A new scope in the Mass Market

[gaa_ian]

Well I never thought I would see it !
A dobsonian mounted skywatcher reflecting telescope at big W :eyepop:

Now that said it is only a 76mm primary with a focal length of 300 mm so is F3.9 and looks like it has a fixed mirror, so I wonder about collumation.
The price will attract the mass market at $98 !

Finally they are going away from horrible tripods on awful mounts, which has to be good !
I guess not much good for anything beyond the moon and bright star clusters.

I am sure we will see these turning up after Xmas as people will buy them !
Has anyone tried one / seen one :question:

[pmrid]

Could be a useful guidescope or finder.
Peter

[astronut]

Ian,
I purchased 5 of the Celestron Firstscopes recently for my club MAS.
I thought they would be a good replacement for the usual eq mounted scope that beginners are totally confused by.
Unfortunately, whilst a great concept, the final execution of the design lets the scope down.
I found ALL 5 scopes showed uneven focus over the entire image, with massive flares off objects like Jupiter & Saturn.
Using quality e/p's didn't improve matters very much.
The main mirror is mounted into a plastic cell without ANY adjustment provided.
I'm sure the cell is pinching the mirror severely.
A little more thought into its design, would make this a killer first scope.
My 2 cents.:thumbsup:

P.S I returned ALL five scopes.

[bojan]

Well, if it is only pinch, that could be dealt with perhaps..
But if the mirror is plastic, then ... :eyepop:

[astronut]

I'm working on a friend's Firstscope at the moment, I should be able to cure the problems.
The point is that they shouldn't come out of the factory this way.
The scopes are very well built, they just fell short of the finish line when it came to image quality.
We as "old hands" at this hobby don't want "newbies" being given the wrong impression of astronomy from the outset.
Like I said, "Just a little more thought and probably very little expense, would have produced a killer scope":thumbsup:

[gaa_ian]

Thanks very much John
Your review is very much appreciated.
I would love to know the outcome of the modifications you are making.
And just what you did to fix the issues.

[bojan]

True...

[erick]

Want to cringe?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emApDWiKW_4&NR=1

But most reviews I have read are positive:-

Eg. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/04/27/the-celestron-firstscope-telescope-official-product-of-international-year-of-astronomy/

[jjjnettie]

Gargoyle Steve had problems with his too.

[Wavytone]

Utterly predictable for a fast spherical mirror (yes, no attempt to parabolise it !), no adjustments and two truly dreadful eyepieces.

BTW Bintel are selling them too for $99. I thought they had more sense than to sell such rubbish.

[circumpolar]

In the youtube video at 2:28mins you can see at huge flare of what might be jupiter? or might not be!
There's colour and smudge like I've nerer seen before!
Seems only good enough to look at the moon.:(, just.

[Jules76]

"A review of the celestron first scope. if you are interested in astrology or just enjoy looking at the moon and stars and want a cheap telescope GET THIS. Amazing 50$ telescope GET IT"

lol :lol:

[gaa_ian]

What a great clip to show what a terrible scope it is !

[wasyoungonce]

Gets the great unwashed in the door then they see the big brother "real telescopes"...then they go wow I've changed my mind and reach for their credit cards.;)

[Satchmo]

Lighten up guys. This thing is going to be streets ahead of any sub $100 refractor on a shaky mount.

I think its a well thought out idea and will introduce lots of people into the hobby that would otherwise have been lost to crappy department store scopes through which it will be impossible to see anything. I played with the mount in a shop and its very stable. A great start for people on a budget. As the Sky and Tel review pointed out it is so easy to use that just exploring the garden with it is a revelation to a beginner.

The spherical mirror will be about a wave at best focus but the scope is likely mainly going to be used at 15X so will do the job.

At age 10 or 11 I would have been overwhelmed to receive a 3" mini-Dob for Xmas :)

[Satchmo]

Just read your post...what a shame , like so much , so near and yet so far.

[toryglen-boy]

i picked up one this morning!


:)

[Exfso]

It would make a great door stop.

[michaellxv]

Looks too light for a door stop.

Might look Ok on a mantle piece if anyone still has one.

[toryglen-boy]

i colimated it last night as best i could, and give it a whirl

i didnt think it was that bad at all for what is was, and its cost

:P

[gaa_ian]

Hey Duncan, how did you colimate it, did you put wedges under the mirror?
I am thinking perhaps of the little wedges that one uses for tiling.
Might be good for my kids if I put a Possol Eyepiece with it, and align it ?
I would be so tempted to find a Parabolic mirror for it.

If you are in the USA, $200 odd spent on an Astro Scan would be money better spent i think !
I use my Astroscan (well GAA's) all the time, as it gives tack sharp widefield views with the supplied 28mm Possol.

[bojan]

Is Astroscan still available? It was introduced ages ago...

[toryglen-boy]

TBH, i wasnt able to fully colimate it, i unscrewed and removed the mirror, and refitted it as best i could, i quite like the views from it.

i have put a 25mm illumited reticle in it, it will make an excellent finderscope

;)

[gaa_ian]

Thanks Duncan
Sounds like it can be improved at least !

Yes Bojan ... it is still available.
But from the USA.

[toryglen-boy]

Ian, why dont you lengthen the screwholes for the mirror cell on the tube? that way you dont have to fit wedges, and there is some tilt you can give the mirror? its a bit finnicky, but thats what i did

[JethroB76]

Seems that Sktwatcher do a flextube version of this little scope too, why I ask:lol: