Orion gear (telescope.com)

[LAW]

I searched google (and IIC obviously) for astronomy shops near brisbane and one of the more promising results was telescope.com, their listed address was for Underwood. That's not exactly local to me but their prices were very good on the website except I noticed the phone number was in the American format so my suspicions were raised.

I found the mount I want, the motor drive I want and a few other bits and pieces except it won't let me checkout because they don't ship outside the US (apparently the 'free shipping' ads were for the US too :()

Does the Underwood store have a separate site or can I just order the stuff off the website through them?
Are the prices accurate considering exchange rate, shipping, customs...?
Is their gear any good for a beginner? (I have an 8" Newt and I was looking at the Orion SkyView Pro)

The cheapest I could find an EQ5 (or similar) with a motor drive (I only need RA, but both would be nice) was just less than $700 and the Orion kit added up to $550.

Thoughts, advice, input are all appreciated.

Thanks :thumbsup:

[loki78]

Telescope.com is the Orion site, you might have found sirius optics who are in Underwood (i just checked from their site) as one of Orions distributors in Aus. Anyway if you want Sirus Optics site it is: http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/ That's the only one I know based in QLD, there might be more if some of the banana benders around can chime in.

[LAW]

Thanks Jon, it doesn't look like it.
Here's the link I found (I don't know how reliable it is).
http://www.hotfrog.com.au/Companies/Telescope

[mikerr]

Murphy, here is another contender in Brisy....

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/index.asp

Michael.

[mozzie]

hi murphy,yes that's sirius optics
go in and meet ron and have a chat with him,you won't go wrong buying there been there a few times on my way through to astrofest!!

[MattT]

Murphy,
Put an a wanted add in the wanted adds and see what turns up unless, your in a hurry. I did and within a week had a few replies. The Orion I got is the sky view pro with dual motor drives ( with much thanks to Tony) was $ 400.00... so you could save a bomb! Skywatcher EQ5 is the same mount. The Orion is great and when I don't want to use the motor drives I use the manual controls....sooooo easy, if you can get one ...DO:D
Cheers Matt

[LAW]

Thanks guys! Sorry Jon, spot on mate. I would like get a tripod as soon as possible because I've got a tube sitting here doing nothing and I'm pretty keen to get started :D but I also don't really feel like going out and spending double what I should just because I'm impatient.

[loki78]

Good thinking. Best you can do is do a bit of research first so you don't end up jumping in too quick and ending up with either the wrong thing, or the thing that is useles for your needs after a months time and you're upgrading.

[Incendium]

There's also Astro Pete's in Upper Mount Gravatt.
http://www.astropetes.com.au/

Teale