HELP what to buy??

teash (LETISHA) · #1 15-08-2010, 01:16 AM

Ok guys I am lost I try to read about Telescopes and I have NO idea and I mean none its like you guys are talking russian.

I am wanting to buy my very first scope just to star watch and to see satan's rings and the likes, would love to take photo but so not even at the point plus I really dont have much money, so wanting to get some ideas about the best value for money..something that is not going to cost to much but is still good value.

I just dont want to buy one to find it sits in the cupboard because I dont know how to work it.

Any help would be useful....thanks guys

teash

veejo · #2 15-08-2010, 05:00 AM

I'm a newbie too, but have a few scopes now due to the learning curve, and they seem to be better suited for different things you might want to look at. The one I just grab on an inpulse if there is a gap in the clouds is my "refractor". The refractor tube looks like your traditional telescope, it is sealed so nothing to clean if you used a lens cap, and nothing to adjust "collimation" due to bumps if you have a scope that uses mirrors. Just pull it out of the cupboard and go .. Equatorial mounts have the advantage of being able to track objects as the earth moves once aligned to north (use your iphone compass). New, my 90mm, it should have cost $289 street price (rrp $480), I bought mine used inc postage $120, should have bought a new one for the price difference with no dust and all accessories, the eyepiece ($30 extra used). I have since bought more gear, BUT the refractor is still robust, easy to keep clean, and quick and easy to use. Go to a club if you can and have a look at a few, unless you are time poor like me and just do it on an inpulse when the sky is clear. Wear sunglasses if looking at the moon or use a filter, full moon can get bright once magnified.

Alchemy (Clive) · #3 15-08-2010, 07:25 AM

To look through, best value for money is a dobsonian..... A reflector on a box basically, imaging limited to moon and maybe a happy snap of Jupiter or Saturn....... For imaging you really need it mounted on a drive that tracks the sky. For under a 1000 you can buy a 10 inch one of these, better still get a second hand one,

For imaging.... It gets expensive. Mount plus scope plus guidescope plus camera plus computer plus cables plus plus plus. The very cheapest would be a heq5 mount, and ed80 scope, a dslr camera, anything cheap for a guidescope, guide camera maybe a webcam of sorts,

Have a look through the articles section, there's introductory information there too.

The Mekon (John Briggs) · #4 15-08-2010, 08:56 AM

Veejo's advice is good.

A small refractor will show Saturns rings, Jupiter's moons, double stars bright nebula, as well as great views of the moon .

You don't need to spend much to start with - $300 will get you a half decent one these days.

BlackWidow (Mardy) · #5 15-08-2010, 09:38 AM

Hi Teash. I have owned both options mentioned so far and now I have begun to go down the expensive road as I am wanting to do deep space photo's. An 80mm Refractor would be ideal if you are wanting to keep the costs down. You will be able to take great pictures of the moon and Saturn, Jupiter Etc wtih the use of a simple cheap WebCam. You will need a laptop or computer to do it, and a simple bit of free software called Registax.. You take some video of an object and it breaks it down into a single good picture.. all for around $300 or so. A Dobsonian is also a good choice and you will see more for your money, but they are larger and need more care and adjustment. They are a little more difficult to use with a WebCam as they tend to move around a bit. And they are large with thier base. Mine took up the whole back of my station wagon when I took it out to a site.. Impressed my friends

hope I have been some help. Whatever you start with, it will only be the start. You will always get your money back on a Refractor and you most likely will grow with the hobby as you learn more.

Regards
Mardy

Jen · #6 15-08-2010, 11:44 AM

gday Teash welcome to IIS
Is there any astro clubs near you if so i think you should go to one of them and have a look through a few scopes to get some ideas
How much do u have to spend lets go shopping
For easy use with little fuss go a dob for sure
Happy shopping

PS Once your hooked it wont be the last scope you buy

mental4astro (Alexander) · #7 15-08-2010, 04:43 PM

Hi Teash,

Jen's advice is what I would have suggested. I also recomend getting along to an astro club, or one of the various gathering organised through IIS, like at Mangrove Mountain's 'Pony club', or, a bit further from you, Katoomba Airfield. There you will see various styles of scope in action, and the set-up proceedure that each goes through. Dobs can take as little as 3 minutes. Equatorial mounted refractors/newtonians, can take upto 30 to have tracking down pat.

This experience will show the advantage of going to a dedicated telescope shop, and not 'department store' specials. The scopes on offer in each are like chaulk and cheese.

teash (LETISHA) · #8 15-08-2010, 04:58 PM

Hey guys thanks for the info i seen one but not sure

http://www.ozscopes.com.au/newtonian...e-f1149eq.html

what do you think for a start it look easy to use..something i can take down to the vineyards and just skywatch....

i will also look at the dob.

NorthernLight (Max) · #9 27-08-2010, 08:57 AM

Hi Letisha,

If you haven´t bought by now consider this: Bintel - 6" SW DOB $399
It is a little more expensive but someting to hang on to for a while as you will see much more and just have to move it out-done.

The ozscope alternative is cheap but has a shaky mount, needs alignment to SOUTH celestial pole and is pretty counterintuitive in its usage (I managed to damage the altitude fixing screw on the first night out with my first eq mount cause I wanted to move it up and wondered why so much force was necessary

).

when you get hooked seriously you can get a nice eq goto mount later and mount the dob on it. the whole ozscope can only be replaced.
And you wouldn´t be able to sell it as opposed to the dob.

good luck!

niko · #10 27-08-2010, 09:36 AM

G'day,

my recommendation would be an 8" Dob (or 6" if the money is really tight). Watch the classifieds here for a second hand one.

The beauty of a dob is you plonk it on the ground, point it at an object and look.

I think using an equatorial mount is a difficult thing for beginners because as said above you have to align to the south celestial pole for useful tracking. In my opinion it's this step that often results in scopes getting left in the closet after a few fruitless attempts to align.

A dob means you need to have some idea what you are pointing it at but it's a good way to learn the night sky.

good luck with whatever purchase you make

niko

Jeeps (Sam) · #11 27-08-2010, 12:40 PM

I purchased my first 'real' telescope this year, a 10" light bucket (Dob). I havn't regretted it. Very easy and to setup and use. So my vote is for a 8" light bucket

cheers

csastro25 · #12 31-08-2010, 06:29 PM

Hi Teash,

If i was you i would wait on buying a scope. I would take Jen's advise and go to a club or viewing nite and have a look through some telescope and ask questions. Dont be afraid to ask people on advise while your there, If you ever have the chance get to Linden on a saturday evening or katoomba. Even a club near you should have viewing nites sometimes.

so my advise is get to a club and have a look through some telescope and ask questions, before buying something.

claude

Colin_Fraser · #13 01-09-2010, 07:47 PM

Hello teash,
I am new to this as well. Asked the same questions too.
For what its worth, buy the biggest dob you can afford. If that means getting a 6" dob then that's great.
The Saxon scope is nice but the 6" dob is better value for money. Bigger aperture = capture more light = see much more.
As already mentioned, you can put it on a mount later on if you choose to do astrophotography.