Skywatcher 150PL on a EQ3-2 OR 130p Supatrak

[Walking the Dog]

Good evening everyone.

Not an uncommon dilemma for a newbie it seems but a quick query on the above.

I've managed to narrow down my choice to one or the other and I'm not looking to take photos. I've been reading up on reviews / opinions from any and everywhere and the only query that remains is below.

I've no experience in stargazing and, as I understand it, the EQ3-2 doesn't come with a motor / software to help guide me around the sky - for someone such as myself the attraction of the 130p Supatrak is therefore a straighforward one.

But given time, money and a few months I don't want to be in a position where I buy the 130p and then wish I'd gone for the 150.

I hope I've got my facts right but I'm sure you'll correct me if I haven't!

Any pointers?

Cheers

[GarethA]

Hi there,

Both are good choices but have you considered a bigger scope on a more simple mount?

You can get a Skywatcher Skyliner 200P dobsonian for less than a 150pl on an EQ3-2.

Neither the EQ3-2 or the dobsinian mount have motors or the ability to guide you around the night sky but if you're willing to find your own way around the night sky rather than spend money on a Supatrack then you'll end up with better scope - which you wont regret in a few months time :-)

Cheers

Gareth

[RikM]

The Supatrak mount only has tracking motors, it doesn't find the objects for you. You would need the Synscan AZ GoTo to do that. Even with a GoTo mount, you would still need to know where certain stars are to be able to point the scope to them to 'teach' the GoTo where it is starting from. A GoTo mount is nice but it is not necessary if you have a reasonably dark sky and you can see lots of stars to navigate by.

If you have a decent sky then a 200P dobsonian, fitted with a Telrad or Rigel QuickFinder to augment the finderscope, is the weapon of choice. If you have a fair bit of light pollution with only the very brightest stars visible, star-hopping becomes more difficult and a GoTo becomes more attractive.

[Walking the Dog]

Just as I thought!

I'm in Gateshead and there's a degree of light pollution as I've a North facing back garden pointing over Newcastle, but not as bad as other areas I would imagine.

To be honest for me part of the attraction is to find what I'm trying to look for. So learning about the night sky and getting an 'education' is part of the whole package.

If you guys are suggesting the 200p Dobsonian on an EQ3-2 as a real alternative then I'll take your advice and go for it.

Managed to sell my bird-watching scope today so I'm in a position to go get!

Can you give me any advice on associated / recommended eyepieces? From what I've read I need to be careful to allow for the 'extras' as well as the scope and mount - and what is a Telrad or Rigel Quickfinder?!

I've so much to learn.....................

[RikM]

The 'Dobsonian' part of 200P Dobsonian is the mount. No need for an EQ mount at all.

A Telrad or Rigel QuikFinder are reticule type zero power finders. Basically you look through a little window and they project a set of red-light rings on the sky so you can see exactly where the scope is pointing. For the most part, through a finderscope one star looks much like another, so the Rigel allows you to be sure which star you are look at.

I live on the outskirts of Gloucester and have a fair bit of LP but not too bad. I use a Rigel and a 9x50mm finderscope on my Dob for visual use and it's a great combo for me.

If you can, get along to your local astro society and take a look at and through some of their scopes before you make a decision.

[fountain]

Pretty certain, well positive you can get the motors for an EQ3-2 mount, and even upgrade to a goto system with a 150pl.

The drives will set you back about £90 and a goto about £250. If you pay that is it worth going for a better scope to start?

Also think of portability.

Have a look at the Optical Vision website where they have a full pdf brochure.

[Walking the Dog]

Sorry for my earlier ignorance gents. Have a copy of the Optical Vision brochure and understand the Dobsonians now - it's just I hadn't even considered them before.

I notice that Skywatcher do their own Flextube version too.

Any opinions on this from a viewing perspective - the slight ease of storage is a plus but I don't want to lose any performance for the sake of a few feet.

Thanks again.

[RikM]

I personally wouldn't bother with a truss tube design like the flextubes until you get to 12" or bigger.

I have the sold tube 10" and it is lighter than the equivalent flextube and easily fits across the back seat of a Honda Civic with the dob base, chair and a box of EP's in the boot. The floor area they take up is the same as the sold tubes, so unless you have a low cupboard or something to store them in I don't see much of a benefit. The 12" is a good bit longer than the 10" so having the option of shortening it a bit would help fit it in the car.

[JKB]

Just to add my 2p worth to say the 150p on EQ3-2 is a fantastic scope. I added motors later and even managed some half decent photos. I have the 200p Dob and although it does let in more light i hate the mount; clunky, awkward and never feels steady. If you take the time to understand how a Dob and Equatorial mount works you'll understand. Depending if you want to stick with visual observing then both are great but in the future if you want to go down the slippery slope of photography..........

Is it possible you could find someone close-by to try out different scopes? I only say that because it might be a bit of a 'Marmite' thing either loving or hating one.

Cheers

Jamie

[fountain]

Sorry for my earlier ignorance gents. Have a copy of the Optical Vision brochure and understand the Dobsonians now - it's just I hadn't even considered them before.

I notice that Skywatcher do their own Flextube version too.

Any opinions on this from a viewing perspective - the slight ease of storage is a plus but I don't want to lose any performance for the sake of a few feet.

Thanks again.

Probably the best thing to do is to hunt down a specialist shop in your area, go in and touchy feely. OK you may pay a few quid more than than doing a pricerunner type hunt, but you'll get quality advice, a feel for the scope and somewhere you'll come to know you can rely on for all sorts of follow up stuff. That will be worth the extra pennies.

[Walking the Dog]

Cheers again everyone.

I think getting hands on is going to be the way forward.

Thanks to you guys I've got a much clearer idea of my options now and will get in contact with a local club and see what happens.

TTFN