Where do you buy telescopes for the best prices?

[pk_wizard66]

Do most people buy online?

What websites are the cheapest, i've looked at ozscopes, but i'm wondering if they give the best prices?

In particular, i'm looking to buy my first telescope, that will be 6" or 8" dobsonian.

e.g.
http://www.ozscopes.com.au/skywatcher-8-dobsonian-telescope.html
or the 6 inch equivalent.
Is there a cheaper/better brand?

Thanks heaps =)

[jjjnettie]

Welcome to IIS!

There are quite a few sites listed here Tim.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/links.html

I've personally bought from
Bintel
Andrews Communications
and
MyAstroShop

I wouldn't hesitate to purchase from them again.

Go the 8" dob, or if you can afford it 10" dob.

[Octane]

Ian, how exactly did your post help this new person looking to buy a Dobsonian telescope, and, not a mount?

Tim, welcome to the forum.

The retailers that Jeanette has listed is a good guide.

There may be $50 to $100 difference here and there between the local retailers when it comes to the type of scope you're looking at buying.

Bear in mind that the majority of these Dobsonian scopes come from the GSO (Guan Sheng Optics) factories in China. They are then badged/labeled for OEM suppliers.

You can't go wrong with any of them suppliers listed above. In general, if you avoid Australian Geographic stores, and/or department store telescopes, you're doing well. Whilst they both may sell Celestron telescopes, they're outrageously overpriced and, generally speaking, the people selling them often don't know the first thing about astronomy, as they're typically manning a store which sells a lot of stuff.

Hope this helps, somewhat.

H

[pk_wizard66]

Thanks, you two for the warm welcome
and for the information.

I also have a question about viewing in surburban areas.
There are two places that I may view from, either from my balcony or in the backyard somewhere, but in both places, there are streetlights/lights.

I've viewed through telescopes before, but they were in pitch dark places with no light pollution (in the country). How much would the street lights affect viewing or what can i do to fix this?

[Octane]

Tim,

I'm not 100% qualified to answer that question as I'm predominantly an imaging type person, but, I would imagine a light pollution filter of some description may assist in reducing the onslaught of street lights.

I'm sure someone here will give provide some better advice on what type of filter to look at getting to help with the pain of streetlights.

H

[mental4astro]

Hey there Tim,

As you are aware, light pollution makes the sky brighter, washing out the stars. When you look through a scope under these conditions, the background skyglow too is brighter, washing out faint stars and details, and reducing contrast.

This makes things difficult, but not impossible.

There are some tricks that help:

*Increasing magnification darkens the background skyglow, helping bring out faint details

*Learn to use 'averted vision', the region that is most sensitive to light in our eyes surrounds our central vision. By looking just to the side of the object & keeping it there engages this more sensitive area of our vision, bringing out more detail. It takes a little practice, but quickly becomes second nature.

*Jiggling the scope stimulates our eyes that are most effective at detecting motion rather than a static light source.

*Filters only help if the objects you are looking at are nebulae. The reason being that these objects glow in very specific colours of light. These filters transmit these narrow range colours, absorbing the rest, darkening skyglow and better revealing the gas details. These filters are no good for any other type of object, such as galaxies and globular clusters, as they glow across the entire spectrum of light, not just the narrow range of nebulae.

I had a mate over last year at my place in Sydney's Maroubra, with his 8" dob, and my 17.5" dob side by side. Every galaxy seen in the big dob was also visible in his 8". Off cause, not as bright, but definately there. Where my scope showed 7 moons around Saturn, his showed 5. Pretty good I reckon.

Before you get a scope, try to get to an astro gathering, either with an astro club, or one of the many social sessions in and around Sydney listed in the Star Parties forum. You will see many different types of scopes, sizes, mounts, sophistication and budgets.

I, with a mate, Hickny, often do sessions at Randwick Girls' High School, which are often with not much more than a couple of days notice. You'd be welcome to join us there too, scope or no scope, it doesn't matter.

Mental.

[wavelandscott]

I'll offer the same old advice that I almost always offer when this question comes up.

Before you spend any of your money on a scope (of any description), run don't walk to join an Astro Club and attend a viewing night (or two).

This will give you a chance to see some gear "in the field" and also help set your expectations as to what you can and can not see.

There are several clubs in and around Sydney (depending on where you live). Some of them even offer "loaner" scopes to beginners so that you can try one before you buy.

Cheers and Clear Dark Skies to You!

[casstony]

Hi Tim, you definitely need to be out of the direct glare of streetlights or other lights; hide behind a fence, shed or vegetation, or hang a tarp if necessary. Even then galaxies will be hard to see, brighter nebulae will be decent(and improved with a UHC filter) and star clusters will be good. If you need to go up/down stairs the 8" should be ok, but a 10" would be better if you can manage the moderate weight (easy to move on a trolley if you have a flat run).

[pk_wizard66]

thanks everyone,
so i guess i'll take it slow, I shall try observing a few times first i guess, because i rush and get my own telescope.
@alex
I live in/near maroubra too!


