Table-top Newtonian?

[cookie8]

I am asking on behalf of a friend of mine who are interested in buying a telescope after some years of viewing with binos.
However he lives in a light-polluted apartment and he only intends to observe from the balcony. Heavy lifting is out of the question.After some consideration I think the best first scope for him will be one of those table-top dobsonian ( say 4 inch).I thought I've seen it somewhere??
Anyone with experience with these? Any suggestion? His budget is around $300.:screwy:

[that_guy]

for three hundred, you could pick up a used 6" dob or even an 8" if your lucky :\ 4" isnt really that much apperture especially for a light polluted place and the optics wouldnt be that good either

[barx1963]

Orion do their little Star Blast scopes which come in 4.5 and 6 inch versions and even have computerized version and a 90mm Mak Cas. Not sure if any of the Aust dealers get them in though. Above all don't get one of those 76mm first scope thingys!

[cookie8]

Browsed the Orion website and the StarMax 90mm Mak Cas sounds great.
$199.95 plus postage(yet to find out how much)
Reviews are all positive. Zero maintainence; good sharp image and even day-time use. Now I even want one for myself...:D

[cookie8]

Bugger! Orion doesn't ship outside the US. Have to pay more for the middle man:mad2:

[kitsuna]

Welcome to Australia. You know why it is right?

Americans don't own maps. So some yankee said:

Australia? Isn't that in Cuba? Don't we have a trade embargo with those guys? No trade with the Commies! RAAAWR! :evil2:

or something like that.

Then some middleman who DOES own a map said:

Actually, Australia isn't Cuba, therefore we can sell whatever we want there (unless the government says no) and add a markup for the trouble.

Globalisation 101. :thumbsup:

[pgc hunter]

Is he going to be placing the scope on a table or on the ground? If on the ground, I'd recommend a 4.5" newt on a tripod or a 6" dob. Both are lightweight enough to carry assembled and a great way to get started without blowing the bank, and he'll sharpen his skills nicely by the time (if) he moves up to a larger aperture later on.

[mal]

Try these guys - just bought a Celestron eyepiece/filter kit, about to try it out. 5 days to country South Australia from New York

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Binoculars-Scopes/ci/978/N/4294541872

mal

[dannat]

I have had a play with a table top newt & they are a bugger to aim anywhere -bintel has a 6" dob on sale for 329, you can use it seated