first scope

bazron (Aaron) · #1 21-10-2013, 05:35 PM

hi everyone my first post on this site yay!!

wondering if someone could recommend a good first telescope for about $400-$500. something i could use to take a few photos with at some point. i was thinking saxon 909eq2 refractor. all comments welcome.

Aaron..

astro_nutt · #2 22-10-2013, 12:31 PM

Hi Aaron and welcome to IIS. The Saxon 909eq2 refractor and also the Skywatcher sw102 are fine scope to start with but for light gathering power and value for money, you can't go past a dob. Consider the Bintel 200mm dob. Easy to transport and set up, although taking photo's would be limited to using an iphone or such via a holder clamped to the focuser/eyepiece. Read up on a few star parties or visit one near you.
Cheers!

bazron (Aaron) · #3 22-10-2013, 12:55 PM

i had thought about getting a dob but worried about moving it around as light pollution is very bad where i live (near an army base). so id be traveling every time i wanted to use it. tho they are the easiest to set up and most bang for your buck. most of the time id be standing out in a paddock somewhere and that seems to put me off getting one.. ive been told by a few people now to get one. but im just not sold on it yet. still looking at other options. i could maybe stand to spend up to $600 if i can save for a few weeks.

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #4 22-10-2013, 06:31 PM

I also would recommend a dob. Having had scopes similar to the ones you are looking at as well as 8", 12" and 20" dobs, I know that there is not much difference between an 8" dob and a small EQ mounted scope. And the dob doesn't have to be polar aligned.
An 8" is also easily transported in a small car.
You mentioned imaging. The 909EQ2 will not be much use for that unfortunately. If you go that way, best imaging is mounting a piggy back camera with a wide lense and go for some wide fields, as long as you are careful about alignment.

Malcolm

ZeroID (Brent) · #5 23-10-2013, 09:45 AM

LP ? The DOB is still your best bet, more aperture to cut through the gunk and see the faint detail. My 10" beats the heck out of both my 80 and 102 refractors for visual use anywhere.
But the 102 is best for photography.

niko · #6 23-10-2013, 03:48 PM

a Dob - minimum 8"

there are many, many threads that outlines the reasons why but mainly

- encourages you to learn the sky
- good value for money
- huge light gathering ability
- ease of use (no complicated mount)
- reasonably transportable

bazron (Aaron) · #7 23-10-2013, 06:57 PM

okkie dokkie think ill be getting a dob. ive been looking at the saxon 8" for $525 on oz scopes.. might order it next week. iv got a pair of 15x70 bins ive been using to star hop around but havent had a clear night since last weekend. thanx for all the replys.

Aaron...

mental4astro (Alexander) · #8 23-10-2013, 08:32 PM

Andrews Communications has their 8" dob for $449. Their 10" is $599. Look under the Guan Sheng banner in this AndrewsCom link. It pays to shop around.

JJDOBBER79 (Jas) · #9 23-10-2013, 10:11 PM

Hi aaron. you should be able to get a 10" for $600. Aperture is king!!!!!
Alex is right, check out andrews coms. I bought an eyepiece from them 2 days ago and had it in my hand the next day. (30mm superview, thanks for the recommendation alex) Look under the GSO brand. They get a good rap from pretty much all of the forum members. I dont think that the saxons are particularly better in any way than a GSO, I know they are more $$$$. Someone who has had them may be able to help more.

simmo · #10 24-10-2013, 12:54 AM

Hi Bazron,

Just a word of caution about going too big with your purchase. I went straight to a ten inch dob as my first telescope. It has been a two edge sword. I don't regret getting it as some nights have been very special but there are times I wished I had something smaller and easier to set up. I look outside and go tonight wouldn't be to bad but really I can't be bothered lugging my big scope outside as well as the chair and everything else. Maybe a good time to set up an observatory

but I digress.

I find that there are some nights that I don't need any scope to enjoy the stars. Now that I know what to look for I can see with my naked eye (I have very good eyesight) some of the larger objects in the sky, not to mention satellites, meteors, auroras and the such. On those nights I also just really want something a little smaller to gaze around with as I've usually travelled somewhere with good skies and I've left the big girl at home cause of no room to fit, scared someone will steal it when they see it through the window or worried it will get damaged.

Yes dobs may be the best value but they also have their limitations in some ways.

Ignorance is bliss too. If you were to go a refractor then you would never know how good a dob is and be happy with what you have!

In the end the choice is yours so good luck with your decision.

Simmo

GraemeT (Graeme) · #11 24-10-2013, 09:06 AM

Aaron,
If you read the Stickies at the top of the Beginners Forum, you will have all the answers to keep you going for a long time. There is a mountain of knowledge in those posts!
Cheers

ZeroID (Brent) · #12 24-10-2013, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmo

Hi Bazron,

Just a word of caution about going too big with your purchase. I went straight to a ten inch dob as my first telescope. It has been a two edge sword. I don't regret getting it as some nights have been very special but there are times I wished I had something smaller and easier to set up. I look outside and go tonight wouldn't be to bad but really I can't be bothered lugging my big scope outside as well as the chair and everything else. Maybe a good time to set up an observatory

but I digress.

