Which is better of the three telescopes?

[cutepetgroomer]

I have my choices narrowed down . I am looking either the Celestron Travelscope 400mm, Celestron Powerseeker 70az or the Celestron Firstscope 76eq. Two are very closely matched in price. and I'm leaning more towards the 76eq.  

[Dreadz]

What are you planning on viewing? Your intended targets will help people advise you better

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[IckleImp]

I can only really comment on the Travelscope 70. I currently have one as my first venture into astronomy.

1st The tripod is rubbish, it wobbles and moves everytime you lock the axis. I managed to get a First Horizon tripod off ebay for about £20.

Mine came with 4mm, 10mm & 20mm eyepieces plus a 3x barlow, the 10 & 20mm are ok but not the greatest, the 4mm and the barlow are just about useable. I have since bought an Agena 6mm wide angle and a meade 2x barlow  which have improved things no end but bear in mind these 2 items cost more than the scope.

In my limited time I have managed to see Jupiter + 4 moons and Saturn.

That said, my wife uses it as a spotting scope for bird watching and it is great.

My limited advice would be to give anything with an AZ (tripod style mount) a miss and get something with an EQ or Dob

[cutepetgroomer]

yes I currently have a telescope on an az mount and I am leaning more towards the one on the eq mount. I mainly like observing the moon, mars, jupiter, saturn, I did get a little lucky last night with viewing jupiter a bit, I couldn't quite make it out clearly but I was able to see it as a bit blurred. My hubsand and I do plan camping trips a couple times a year at least where it is perfect to take my telescope away from city lights. I have also looked at the celestron firstscope that is on a dob mount but I don't know how a dob mount works exactly yet. I have master az mounts and eq mounts pretty well. 

[houston]

Hi cutepetgroomer. I think you might be dissappointed with any of these scopes. Save your penny's for something a little bigger.

[IckleImp]

I managed to get Jupiter clear on my Travelscope 70 with the 4mm eyepiece, it was very small. I also take mine camping. I agree with Houston to save up a scope a little bigger but I also appreciate we cannot all afford or have the space for an 8" Dob. If you can afford to wait I would save up for a 130p Heritage. I too am not familiar with Dob bases so cannot comment on them

[Dreadz]

Dob bases are about as simple as it gets. Its a big Alt-Az mount, you just point and look. You can start modifying them with setting circles and wixeys (and a whole load of other things too) if you want but with the aid of a star chart or app you should be able to star hop to just about anything you want to look at and as more of your budget goes on the OTA and not the mount you get more scope for your money. 

[cutepetgroomer]

I am liking one dob based telescope that is also considered a celestron first scope. HOwever I would like to know that if I were to purchase a dob based telescope what filters I can use on one... 

[Stu_]

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but a pair of bins, may be a better choice at this price range. I've got a travel scope 70, the tripod is rubbish & it has loads of CA on the moon & planets. Since buying a set of Celstron 15x70 binoculars, I haven't used my travel scope.

I find the binoculars are more portable & give better views on DSOs, they can be used handheld, but work better on a tripod.

[cutepetgroomer]

I'm also looking to purchase some binoculars as well, just the telescope first as I know which binoculars I'm going to go with already thank you

[GuillermoBarrancos]

If you are really interested in planetary viewing, it's better to save up for a 127 mak.

Those are excellent budget scopes for planets.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/slt-series/celestron-nexstar-127-slt.html

And if it's really out of reach for you, then you could consider the new heritage mak:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/heritage/skywatcher-heritage-90-virtuoso.html

[cutepetgroomer]

okay umm Looking at euro prices doesn't compute with me, I"m used to the US dollar system... I have looked at them but I see the euro signs and just confuses me..

[GuillermoBarrancos]

okay umm Looking at euro prices doesn't compute with me, I"m used to the US dollar system... I have looked at them but I see the euro signs and just confuses me..

Sorry my bad. Didn't see you were from US earlier.

Just search for the Celestron nexstar 127 SLT.

As Celestron is Synta's main brand in the US.

[cutepetgroomer]

I know which one I"m going to be getting for christmas anyways, I'm just getting one to suit my needs for right now, I do need a telescope to help me complete assignments when the school's observatory is closed.

[jamie56]

Hi cutepetgroomer,

Not sure if this will help, but check out this web, agena astro, they are based in the states and have some good deals and info, I have purchased eyepieces and they are first class, I have an 8inch newt on an eq mount and it is fairly portable and stacks away fairly easy, best of luck and happy gazing.

Jamie

[cutepetgroomer]

Well, last night I did have have my telescope with me on my camping trip for class and both my instructors both said right now there's no need to replace my telescope just tweak it up. They liked that because of the age of it, it is rather good quality despite being what is considered a cheap brand now. So hubby is leaving it up to me if I still want the new telescope or not.

[happy-kat]

I would buy a better eye piece for your existing telescope assuming you currently have just stock ones that came with it. As you like planets I would get a short focal length say 8 mm. What is the telescope you currently have?