ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
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Waning Crescent 19.8%
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03-11-2009, 10:57 PM
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1300 THESKY
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Cairns Qld
Posts: 2,405
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A new scope in the Mass Market
Well I never thought I would see it !
A dobsonian mounted skywatcher reflecting telescope at big W 
Now that said it is only a 76mm primary with a focal length of 300 mm so is F3.9 and looks like it has a fixed mirror, so I wonder about collumation.
The price will attract the mass market at $98 !
Finally they are going away from horrible tripods on awful mounts, which has to be good !
I guess not much good for anything beyond the moon and bright star clusters.
I am sure we will see these turning up after Xmas as people will buy them !
Has anyone tried one / seen one 
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04-11-2009, 06:19 AM
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Ageing badly.
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cloudy, light-polluted Bribie Is.
Posts: 3,759
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gaa_ian
Now that said it is only a 76mm primary with a focal length of 300 mm so is F3.9 and looks like it has a fixed mirror, so I wonder about collumation.
The price will attract the mass market at $98 !:
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Could be a useful guidescope or finder.
Peter
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04-11-2009, 09:13 AM
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2'sCompany3's a StarParty
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Eagle Vale
Posts: 1,251
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Ian,
I purchased 5 of the Celestron Firstscopes recently for my club MAS.
I thought they would be a good replacement for the usual eq mounted scope that beginners are totally confused by.
Unfortunately, whilst a great concept, the final execution of the design lets the scope down.
I found ALL 5 scopes showed uneven focus over the entire image, with massive flares off objects like Jupiter & Saturn.
Using quality e/p's didn't improve matters very much.
The main mirror is mounted into a plastic cell without ANY adjustment provided.
I'm sure the cell is pinching the mirror severely.
A little more thought into its design, would make this a killer first scope.
My 2 cents. 
P.S I returned ALL five scopes.
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04-11-2009, 11:05 AM
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amateur
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mt Waverley, VIC
Posts: 7,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astronut
Ian,
I'm sure the cell is pinching the mirror severely.
A little more thought into its design, would make this a killer first scope.
My 2 cents.
P.S I returned ALL five scopes. |
Well, if it is only pinch, that could be dealt with perhaps..
But if the mirror is plastic, then ...
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04-11-2009, 11:48 AM
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2'sCompany3's a StarParty
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Eagle Vale
Posts: 1,251
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bojan
Well, if it is only pinch, that could be dealt with perhaps..
But if the mirror is plastic, then ... |
I'm working on a friend's Firstscope at the moment, I should be able to cure the problems.
The point is that they shouldn't come out of the factory this way.
The scopes are very well built, they just fell short of the finish line when it came to image quality.
We as "old hands" at this hobby don't want "newbies" being given the wrong impression of astronomy from the outset.
Like I said, "Just a little more thought and probably very little expense, would have produced a killer scope"
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04-11-2009, 12:49 PM
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1300 THESKY
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Cairns Qld
Posts: 2,405
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Thanks very much John
Your review is very much appreciated.
I would love to know the outcome of the modifications you are making.
And just what you did to fix the issues.
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04-11-2009, 02:07 PM
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amateur
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mt Waverley, VIC
Posts: 7,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astronut
We as "old hands" at this hobby don't want "newbies" being given the wrong impression of astronomy from the outset.
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True...
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04-11-2009, 02:40 PM
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Starcatcher
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,548
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04-11-2009, 02:46 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,741
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Gargoyle Steve had problems with his too.
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04-11-2009, 11:03 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Killara, Sydney
Posts: 4,147
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astronut
I found ALL 5 scopes showed uneven focus over the entire image, with massive flares off objects like Jupiter & Saturn
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Utterly predictable for a fast spherical mirror (yes, no attempt to parabolise it !), no adjustments and two truly dreadful eyepieces.
BTW Bintel are selling them too for $99. I thought they had more sense than to sell such rubbish.
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05-11-2009, 06:01 AM
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and around we go
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Quakers Hill, NSW
Posts: 426
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astronut
I found ALL 5 scopes showed uneven focus over the entire image, with massive flares off objects like Jupiter & Saturn.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erick
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In the youtube video at 2:28mins you can see at huge flare of what might be jupiter? or might not be!
There's colour and smudge like I've nerer seen before!
Seems only good enough to look at the moon.  , just.
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06-11-2009, 08:42 PM
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I just point it at stuff
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 303
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erick
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"A review of the celestron first scope. if you are interested in astrology or just enjoy looking at the moon and stars and want a cheap telescope GET THIS. Amazing 50$ telescope GET IT"
lol 
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14-11-2009, 09:05 PM
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1300 THESKY
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Cairns Qld
Posts: 2,405
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What a great clip to show what a terrible scope it is !
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15-11-2009, 10:54 AM
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Certified Village Idiot
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mexico city (Melb), Australia
Posts: 2,359
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavytone
.... BTW Bintel are selling them too for $99. I thought they had more sense than to sell such rubbish.
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Gets the great unwashed in the door then they see the big brother "real telescopes"...then they go wow I've changed my mind and reach for their credit cards. 
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15-11-2009, 02:42 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,883
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Lighten up guys. This thing is going to be streets ahead of any sub $100 refractor on a shaky mount.
I think its a well thought out idea and will introduce lots of people into the hobby that would otherwise have been lost to crappy department store scopes through which it will be impossible to see anything. I played with the mount in a shop and its very stable. A great start for people on a budget. As the Sky and Tel review pointed out it is so easy to use that just exploring the garden with it is a revelation to a beginner.
The spherical mirror will be about a wave at best focus but the scope is likely mainly going to be used at 15X so will do the job.
At age 10 or 11 I would have been overwhelmed to receive a 3" mini-Dob for Xmas 
Last edited by Satchmo; 15-11-2009 at 02:54 PM.
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15-11-2009, 04:13 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,883
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astronut
A little more thought into its design, would make this a killer first scope.
My 2 cents.
P.S I returned ALL five scopes. |
Just read your post...what a shame , like so much , so near and yet so far.
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15-11-2009, 04:41 PM
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Scotland to Australia
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1,645
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i picked up one this morning!
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16-11-2009, 01:05 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 1,699
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It would make a great door stop.
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16-11-2009, 01:29 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 1,581
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Looks too light for a door stop.
Might look Ok on a mantle piece if anyone still has one.
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16-11-2009, 01:32 PM
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Scotland to Australia
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1,645
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i colimated it last night as best i could, and give it a whirl
i didnt think it was that bad at all for what is was, and its cost
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