Just about to buy, saw a review, thinking twice

[hugbear]

I need to buy a telescope for a 50th birthday on friday.

I was really wanting one that you can use remotely as we have had others and really wanting to try a remote.

I was going to get this http://www.oo.com.au/Bushnell_NorthStar_Computerise_P709 4.cfm

However after reading a review on this website and seeing a price of 275.00 instead of 525.00 4 years ago am wondering why this product has become so expensive and the review on it was not that great.

Anyone have any other ideas budget around $600

thanks for any responses am not sure what to buy at all now

[michaellxv]

Save your money John. The add does not even mention the single most important specification, being the diameter of the primary mirror.

If you must get something by friday I suggest you get yourself into a reputable shop and look at what is available. As you are in Melbourne start here (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm) , other locals may be able to suggest elsewhere.

You can get a good telescope for your budget, but if you want GOTO functions you will need to spend more.

[OICURMT]

It's a 3" scope (76mm). Don't waste your money, for A$600 you have a lot of better choices.

[acropolite]

John, with a budget of $600 you could get a nice 8 inch Dob and some extra eyepieces, which would be inifnitely better than the bushnell and far easier to use. To put it in perspective am 8 inch telescope has around 7x the light gathering capacity of the Bushnell you quote. Size really does matter and 8 inches is considered a good starting point.

If you realy want/need someting that goes zip, pop, whirr, then save your money and wait untill you can afford something decent such as a meade LS90 which sell for a little over $2000, or wait until something suitable comes up in the icetrade section second hand.

If you must have something immediately buy a good pair of Binoculars, 8x50 or 10x50 are a good starting point, they'll give a nice widefield view, combined with a decent reclining chair will give a lot of pleasure until you can afford something decent.

[Liz]

:thumbsup: Great advice here John. 8" Dob would be great!!

[hugbear]

Thanks all, any opinions on both of these, once again really just after something that is motorized

http://u-shop.com.au/UShop/Home/CategoryID/0/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/988.aspx?SortField=UnitCost%2cProdu ctName

http://u-shop.com.au/UShop/Home/CategoryID/0/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/1113.aspx?SortField=UnitCost%2cProd uctName

http://astronomyalive.rtrk.com.au/coupon/d30/30502/index.html

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=8542

[barx1963]

Hi John and welcome to IIS
Firstly I have owned one of the scopes (the 130mm Saxon F1309EQMS) and while the scope has some reasonable features and in the hands of a reasonably experienced user can be quite useful, for a beginner it would be a big no-no and a nearly complete waste of money. Aperture is king in this game and a 130mm scope has just enough aperture to dimly show you the brighters DSO's and you can see some things on Jupiter and Saturns rings, but thats about it. If you live in the city is will show almost nothing. The mount is an equatorial style which looks impressive but requires quite a bit of practice to get used to. In other posts I have already said that in the first week of getting an 8" dob I found more objects than in a whole year of using this scope.
Don't get fooled by motors, when I was using mine I could count on one hand the number of times I actually used the motor. It is only used to keep objects in view as they move, not to find them, and will only work if you have done a reasoable job of polar aligning in the first place which is never easy for a beginner to do initially.
The little Skywatcher 130mm scope is an actual Go To and while I have no experience with this item, Go To these days are pretty reasonable and accurate, however in that price you are giving away a lot of aperture for the Go To capacity and it is no good being able to find things with the go to if you cannot see them because the aperture is to small.
If you want my advice, buying a scope for someone else is fraught with danger, you can wend up getting them something they don't use. Why not ring Bintel (they have a shop in Camberwell and give great service) and ask them if they with do a gift voucher then take the lucky person there to look at scopes and find one they really will use!

Malcolm

[hugbear]

Thanks all, I so appreciate all your advice.

After all the comments and looking at youtube the 8" dob seems the way to go. I know its not automatic but what you can see through it looks amazing. I know this is a dumb question but if you have that big telescope sitting on the ground then how do you view anything. Are you looking at something standing up that goes backwards, hope this makes sense

[BlackWidow]

Hi John.. My first scope was a DOB and I still use it. In many cases it is better standing up looking into the scope than trying to bob down to look into the end of a scope whilst it is pointing high in the sky. The image looks the same as in any other scope.. Just also be aware that if you purchase an 8" Dob to start with you can purchase a Motor drive mount in the future and still use your scope on it. You can purchase one of these new for around $1400 and less second hand. You can then remove you Dob fronm it's stand and put it on the new mount. You will then be able to goto objects as well as it being a fantastic Photographic setup.. Many low cost scopes are made to look impressive, but produce far from impressive results. Call on of you local stores to find a club in you area and have a look through a DOB. I am sure you will be back to the shop the next day to purchase one..



Seeing Stars
Mardy

[barx1963]

Hey John
The eyepiece on a dob is at the apper end of the scope which on an 8" dob is about 4 feet of the ground if the scope is sitting at an angle of about 60 degrees. There is a secondary mirror which sends the image out of the scope sideways if you get what I mean.

