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Thanks Paul that's brilliant, I'll definitely be joining up!

I think (for my meager outlay) I have found the following new models. Some seem very cheap so are perhaps a waste of time, would be great to know if anyone has experience of them? Helios Solana 10x50 (£29.99) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helios-10x50-Solana-Binoculars/dp/B00844VJ0O/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1429287822&sr=1-10&keywords=10x50+binoculars Clestron Upclose G2 Porro 10x50 (£33.89) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-118760-Binocular-10x50-DPS-1/dp/B0000AKGX3/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1429287822&sr=1-1&keywords=10x50+binoculars Opticon As

Ok, thanks for your advice I am going to look for the best set of 10x50 porros I can. Should I go for the fixed focus models?

Thanks for your replies everyone. I'm finally excepting I need to learn the sky rather than relying on my phone app(s). I'll grab a book! I'm South Norfolk, close to the Seething Observatory and would like to join the Norwich Club, but having never been a member of an Astronomy Club I wondered how people would feel with me effectively turning up and asking for free basic tuition!? I have a digital copy of turn Left at Orion, but have never used it because like you say a book is better. I'll have to get a copy! Would you say 15x70 is too heavy to hold for long periods? Whilst I would like

Hi, So I have a range of entry level Astronomy gear (see signature), but I can't seem to polar align or navigate around the sky. What I desperately need is some 1-1 tuition, but that is not something I can find! 've come to the conclusion (2 years to late) that I should get a set binoculars and sit in the garden for a while to learn where stuff goes (perhaps including some bright DSOs?). As I would only ever want these to be for hand-held use and from reading a bit online it looks like the best value for money would be a set of Porro-prism 10x50 Binoculars. Does this sound about right? If so

Thanks for all the info Alexxx, still not been out with my mount since I started this thread due to clouds or a crying baby!

Yea, laptop has a USB 3 port.

Ok, thanks for the help. Do you think the extra money on usb3 is worth it on the zwo?

Getting lots of recommendations for that cam, but for the colour so I can do planetary. As a beginner I don't know if messing with filters would be too much?

Hi, so I need a guide cam and have been set on a mono due to the increased sensitivity (so I read). However thinking about it, if possible, I'd like to do a bit of planetary with it. Should I go colour? Would it make it harder to find a guide star, which I've never done before!

Thanks gnomus, i'll have a look at these. I'm sure I read people have webcams working, but perhaps they don't do very well or for a beginner like me it will only make things more difficult.

Thanks John, Looks like pulse guiding will save me a little money (if I can get a webcam to guide).

Ouch, so guide cameras are expensive.

I have the older version of that, with the big HITECH box in the middle.

By the way, I already have the Hitech EQDir adapter, but this is for EQMod to slew etc, not the ST4 stuff?