Help on deciding factor

[sutty86]

Got a good price on a astromaster 114 and skywatcher 114 same price or a tal-m slightly more money second hand, tal-m is complete with original wooden box.

Complete novice, daughter is mad about space, I've bought cheap in the past.

Budget is max 70 gbp

Thanks

[ronin]

I would avoid the Astromaster 114.

It has a focal length of 1000mm but a tube length of 457mm.

It therefore would have the be a bird jones design, there is a barlow built into the focuser and these are trouble.

AM114

The Skywatcher 114 (Skyhawk I presume) is looks like it is the same (Every chance it is the same scope as (Synta=Skywatcher=Celestron).

So I would say the same, avoid.

There is a 1145P, about £10 more and that is a "normal" newtonian (not a bird-jines design) and it has a parabolic mirror.

The Tal is just 80mm, but will be built like a tank and last at least the life of the earth.

Review on CN says it has some weight behings it, like 23lbs, if it has a wooden box it is an early one.

Reading the review the finder and eyepiece reads that the arrangement may be "unusual". Not sure exactly what the arrangement is but settle for "maybe unusual". Says it is Integral.

TALM@CN

Would like to say get the TAL, but without knowing it more I would say be sensible add about £10 and get the 1145P.

(I would likely throw sense out myself and get the TAL, simply because what I read means it is a bit "odd" and different, but that is not the best way to buy a scope.)

[AndyH]

Some superb pictures(not mine, but I think may be a SGL member?) of what the Tal M is all about..............

and some more detailing the internals of the dual equatorial + alt/az mount. Depending how you set it up, it can be used whichever way suits.......

As can be seen above, it is a little engineering marvel. Should have excellent optics(it's a standard newtonian design) and will show you everything an 80mm scope can. Packs up neatly in the baltic birchwood crate. The one in the above pics is a little younger than mine. Earlier versions were painted Russian Battleship grey and had a superior fully fitted out box interior, instead of the polystyrene. The above and mine is of the old type 32mm O/D eyepieces and accessories, but as long as the optics in them are in good condition and are included, that shouldn't be a problem. I believe later versions of the 'M' changed to the industry standard 31.75mm/1.25" eyepieces and accessories. Probably in the mid 1990's. I forgot to mention the finder. It's a clever over engineered design, with good optics. Hopefully the pictures explain. Can't quite remember the size of the finders lens. 25, 30mm ? There is a small mirror(collimatable!!!) inside the sliding housing. When pushed back into the scopes focuser, it covers up the main scopes diagonal, exposing the finders diagonal mirror. The 25mm eyepiece is used with the supplied x-hair reticle to find the target. Push the sliding mechanism forward/out. It gives a lovely 'ting' as a sprung ball bearing finds it's stop notch. Now the main  scope diagonal is exposed and you can remove the x-hair and get observing. edit: the focuser is a very smooth helical type.

If you can pick one up in good condition(paint scrapes can always be repaired), I would certainly recommend you do so. I can't see how you could be disappointed, to be honest.

Cheers,

Andy.

[sutty86]

Couldn't ask for better replies I have gotta admit I love the design of the tal m but couldn't find much on the Web apart from cloudy sky revieed

Got chance to buy it at 85 pounds

Is it a doddle to set up as I don't think it will have instructions

Cheers

[AndyH]

Here's the Instruction manual. Not the greatest quality, as it's just a scan, but is better than nothing.

TAL-M_Manual.pdf

 I bought my 'M' extremely cheaply, as spares n repairs, cause mine didn't have the mount head. Only the scope, pedestal and all the rest of the bits. So whilst not being able to comment on ease of use of the mount first hand, I've not heard anyone say it's difficult or awkward to use.

Another mini review here.... http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/entryvotes.php?sectionid=12&entryid=191&PHPSESSID=5f8b26ba2f8145cc53e3756afb51dbe6

and another, by the late great, Bill Brady..... http://www.cloudynights.com/page/articles/cat/user-reviews/telescopes/maksutov-cassegrains-mcts/sovietski-tal-m-newtonian-r436

Hope it's of interest.

Cheers,

Andy.

[sutty86]

Ended up buying the skyhawk 1145p I believe it is 500mm focal, brilliant condition came with a 25mm lense and a 10th and a 3x Barlow I believe

It's mounted a a dobi heritage mount no tripod.

Paid £45

Still gutted I didn't get the tal

[AndyH]

congrats on the new scope. If you hit any snags, they'll be plenty of folk able to help out.

Cheers,

Andy.