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What first telescope

tiredboy

Which would you buy as a first telescope  

22 members have voted

  1. 1. Which would you buy as a first telescope

    • Meade ETX-80
      1
    • Meade ETX-90
      1
    • Celestron 4SE
      11
    • Celestron 90SLT
      1
    • Something else (please post details)
      8

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tiredboy

tiredboy

Posted
Posted

I have asked the question elsewhere (http://stargazerslounge.com/beginners-help-advice/143370-meade-etx80-90-celestron-4se-90slt.html) but when I wrote this there were 61 views but only about 3 replies. Hopefully with a poll people are more likely to respond.

I am about to buy my first telescope (well a replaceemnt for a faulty etx80) and not sure which one to go for. What would you buy as a first telescope. I need something that I can easily carry as handluggage on a plane as I travel a lot.

Thanks in advance (and thanks to those that have replied to the other thread).

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Ursa Major

Ursa Major

Posted
Posted

Sky watcher Heratige 130p

Cheap, Biggish (bigger than the meades your looking at), portable, good quality mirror, quick to set up, no tripod, lets you get to learn the sky (probably more than a goto), takes up small space, dobsonians are easy to use.

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Ursa Major

Ursa Major

Posted
Posted
Sky watcher Heratige 130p

Cheap, Biggish (bigger than the meades your looking at), portable, good quality mirror, quick to set up, no tripod, lets you get to learn the sky (probably more than a goto), takes up small space, dobsonians are easy to use.

Maybe a little difficult to take on a plane, but you could keep the box and take it in that.

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tiredboy

tiredboy

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If I travelled less then it would probably be a dobsonian but not really sure its an option in my case. Thanks anyway. Maybe I need to use one of the above for a while then get a big dobsonian for home........

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Ursa Major

Ursa Major

Posted
Posted
If I travelled less then it would probably be a dobsonian but not really sure its an option in my case. Thanks anyway. Maybe I need to use one of the above for a while then get a big dobsonian for home........

Yeh, I did kind of post before I read the post:o

That sound like a good idea

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Photohound

Photohound

Posted
Posted

Hi tiredboy, you dont mention which part of the world you are in, but i have a pristine 4SE that will be going on the 'for sale' board soon - maybe if you're local (ish) you would like a 'try before you buy' session? I'm on the UK sussex coast near Worthing. PM me for details if you're interested.

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Moonshane

Moonshane

Posted
Posted

personally my choice for a travel scope will be a William Optics Megrez 72 or if I can eventually afford one a TS FPL-53 Triplet APO. Neither are cheap but for small, light, wide field scopes I think they would be hard to beat. The wide field means less need for a hefty mount but if you do want to get a bit more magnification you might need to improve this but it would be less portable then.

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Stardust

Stardust

Posted
Posted

You can't really compare a low power refractor to a high power mak, they are very different beasts and depends what you want to look at. The Se4 is a great little package and I think the handset/software is better than the Meade. It's great on the Moon and planets but won't whow the pliedes very well, where the refractor will.

The ETX80 is quite a decent OTA but I really don't like the focussing knob and trying to use the inbuilt barlow is just a right pain. As usual there is no "one scope does it all"

From your choice I'd probably choose the SE4

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Moonshane

Moonshane

Posted
Posted
You can't really compare a low power refractor to a high power mak, they are very different beasts and depends what you want to look at. The Se4 is a great little package and I think the handset/software is better than the Meade. It's great on the Moon and planets but won't whow the pliedes very well, where the refractor will.

The ETX80 is quite a decent OTA but I really don't like the focussing knob and trying to use the inbuilt barlow is just a right pain. As usual there is no "one scope does it all"

From your choice I'd probably choose the SE4

I totally agree with what you say but the OP said that he wants something to take on travels as he does this a lot. Why take something away with you that's specialised on moon and planets? I know Maks etc can do more than this but on holiday, widefield views of dark sky DSOs would be more my cup of tea than planets, lunar or doubles.

It's a poll of our views and that's mine :D

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Ad Astra

Ad Astra

Posted
Posted

Hi All!

My choice isn't a travel scope, but from the 'For what it's worth' department.....

Although I've posted this many times, I'm always happy to say it again. In my astro class, we start everyone out with a 150mm dobsonian - and that's what I recommend as a first scope for anyone. The reasons are simple, and persuasive:

1. Affordable - you don't pay for any bells and whistles - about $300 here in the states. Probably the most scope for your cash in this price range - and you will be able to afford an accessory or two when you buy.

2. Easy to set up and use. No gears, levers, computers, alignment, batteries, etc. Easy enough for a 10-year old to use, and you wouldn't be afraid to let them try. Light enough for even a youngster to set up in the garden (in 2 pieces!). Fits in almost any auto for transport.

3. Rugged. I have 12 in service - some have been in use for over a decade (with teens using them! :D ) and still work great.

4. Great views. A 150mm f/8 dob will show wonderful views of planets, luna, and thousands of deep sky objects. The 80-90mm class just doesn't cut it for this.

5. You will learn the sky! I use the dob as a teaching tool. It forces everyone to familarize themselves with constelaltions, star hopping, and guiding.

Great scope, great views, great price.

Dan

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tiredboy

tiredboy

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:p:D:D Ha Ha... was that an offer of a free holiday - i could bring it with me ;):D:D

If you bring ALL your kit and then leave it here, I'm sure I could stretch to a free holiday :D

I have no doubt a dobsonian would be the best option and I have contemplated it. However, with frequent travelling it would be the "better bang for the buck but hardly used" option.

I'm defintely leaning towards two telescopes and I don't even have one at the moment!!:D

Interestingly the 4SE seems to be running away with it here whereas on a poll In posted on another forum (maybe I shouldn't admit that) it is level pegging with the etx-80!

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Ad Astra

Ad Astra

Posted
Posted

Interestingly the 4SE seems to be running away with it here whereas on a poll In posted on another forum (maybe I shouldn't admit that) it is level pegging with the etx-80!

Another vote for the 4SE - I think it is a far better offering than the Meade scope. If you must have something you can fit in a backpack or stuff under an airline seat - that would be my choice.

Dan

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glowjet

glowjet

Posted
Posted

SW 150P EQ2/3 much larger aperture, good basic first scope with reasonable light gathering ability, the 150 Dob must also be considered. If it must be less aperture and more portable, then the SW Skymax 127.

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