middle level digital... it can barely but too much aliazing and other troubles.. and also analog scope is much more fast to use than digital where you need go to this and that menu etc.. or just try look AM modulation with low end digital... and if you push autosetup many times this procedure do not understand right what is signal and you find you are looking alias. With unknown signals... with analog scope you see immediately some truth what is there but of course it need exercise and experiment.
But if you know any single thing now what you need and what this 2465 can not do at all... then stay away from this well made professional equipment. If you need example just stop scope and look...or capture single shot one fast event and then look it. With 2465 you can not.
(ok, old times we use oscilloscope camera what get trigger from oscilloscope... but also this is difficult becouse in one shot normal crt phosphor "writing speed" is not enough for really fast signal. But also, in old times, there was not so much these signals)
If you think you work with "audio" and it is like analog scope may be ok... why not buy more simple but good Tektronix analog oscilloscope. There are many good models. But stay away these what are made for cheap markets. There is example some 2000 series Tek analogs what can classify just as junk. (designed and made as disposable billowing - but I do not want name these models - it is better to find this information from some other source)
Also some "manyname" entry and mid level old analog oscilloscopes....Ph.... Ke..... Tr..... Hi.... Go.... and dozen of other names many of these are made just as old cheapest entertainment gears...nice looking and nightmare inside... after years all switches may have bad contacts and most terrible are some rotary swithes and some multicontact push switches exept some what are really desgned for reliability, potentiometers... and so on. Many times CRT in these scopes are just cheap crap if compare to best Tek tubes.
For 24xx scopes. Look carefully input attenuators works perfect with all settings and repeatedly without any signs of wear or damage. If change voltage band you must not see any kind of "scratch" in signal or any kind momentarily unreliable level. (also 50ohm)
It is also different situation if scope have 60000 power on hours or if it have 1000hours. But yhen, there is so different hours...just as in car..there is just so different kilometers.
First there is lack in CRT dynamic. Adjust trace to left border using example 10us or something... turn fastest speed.. look trace...it may disappear from 1-3 divs area from left. Turn more brightness. How near left side you can see it without very bad focus.
But what means perfomance, functions, features.
Perfomance is important... what you need perfomance if you can not use it for your needs.
Is it nice to keep performance and quality on the exhibition shelf becouse no use.
(I have here several Tek24xx models/versions here in good/extremely good working condition and also I active use some unit what I have reserved for my own use. And I know, as far as work, I will never end using analog scope. If I go to situatoin that some tell me I can keep just one... just only one.. yiu name it. It is easy peace of cake. I keep my 2465B and all dgitall cheaper and more expensive scopes can go) 2465 keep just becouse Tek7000's I have and plugins is too heavy and big lot.)
eur 250 for real good condition 2465 is nearly like get free.