Marc1964

Interesting points made all round. I found myself last week wondering if anyone made a truly killer short achromat which was just ridiculously good value because they had hit the sweet spot between design, materials and glass quality and didn't cost £300+!

I echo the sentiments made about fun at the low end of the market because I do wonder how many people do end up being put off because they get the impression that unless they spend over £500 on an ED or APO scope and drop £200+ on a mount then the experience will be terrible. I get a lot of pleasure from my used, £60 evostar 90/910 (including mount). 

Even a cheap pair of binoculars can be eye opening and allow us all anyone to enjoy the beauty of the skies.... 

On that note, I am grabbing the bins and going for a walk with them in the vain hope that the clouds will part sufficiently for a view!

Despatch notice received... Roll on 5/3...

@Tiny Clanger any specific recommendations or advice on what I should avoid? The local fbook pages have lots of tripods locally some look to be of very dubious quality! 

38 minutes ago, Paz said:

It's a TS optics alt az head (bought separately from the tripod I should have said) that allows me to use a scope dovetail mount rather than a camera mount.

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p9334_TS-Optics-Tilting-Head-and-Altazimuth-Mount-for-photo-tripods.html

Many thanks for the information, makes perfect sense and very helpful 👍

@Tiny Clanger This is absolutely what I was looking for, many thanks for the idiots guide!

I was thinking of spending around £125 in order to get a decent tripod. Would spend up to £200 for an alt-az but as I say above, finding a decent mount at a not stupid price seems to be a challenge at the moment; was thinking of the SW az4 on steel legs but not at the increased price! Now looking at a Vixen Mobile Porta, but God only knows when they will be back in stock! 

I will wait for my new scope to arrive before taking the plunge on a photo tripod, and hopefully the Vixen will come into stock, but at least I now know what I should be looking for if I choose to go down the photo tripod route! 

My project is to be able to get to grips with the terminology and apply it correctly to what I see e.g. really understanding and being able to view examples of 'globular clusters' find and be able to explain the difference between a planetary nebula and other types... Basically learn the basic language and try to apply it significantly better to what I see! 

The most difficult part of this debate, coming at this from the position of the rank newbie amateur is the importance of the fundamental design. As has been stated already a good doublet with seemingly inferior glass and a lower cost can outperform a poor design that uses the best materials.

The difficulty as I see it is knowing the designs well enough to make an informed choice.

Also, what I do not think has been mentioned so far is that at some point you are going to get diminishing returns and the difference between certain designs etc. may let you see things differently, not necessarily better. Where I live, at the low, budget end of the market a relatively small increase in spend will (ceteris paribus) produce a qualitatively better image (in principal) but at the top end you seem to have to spend significantly more to get a more marginal improvement. 

@Paz I see. How have you attached what is, I assume, a vixen mount to the tripod head? 

Hi

I have (hopefully) an 80/560 ED refractor coming my way in March. I need a mount for this. 

Now in the UK sensibly priced AZ mounts seem to be non-existent and I therefore am contemplating using a purchasing a photography tripod (Neewer or Arctise). Trouble is how to connect a vixen mount to the thing. 

I am frankly confused by the wealth of adaptors etc. that are out there and I have no idea what I should be looking for. I am therefore throwing myself at the mercy (and the probable amusement) of the forum to guide a hapless, hopelessly confused individual as to how this might be achieved, preferably without extracting too many £££s' from my weeping wallet... 

30 minutes ago, Clarkey said:

If genuine and you get it for that price it is a bargain. The scope itself is meant to be OK. The only thing now is that you might be caught with some import taxes. Seems C&E are a little more careful these post Brexit days.....

23 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Allow for 25% to cover taxes and import duties and then hope you get away without them.Still a great deal though. 👍🏻

I think that if it comes in at less than £300 I'll still be ahead. Now for a star diagonal and a mount.... 

On 29/01/2021 at 14:50, Ande said:

Bought my Artcise HS80C tripod a month or so back,  and whilst generally delighted with it, I was a bit dismayed to find that once my mount was attached, and tightened down, it lined up perfectly with one of the legs. Trying to do a polar alignment was almost impossible, as the tripod leg hindered my attempts to get a good look. And, once I had managed to get some sort of alignment, it was then a miracle if I could extricate myself without banging the tripod and knocking it back out of alignment. 
 

So, I decided to have a look, and see if I could adapt the tripod somehow.  Upon closer inspection, it appeared that there was not much chance of adapting it. Then I remembered seeing some sort of odd “extra” that had come with the tripod. It looks a bit like an upturned flower basket. I took the mounting plate off, then attached this weird thing. Turns out it acts like a ball and socket type of arrangement. Not only does it allow me to position the scope exactly where I want, but it also enables me to get the scope perfectly level without having to to do the leg shortening/lengthening ritual, which never seems to go as well, and as quickly, as one might expect.  I can simply slacken off one bolt, with a hand grip on it, and then tighten it up in a couple of seconds, and get it spot on. It now tightens up beautifully, and is rock-solid without a hint of movement. 
 

Super pleased that I now have a tripod that not only meets my initial expectations, but has gone one stop better. I can now set it up to the height I want, with scant disregard for which leg is longer than the other. Then simply balance at the top.  Result

 

What telescope have you got mounted, and what mount are you using? I'm thinking of using the same tripod and would be useful to learn from your experience! 

Thanks! 

On 24/12/2020 at 00:05, Paz said:

I have one of these Neewer carbon tripods and I use it with a small refractor for visual. Depending on the configuration I'll usually have 3.5-4.5kg loaded on it.

Neewer Carbon Fiber 66 inches/168 centimeters Camera: Amazon.co.uk: Camera & Photo

I would say it is ok - it's not as solid as a normal telescope mount like a Skytee 2 obviously but is packs down small and light.

