Table-top Newtonian?

[cookie8 (Vincent)]

I am asking on behalf of a friend of mine who are interested in buying a telescope after some years of viewing with binos.
However he lives in a light-polluted apartment and he only intends to observe from the balcony. Heavy lifting is out of the question.After some consideration I think the best first scope for him will be one of those table-top dobsonian ( say 4 inch).I thought I've seen it somewhere??
Anyone with experience with these? Any suggestion? His budget is around $300.

[that_guy (Tony)]

for three hundred, you could pick up a used 6" dob or even an 8" if your lucky :\ 4" isnt really that much apperture especially for a light polluted place and the optics wouldnt be that good either

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Orion do their little Star Blast scopes which come in 4.5 and 6 inch versions and even have computerized version and a 90mm Mak Cas. Not sure if any of the Aust dealers get them in though. Above all don't get one of those 76mm first scope thingys!

[cookie8 (Vincent)]

Browsed the Orion website and the StarMax 90mm Mak Cas sounds great.
$199.95 plus postage(yet to find out how much)
Reviews are all positive. Zero maintainence; good sharp image and even day-time use. Now I even want one for myself...

[cookie8 (Vincent)]

Bugger! Orion doesn't ship outside the US. Have to pay more for the middle man

[kitsuna (Adam)]

Originally Posted by cookie8

Bugger! Orion doesn't ship outside the US. Have to pay more for the middle man

Welcome to Australia. You know why it is right?

Americans don't own maps. So some yankee said:

Australia? Isn't that in Cuba? Don't we have a trade embargo with those guys? No trade with the Commies! RAAAWR!

or something like that.

Then some middleman who DOES own a map said:

Actually, Australia isn't Cuba, therefore we can sell whatever we want there (unless the government says no) and add a markup for the trouble.

Globalisation 101.

[pgc hunter]

Is he going to be placing the scope on a table or on the ground? If on the ground, I'd recommend a 4.5" newt on a tripod or a 6" dob. Both are lightweight enough to carry assembled and a great way to get started without blowing the bank, and he'll sharpen his skills nicely by the time (if) he moves up to a larger aperture later on.

[mal]

Originally Posted by cookie8

Bugger! Orion doesn't ship outside the US. Have to pay more for the middle man

Try these guys - just bought a Celestron eyepiece/filter kit, about to try it out. 5 days to country South Australia from New York

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse...8/N/4294541872

mal

[dannat (Daniel)]

I have had a play with a table top newt & they are a bugger to aim anywhere -bintel has a 6" dob on sale for 329, you can use it seated