johninderby
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Posts posted by johninderby
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A CPC800 would be something to consider. Bit of a big and heavy mount but rock solid. No worrys with wobbling or vibration and can be picked up second hand a a good price. Something I would go for over the 8SE although you loose portability.
the 6SE will be a good choice which I’m sure you will be happy with.
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The 8SE is OK. Yes the OTA is at the limit of what the mount can carry but still usable. Biggest improvement was fitting a FeatherTouch microfocuser that replaces the stock focus knob. When using it to fine focus the scope didn’t wobble at all. Downside is that the microfocuser is now silly money.
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You should add the new StellaMira 104 sold by FLO. Should have the edge over the Esprit optically. Same build quality as WO.
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The oldish ones came in regular Starbright and Starbright XLT versions. The ones with the XLT coatings are a bit better but the regular ones are still OK. Biggest difference is price. The ones without the XLT coatings aren’t as desireable so sell for less.
There will be a label on the tube that tell you which coating it has. If it just says Starbright then it it is just the plain Starbright coatings. It will say Starbright XLT if it is.
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Still has the problem of a manual EQ mount although at least it will be easier to look through as the eyepiece is better placed.
How about this one? A newt but on an alt-az mount so eyepiece position won’t be a problem and the AZ5 is a good mount.
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az5-deluxe/sky-watcher-explorer-130ps-az5-deluxe.html
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Having had a 127SLT and a an 8SE I’m famiiar with both mounts. I found the 127 to be just adequate on the SLT mount and think while the 6 SCT OTA would work have my doubts about the stability. The SE mount is much sturdier with better features and will be far more stable with the 6 OTA.
It’s the stability issue that concerns ne about the 6SLT. I’ve been looking for proper reviews of it but yet to find one. There is a bit of a review on FLOs website but does confirm my concerns.
”The mount is light which is great for transport but indeed will wobble a bit when focusing. It will settle down after a few seconds and stays stable after. It might be a bit tricky when focusing but if you get the trick it is no big deal.”
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Celestron gives the max weight capacity of the SLT mount as 8lbs and the SE mount as 12lbs and they give the weight of the C6 OTA as 10lbs.
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Worth reading this comparison between the mounts. In particular the section on SLT vs SE mounts.
https://telescopeobserver.com/complete-nexstar-guide-se-slt-evolution-comparison/
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Take your time to decide. 😁
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With a manual dob you are realy restricted to lunar and planetary images.
Photos taken with a dob.
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3 minutes ago, sarahsmiffy said:
Alot of people seem to be recommending the skywatcher dobsonian, are they not awkward to use ?
They are actually about the easiest type of scope to use. Takes about a minute to learn how to use one. Not as easy to carry but still no problem for most people.
I find a height adjutable stool makes it comfortable to use while seated.
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This inexpensive one is actually pretty good and better yet cheap. Works well and I had one although now upgraded to the Celestron one. Would get this one for now.
The Celestron one is easier to adjust but several times the price. Perhaps something to consider for the fiture.
https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/celestron-nexyz.html#SID=24
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Hold off on the Bresserphone mount. Way overpriced for what it is. You can get better for less.
Links comming up.
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For the bresser would get a 10 / 12mm eyepiece first and wait a bit before getting a barlow.
One of these inexpensive ones perhaps the 12mm for now.
https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/revelation-eyepieces.html
There are of course better eyepieces but would wait until you have used the scope a bit.
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Best advice I could give to the beginner on your budget is keep it simple. Would strongly advise against a cheap EQ mount. More trouble than they are worth.
On your budget a dob or another scope on an alt-az mount is the most practical and the easiest to get started with. A achromatic refractor or a small maksutov or newtonian still gives a lot of options.
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Found a never used Cheshire eyepiece the other day. Not needed so will probably sell one day.
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It takes standard 1.25” eyepieces and you will be able to attach a phone to it.
Long focal length so best on moon and planets but will also be able to see DSOs (deep space objects) although the field of view isn’t wide enough to take in the bigger objects.
With these acrhomatic scopes long focal lengths are popular as it reduces CA (chromatic aberation) which is the false colour around objects.
At this price range you won’t be able to get a really good scope but more of a usable beginners scope. It actually comes with a decent 26mm eyepiece unlike most beginners scopes though although you’ll probably want another eyepiece of about 10mm.
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4 minutes ago, sarahsmiffy said:
Thanks so which one you recommend for a beginner who wants to find way around the sky, enjoy a bit of everything and take the odd pic of the moon ?
https://www.telescopehouse.com/bresser-messier-ar-80-640-az-nano-telescope.html
(no youtube videos of this for me to see)
https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/skywatcher-evostar-90mm-az3-telescope.html
https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-startravel-102-az3-telescope.html
Yes that would be a better choice .BTW Telescope House ( Bresser UK) ships everything from Germany whereas Harrison ships from the UK and their shipping is cheaper.
https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/bresser-messier-ar-80.html#SID=1683
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Should be ideal on the little mak.
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It’s a manual EQ mount not GOTO or motorised. Manual ait-az mounts are easy to use but manual EQ ones aren’t so nice to use.
Perhaps this one?
https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/bresser-nano-90.html
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This would be far batter as it has a decent mount. The AZ3 is a basic mount and something like the AZ5 with it’s slow motion controls is infinately better.
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az5-deluxe/sky-watcher-startravel-102-az5-deluxe.html
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One thing to note the cheap scopes from all manufacturers are not good quality and have flimsy mounts so doesn’t matter which brand you choose. Those cheap scopes can put a beginner right off the hobby.
BTW Celestron makes some very fine scopes and is well regarded.
Astrophotography is often mentioned by beginners but can get seriously expensive. However get a smartphone adapter to fit your smartphone to the telescope and you can take lunar or planetary photos on a tight budget even with a dobsonian..A good place to start.
On your budget a dobsonian will show you more than any cheap scope on a wobbly mount. Get a height adjustable stool to sit on and makes observing with a dob more comfortable.
This is a great beginners scope.
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html
This is one of the most popular beginners scope although also used by experienced observers.
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html
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A right angle finder is very popular. Just make sure it’s the right angle errect image one and not the cheaper right angle one.
Either the 6x30
Or the 9x50
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The Svbony helical focuser arrived. Now have proper fine focusing. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Monuted on the Baader prism as didn’t want the weight of the diagonal and eyepiece pressing down on the side of the focuser. Focuser is quite smooth.
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SE Mount
in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Posted
Used CPC800 can be picked up for about £1,000.00 or so but you might be waiting for ages for one.