I find that there are some nights that I don't need any scope to enjoy the stars. Now that I know what to look for I can see with my naked eye (I have very good eyesight) some of the larger objects in the sky, not to mention satellites, meteors, auroras and the such. On those nights I also just really want something a little smaller to gaze around with as I've usually travelled somewhere with good skies and I've left the big girl at home cause of no room to fit, scared someone will steal it when they see it through the window or worried it will get damaged.

Yes dobs may be the best value but they also have their limitations in some ways.

Ignorance is bliss too. If you were to go a refractor then you would never know how good a dob is and be happy with what you have!

In the end the choice is yours so good luck with your decision.

Simmo

Aarons got some 15 x 70 binos so he is not too restricted in choice there but you're right. I keep my little 80mm f5 on a tripod inside the lounge door and can just step outside with it for a quick looksee whenever the urge gets too much. Useful when the clouds are playing hide and seek and you have to be ready for those sucker holes.

bazron (Aaron) · #13 24-10-2013, 01:41 PM

hmm im still thinking about the 909eq2 or the 15012eq3 for some reason i think id be able to use it more. take it away camping up nsw got the best skys milky way form horizon to horizon.

ill read through the stickies too.

cheers for help everyone

Aaron.

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #14 24-10-2013, 03:24 PM

Aaron
I can only relate my experience with both small EQ mounted scopes vs dobs. I had a 130mm EQ2 by Saxon as my first scope. Used it for about 18 months. In that time I managed to see the moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Alpha Centauri, M42 and Omega Centauri.
I then got an 8" dob. Within 6 months I had done almost the entire Messier list (I think it was about 85 of the 100 Messiers vis in Vic) as well as a couple of hundred NGC objects. I took it out almost every clear night, while the EQ sat in the corner.
Yes they are a little more bulky but they are made out of chipboard in the base as against EQs being all metal, so in weight terms they are not that much different. Setup and navigating are sooo much simpler and simply you will see more.
I went to a couple of camps with the 8" and many with the 12" and had no problems with transporting in my Astra with a little planning.

Malcolm

bazron (Aaron) · #15 24-10-2013, 04:47 PM

would the image be flipped or backwards in a dob"? and do u have to collimate it?

rustigsmed (Russell) · #16 24-10-2013, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazron

would the image be flipped or backwards in a dob"? and do u have to collimate it?

upside down and back to front.
not that it matters when looking at an astronomical object!

Definitely go with the dob. it is so much easier to use than an eq mount. the time taken to set the eq mount up, you would have already collimated the dob. and be enjoying the great views. you will be disapointed with the refractor and end up buying a dob down the track, if your interest in astronomy hasn't waned from the experience ....

philipheaven (Philip) · #17 24-10-2013, 05:23 PM

This might sound like blasphemy but I wouldn't go for a dob. A dob is such a clumsy way to move around the sky (taking aperture into consideration). There is nothing better than a correctly aligned equatorial mount for tracking objects throughout the sky. Plus you can use the coordinates of objects for location.

As for those who say an equatorial mount is too difficult for beginners - everyone is a beginner when they first use an equatorial mount. Knowing your way around the sky does't make the first use of an equatorial mount any easier. Just face the mount true south, make sure the altitude setting is correct and off you go. Took me one evening to learn how to use an equatorial mount, and I'd never go back.

If you looking for an 8 inch reflector from Bintel get the one mounted on the eq5 skywatcher mount. Its a superb mount. The ability to track and use the setting circles will open up more avenues of interest.

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #18 24-10-2013, 07:28 PM

There is an argument for EQ mounts, but on the other hand and eq5 with 8" newt at Bintel is $999 while the dob 8" is $479.
One other factor I didn't mention is with an EQ mount the eyepiece ends up in all sorts of odd positions, while with a dob it is always in a comfortable position.

Malcolm

philipheaven (Philip) · #19 24-10-2013, 08:27 PM

Yes the price is twice as much, but I think you'd still get more out of the scope due to the eq mount. I've found real joy in hunting for those faint using setting circles and dec coordinates.

I wish someone had told me the benefits of an eq mount when I was younger. My first big scope was a 10 inch dob and I found locating and tracking objects with it infuriating! And don't get me started on trying to keep a planet in your field of view at 250x.

There is something elegant about using an eq mount. It mimics the movement of the stars in the sky - can't get better than that.

philipheaven (Philip) · #20 24-10-2013, 08:29 PM

And as for the eyepiece ending up in different positions, you can simply rotate the telescope in its rings - takes all of 5 seconds.