To refract or reflect?

[Orange Haze]

As someone who has sporadically used an old, rather poor Tasco refractor scope for the past 20 years (teenage birthday present) I feel now is the time to purchase something more useful. But what to choose? Budget approx £250. Want to see the planets with some clarity (rings of saturn, surface of Jupiter) but also wish to make out nebula and galaxies, albeit my expectations are realistic given budget. So, for a good all rounder ... where do I go?

[rory]

a 8" dobsonian under £300. they say its a good blend of portability and a good apeture for both planets and dso's.

probably the best bang for your buck.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html

[dweller25]

a 8" dobsonian under £300. they say its a good blend of portability and a good apeture for both planets and dso's.

probably the best bang for your buck.

First Light Optics - Skywatcher Skyliner 200P Dobsonian

I will second this info - the 200mm Dobsonian is very capable and great value for money.

[Double Kick Drum]

The 8 inch Skyliner is about £270 but if that is too much, you can get the 6 inch version for under £200.

That will get you views of well over a hundred galaxies alone, though will obviously not have as superior views as the 8 inch.

[Tribal-Wolf]

Getting a 200P Dob these days is not so easy. You should consider 2nd hand too as there are some bargains out there due to being bought on a whim.

[Orange Haze]

Thanks people. The Dobs keeps coming up as a recommendation, I suppose I was slightly put of by the size and potential lack of potability of it. But will defo check it out now. In my mind I probably have a more traditional view of what a telescope should be.....

[steve_bham]

You could consider a 120mm short tube refactor for quick planet viewing but more useful as a wide field scope for DSO. I'm not a fan of dobs purely for transporting issues.

[Ganymede12]

A retractor with at least a 70mm objective lens.You can get a good one for under £100! I suggest the Sky Watcher SK707AZ2 because it's cheap and portable.

[Capricorn]

The Evostar 102 refractor on an EQ3-2 mount would be about right except that it is £309 (FLO), if you want a refractor. The 90mm Evostars are not that great an increase.

The 200 dobsonians are good but remember that you will need a collimator as well. Would suggest a 150PL if you went down the dobsonian line. Smaller and easier to move round.

For any scope also add in eventually a couple of additional eyepieces.

I would suggest avoiding the short tube refractors, at f/5 they will show a fair degree of CA and this could spoil it all. My opinion maybe not yours.

[steve_bham]

The Evostar 102 refractor on an EQ3-2 mount would be about right except that it is £309 (FLO), if you want a refractor. The 90mm Evostars are not that great an increase.

The 200 dobsonians are good but remember that you will need a collimator as well. Would suggest a 150PL if you went down the dobsonian line. Smaller and easier to move round.

For any scope also add in eventually a couple of additional eyepieces.

I would suggest avoiding the short tube refractors, at f/5 they will show a fair degree of CA and this could spoil it all. My opinion maybe not yours.

Very little CA on the 120 F5 refractor. Before I got it was expecting to see a fair bit, but was surprised at how little there was and I soon tuned it out.

[CGolder]

It will depend on your preference to Spider veins de-fraction on planets if you dont mind them a 200p will be great, otherwise a Maksutov or refractor could be for you.

Personally i cant stand the spikes, they totally ruin the view for me. i would rather less scope for a nicer view

[Tinker1947]

It will depend on your preference to Spider veins de-fraction on planets if you dont mind them a 200p will be great, otherwise a Maksutov or refractor could be for you.

Personally i cant stand the spikes, they totally ruin the view for me. i would rather less scope for a nicer view

I have never noticed spikes while viewing anything, that's from a 36mm EP to a 8.5mm, i do understand using the wrong type of EP will cause this but i can only say for my set-up, and heeding advice form people that know there stuff..

[CGolder]

Really.. you have never noticed them?

With venus its horrific at best for me, but then i seem to have settled for a,pretty much 0 visual aberation setup so might just be picky :-)

Sent from my AN10G2 using Tapatalk

[twotter]

I certainly see four spikes on bright targets in my SW 200P dob, but I like them....vive la difference and all that sort of thing