Cheap, lightweight refractor wanted.

[[1ponders]]

Just testing out the waters here.

I may be after a small lightweight refractor to use as a guidescope shortly. After putting everything together I think my Orion/Meade combo might be too heavy as an imaging/guidescope combo for the GM-8 mount :P ya get that :lol: Doesn't mean I won't be able to use them to image with, but maybe just not together. :) I have a 102mm refractor I can use as a guidescope for the Orion, but I'd like to get an idea of what others may have for sale in the way of a 60mm or so short or longtube refractor to use with the meade.

Requirements:
Light :)
preferably with a T thread on the focus tube, if not then a two inch focus tube that can take a 1/25" reducer with a T thread.
About 60 - 76mm Diameter
F/5 (not critical) and upwards (700-800 mm focal length ideal)
Doesn't have to be the hubble as I won't ever be using it for visual work. Scratched, dinged whatever, as long as the lens is still usable and its not too far out of collimation.

cheers

[seeker372011]

Paul:

why not buy a GoLo 60 mm refractor-costs only $50-700 mm focal length and a 0.9" to 0.125 inch convertor-costs $10?

throw away the eypieces, barlow(!), tripod etc and use the OTA with your guide camera.

This is what I use with my 8 inch. It's really light which was my most important requirement. (see the picture in the "photograph of your rig" thread)

of course depends on whether GoLo still have them

[ballaratdragons]

Dirk Smith also have a cheap refractor. $59 if I remember correctly. Not great but OK for the price.

Big W should be shot! They have a Toy plastic telescope for $49!!!! It has a plastic body, plastic lenses, plastic focuser, plastic EP's etc etc. No wonder some kids get turned off astronomy with this junk. $49!!!!!!!!!!

[dhumpie]

Paul I don't know if you have seen them but there are some cheaper plastic knockoffs of the venerable Synta 80mm f/5 (they are also blue in color but have plastic everything). Don't know how much you can get them for but I know of people who have used them. The only problem with these are that the rack and pinion focusers are made of plastic and are very flimsy and cannot take the weight of say an autoguider....

Darren

[gbeal]

The ST80 (or in my case Nextstar 80) would be the choice for me, US$90 or so on Astromart.
One thing to consider, if going smaller is that with the ToUcam you may struggle for a guidestar, maybe.
Gary

[janoskiss]

You won't get either 1.25" focuser nor T-thread with a Dork Smith, Golo or other similar dept. store scope. AOE might sell you one of their 80x600mm tubes cheap if you ask them nicely. $249 with AZ3 + accessories, and they've quoted me $179 for the AZ3, so the OTA's gotta be real cheap.

[[1ponders]]

Narayan: I thought about one with a .925 eyepiece holderwith an adapter, but couldn't work out how to attach a barlow to work. I also wanted to try using the ToUcam in Extended Eyepeice Projection style. hence the need for the T thread.

Ken:Ditto

Darren:Yes the plastic R&P is one of my concerns, which is why I was so interested in your home made short tube. I could probably get away with using just a barlow and upping the FL to 760mm. That would be enough I think.

Gary: Any idea of the weight of the ST80? How much lighter than the Orion 80 ED. I'm hoping being short won't be a problem. If I can get one with a T thread, using a 20mm eyepiece in a tele-extender or projection camera adapter on a 380 FL ota I can get over 2 meters of FL and if I drop the eyepiece down to 15 mm I can get 3.3 meters though that will give me an f/ration of f/43

Janokiss:I might look into that. Any idea how heavy they are? The Orion comes in at 5 lb so I'd really like to halve that if i can.


Your little copy scope is looking more and more likely Darren. Maybe I could use two barlows plus the tele-extender without an eyepiece.....hmmm have to do the calculations on that.

thanks for that guys. You've given me a bit more to think about.
Cheers

[westsky]

Paul I have a 60mm F9 or F11 not sure which, it needs a tube and focuser you can have the lens cell and objective NC if you want to make it into a guidescope
PM me
David.

[[1ponders]]

I've got one of those too David, thanks. :) Tasco 60mm minus tube and focuser after taking a dive off the balcony :P I'm starting to look at it now with a few idea in mind :confuse3: I thought about a pvc pipe but getting the right thread for the cell caused a bit of a problem. I might have to call into the engineering dept at work and see if they can thread me a suitable metal tube. Any ideas where I can pick up an old 1.25" r&p focuser from. Or a second hand R&P from a synta scope, particularly a 2" one that I can insert a 1/25" reducer with T thread on it?

[westsky]

Paul PVC tubes work well just glue the cell on, it's only for a guidescope, as long as the cell is square to the tube it will work.
I don't think you will get a 2" focuser for a 60mm tube it just won't fit :-))
There are a few cheapy 1.25 focusers on US ebay check them out.

cheers
David.

[[1ponders]]

Will do David, thanks

[beren]

Check the scopestuff site Paul they have some parts your after including a 80mm refractor

This mount may be the ticket

[[1ponders]]

Nice Stuart :), but the scope looks a bit undersized :lol: Nice mount though. I'll check scopestuff out. thanks

[h0ughy]

maybe the scope is made from compressed star matter with a very high density. :D or they don't want it to move -ever :doh: LOOKS OK TO ME :thumbsup:

[seeker372011]

Paul: have you checked out Surplus Shed in the US for low cost refractor objectives and focusers?

Narayan

[[1ponders]]

No: I'll check it out now :thumbsup: