In the last few weeks I've paid visits to BinTel (in Melbourne), OzScopes, and OpticsCentral. And I've seen cheap and expensive rigs made by all manner of companies: SkyWatcher, Celestron, Saxon, BinTel (which are made for them by GSO); probably others too.
Naturally the more I learn the more confused I get. Ozscopes, for example, is selling what appears to be a good deal: a SkyWatcher 130/1000 EQ2 Reflector for $369 instead of for $625. But maybe it's a dud buy at any price, or on a poor mount... And what about Saxon? An old review claimed that they were all under-mounted; maybe that's changed.
One person to whom I spoke today told me that they were all "made in the same factory" (Synta), and in fact I believe that many scopes are indeed rebranded. Does this mean that a Celestron will cost more because of the name, and an equivalent SkyWatcher will sell for less? How do you find out what are the good buys?
Ah - why beat about the bush? I think I'll re-mortgage the house, sell the wife and kids into servitude, and get a
nice little astrograph.
OK, OK, I'll take my tablets and slink back under my rock now.