hms_furious

Sorry, that it what I meant, it halves the m but doubles the magnification. Told you I was a newbie. Thanks for the help.

Thanks. Is this the one you mean? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/baader-planetarium/baader-hyperion-zoom-eyepiece.html So with the Barlow at 8,12,16 etc this becomes 16,24,32 etc? Is this a good catch all combination?

What are your views on zoom lenses? The celestron 8-24mm looks quite reasonably priced compared to the cost of buying multiple individual ones. Thanks

If it happens to be the AzGti, watch this video. It will give you everything you need about the app and the mount including alignment.

Reporting as in stock btw.

Have you tried here? Give them a call. The AZ GTi I wanted was out of stock everywhere, they were the only place I could get stock. I called them on the number at 1545, said if you order in the next few minutes we'll post it today. I did (and paid the extra for next day), was here in perfect condition before noon. This was last week btw. https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/skywatcher-star-adventurer-counterweight-kit.html

This is what I though. Along with everything else, you may as well just get a load of cheques, write the to line on each one individually as "telescope", "mount", "eye pieces" etc etc and just leave the number off! Thanks again

As I have been bugging everybody with newbie questions I hope you don't mind another. As you may have seen, I have bought a 127 mak and had some helpful advise for eye piece upgrades. It got me wondering. My long term thinking is presuming we get heavily into this, I'd want to upgrade to something with some more aperture like the 300p. Now if I did this, is there a good combination of eye pieces that you could get to master all or to get the best out of it likely need very different ones? Thanks again all

Thanks again (I really do mean it). Am I right in that a barlow isn't much use on this telescope? Are there any EPs that help with DSOs? I know this is only good for smaller DSOs due to the field of view, are there any wider angle ones that would be useful?

Thanks John. Does a better diagonal add anything to the viewing experience apart from build quality? With a specialised filter, they seem to cut out some or the surrounding light (or help with it anyway), do they help with viewing too? Really appreciate your time replying. Thank you

So after lots of searching and thinking and looking some more I went for the 127 mak on the GoTo. Thanks everyone so much for your advice. The 127 looks like a great grab and go with the mount and hopefully my daughter and I can get more into it I'll get a big DOB. Anyway, now it's the next issue. What are the essentials?! I'll (ahem We) will be viewing the planets and the moon. A dew shield sounds like a must for this scope. What else do I need? Some sort of filter? What eyepieces? Any links to specifics would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again all.

Thanks Baz. Do you have any issues with dew?

So in my typing typical indecisiveness I am still umming and ahing. I pretty sure I want this wifi mount https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az-gti-wifi/sky-watcher-az-gti-wifi-alt-az-mount-tripod.html I like the control by smartphone option, tracking, option of manual movement and most importantly knowing what daughter is seeing. I know FLO have some bundles but what do you recommend? I know the mount limits the size but I am thinking of this as a good starter scope meets a good grab and go for the future. Ideally an all rounder would be ideal but I know my options may be limited. Thanks again everyone

Like that, yes, but I was thinking of some sort of all in one camera contraption. Thanks

But is there such a thing as a camera you can connect to your scope and view what's on it wirelessly to a tablet? I am thinking if you had a wireless goto and this, you could stay indoors but still appreciate the views. Don't hate me Thanks

Thanks again all. I love how this place is so friendly and helpful. As far as I can see these are the two gotos that also have a decent manual option that have been recommended https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-skymax-127-az-gti-wifi-telescope.html https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-explorer-130ps-az-gti-wifi-telescope.html The later being the wifi version of the scope that was recommended just above. They are both 5" but one has a longer focal length (which I thought was the length of the telescope, however the 127 looks significantly stubbier that the 130 but it could just be in the photo). Presuming I am right on focal length, am I correct in saying that a longer focal length will give me a narrower field of view but a close magnification? I linked to RVO only because they were both on that site, but is there something with a larger primary mirror with a GTi mount? The are very close to the entry-ish 130p and I like the idea of the tripod style grab and go but would like to consider something bigger? The next size up on RVO is something like this https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/celestron-astro-fi-6-sct-wifi-telescope.html but surely there must be something closer based on something like a https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html with a wifi mount or is that just too rookie for these things - or too big? Thanks again

Embarrassing question, what does AZ GTi and AZ GTe stand for? I googled with no luck.

Thanks again. I think I am resigned to spending some more money here.... She is of the instant gratification age so maybe a goto could capture her interest and then use orion book etc to get the exploration part going. I presume gotos can be controlled manually? Can anyone shed any light on different mounts? Is this the same as a Dob 200p for instance? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-200p-eq5-goto.html What would the advantages be of a tripod type mount instead? Very confused! Thanks

Thanks all, I thought I had checked for new posts so apologies for not replying sooner. Some really helpful pointers.

Thanks again all. The GoTo has popped up. That's probably what I am torn about the most thinking about it. Knowing the use cases, would a GoTo be a better idea and if so what sort of one? As I say, happy to spend some more if it is a good long term investment.

What's the difference between that and the 200p? Obviously looks but I am struggling to know what the differences are between makes, models and types. Thanks

Thanks for your replies so far. The 200p was on my watch list. Always wonder of course if there is something better or different I should be looking at. What I don't want to do is buy and regret and wish i had something else.

Hi Mick, Alas not, sorry to disappoint. I'm a bit of a ww2 historian and my accounts tend to end up on the last thing I was looking at. Allied only of course otherwise it could end up quite awkward if you call yourself Tirpitz or Bismarck I've lurked a little bit on here and read a little but can't quite find what I need. Have obviously looking on FLO too and similar. Too much choice!

Wrong thread, sorry

I hope you can help me. I've promised to buy my 10 year old daughter a telescope for her birthday. Now secretly this is something I have been excited to get into so this is a great opportunity to jump into a new world and hopefully something we can share together. So looking for something we can both use and enjoy but can grow with us if we really get into this, so not a basic beginners scope. Ideally easy to find things but I think it may be better to learn the sky. I am sure we'd enjoy planet spotting but stars and deep space sounds amazing too so probably an all rounder. We have done the binoculars part already so I know she is interested. I'm thinking £300 is a decent budget to start but happy with higher or lower if there is a good reason to. Looks like I may need new eye pieces and a sky atlas so best buys their would be greatly appreciated. Thanks