When you say a small refractor, how small? How about 3kg and an 80/560 refractor? 

Well not sure where to post this, so apologies if this is in the wrong place! 

Finally pulled the trigger on buying a new scop, but feeling nervous 😂. Not seen too much on the above scope, but Aliexpress has a deal with the Svbony shop for one of these at £192 instead of the usual £400 plus. The brand seems to be trustworthy but an ED scope at this price... 

Roll on March 05! 

59 minutes ago, Viktiste said:

I might be totally mistaking,  but it seems to me prices are cartel driven, rather than driven by the covid pandemic.. 

This (and the linked legal paper's) are interesting reading:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/745844-synta-celestron-ningbo-sunny-meade-et-al-latest/

 

Very interesting story. I think that you're partly correct in as much there is a cartel in this market however the impact of this is magnified by the distortions in the shipping market which should settle down in the next few months. The shortage of containers will be resolved as manufacturers have increased output and with production levels recovering in Asia prices should at the very least stabilise of not come down but I suspect that the new equilibrium prices will remain 7-15 % higher than pre pandemic... 

On 14/02/2021 at 18:57, Carl Au said:

TS scopes are really nicley put together scopes, much nicer than SW or Celestron. Visually at that fl you are going to get a ton of CA around the brighter objects. Where they excel is extended wide views of open clusters and some of the bright DSO's. Most of the folks on here won't even consider doublets for AP nevermind an achro. ED scopes by enlarge (not TAK) use FPL 51 or FPL 53 glass, 53 being the better of the two. You can get still these: https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p7169_TS-Optics-ED-APO-80-mm-f-7-Refractor-with-2-5--R-P-focuser.html which are IMHO very good value for a grab and go scope or 4 inch https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4964_TS-Optics-ED-102-mm-f-7-Refractor-Telescope-with-2-5--R-P-focuser.html

If you are going to wait forever for the SW you might want to think about one of these

 

Hi I'm considering the Altair Ascent Starwave 80ED, not the Skywatcher. Think it's the same scope as the TS-Optics. Not sure about customs charges so waiting for a bit more clarity... I hear that an import from EU will cost up to 35% more in charges and VAT... 

Hi, whilst keeping an eye on the price and availability of 80ED telescopes, I saw on the APM website a TS Optics 80/600 achromat. 

I know alot of people swear by the quality of their ED and APO lenses, build quality etc. I was wondering if anyone had any experience of their more budgetary options, particularly in relation to visual use only.... 

The science is awesome.

A couple of of nights ago, I was out looking at Taurus through a pair of if 8x42 binoculars. Crystal clear night but I do get light pollution. I was struck by the sheer mass of stars that could be seen, and I was thinking about how our ancestors, with no light pollution and no expensive binoculars mapped out constellations and created myths around them. Gemini was clear with Castor and Pollux and the Pleiades were beautiful. 

I admire the science of the universe, but we should never forget the staggering beauty of what we see in the night sky. 

As usual good advice and a spot of controversy as well 🤔. Thank you all for your thoughtful contributions as ever! 

The number of choices are quite boggling and some of the differences sometimes seem quite marginal, so good to be able to narrow choices down and learn from other people's experiences. 

I personally don't want to spend more than £75 on the diagonal so pleasing to see some of the choices within my mental budget 😁. 

Hi. I will be looking to purchase a star diagonal either for a relatively inexpensive refractor (102/600 or 90/500) or potentially for and ED80/500 depending on how much my car MOT is going to set me back 😁. Any recommendations for each of these would be gratefully received! 

1.25" not sure I have a requirement at present for 2" unless someone here can persuade me otherwise 🤣🤣🤣

Guidance on dielectric, prism, quartz... All welcome! 

First sight of M42 is always special and still draws my eyes! Enjoy yourself! 

I have the 90/910 evostar and it is a good scope, though as @Tiny Clanger reports the 10mm eyepiece is pretty poor. I will be purchasing a second scope partly because it is, sadly, not as portable as I would like. Does not fit properly in my mini... I bought the scope used for £60 to see if I would stick with the hobby, so I don't feel too disappointed that I am considering a new scope after two years of ownership. I supplemented the eyepieces with two Celestron Omni plossls (32mm and 15mm) which I paid £40 for off fleabay, which improved things enormously. I may yet change the diagonal as it is a 45° one for a nice 90° dielectric star diagonal as it does not look as if I will be getting my new scope in the near future 😟

As a starter scope I do recommend it.... 

Fabulous tour. I was out last night and could have used your tour notes. I have a pair of 8x42, so may not have been able to see as much in very mixed seeing conditions. Next time...

6 minutes ago, AstroMuni said:

Are there issues with customs and additional (hidden) charges due to customs duty etc.? If there are customs issues who deals with them - aliexpress or the buyer

Normally when you buy from abroad, there will be some form of customs charge and potentially VAT to pay. The carrier will collect the tax on behalf of the government as well as any other customs related charges. The link attached illustrates how one UK buyer of a coat from a German supplier got a nasty surprise...  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55734277

4 hours ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

Realistically, most of us are squashed into cities. We likely don't have garages, workshops, secure sheds, observatories or big wallets so go with what you can afford, store and move easily. Most of all use the gear and enjoy it to its fullest whatever you have. That's all that matters.

Absolutely.  The best scope for me in one sense given what I want to do would be a Dobsonian, it would be a sensible hardware choice.  Practically though it would not be used.  Hence the small, refractor.  It's a trade off - the scope I need is a portable one... It's just a matter now of making the best choice given the restraints of space, money, availability....

3 hours ago, Tiny Clanger said:

One word : hovercraft

 

@Tiny Clanger NO. Too bloody noisy!  Enough light pollution where I live without adding more noise....