Quote:
Originally Posted by neversommer
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2nd one :
8" aperture !!! cf 5" and 6" ..... BETTER !!!! by a long shot
Better tripod (steel tubular legs would be better !!!).
Proper spider .
Looks like a better GEM but may be undersized a tad for this telescope.
Looks like it comes with a polar alignment scope (I'd check that .... very handly to have if you ever want to do long exposure astrophotography !!)
No mention of motor drive avail for RA axis (and Dec axis) , don't know what Brand the scope is .... I'd ask them about that and the brand and part numbers before paying.
Price is pretty cheap.
Plossyls as opposed to el-cheapo Huygens
Cons
I can't see a brand anywhere on the GEM or the OTA --- ?!?
VERY SHORT WARANTEE !!!! ONLY 90 DAYS , longer is better.
1.25" focusor not a 2" - easy fixed.
GEM undersized ? more important for astrophotography , providing you balance the scope very very carefully you'll get away with it for visual stuff. (Might be a SKY VIEW GEM ??? , looks like one or a clone
http://www.telescope-service.com/mou...skyviewbig.jpg )
If you can't find out the brand and model of the GEM it is likely to be a real pain in the butt getting drive motors for the RA (and DEC) axis later unless the worm gear pitches are a common MEADE , CELESTRON , SKYWATCHER or VIXEN equivalent configeration. Been down that road with a couple of my older undriven GEMs (an old TASCO GEM).
Not keen on the finderscope size and alignment setup - a 50mm finder would be better - easy fixed by buying one later. Finderscopes with one set of alignment screws are guaranteed to drive you cazy trying to keep them aligned with the mainscope !!!
Kinda - f/4 , well my 10" is f/4.7 , I prefer faster Newts personnally ==> BUT you will see coma (star around outside out edge of field view will look funny - like mini comets without a corrector special lens - a coma corrector / field flattener will be needed to get the best out of the fast primary mirror - all fast Newts do this.
BUT Coma Correctors pretty much only made 2" OD , Coma Correctors are pricey (I know I have 3 of them - a Tele Vue Visual (tuneable top) , a Baader MFCC (photographic set), and a Lumicon CCFF attached to my Offaxis Guider. They each cost me more $300. BUT I REALLY HATE COMA AND CURVED FOCAL PLANES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No Barlow lens supplied - easy fixed (can get these lots of places).
No astrochart software - as a freeby. Not a big deal (plenty of places to buy these.)
Not buying from anyone who knows anything about telescopes or astronomy if you buy it .... this would be a worry (to me and I wouldn't , but that's just me).
I'd query them by phone on the motor drive avails , and brand before bidding and check out prices by phone on "similar" scopes at
Astro Optical
http://www.astro-optical.com.au/,
York Optical
http://www.yorkoptical.com.au/Produc...st,ProductName,
Tasco Australia
http://www.telescopeshop.com.au/,
and BinTel (Binocular and Telescope Ship)
http://www.bintel.com.au/
prior to bidding and keep my max bid under these prices.