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Originally Posted by Muddy Diver
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Yagon/Barry
FWIW the LAST thing I would recommend is buying a telescope from a store like Dyck Smith, Tandy, K-Mart, Big W, or Australian Geographic and for that matter 98% of camera stores worldwide, for the simple reason the staff working in those stores haven't the foggiest idea what they are selling, when it comes to telescopes and astronomy related equipment and accesories.
If you want to buy a telescope buy it from a store, either shopfront or online, that specialises in telescopes, accesories and astronomy related equipment. There are enough of them around and you will not pay any extra in $$$$ terms and the support service and advice will be infinitely superior.
Three reliable dealers with competitive prices in Sydney are:-
Binocular and Telescope Shop
www.bintelshop.com.au
My Astro Shop
www.myastroshop.com.au
Andrews Communications
http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm
with my preference being the 1st two, in terms of advice and after sales service. Both of these dealers are owned and staffed by very experienced astronomers
My recommendation based on the parameters you have specified would be the Skywatcher ED80 (APO) which My Astro Shop had on special for $499 (or thereabouts) including rings and dovetail plate and then mounting that on a good Alt/AZ mount. I think that special has finished but all the 3 stores I have mentioned can supply the scope and mount and do you a good deal on it, enough change out of $1500 for a couple of better quality eyepieces and some astronomy books and charts.
CS-John B