PST on eBay.

[spaceboy]

I came across this Personal Solar Telescope CORONADO PST with tripod | eBay the other day and contacted the 0 feedback seller to quiz them about the objective coatings, serial number etc but with no reply. I assume as they are new to eBay they have no idea how to reply or they are avoiding the question. Give the reputation of some of the junk on eBay I'm edging towards the later. Lets hope the winning bidder doesn't end up with a duff rusty one.

SPACEBOY

[Steep]

The seller describes it as in perfect condition, they are also selling some OU astronomy course materials but the description text here doesn't read as if the person who wrote it knows anything about the subject. I'm guessing it's maybe belonged to a relative or significant other who's no longer about.

[JamesF]

The seller describes it as in perfect condition, they are also selling some OU astronomy course materials but the description text here doesn't read as if the person who wrote it knows anything about the subject. I'm guessing it's maybe belonged to a relative or significant other who's no longer about.

They do say it's theirs, and they've only used it a few times.

James

[spaceboy]

I just always find it a worry when people refer to eye pieces as "lens" Surly someone paying out £450 on a scope has some sort of knowledge of what they are buying ??

[JamesF]

Indeed. When I find ebay auctions such as this where the facts don't really fit (seller claims the scope is theirs, but doesn't actually seem to know as much about it as they ought to, especially considering it's a more "specialist" scope) I won't go anywhere near them.

James

[Gerontius]

A damaged PST could be a very dangerous object. I would never buy one secondhand - who is going to be the first to look through it at the sun? For the same reasons I never let anyone borow my own (bought new) PST.

A brave person who buys it!

[CGolder]

I have just been brave and brought a second hand PST, i will ofc give it a check over before aiming it anywhere near the sun, i will blast a bright light at the front and check to see if i see any light spots getting through, if its not upto scratch it will certainly go back to the seller

anyone got any advice on things to check for?

[spaceboy]

The problem is you can look through a solar scope and it all look perfectly fine. It's the harmful UVA light that dose all the damage. Ask anyone who has had arc eye when welding. You can weld all day long but it's not until you lay your head down on the pillow when you start feeling like you have a bag of grit in your eyes. The sun is a lot more dangerous than the UV experience from a welder so you can expect nothing less than blindness. While I cannot foresee you actually having any safety issues with what is a purpose built solar scope you may well end up with the dreaded rust problem. The reason I would go into the huge expense of buying new is that PST's apparently have a shelf life of around 7-10 years, how ture this is I don't know but there is talk of it on the net. If you buy anything second hand you can never guarantee it's age. If you buy new you can!

SPACEBOY

[Gerontius]

Spaceboy: "PST's apparently have a shelf life of around 7-10 years"

Interesting - what happens after 7 - 10 years?

[Macavity]

I have considered selling my (nice, pristine, late-issue, "blue" etc.) PST. Much of what is (often!) said above is true... in the "letter of the law". But I conclude that selling it ain't worth the hassle. In truth, selling to SOME Ebay purchasers, has "put years on me"... Sadly these have occasionally been astronomers.

I ain't ignoring SAFETY issues. I've sold "new" stuff at the canonical 50-60% cost. <sigh> Maybe no more? I can't get into this "reading between the lines". <G> If you require absolute guarantees, safety etc., do like me: Buy NEW stuff... Or offer (trust) me more?

P.S. My understanding: In earlier (check the "CN cited" serial numbers!) PSTs, the glue of the (cemented?) objective becomes "denatured" (my word for the day!) over time, imparting a "rusty" appearance. But this is mostly a PAST safety issue.

[spaceboy]

Spaceboy: "PST's apparently have a shelf life of around 7-10 years"

Interesting - what happens after 7 - 10 years?

Like anything it wares out. Nothing lasts for ever and everything has a shelf life. The PST is said to have one of around the above quoted figures. I'm sure if you do a search you will come across the same article and it will explain in more detail than what I can from memory. I almost purchased one for £300 delivered. Like anything I spent and hr or so researching and amongst the talk of gold, purple and blue objective lens's I came across mention that there were further issues regarding the life expectancy of some of the other coatings (if I remember correctly). The concern I had was it's not like Baader film that you can easily check and if you have even the slightest doubt you can replace it at no real expense. I'm not sure how you can be completely sure all is in order when checking some thing of a some what complex nature. Not to mention that if you have just forked out £300 on a solar scope there would be a natural willing not to pick out any imperfections.

While we all see buying such an item in a different light and some would quite happily buy S/H over the net I just didn't think the saving of £150 was worth the risk of loosing eye sight in my one eye for the rest of my life. Not only do you know the age of a new scope I also feel there is a certain amount of personal liability insurance you are purchasing from the manufacturer with it. It was was proven when even though it wasn't Meade's mess to clean up! that they do take responsibility for there workman ship by replacing almost all the faulty gold objectives. As with most S/H purchases guarantees are non transferable so the manufacturer is no longer responsible should there be any mechanical break down of coatings.

There is also the matter that not all PST's are equal. Some may give you the most amazing views while others are not so good. Consistencies in coatings and manufacturer will always vary in what ever product is made not just optical equipment. Again PST's are of no exception. I know this for sure as I have looked through two PST's side by side and the differences can be vast. While both obviously show prominences one giving a much more pleasant look colour wise and offering much more detail of the sun's surface while the other lacks any real definition. Another reason why caution is recommended when buying a scope that is said to only be a couple of months old. I have also read write up's by people less than impressed with the views of their scope. I think Meade have now resolved this issue judging by the recent talk of improved contrast on the newer models. (not sure all stock this model yet)

While I have been interestingly watching the classifieds for one to come up near to home I'm well aware I would have to interrogate the owner and use a fine tooth comb on the PST before I either committed large amounts of cash or my eye site to actually having one S/H. Again how do you go about safely checking such a scope that you will confidently look through it. The seller can offer to look through the scope all they please it's there eye sight that might be lost by the next morning.

