Refractor Telescopes vs Reflector - Page 2

Mick (Michael) · #21 11-01-2005, 11:19 PM

Jimmy have a read of this http://astronomy.trilobytes.com.au/scope.htm#junk

rumples riot · #22 11-01-2005, 11:59 PM

Hey Jimmy, this is the single most important question that you will face in this hobby. Which scope do I buy?

Now the easy answer is this. A refractor under 5 inches is going to give very limited views of the planets. The Optics will be very poor in General and you will need to spend something in the order of at least $1500.00 to get something half decent with some of the features in glass technology that are now available. That is the image will not have a purple tinge or suffer the effects akin to a prism. Remember this is for purely optical viewing, if the scope does not work the way you want it, you will become very despondent.

Whereas a reflector of good quality can be obtained for around $500-$900 depending on the diameter. The larger the better. 10" is probably optimum and most likely the easiest to move around per light gathering capacity. On top of this, the scope will have a wider range of ability than a refractor.

Best of luck with your decision.

Starkler (Geoff) · #23 12-01-2005, 12:12 AM

A 6 inch gso dob for $299 will beat the 70mm refractors you are considering in every department. Stability, brightness of view, resolution, and by a long way !

Spend another $100 for the 8 inch model and you have a very capable scope that could keep you happy for many years.

Geoff

iceman (Mike) · #24 12-01-2005, 06:11 AM

There's an overwhelming weight of opinion for the reflector Jimmy, and I continue to put my support behind that.

You can be get very seriously into this hobby with a 6 or 8" dobsonian. The most important trait you need is the desire and willingness to learn, and it seems like you've already got that so you're halfway there.

There's a lot to know, a lot to learn, but with the help and advice you can on forums like this, the slope can seem much easier to climb and you'll come up to speed much faster.

AS&T is a good mag, you should also check out "Sky & Space" which is another very good Australian astronomy publication.

MintSauce (Gordon) · #25 12-01-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Starkler
A 6 inch gso dob for $299 will beat the 70mm refractors you are considering in every department. Stability, brightness of view, resolution, and by a long way !

Geoff

Apart from tracking the object, I've been testing high powers for viewing saturn and it's very hard to keep in the FOV. My Dob is still a little sticky which I'm trying to find the best way to fix (I have teflon sliders all over the base)

I'd basically suggest the Dob, it was me and frosty that got the 8" for a good price, I also got a couple Ultrawide eyepieces in with it. I've been having great fun watching saturn, orion (the nebula and the multiple stars) and a few others (there was this multiple star with 2 blue/white and a red....wish I could remember wtf I was looking at, didn't have my log book with me).

As the others have said, for planetery work a refractor is the way to go, BUT on a limited budget of that the GSO dob will really be the best option, and hey you can add a EQ mount at some point (which I would like to do to take some photos)

Hope this ramble is of a little help.

MintSauce (Gordon) · #26 12-01-2005, 10:36 AM

heh and you should go read the modding post, the ppl with dobs have all modified them and some look like they got enuf gadgets to take off

don't worry if you need to say

We won't just

So no worries and go have some fun under the stars

(Edit: Heh, just noticed this was my 50th post here, yay)

ving (David) · #27 12-01-2005, 10:40 AM

was wondering how you were going with your new scope minty

hope your enjoying it. as for the sticking, try making 4 or so plastic milk bottle washers to go in the center. you azimuth action wil improve from this.

a 8" will also let you chase faint fuzzies like galaxies and planetary nebulas.

you wont see them in a small refractor at all. sure faint fuzzies arent as pretty as say jupiter but its all about the hunt then isnt it

Jimmy · #28 12-01-2005, 02:58 PM

Im going with either a 6" or 8" DOB (pref the 8). Im just worried about the planet tracking capabilities, but I suppose I should just bother with getting used to the thing at first....

Thanks for all the help guys!!!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #29 12-01-2005, 03:10 PM

Hey Jimmy,

I started with a 4 1/4" relector about 20 years ago and had a ball.

As for your planet tracking, you will find that you will stay with a planet quite easily. It takes about 2 minutes to learn which way to move the scope and how fast an object in FOV moves.

Jimmy · #30 12-01-2005, 03:15 PM

Grouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!

It's Official, I'm Going with the 8" DOB!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks All!!

Jimmy · #31 12-01-2005, 03:20 PM

Im going with the Andrews GS-680 Limited 8" f/6 Dobsonian.

Which eyepieces should I choose guys?

rumples riot · #32 12-01-2005, 03:44 PM

26mm, 20mm and 12.5mm and the very best you can afford. Don't skimp on this, this is more critical than the objective.

Jimmy · #33 12-01-2005, 04:43 PM

Seeing as you get the 9mm and 25mm I'll go for the 12.5mm and 30mm or maybe i should get a 6.5mm.

Does anyone know what quality these eyepieces are of?

Jimmy · #34 12-01-2005, 04:43 PM

Ooops! Also whats the difference between plossl and super plossl if any at all?

Starkler (Geoff) · #35 12-01-2005, 07:02 PM

As a GSO dob owner myself I'd go for a 12.5 and a 15mm.
These are useful for dso observing and when combined with a barlow (as you will undoubtedly get for viewing planets) will give just the right magnification ranges

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #36 12-01-2005, 08:31 PM

Hi Jimmy,

The Super Plossl is supposed to have a slightly wider FOV than the normal Plossl but not many people can notice the difference.

Plossls are 50 degrees and Super Plossls are 52 degrees.

A lot of companies now use the name 'Super Plossl' but it was concocted by Meade.

Has anyone ever noticed any difference between the two?

Starkler (Geoff) · #37 12-01-2005, 08:51 PM

The "super plossl" was originally a Meade as Ken said, and there was a difference. It was a 5 element Masayuma design a-la Celestron Ultima , orion ultrascopic and the like.

Nowadays "super plossl" is a meaningless marketing name which denotes nothing.

Geoff

MintSauce (Gordon) · #38 12-01-2005, 10:51 PM

Check out the thread with me and frosty about eye pieces, I got the 6.5 and I find it a bit crappy; I cannot really see much through it as I need to get so close to it it's unreal.

I Love the 15/20mm GSO Super views (the 20 is best) if you fancy getting one 'better' eyepiece as you order. I got the 20mm and an Andrews 80degree 30mm which is a huge and great eye piece. These cheaper eyepieces suffer from coma at the edges but the view is amazing for the price (79 bucks and 150bucks). A Couple of half decent eyepieces and a barlow will last you a while, I have only used the 9mm eye piece out of all I got with the scope, when I required 400x magnification - the rest were used for a night then not touched since cause of the superview and the Andrews eyepieces.

(gottah learn to use the enter key)

G.

MintSauce (Gordon) · #39 12-01-2005, 10:53 PM

just a note : the eyepieces do suffer from coma, but to aviod this you'd need a nagler which runs at 600-900 bucks

Anyhow I spent 750 in total (read my thread about Andrews limited 200mm...etc...) and I'm not regretting it one bit (apart from the uncontrollable urge to spend more)

G.

Starkler (Geoff) · #40 13-01-2005, 12:07 AM

I have the 20mm superview and it does suffer aberations in f5 scope.
How does the 15mm compare ?