good places to buy?

GiveItAGoGavo · #1 27-11-2007, 08:57 PM

Hi all,

Im sure this has been done to death but...

Ive wanted a scope for years..and Ive finally got some time on my hands... not a whole lot of cash...

But Ive been doing some reading, and its seems an 8inch Dobsonian is about the way to go...

Im not sure where to buy from though.. being extremely new to this, all I know of is the actual Bintel sight, which has (what appears to me) something nice, the Bintel BT 152 for $399.

Is this as cheap as I can expect it to get? Also, does anyone see anything wrong with this choice? For the moment I live in an area that *used* to be rural, but is becoming more and more light polluted with the developments, so I might want to travel now and then about half an hour down the road...
Cheers

dhumpie · #2 27-11-2007, 10:06 PM

Get it from Andrew's period....best and cheapest place to buy....
http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm

However that said Bintel's service is second to none. But if you are going for an 8" dob, for not much more you can get the 10", which buys you much brighter views. As they say the 10" is the smallest of the large scopes

Darren

tileys · #3 27-11-2007, 10:49 PM

Andrews is a great place to get a bargain but they told me they're not shipping big scopes for free around the country like they used to - was costing them too much. Best to give them a call see what they can come up with.

I got my 8" dob there - a GSO one - which, as far as I can make out, is the same scope as the branded one you buy from Bintel. It cost me $299 (for the basic pkg with a 9mm and 25mm eyepiece). That's about as good 'bang for your bucks' as you can get for a new scope.

Cheers,

Steve

ngcles · #4 27-11-2007, 10:52 PM

Hi Giveitagogavo,

A small/medium sized dobsonian 'scope is a great choice for a newbie and may end up being the only telescope you will ever want.

You spoke of an 8" but the one you mention specifically -- the BT 152 is not an 8" but a 6" -- which is still a good size. More aperture (diameter of the mirror & tube) means a brighter more detailed view and larger ones do have considerable advantages, but the larger you go the more expensive and the less portable they are -- it's a trade-off. Having said that an 8 or 10" is still pretty portable and fits pretty easily in most cars.

Heaps of reputable vendors out there including BINTEL. Many sell similar 'scopes at approximately similar prices, but $399 for a 6" dob is _dirt cheap_ for an easy-to-use serious telescope. It wasn't that long ago (maybe a dozen years) that a commercial 8" dob would have set you back nearly $1500-. Prices have come down a long, long way. Best of luck whichever way you go ...

Best,

Les D
Contributing Editor
AS&T

casstony · #5 27-11-2007, 10:52 PM

8" or 10" dob are both good choices - you could get a look through both at a public event around Melbourne perhaps? You could also post a wanted ad and pick one up used to save a few bucks - there's probably someone out there who wants to upgrade.

tileys · #6 27-11-2007, 11:27 PM

...from Andrews Website it seems that they're still giving free shipping around Aus for Celestron and Skywatcher packages - just not e.g. the GSO dobs they have on special at the moment. Also, the basic GSO packages they sell are without the fancy crayford focusser and cooling fan but as a ready to go package (you still have to assemble the base yourself of course...but it's easy) they're hard to beat - I'm loving mine.

cheers,

Steve

GiveItAGoGavo · #7 27-11-2007, 11:38 PM

oooh brilliant! thanks alot of the replies guys... and the correction.

Im looking on the Andrews website now... alot of brands I am not familiar with...

are there any brands that are particularly good or bad?

wavelandscott (Scott) · #8 27-11-2007, 11:53 PM

If you have not seen one of these scopes "in the flesh", I'd strongly encourage you to stop in to a shop if you can before you buy one or alternatively get to a viewing night with a local club or people here from the site.

While it is easy for many of us to say how wonderful scope "x" is (and it can be too), I think it is important that you actually see and use one before you buy if you can.

This does a few things that I think are important.

#1 you get to see physically how big/heavy (or small/light) a particular scope is and this will help you know which scope is best for you.

#2 trying one (or several) telescopes out before you buy them helps you understand what to expect...I've found that having expectations set and understood before a purchase enhances my enjoyment...I site in particular the department store brand type scope with "Hubble" pictures on the side of the box...in this instance, the expectations set by the box picture will be different than the experience in using said scope.

Having said all of that, an 8 inch (or larger) scope can give you years of enjoyment...As has been mentioned earlier, a few years back an 8 inch scope would not have been considered a "beginners scope". Pricing and quality have sure made things better for us consumers!

In summary, don't be in a rush to buy until you have had a chance to try a few things out...getting your interests and expectations in alignment can get you enjoying and hooked on this hobby for life.

Enjoy!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 28-11-2007, 12:11 AM

G'day Gavo,

The GS Dobs are of fantastic quality for their price. Many, many of us started with GS dobs, many still use them. I personally have the 12" and it is incredible!

You are welcome to pop up here on our next Club night and check out the different size Dobs if you feel up to the drive. Many Melbournites come up each month.

We have a Club 8" Dob from Andrews that you can play with all night to see if it is what you are after

It's a great way to test drive.

Next club night is 7th December

GiveItAGoGavo · #10 28-11-2007, 12:56 AM

This certainly is a friendly group

Wavelandscott: thats some very sound advice. I will try to play with some... but I certainly did not have my expectations of whats on the dick-smith boxes

haha. I have had an interest in astronomy for as long as I can remember, I have just never managed to get my hands on a scope. But yes I am trying to research as much as possible... I dont have the money now anyway

Ballaratdragons: thankyou very much for the kind invitation. It certainly is a drive though! But worth it with the lack of light-pollution I am sure. I live in Werribee on a small farm which used to be great but now I am almost surrounded by suburbia which is distinctly not great. Once or twice a year I go away to a place practically out in the desert and I would love to take something away with me up there... maybe a 10 inch is too much :S

In regards to the GS units, they are made in Taiwan correct? Are the Bintels made here?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #11 28-11-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GiveItAGoGavo

In regards to the GS units, they are made in Taiwan correct? Are the Bintels made here?