[Liz]

Hi John ... probably best to toddle into Bintel for a look, and they can explain a few things to you, and show you at the same time.

I think the 8" dob is the best and easiest to use. (scopes can be VERY FRUSTRATING to use :help: ) but I do have one similiar to link below of yours, and it is pretty good and easy, once over initial hurdles.

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=8542

[pmrid]

John, a telescope that is a struggle to work with rapidly becomes a disappointment and just as rapidly, finds its way into the back of the garage. The best advice you have been given here is to prioritize aperture and with that in mind, start with an 8" Dobsonian. These are now offered by several reputable manufacturers including Skywatcher and Orion. Orion do a "Go-To" Dob in that aperture for about A$1100 (Orion XTg "GOTO") and such a scope would provide computerised go-to and tracking functionality for a pretty modest cost. You need aperture because the objects your lucky recipient will probably hope to see will include some faint objects such as nebulae and the like. These are disappointing in a small scope and also in scopes with poor optics. Also, with 8" scopes, you will normally expect to get focal rations of 5 or 6 and this will provide you with a good range of working magnifications to see more planetary and lunar detail. This translates into a successful and rewarding experience rather than one which leaves you flat.
Peter

[dannat]

john, bintel have the 6" doc on a special of 329 which is a pretty good price

[hugbear]

Thanks, will head off to bintel tomorrow

Can someone clear one last thing for me. On the original item it says 675x but there is no mention of the x on the other telescopes

[mozzie]

hi john

long before joining iis my first scope was a bushel north star!!!!!! and what a piece of crap. had no end trying to find objects etc and it nearly made me give up on astronomy.t
listen to the advise and go and see bintel!!!!!youll never look back....

[Jeeps]

Ignore that bit. Most scopes can only use about 200-300x successfully. Anything above that needs very very large, very very expensive and very very precise equipment. ;)

Also, Andrews has the 8" Skywatcher with full motorized go-to for $999 at the moment ;)

I was VERY worried about buying a dob vs motorised about 8 months ago but i have not regretted it at all.

cheers

[OICURMT]

This statement bothers me... Thus, I suggest you read "What can I expect to see?" (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=70300)

In particular, look at the sketch provided by Alexander. Almost everything you will see in even an 8" scope will be monochrome with vague colors. Planets will be the exception and stars which are bright enough to trigger the cones in the retina.

That said, you are on the right track by going with an 8". Great starting aperture.

OIC!

[mswhin63]

Hi John,

Personally you best bet is to go to a club event or a club, some of the advantage as we have here in ASWA is they allow scopes to be on loan, although you need to be a member for a bit.

Other members on a outing can show you what can be seen and so on. I would strongly advise this as I made a purchase before really considering options.

What is true as mentioned in this post is aperture rules.

[barx1963]

John
As a general rule ads for scopes that quote magnification can be translated as "don't waste your money on me". Quoting magnification is to try and impress potential buyers who don't understand scopes. What matters with telscopes is aperture.

[OneOfOne]

The general guide for magnification is a maximum of about 2x per mm of aperture, but you would generally use something around 0.2x to 1x per mm. If a telescope makes a point of their maximum magnification, it should sound alarm bells. Most "good" telescopes only mention aperture.

If you are around the peninsula, the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society (MPAS) has a public viewing this Friday, 21st, starting at 8pm and you will be able to have a look through a selection of scopes, weather permitting!

[hugbear]

I ended up buying this one today. Gee the service at that place is truly amazing, its good when the staff love there jobs, it really comes across.

last question promise, because its so big and its a surprise, it should be ok sitting in a tin shed till sunday, the sun wont effect it or anything (I hope)

Thanks everyone for all your comments, you truly made my decision today so much easier

Am forever thankful

John

[OICURMT]

Glad to see you took the plunge... a word of caution, don't point it at the sun, you'll damage it and your eyes.

[mswhin63]

Good advice :thumbsup:, i think it will damage your scope as well.

[barx1963]

Well done John. Ths is a beautiful scope. Should be OK sitting in a shed. If its already assempled leave it with the tube horizontal, that way it minimises any dirt getting on the mirror and cover with something clean. If it is in boxes should be find leaving them there.
Once again a great choice!:D
Malcolm

[BlackWidow]

I kept my DOB in my shed and it was fine. long exposure to damp is the killer on scopes, so keep a cover on it. Somthing that does not leave lots of lint like an old cotton bedsheet. Will keep the dust and moisture out, but don't cover it when it's damp from dew. Let it dry well overnight and cover it the next day.. Good choice of scope, you will have lots of fun..

Seeing Stars
Mardy

[hugbear]

thanks again everyone. Its still in its box and sealed, so looks like it will be ok, thanks again so much for your help, was so appreciated

john

[ColHut]

Wise choice. X675 is obtained on the 4.5" Bushnells with a 4mm peep hole eyepiece and a x3 plastic barlow. It is so dim you cannot make out the moon. See my sig line - Trust me! :)