Just the way I look at it and I'm sure some may agree and others that will say I'm over precautious but I need my eye sight to look at the other stars in our skies

If there are people who have purchased second hand and can still see the keyboard to type I would be interested in the checks they did on the scope.

SPACEBOY

[Macavity]

Buy a NEW one, Guys (or not) - Simple as?

Reckon I'll keep mine as essentially "unsaleable". Despite the financial chagrines,

maybe ONE DAY, I'll try the "F10 scope" modification...

[CGolder]

I took the risk yesterday buying a second hand one, the scopes 4 years old and i spend some time going through all the list of know faults and checking coating colours etc with the seller who seemed very genuine. now i guess the cell could be faulty and could make me blind, if i meet the guy and he has a labrador with him, i might turn around and say.. thanks but no thanks...

liability aside... is there really any more chance of a second hand undamaged one being any more dangerous than an untested new one... i consider my PST will be a purchase for life, well atleast 3 years (taking it to 7 years of age)

you might drive you car home one night and hit a speed bump and detach your retina... (just happened to some guy at my work)

ill just be sure not to try it with binoviewers until i am sure and maybe use my left eye

[spaceboy]

As I said CG there are some of us who are naturally more weary than others. I researched for only an hr and came across mention of rusting and BBE dates. For this reason I missed out on what may have to others been a bargain. There is no doubt PST's are one really nice piece of kit and if you can pick one up at a good price and from someone you can trust then all the better. You may never have problems with the one you intend to buy CG and I am merely trying to point out some of the talk I came across when I was considering to buy one.

You are correct a new one could be as problematic as a S/H one but I'd much rather my no win no claim lawyer try to sue the manufacturer than some fellow I may never come across again, but don't let me put you off.

If you intend it to be a purchase for life surly it would be worth that little extra for piece of mind as well as not risking and eye damage??? but that's only my opinion.

SPACEBOY

[CGolder]

i think you are probably right SB i paid about 130 less than the cost of a new one for mine and thinking back it was prob better to buy new, the guy i got it from was an astronomer who lost his job, i am happy to share the wealth a little and pay that little bit more than market value if its all above board and also helps him out.

if he had not been so forthcoming in answering all my queries i wouldnt have taken the gamble,

if the scope lasts me three years then prob salvage it for part and buy a new one but i am glad you point of the average age and i will make sure to record this.

i work for a law firm so nwnf is not an issue

[garethmob]

i bought one second hand a few months ago, it was from a reply to a wanted ad on Astro buy n sell.

it turned out the scope was from one of the workers of a very well known astro seller website i asked for the serial no (googled it an checked it on the CN ones) its serial wasnt one of the ones on there but was in the danger mark. did put me off a little but after seeing pics and what the seller told me + took photos for me (he had it redone by meade) so it had the brand new blue coatings and all new through out, i took the plunge and its a really really good scope i guess i was lucky in my suituation it was £350 including the hard protective box

[CGolder]

The one i have brought has the blue coating and none of the speakling or rust issues so i dont see it has a massive risk, the transaction is done though paypal and the converstation is tracked, if it isnt perfect as described then the seller will have to take it back as not as described, not that i want that to happen, what i hope happens is i receive a top notch PST. I paid 350 for mine, with no case. but it still have the original box which is good.

as mentioned above though, even a new one doenst gaurentee it will be good

[spaceboy]

Make sure you post a first light report and some SPC900 images

It will be a long time before I get the readies to buy new so I will have to make do with Solar filters and other members images until then.

SPACEBOY

[spaceboy]

as mentioned above though, even a new one doenst gaurentee it will be good

You have the option of returning for a replacement though.

[CGolder]

but how would you know if you had a good one if you never owned one before

[spaceboy]

I'm no expert but the time I did get to look through them believe me you will soon figure out a good one from a bad one. A good one soon tunes to show plenty of detail. A bad one seems to take no end of effort and even then it seems like so much hard work to make anything out, only showing either prominences or a barely visible surface detail.

If you get a good one the next thing you need to do is get is factor 50 and a large hat For the money and given what it is your looking at, PST's are awesome and to see a star close up is certainly a sight to behold. How long it can keep ones interest is debatable as you are basically looking at the same one thing. I personally couldn't see me ever getting board of it but I said the same about driving when I first got my license.

[CGolder]

heres hoping then

[spaceboy]

I don't think you will have any problems CG and you are well aware of the issues so I hope it works out for you.

[MikeWilson]

I was going to buy this before it went out for auction at £300. I was outbid at £320, so I left it at that point.

Hopefully it's gone to a good home; did you get it CGolder?

It has a deep blue lens and apparently in perfect condition.

All the best,

Mike

[CGolder]

Nah i got a different one, i did see that one,

I couldnt resist, i was getting some of my best ever views of the large cluster of sunspots yesterday and thought, to hell with it

I am now thinking i need a nice 1.25" barlow and some plossl's i think the hyps might be a bit to heavy, the pst should be nice on either my az3, or piggybacked on the c6 or lx lots of options