They are the same telescope, just has a Bintel sticker on it. All made in Taiwan

They are sold under many names like: GS, GSO, Guan Sheng, Bintel, Southern Cross, Harding etc. It's only the sticker on them that differs, and sometimes the paint colour. They are all made by Guan Sheng.

You'll find the same with many scopes like the ED80's for example: Saxon, Orion, Skywatcher etc, all the same scope in different paint colours.

Werribee puts you about 1/2 an hour closer than most that come up here

but I know what you mean about the city moving in on you. I lived at Hoppers Crossing for a while over 20 years ago. It was bushy with some new estates. Now it's an outer suburb!!!!!

GiveItAGoGavo · #12 28-11-2007, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

They are the same telescope, just has a Bintel sticker on it. All made in Taiwan

They are sold under many names like: GS, GSO, Guan Sheng, Bintel, Southern Cross, Harding etc. It's only the sticker on them that differs, and sometimes the paint colour. They are all made by Guan Sheng.

You'll find the same with many scopes like the ED80's for example: Saxon, Orion, Skywatcher etc, all the same scope in different paint colours.

Werribee puts you about 1/2 an hour closer than most that come up here

but I know what you mean about the city moving in on you. I lived at Hoppers Crossing for a while over 20 years ago. It was bushy with some new estates. Now it's an outer suburb!!!!!

haha that sounds familiar... ok then I guess I could handle going Taiwanese

I try and keep my money in the country usually but if theyre all from there... guess I dont have much choice! Saves me a few dollars though... although I am trying to work out which comes with what....

there are various versions of the GSO from Andrews (http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-co....htm#dobsonian),
while the Bintel (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6993) has a few filters and other stuff I generally dont understand

And dragons, your right about hoppers! where I live (Wyndham Vale), I couldnt see a single other house... now I have something like 20 neighbours :S Ive lost about half my sky with the excess light. Makes me sad.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #13 28-11-2007, 02:03 AM

Yep, both shops (and others) try to outdo each other with pricing and goodies included. Let them have thier price wars, coz in the end, we are the ones sitting back getting the cheaper prices as they keep trying to beat each other

Both shops are offering similiar items with the 'Bintel BT-252 10" Premium Dobsonian' and 'Andrews Guan Sheng GS-880 10" Super Deluxe version'.
The filters included in the Bintel deal aren't all that exciting to most of us. Those of us with these filters rarely, if ever, use them. But they look nice sitting in an Eyepiece case

I would say get either one of those 10" packages, as they are both outstanding deals. Both are offering 5 EP's. Bintels finderscope is a straight through, which can be awkward to use, Andrews has the rightangle finderscope. Much better. Bintels has the cooling fan, Andrews doesn't mention if his has one (usually does, but may not on these). Yes, the cooling fan is worth having.

And both are offering the newer 10:1 crayford Focuser.

I'd like one of those!!!!

It is really up to you.

Both packages are pretty much the same and either one is great,

Andrews: $649 + freight, cheap but with no servicing department.

Bintel: $679 + freight, with back-up service department.

P.S. My name is Ken, not Ballarat or Dragons

GiveItAGoGavo · #14 28-11-2007, 02:15 AM

Ripper! Thanks Ken (thanks for the clarification on that

)

they sound goooood... though its money I dont actually have at this time but... I might happen across it soon hopefully!

Your summation there was brilliant... thanks for the jargon-decryption... I appreciate that a right angle viewer would be easier than a straight through... though the servicing is the bit that tickles my fancy... Im a sucker for a good warranty (read: paying an extra $100 on a monitor for a good dead-pixel replacement policy

)

Ill definitely try and make it to down to Ballarat, though the timing might be a bit unfortunate

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #15 28-11-2007, 02:26 AM

Your welcome

Lee · #16 28-11-2007, 08:02 AM

I would go Bintel too - Andrews are cheap, and usually very fast delivery (Bintel too), but I would rate the extra cost at Bintel as WELL worth it. I wouldn't like to try and get Andrews to take back a lemon scope

casstony · #17 28-11-2007, 08:37 AM

I bought my dob from Bintel because I could drive to the shop. Had there been no Bintel in Melbourne but an Andrews instead, I would have bought from Andrews. There's a lot to be said for buying local.

rmcpb (Rob) · #18 28-11-2007, 09:27 AM

If its your first scope I would go for the local supplier, especially if you can pick it up. That way you can check it before delivery, much easier to return something you haven't paid for yet

Besides the advice you will get person to person is worth its weight in gold.

GiveItAGoGavo · #19 28-11-2007, 12:22 PM

thats all good advice

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmcpb

If its your first scope I would go for the local supplier, especially if you can pick it up. That way you can check it before delivery, much easier to return something you haven't paid for yet

Besides the advice you will get person to person is worth its weight in gold.

Im not sure I would get anything out of it checking before delivery if I dont really know what Im looking for! Im sure the blatantly obvious I would pick up on... and by the time I have the cash for this I think Id know alot more than I do now so that may not be a bad idea

ving (David) · #20 28-11-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

I would go Bintel too - Andrews are cheap, and usually very fast delivery (Bintel too), but I would rate the extra cost at Bintel as WELL worth it. I wouldn't like to try and get Andrews to take back a lemon scope

actually lee andrews is a very reasonable guy and quite accomodating... he has taken back "lemon scopes" before. where is this info coming from?