Hooray!

Crash Nebula · #1 28-08-2005, 07:34 PM

Hey everyone guess what...

I have enough money for my scope! I saved up $600 and now I have enough for a skywatcher 8" dob. I'm so happy.
Anyway, heres my question - Should I buy my scope now, or wait a few weeks and put the money in a bank account and let it accumulate wealth for a litte bit and then buy it? I don't think we'll be on the coast near star optics anytime soon so option #2 sounds best. More waiting sigh.

h0ughy (David) · #2 28-08-2005, 07:52 PM

it really comes down to what is practical at the moment. keep saving, who knows maybe they might have some better prices by then and more for your hard saved dollar! Congratulations on achieving your goal!

Starkler (Geoff) · #3 28-08-2005, 07:56 PM

I thought you were going to get a GS dob?

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #4 28-08-2005, 10:18 PM

have you checked prices at andrews and aquila ?

dugnsuz (Doug) · #5 28-08-2005, 10:20 PM

Hi
My 2 cents...
Look at Andrews Com's site - $600 will get you a 10inch Dob, 4 or 5 Plossl
Eyepieces etc!!
The 8inch Skywatcher is going to be roughly the same telescope as the Guan Sheng one which Andrews sells for $399.
http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm
Check out AOE too...http://www.aoe.com.au/aoe.html
Sorry if I'm preaching to the converted, but in the past I bought a 10inch Dob from Bintel for $1099 almost 2 years ago. The exact same scope is now available for $599 but recently in Brisbane I've looked at the same scope for $995.
The moral - Buyer beware!!!!
These Chinese/Taiwan scopes are on sale all over the country under different names and inflated prices.
For me Andrews Com's looks the best buy at present - the 10 inch is a fantastic, manageable scope. Save some money for a UHC filter too
Good Luck
Cheers
Doug

asimov (John) · #6 28-08-2005, 10:58 PM

As Doug says.

netwolf · #7 28-08-2005, 10:59 PM

I bought my 10" from Andrews for 599 with 4 EP's + Binos + Moonfilter + 4 Filters + 2 more EP's. I am very happy with it. The only issue is with the Instructions for building the base, they are non existant you have to guess from some full diagrams what to do. Also soon after i bought mine, the delux edition had some changes I wish i had waited. With the Delux model you get Craford Focuser and a right angle finderscope and a cooling fan.

Andrew is a great guy to deal with but even he admits his knowledge of Astronomy is not high. I would also reccomend from feedback you take a look at Bintel, though there prices are abit higher the offer one good thing. Bintel full dismantle and reassumble the OTA and make sure its colimated and do a star test on it. There is a price diffrence for this and am not sure if its worth it or not. My Dob did come with pretty good colimation, i have not had to do one. Though i have borrwed a simulated Star from a mate to test it out properly.

One suggestion goto the news agency and check the latest austrlina astronomy mags to see the specials from all of em. You will note with Andrews and Bintel they are alwasy offering some kind of special with extra EP's etc to move there stock.

dugnsuz (Doug) · #8 28-08-2005, 11:23 PM

Hi Again,
I agree with netwolf - in that Bintel, although slightly more expensive(dirty word I know) might be the better option quality-wise.
My 10inch Dob arrived in perfect collimation with the rear metal base plate removed to allow better mirror cooldown.
Now my cynicism says that they can't look at every scope but my real-world experience tells me otherwise.
I haven't bought the same scope from Andrews so I cant comment on their QC.
Feel like I'm muddy-ing the waters a bit - hope not
Cheers
Doug

dugnsuz (Doug) · #9 28-08-2005, 11:39 PM

Hi
Just jumped onto the Bintel website - the privelige of an OTA strip-down will cost you $699 + Deliv' (around $100 last time I asked).
Andrews charge around $65 for interstate deliv' I think - all this has to be considered unless you live next door.
Personally I'd go with the cheapest option and hop onto this forum if you need to collimate etc - lots of helping hands here - don't worry be happy.
If you've got your heart set on a dob go for the biggest bugger you can afford/carry - in the UK I had a 12.5 inch Dark Star Dob. The thing was like a Rinnai hot water tank, but it was worth the effort to lug it outside.
Cheers
Doug

davidpretorius · #10 28-08-2005, 11:55 PM

well done, i can only imagine what you must be feeling. That is a top effort saving. 10" dob way to go, you will not be disappointed!!

asimov (John) · #11 29-08-2005, 12:00 AM

Yep. You have to learn to collimate anyway when you get it. May as well go the cheapest way IMHO.

netwolf · #12 29-08-2005, 12:31 AM

Get the delux edition, worth every penney. Wish i had done that.

asimov (John) · #13 29-08-2005, 01:33 AM

oh yes...Definitely go the deluxe! From Andrews.

BC · #14 29-08-2005, 08:19 AM

I've had my 10" from Bintel for a few months now. As a first scope buyer, I was happy to go with a shop that I could walk into and actually see the 3 sizes in the flesh; and also see what they actually looked like aesthetically. Andrews, however, had one size on display, sitting up on a shelf, sprayed matt black with a spray can. My impression was "price ain't everything". Bintel offered the fan, which was very good for me with 20+ degree temp differentials. The Crayford is a delight to use. I also got the GS plossels whereas, at the time, I would have had to pay Andrews $49 per EP to get them (no trade ins or upgrades were offered). The EP case is good too. The only thing I'd question is the value of the strip-down. It's nice they spotted the mirror (although it is 1mm off centre), but in chasing the kind of views that many people describe on this forum, I've ended up stripping the whole thing down anyway to fix up the pinched mirrors. I was happier going with Bintel for my first scope, but if I was buying a second, I'd go with Andrews.

Crash Nebula · #15 29-08-2005, 09:08 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, but my dad won't let me get one from andrews. Hes touchy about giving people credit card numbers. So, I'm getting it from Star Optics on the Gold Coast.

Starkler (Geoff) · #16 29-08-2005, 09:15 AM

You could get a money order from the bank ?
It really is a worthwhile saving to buy from Andrews and you'll end up with a better scope.

BC · #17 29-08-2005, 09:15 AM

No, you don't have to do the credit card thing. Ring Lee up and he gives you his bank account details. You go to the nearest bank of the same company and deposit the money, then ring him up to tell him you've done it. The bits are then on their way.

rmcpb (Rob) · #18 29-08-2005, 09:41 AM

Use the money order or bank account system. The savings are really worth it. Don't forget the Cheshire eyepiece for collimation $29.

Cheers

ving (David) · #19 29-08-2005, 10:11 AM

hi crash, congrats... no matter whic way you go you'll be happy

andrews are the best way to go but if ya dad says no then so be it. you enjoy the results anyhow

have fun d00d!
and dont forget to ask here when you need help collimating

chunkylad (David) · #20 29-08-2005, 10:20 AM

I agree wholeheartedly with the last three posts. Don't waste your money by buying from a 'convenient' location: go straight to Lee Andrews and get the best (biggest) aperture you can for your money.
I live in North Queensland, so most of my hobby purchases are done by mail-order. No sweat! I sent Andrews a Money Order by Express post, and four days later, my 12" deluxe Dob was on my doorstep. Fantastic!!!! And, at an unbeatable price.
I know that being a young person, saving $600 is no mean feat. I would hate to see you partially waste your effort by getting less than the best value you can.

Cheers