Looking for a GOTO Telescope under $1500

[h45e]

Hey guys/gals,
Looking for a goto Telescope for under $1500, no dobs please.
Can someone recommend me a telescope?

York has this -
114 SLT RRP $1,149 only $715 details (http://www.yorkoptical.com.au/ProductMenus/Telescopes/tabid/42/ProductID/6/CategoryID/393/List/1/Level/a/Default.aspx)
130 SLT RRP $1,299 only $839 details (http://www.yorkoptical.com.au/ProductMenus/Telescopes/tabid/42/CategoryID/393/List/1/Level/a/ProductID/5/Default.aspx)
102 SLT RRP $1,459 only $949 details (http://www.yorkoptical.com.au/ProductMenus/Telescopes/tabid/42/CategoryID/393/List/1/Level/a/ProductID/44/Default.aspx)

[multiweb]

Bought that one 2yrs ago. 130 SLT RRP $1,299 only $839. Good little scope.

[h45e]

Oh, nearly forgot.. Must be able to be totally portable.

Also, I have a dob with 10 different eye pieces. Does these one allow you to change the eye piece? Oh and I want the image the right way up.

[tlgerdes]

I will go against Marc and say the 102SLT, purely on viewing position, the refractor with the eyepiece at the bottom end will be easier to view.

[h45e]

What sort of images can you get from these scopes?

[gazza83]

Hi,

Skywatcher 8" reflector on EQ5PRO at Andrews is 1500. Eyepiece can end up in inconvenient positions sometimes ...

Cheers

[h45e]

What about this one?

5SE Schmidt-Cassegrain computerised Go-To package?

[tlgerdes]

Which one....:P

Link please!

[mithrandir]

5SE Schmidt-Cassegrain is a Celestron designation, so this one. http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=13&ProdID=414

[White Rabbit]

I agree, this will allow you get into photography where as the others wont. Check out the ice trades there are a couple of HEQ5pro going at the moment, I saw one for 600 the other day.

[h45e]

What do you guys think about...

http://www.yorkoptical.com.au/ProductMenus/Telescopes/tabid/42/CategoryID/581/List/1/Level/a/ProductID/8419/Default.aspx?SortField=Free3%2cUnit Cost

or

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-075B

or

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-076A

[White Rabbit]

1. yes, although the GSO newtonian would be cheeper than the black diamond.
2. no
3. no

The others are fine scopes dont get me wrong but I promise you at some point you are going to want to take pictures of what you see, or rather what you cant see. and whilst you can take pictures with any scope a gem are about the best.

I dont know if you ever looked through a telescope, but the views can be somewhat underwhelming at first. You can forget seeing galaxies with anything less than an 8' scope, and even then that's only if your under dark skies.

have a look at this.
I have nothing to do with the sale of these I dont even know the guys so..
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=53102
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=51952

Bintel sell an 8" newt for $495.

There you go, you have your self a killer set up for your price range

[h45e]

I might and try to save up for MAK150 OTA PRO with full Synscan version 3 Go To Mount

[h45e]

scratch that, ppl r saying it is bad for DSO.

[Julie1]

I have a Skywatcher Mak 102 on the Nexstar SLT mount. I bought the Nexstar 114 reflector but only use the mount. The mak is an awesome little scope.

[tlgerdes]

If you can stretch the budget a bit, this would be a great starter.

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=8268

There is an 8" version as well, whick would probably fit the budget. Give them a call.

[Nightskystargaz]

Anthony,

You could get a Meade ETX-LS, it is a good scope.

:thanx:,

Tom

[h45e]

Actually, I was thinking of buying that dob, but ppl say it isnt good for photo's which i really want to do... down the track.

[DRCORTEX]

I am going through the first stages of astrophotography now.

The mount is it, the primary thing you need, vibration is an absolute killer.

It must be guided, large enough to take a guidescope and CCD - it's all the weight.

Unfortunately, big Newts, which excel in bang for buck visually, need a large mount for astrophotography. For a full GOTO on a good mount, you are going to be spending a lot more than $1500 or so, and the aperture will not be that large for $1500.

If you don't want to get into astrophotography until later, grab a 10" Newt, on a Dob. You can always turf the Dob mount later ( a whole $50 worth ), and then grab an EQ6 ( I wouldn't go smaller ), when your ready to get into that aspect of astronomy ( astrophotography ). In the meantime, you will be very pleased visually.

DOn't forget the cost of your CCD imager, etc. This is a VERY expensive hobby if thats the way you want to go.

I keep saving my pennies - sigh! and keep experimenting with the Dob mount and a Digital SLR.

Cheers
DOC