drdre2030

Welcome! Be ace to see what you achieve, not sure about astrophotography but meant to be a half decent lens too.

That's a drawing?! Wow!

Literally down the road! 👍

Amazing photos well done!

Thanks, love how similar some names are but yet how different they can be! Not useful when looking at second hand, at least on FB Marketplace when listings are often very limited too. Thanks for your recommendation, Zhummel z100 is boxed and waiting for the daughters birthday in a couple of weeks. Looks quite decent for the price paid too and as you say portable as well.

Thanks both and something I wasn't sure if ever be interested in again!

Thanks, yeah lots of dark sky sites near me too as surrounded by the South Downs too.

Thanks, fingers crossed! Thanks, Celestron Zhummel Z100 arrived today but is hidden until mid-October for her birthday. So hopefully as you say some clear skies though! Yeah she's got plenty of hats, gloves, layers and even an open face balaclava! Although she's more likely to be found with her oodie. 😁 Cheers. 👍

What more could you ask for?! 👌🤣

Thanks I've bookmarked these for later. Cheers.

Thanks for this... Saved for future reading.

This is very clever! 👌

Welcome! From another new user to another. 👋

Already had a lot of great help with choosing a first telescope for my daughter and I. But a hello and looking forward to looking at the stars and seeing what we can find. 👍

Some of these photos are amazing, I've got the P7P but not played with the AP mode really...inspired to now though!

These are stunning.

Thanks @PeterStudz that was a VERY comprehensive post! Yeah it sounded like getting a cheap second hand unit might not be best to start with, as you said potentially putting us both off. Likewise the plan is for it to be something we do together, and some good ideas as she loves hot chocolates, camping, the great outdoors and similar stuff. I didn't know what bortle was, but just looked it up and I'm in bortle 5, just on the outskirts of bortle 4 by 500m, so easy enough to potentially go where a little less light pollution too. I'll just openly admit I've stalked some of your posts after you were tagged, and saw you mention Southampton...I'm in Bognor Regis. I never even thought of solar viewing! That's a great idea but 100% precautions. Really appreciate your comment though and similar start as well. I've ordered the Celestron Zhumell Z100 (seems almost same as Heritage 100p), so hopefully be good enough start and see if there is enough interest before potentially taking a step up. Seems a great community here...so will be certainly sticking around! As will need all the help I can too. 🤣

Think as others have said probably the same factory made and different branding/minor variances. Can't see any sources that allow it to be but I do have a fairly solid exterior table that has garden spikes on it. Thanks, yeah it's an open box/customer return so even has a warranty too as from a retailer. States it comes with everything...but will check! They look almost exactly the same so figure you're right. Thanks, the Zhummel is from a retailer so should be clean! I've not the bullet and purchased it, if it's not good or missing stuff then can return it at least. I'll set up some FB marketplace alerts too so if anything good comes up I'll know.

Brilliant, that makes sense. I do have a wireless shutter for the camera too. Yeah I don't mind going to circa £100 if it is going to be worth it. Not sure the weight bothers me too much as will probably live in my office at the end of the garden anyways, although the weight is not something I had thought about or checked. Thanks.

Yeah hopefully for the right reasons. But seems many mentions too. I've got a tripod, which I could work a way to connect the phone to, or probably better I've got a Nikon D5500 that could be set up too. Yeah in honesty, just as you say some memories, and for her to share/keep on her phone too.

I've removed the mention of photos, as clearly wasn't clear enough that I know photos were out of realism. Good to know, and not expecting a first scope, especially on a tight budget, to get anywhere like seeing anything too amazing. If she gets into it, then we can look in the future at upgrading. We did similar that last year she really wanted to learn to standup paddleboard, so tried it, got a cheap (but good value) starter board, and she loved it so this year we got her a new, child friendly board. Since, been out and done many trips including through a local coral on the lowest tide of the year - she got up at 530am to do it - so perhaps not quite most kids (her attitude might be though 🤣). Yeah I've looked on FB Marketplace, thus why 2 options I've listed are second hand. As figure better value for money, and likely if she decides its not for her to recoup majority if not all the funds on it. Thanks for the breakdown of types, that's really useful, hopefully height of eyepiece won't be too difficult for her, she is 5ft1 currently. I remember my telescope was a refractor and the tripod was terrible, I do a bit of photography and similar with lots of photography tripods too. Ah ok so the Skyhawk 114/1000 might be a terrible idea to start with! Sounds like something like the Heritage 100p or the Zhumell Z100 I listed might be the better options then to start with. Although reading doesn't seem much between the 2. It is easy looking at specs and going the 1000mm + higher magnification sounds good, but actually might mean everything is a lot harder. As did see a Celestron 114 for £30 on FB Marketplace, but that had terrible reviews on telescope specific sites so discounted that.

Thanks bosun21, this is why I had the Zhumell Z100 on the list as its around half the price of the 100p and like the 100p seemed to have positive reviews about it too. What would you say the pros and cons vs the 2 are? I appreciate that, but the budget doesn't allow much, and likewise my figure is if we don't spend much on it we can probably end up selling it on in time for very little loss. Had a look at that option you provided and looks amazing! Not sure it 'feels' like a telescope to me, as all automated, and electronic. My memories are of using starguides and working out where certain stars were and trying to get in view what I wanted. Patience I can deal with, fault finding might be a little more annoying on top! Had a look on First Light Optics, and one of their options under their top ones is the SkyHawk-1145 which I believe (whilst a different optic) is similar to the Skyhawk 114/1000 I've got available locally to me.

Thanks. As stated I am accepting that imaging would need more budget. Firstly, if they are hard to get that doesn't start well as want it for her birthday in just over 3 weeks. Secondly, that is not upping a budget, seems the Seestar is a circa £550 telescope! That's potentially 10x more than expecting to spend, like I don't mind spending a bit more say upto £100. But certainly not £500+.

Background: My 10 year old daughter has had a fascination with space for a little while next and so looking at a cheap option starter telescope to see if it something she will continue to be interested in, or just a phase. I've not used a telescope since I was probably her age either, so basically know nothing! Options current considering: Celestron Zhumell Z100 - £65/70ish (almost new) KONUS Konusmotor 500 - £30 (second hand) SkyWatcher Skyhawk 114/1000 - £45/50 (second hand) Help needed: What would you suggest is best value? I will be learning to use it with her, main focus will be to simply observe although would be nice to take some photos, I don't believe without spending a good chunk more any are particularly good options for that. Thank you in advance to any advice given. 😁