Suggestions for a work colleague - portable $600-$800?

[iceman]

Hi guys

What scope(s) would you recommend for someone who wants something portable (to take camping), around $600-$800?

Cheers

[LewisM]

William Optics Megrez etc.

Orion also "make" one, that I believe is a W.O made scope.

Takahashi FS60 is another.

[iceman]

$600-$800?

[Lee]

Total cost - including a mount??

[iceman]

Yeh, total cost. They don't have anything.

[acropolite]

Portable is a rubbery description, how portable, do they want to carry it in a backpack or do they have reasonable space in a car. If the latter is the case I'd be looking out for something second hand, I've seen a couple of Nexstar 6SE's for sale under $700 in the icetrade section. At a pinch the 6SE could be pushed in to service without the tripod, (e.g. using a bolt through a picnic table) total space needed not much more than a rolled up sleeping bag.

[mithrandir]

Camping? Is that something to fit in a carry pack or just small enough to not take up too much space in the car.
How about a small dob? Say a Skywatcher Flex-tube 8".
Or a Skywatcher Black Diamond 102 x 500 AZ3.

[rmuhlack]

I use a Long Perng 80mm f6 achromat on an EQ2 as my "travel scope" setup. Something similar would easily fit into the budget. I think the LP scope i have has been discontinued, but a WO zenithstar, or perhaps the vixen 80mm achromat (http://myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-046A)on a light weight mount would suit?

This (http://myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-068A)could be another option, although perhaps is a bit bigger than what your work colleague is after.

[LewisM]

I thought you only meant SCOPE Mike.

Total.... hmmm, used EQ3 with a used MEgrez :) I have seen some smallish WO's around the $400 mark 2nd hand. I paid $400 total for mine by memory, with flattener etc. And a used EQ3 is peanuts.

[mental4astro]

Visual or photo?

Money to burn or chast?

Dipping toe, or mad keen?

Camping? Tent & remote?

There's a lot of variables.

I know of your passion for photo, so I won't mention photo gear as you are better informed than most folks on this.

Money to burn, then let them burn with the refractors mentioned earlier, & then add a mount, power, EPs to match, etc. I don't think this is portable camping fare really. Also, if they are new to this, it wouldn't be a great idea such a set up camping. One way ticket to madness.

For visual & camping, you need to strip down. For me there are three choices in this selection process:

1. An ED scope on an AZ3 mount. This allows for some high magnification, & no slouch with wide field, but with most being f/6 & slower, not really rich field scopes. Advantage of an ED or APO is it can step into photo.

2. A 4" achro on an AZ3. I've got one of these. Ripper rich field. Does ok with high mag, but with a violet edge on bright stuff. Advantage here is inexpensive, so if damaged the tears won't run for so long, & with a 2" focuser, can take full advantage of it being a rich field scope. & if interest peeters out, again small financial loss.

3. This third option is a real ugly duckling - the modest little 114 f/4.4 reflector. Light weight (bonus in camping) & still packs some nice aperture. Despite nearly all using spherical mirrors, these are still fantastic rich field scopes. My first view through one at a dark sky sight was of the LMC with a 25mm plossl (good optical match too) - absolutely astounding detail! A little scope that can. Not great on high power stuff, but low & medium power, few to match it. Only use 1.25" EPs, but with camping that means less weight & less complications.

A forth option is binos. 11x70 are excellent, & just need a chair to lean back into. Easy peesy.

Mental.

[alocky]

Big binos are good for camping- there's a few 20x80 options, and it's a good excuse to get a decent camera tripod. However, my number 1 camping toy is an Edmund astroscan. I've also got an old 80mm short-tube that is a lot nicer to look through than it has any right to be. All of these would fit the budget.

Cheers,
Andrew.

[Regulus]

The little Vixen 110 Mod Mak or Short tube 100(brighter) refractor on an iOptron goto E or G would be a good little set up.

Trevor

[2stroke]

If he is not hiking then a 8" or 6" dob truss as a pref, really comes down to room. I don't know why people are shooting up names like william and tak when his not going to be using it for ap work as you defined it as a camping scope, though you could have explained in more detail what he is using it for and does he have any background in astronomy. When it comes down to visual on a budget, dob's and newt's win ever time and at that range i would be going a 6 or 8 and a few nice eyepieces so he can enjoy it, people always forget about that part of the equation. If he wants a goto then i would look at the skywatcher budget MAK and alt/az ones which go for around $500 i think and a few nice eyepieces to go with it.

If he plans to further his hobby and maybe go down the ap route then a ed80 gives him something for now and the future, put that on a eq2/3 or alt/az. If that's his budget tops remember the eyepeices because whats the point in having a scope which is limited by cheap plossl's , it a whole other world of enjoyment using a fair quality widefeild eyepiece.

[atman]

For camping maybe a scope for daytime terrestial use as well ?

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-042I


Could be a lot of fun

[iceman]

This isn't for me, and it won't be for photography.

She has said back of the car portable, not backpack portable :)

[gaa_ian]

8" Dob cant be beaten for simplicity and if hunted out 2nd hand she would have some change for a decent eyepiece or 2. I picked up an 8" Saxon Dob in excellent condition for $200 a few weeks back :eyepop:
For my part I get the most use out of my little Astroscan that goes just about everywhere, and is great for wide field views.

[iceman]

A dob with mount isn't really portable in the back of a gear with camping gear though.

The 8" dob is always my first suggestion when anyone asks, but in this case, the base just takes up so much room.

[Wavytone]

'Take camping' usually mean the mount is effectively limited to a solid camera tripod, and that means a small refractor, the old Meade 4" SCT (hard to find these days - I used to have one), or possibly a small Mak.


Dobs take up too much space for camping, unless its just you in a fairly large vehicle. If there's more than 1 going, forget it.

[ZeroID]

Just how serious is the intended user about this ? My Grab&Go is just the 80mm Achro shorty and an old photo tripod modified. One small case with a few EPs and the tripod chucked in will go almost anywhere. In a dark sky it can scare the bejeebers out of you.
( Memories of Craggy Range Vineyard at night )

[dannat]

a 5" newt on something like az/4 if they will collimate

if not a refractor on photo trpod, a spotting scope may fit the bill - i often take a 70mm spotting scope (once sold at andrews for $99 [& aust Geographic for 300] camping -it fits the bill nicely, i am often surprised how people are impressed with th views it gives on the moon. recently i even showed some ladies saturn thru it in SA, they were mor ethan happy to be able to make out the rings
--there is a 80mm mak in icetrade, they are veryvlight & fit on moderately priced photo tripods

[38degsouth]

hi all, my first post on the discussion forum :)

for camping? from my experience -something sealed, something short. It keeps the kicked-up dust out of the tube, and packs easy. The intended viewing targets would then determine whether you're after a wide field refractor or a MAK/SCT for lunar/planetary viewing. My C5 on an eq2 has travelled with me many a time -certainly compact enough to travel overseas to eclipses. Great light gathering, great on moon and planets -and good for bird watching if they stay still :D.

[MortonH]

The Bosma 80mm achro is supposed to be good. It's f6.25 so should have less CA than your typical f/5 models. Andrews sells them as a complete kit for $399 including a tripod.

[The Mekon]

I used to take my 70mm Pronto on a camera tripod. Worked well. Better setups than this are available for less money now.