[ngcles]

Hi Pete & All,

Your thread asks the question "What's wrong with them - supermarket telescopes? "

That question requires requires a very, very long and complex reply which would take me a long time to type out and explain.

So instead I'll re-cast the question in the negative "What's right with them - supermarket telescopes?

Answer -- apart from the price-tag, virtually nothing.

Please note Paul's advice. You might at first glance be tempted to think we are being elitist and simply pooh-poohing cheap gear because we've nearly all own good gear. Not so!

Probably 30-odd% of the people in this forum started as unwary beginners and have already made the mistake you are contemplating. Almost without exception they found that while it was apparently cheap in the first instance, it became actually dear when they realised it was nearly useless and then had to then go out and buy a "proper" entry-level telescope.

Cheap supermarket-type telescopes are quite simply toys. If it's for a 5 year-old with what you believe is a passing interest in telescopes/astronomy, it will do okay.

The staff at the retailer will have no actual knowledge of the product and won't provide support to resolve your post-sale issues. All they will normally tell you (at the time of purchase) is: "this telescope is perfect for a beginning astronomer". 95% of these teleacopes are either (1) Sold at a garage sale within 18 months (2) Thrown out 18 months later, or (3) Spend 10 years lurking in a dusty corner before they are then thrown out.

Unless you really know what you are doing, buy from a retailer that specialises in or has a substantial part of their business in selling telescopes and binoculars.

If you want a difficult to use toy that provides unsatisfying views of the vast majority of celestial objects, a supermarket/ebay telescope will suit your needs perfectly.

If you decide to buy one and find it performs well below your expectations, then I suggest, at that point, that you lower your expectations.



Best,

Les D