What to buy?

[hickny (Peter)]

Can anyone give advice on what type of telescope to buy?

Guan Sheng GS-500 150mm x 750mm Reflector

or

Guan Sheng GS-680 200mm x 1200mm Dobsonian

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Hickny.

What's your budget?
Will you observe mostly from home, or do you plan to take the telescope out to dark sites every now and then? (at least once a month).
What type of objects will you observe the most? (planets/DSO's)
Do you want to do any photography, or just visual observing?

[casstony]

Hi Hickny, assuming you want to look at a bit of everything your second choice is the standard recommendation for a first scope. It's easy to set up, easy to point, shows brighter images and you can do all your observing from a seated position.

[hickny (Peter)]

I saw both for the same price at Andrews Communications for $399. Would most likely observe from home. Perhaps visit a dark sky location on some occasions. Don't know much about astrophotography it all seems a little complicated.

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

My first word of advice is before you by anything is to get to a viewing night or two to see what types of scopes are available and what can be done with them...

I believe that a number of folks will be going to Kulunura (about an hour or so from Sydney) soon to do some new moon observing...information is posted about it in the "observing" area (I don't know how to link another post sorry)...

Alternatively, you could contact a local Astro club or society and plan to go to one of their next vewing nights...or folks from the forum who are close to your location...

Once you see a few scopes and look through them you may have a better idea what you like in a telescope.

Having said all of that, a 6 or 8 inch Dobsonian reflector make a good "all around" first scope for beginners for visual use...there are a number of brands available and they represent pretty good value for money.

While it is not "optimal" to use for astrophotography it can be done if that is of interest as well.

[xelasnave]

I found a 6 inch very handy .
I now image thru it becuse it is a fast scope .
If you can get to a star party you will know the one you want ...but you have to work up to those ones .

Astro photography is not hard as it seems there are levels .. you can take snaps of the Moon and some planets by holding a camera to the eye piece of a dobsonian mounted scope.

I felt the best Moon shot I took was with a 2 meg camera at the eye piece thru a 6 inch refractor.. a fluke but you can get good shots that will let you know if photograpy is for you.. if it is just think mounts.mounts.mounts.. it starts there believe me . The good news is the eq6 mount works and they are the first good cheap mount.. approx $2000

But you need a good mount... but for now buy a dob and enjoy it.. you wont regret it..
Best wishes and good luck
alex