Thanks again.

[Othey]

Hi Timothy try http://www.theastroguy.com.au/telescopes_dobsonians.html
I just bought mine from there today a 10" flex Dob(Should get it in a few days)Shane was very helpful and quick with his email reply's.I just upgraded from a 60mm store bought refractor cant wait until i get it :rofl:.

[casstony]

Hi Adam, congratulations on your purchase and welcome to IIS :). I've heard good things about the Astroguy.

I buy gear all over the place but I don't have a local shop. Since Tim lives in Sydney I'd recommend he gives Bintel a chance - if he needs any assistance he can walk into the shop for help, and I'm sure Bintel would bend over backwards to get someone new to the Hobby up and running. There's a lot to be said for buying local if prices are reasonable.

[Jeeps]

I purchased my Starwatcher 10" dob from Star Optics on the gold coast last week. Although a tad more expensive than Andrews, it was still cheaper if you take into account postage, so it was a good deal. Also, because i was in store i was shown how to operate the scope and how to collimate etc.

cheers

[Othey]

Thank you for the warm welcome :).

[pk_wizard66]

Thanks everyone,

one more question,
should i get the 8" collapsable or 8" solid tube?
whats the difference apart from storage and transport.

[Suzy]

Hi Timothy :hi: and a warm welcome to you ;)

I posted a thread recently that may be of some help to you (regarding collapsible vs solid tube) http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=62409

Yes, street lights are a pain in the neck. I'll give you a good example. I used to observe in my front yard, and the said street light was nicely hidden behind a tree. One weekend, hubby decided he was going to prune the trees (without telling me, clearly he felt brave that day :screwy:), and :eyepop::eyepop:When I went outside, sheer horror was written all over my face :scared2::scared2::scared2: :mad2: :prey2: There were words exchanged that day, I'm sure I woke up all the nocturnal critters with shrieks of horror, and if I was a bloke, or built like one, five knuckles would have accompanied the dialogue. :poke::doh: . As much as I tried observing from then on, it was useless. So I have been relegated for some time now to the backyard until said tree grows back, still waiting.:prey: Big difference with street light, and now in the backyard where I don't see it.

As for observing off a balcony, I did read somewhere, and please someone correct this if it is wrong, otherwise confirm it, that it's one of the worst places to view due to being too close to the house, as the house holds lots of heat, and affects the currents in the scope.

Most of my observing is done from my yard - I see tons and tons of objects, including plenty of nebulas. Pick nights when the moon isn't full, the stars aren't twinkling, don't observe when you see a halo around the moon, learn about seeing and transperancy, and you're good to go. You will see lots, don't worry. I used to have a 6" dob and saw plenty. I could even see the trapezium in the Orion neb, to give you an idea. ;)

Here's link to understand seeing and transperancy. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-196-0-0-1-0.html (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/../63-196-0-0-1-0.html)

When you buy from a store, as the ones suggested, you will get plenty of support, including the how to's and collimation.

All the best with your choice Timothy,
Suzy.

[pk_wizard66]

Thanks Suzy,
that was a good, long read.

I keep seeing these terms, but have no idea what that mean :shrug:

Dew, cooling, collimation??
well, i know what the first two "mean" in English, but not no idea about the stuff that keeps being discussed on this forum :S

If anyone could give me a quick summary that would be very helpful! :)

Thanks!

[Suzy]

Timothy, have a look in "Projects and Articles" on the blue menu bar to the left of the page. There is a ton of info here that will help you.

[wavelandscott]

I'd encourage you to spend some time in an Astro Store and look at the two in person and ask that question to the store people. A positive point can be made with either and it largely depends on your vehicle and your brawn (for the scopes not so much weight as bulk)

Collimation is a fancy way of saying "mirror alignment"...it is something that should be done before use with all reflecting telescopes. Practice makes perfect...don't fear it, once you get the hang of it it becomes second nature. Think of it like playing a musical instrument...you need to "tune it" (at least check) each time you get it out to play. Playing in tune sounds better than not being in tune...same with mirror alignment...views are much better in a properly collimated scope.

[Stu Ward]

As you live in Sydney, i would recommend two suppliers

Bintel
Andrews

I recommend them both, but i choose each supplier based on individual merits.

If i'm comfortable with my purchase from a technical point, i go to Andrews because they are always cheaper.

If i need Techie advice and clarification, I buy from Bintel, their customer service is much better.

Stu

[LeeSMaz]

Yep, Andrews was the go for me.
Mak127 goto.
Not as big as I thought it would be.
Almost toy looking, well not looking but
toy size. roughly 35 cm long.
Too cloudy to give it a run, see how the weekend pans out.
Did get my old digi camera up and running on it, linked to
my laptop. Not a good camera though.
Better then my webcams though.
It came with some additional bits not listed with it,
a 2x barlow and moon filter.
Delivery was next day after paying...fast!
With delivery, a 6mm piece n camera adapter $887.