Finally I think I havey decided.

[Jandy100]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

My budget is £500, and I am looking for an ideal starter scope for observing initially and maybe "dabble" in photography but that will come much later when I have learnt more. I don't want to run before I have learnt to walk. The reason GOTO doesn't appeal is most my budget would be blown on electronics and not optics. My intention is to get out & about whenever possible to find darker locations, and ease of maintenance & settign up is high on my wishlist. GOTO of course presents further posible issues with suitable power tank to run the electronics, and again eating up £'s into my budget.

If I went for an APO and mounted on an EQ3-2 would cost close to £700. Chromatic aberration: It doesn't bother me enough to increase my spending by an order of magnitude, and I think I can ignore (accept) it as. I think I am settled in my mind for the Sky-Watcher Evostar 120mm Refractor EQ5 mount (F8.33) as reviews on line do rate this scope well, so now I need to start looking around for the best deal as they are around £400.

Thanks to everyone for their valued opinions & advice. Following all the advice received, I have come to the following set up for me as a beginner.

SW Evostar 120mm Refractor EQ5 mount

Celestron Nature 10x50 Porro Binoculars

SW Polarscope for EQ5

Baader Neodymium Filter (to use as LP & Moon filter combined)

Red light torch

Skywatcher SP Plossl eyepieces (32mm & 17mm) *Evostar already comes with 10 & 25mm

Skywatcher Deluxe 2x Barlow Lens

Comes to nearly £600 but can stretch to that.

Welcome comments & thoughts to this as a starter set up.

Thanks again,

Andy

[foundaplanet]

I know nothing about the evo 120 but I assume you have considered something like this...

SkyWatcher Explorer 200P EQ5 200mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope

As I understand it these are a very good telescopes and it looks like a very good deal to me...

[John]

I know nothing about the evo 120 but I assume you have considered something like this...

SkyWatcher Explorer 200P EQ5 200mm Newtonian Reflector Telescope

As I understand it these are a very good telescopes and it looks like a very good deal to me...

The Evostar 120's are fine (I've owned a couple) but, if I was in your position, I'd be going for an 8" or 10" newtonian, possibly on a dobsonian mount. A 10" can really show you far more than a 4.7" can.

Also I'd get the scope plus a good star guide and a cheshire collimator and get used to using it before making my mind up about a whole suite of accessories. The for sale board is full of things bought in good faith but that ultimately were not quite right for the owner

[Jandy100]

Thanks for your comments, and understand that the vast majority have high regard for Dobs & Reflectors which are great telescopes. I saying, I have previously hired an Orion 8" Dob through my local AS, and although I got some great views I didn't have the softest of touches. I would centre an object and when trying to re-centre after a time would often see the object "shoot off" out of view. I dare say the technique would improve with practice.

I have come to the conclusion that a Refractor telescope would be the best possible beginner scope for me, and on my budget for many reasons but the main ones being including portability (ease of setting up & getting started), ease of maintenance (eg.collimation, mirror maintenance etc). GOTO technology is good but would eat into my "modest" budget, and would mean sacrificing on the optics. I do want to learn what is in the night sky using star charts & stellarium, but may add tracking in the future when budget allows.

In Milton Keynes there is a lot of light pollution due to being a large town and in the backyard is where the majority of my observing will be done, but I aim to go out to dark places with star parties whenever possible, so portability is key. I have learnt that refractors give probably the better resolution during observations, and of the opinion that as a beginner I could gain alot from a refractor.

In the future possibly upgrade with better quality EP's, and may look into getting a reflector once I have gained more experience & confidence.

Andy

[John]

That's fine - I can see where you are coming from

My comments were based on my experience plus the knowledge that a number of members here thought along exactly the same lines as you but quickly found that they needed more aperture so moved over to newtonians, sometimes within weeks

A good refractor will give better resolution than a newtonian of comparable size but an 8" F/6 newtonian, which is well within your budget, would outperform it by a significant amount.

But ultimately I'm sure you will enjoy whatever you buy

[Capricorn]

The combination you state is a pretty good set up. My one concern is the lack of a set of motors to drive the mount in RA/Dec. They are simply very useful.

You said that objects in a Dob disapperaed well the motors are what enables the EQ5 mount to track the object an so keep it in the field of view.

Ask if the EQ5 would come with dual motors and if not what extra for the upgrade. You may get them at a reduced price with the equipment that you are ordering.

Other then that no worries. Should last you many years and a setup worth keeping even if you go for something bigger one day.

[nightfisher]

stick with the refractor on eq5, you can add moter drive at a later date and it already has slow mo controls, just to mix the pot a little in august the new shipment of tal100rs scopes are due and i would suggest a tal 100 in favour of the evo, i had an evo and downsized to the tal/eq5, never looked back

[Jandy100]

I did read that the optics of the Tal100RS were very good when compared to Omni & Evostar 120.

My only issue was aperature & remaining budget to get some accessories. If I went for the Tal there would have been nothing left for binoculars, moon & LP filter, EP's, barlow, & polarscope.

[Jandy100]

Thanks for all comments & advice. I have emailed a few specialists to is find out what stock availibility and pricing is available, and hopefully may get some discount by purchasing as package rather than bits from a multiple of suppliers.

Andy

[ollypenrice]

I had one of these for a while and did get a lot out of it. They have terrible resale values because they really are not at all suited to imaging (a next step for many people)... which is a good reason to look for a used one and a good reason to think twice before buying new. Again, I do like them but they are visual only (a camera will struggle to see past the CA) so I would look for used ones.

Olly

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