Buying on Ebay

[tonycynic]

Looking for something portable and have seen this one on ebay,
Celestron NexStar 4 SE Catadioptric Telescope Kit New

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130457899413&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
for $420AU.
Anyone used one of these for imaging?
I know a dob will be better for some stuff but this will be carried on a motorcycle so size is an issue, as is price.
Also anyone bought from these guys before?
Thanks.

[Gem]

You wouldn't image with that scope. It is a viewing scope since it doesn't have a wedge. The stars in the field of view would rotate as you imaged with it.
Good portable visual scope.

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

The Celestron publicity on this one says it has a "built-in adjustable wedge" (although it is also an Alt-Az mount) and can indeed do astro photography:

http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?ProdID=413

Inspection of the user manual shows that it will track an object being set up either in "Alt-Az mode", or in "Equatorial mode", which sounds pretty fancy.

Wiser heads than me will hopefully let you know here how good it actually is at taking a photo though. There are all sorts of mysteries to be considered I believe :eyepop: like flats and frames. To me it sounds like a block of apartments.

Note that the example you cited on eBay is being sold out of the USA, so would not have a viable warranty here, but since the price new in Oz is about $1000, that might be worth the risk.

Cheers

[EddieDog]

As for the 'wedge', I have a 6SE, the manual states that the tripod has a wedge, but in fact for some time the newer models do NOT have a tripod wedge.

Eddie

[EddieDog]

[QUOTE=tonycynic;729290]Looking for something portable and have seen this one on ebay,
Celestron NexStar 4 SE Catadioptric Telescope Kit New

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130457899413&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
for $420AU.
Anyone used one of these for imaging?
I know a dob will be better for some stuff but this will be carried on a motorcycle so size is an issue, as is price.
Also anyone bought from these guys before?
Thanks.[/QUOT
Tony, this is almost certainly a gray market product. And no shipping is shown. Try http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/440804-REG/Celestron_11049_NexStar_4_SE_4_0_10 2mm.html
At B&H New York. They will offer warrantly etc (I bought the 6SE), shipping is around $230 to $350 to Oz. You'd be better getting the 6SE. Neither is good for Astro phatography of more than a minute or so, depending on power of EP. I use mine for piggyback and can do 30 sec or so ok. Moon and planets can do as short exp. But DSO not really on.

Eddie

[esky]

Just beware of the sellers on Ebay. I recently had a drama with a fake listing where someone was trying to scam money off me. Fortunately I used Paypal and got my coin back.
My advise would be make sure they have plenty of positive feedback first before you go down that route.

[tonycynic]

Thanks for the replies and assistance, might have to do some more research. From what I can find out the 127 has not got the wedge but the 102 has got it. Both are $450. Also looking at a second hand ETX 105 but looks like it will go over my price range. :sadeyes:
Will have to wait a little longer for my new toy.

[casstony]

Overseas warranty may not be very useful if you have to pay a fortune in shipping to get the item to the US (and back again). The Australian Celestron distributor will not repair items purchased overseas.

I purchased an Nexstar 6SE from the US some time ago as the savings were significant, but you need to be aware of and prepared to accept the risks as well.

[Gem]

My mistake! I had a 4" SCT on loan for years from my brother and we had to get an additional wedge for it.
If the wedge is included, then it would fit the bill for what you want and the price is amazing compared to 30 years ago when my brother's 4" Bausch and Lombe (spelling??) cost nearly $1500 and wasn't computerised!

[Gem]

On a different note,
WHY can't we get Celestron scopes at a decent price in Australia??? :mad2: