Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Robinson
I would suggest that it may be well worth your trouble to join a club first and get along to viewing nights (this way you can :
1) talk with experienced amateurs
2) get to look through a range of scopes
3) maybe befriend someone who will come with you and help you select the right scope for you rather than being led astray by a salesperson who is interested in quick sale.
4) visit the shops a few times without your wollet or credit card and give the scopes you are considering a thorough examination and ask LOTS of questions (if you aren't sure or don't know something - ASK the staff.
and
5) read reviews of scopes under consideration.
6) NEVER EVER BUY ON IMPULSE. (plenty of people have bought scopes on an impulse and regretted their choice at their leisure).
|
All good advice
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Robinson
Problem with mass produced scopes is that compromises are made with the figure ( you are probably looking at not much better than 1/4 wave ???
|
Whilst that is generally true of cheaper mass produced scopes the optical quality of the GSO dobs is outstanding, particularly considering the price. The optics are pretty reasonable irrespective of price. I have used countless GSO dobs and have seen several with outstanding optics and most have been good to very good. I haven't seen one GSO dob that had bad optics. I have seen several that needed some slight tuning optically and mechanically, which any experienced club person would be happy to assist with.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Robinson
In my opinion it pays to source the components of your desired telescope (and build your own OTA and dob mount) .... you'll wind up the perfect telescope for you rather than a compromise that you may be dissatisfied with.
Plenty of places who supply top quality primary and secondary mirrors, mirror cells (made of metal with multiple points of flotation) , spiders and secondary holders, and focusors.
|
Whilst this is good advice for an experienced observer, it isn't necessarily appropriate for someone buying their first telescope. The $399 8" GSO dob will give outstanding performance relative to its price and will keep any beginner happy for at least a year to 18 months, probably longer. At that time the person can either upgrade or build their own and sell the GSO scope at a small loss only. It is pointless a beginner who may only last a few weeks or months in the hobby spending a lot of money and even more time in a scope that they will never recoup their costs on, particularly if they only last 5 minutes in the hobby. Darkplagues' beautiful custom built 16" truss dob with Suchting mirror, which he offered for sale for $2,750 despite the Suchting 16" mirror costing $3,500 alone; is testament to this. What a deal, a Moonlite focuser and a complete Obsession clone for $-750 back in the bank.
You only build them if you know for certain, you're gonna keep them. That doesn't apply to a beginner buying their first scope !
Cheers,
John B