Is this worth getting

[greamec]

Hi all,

Would this be worth getting? what is it worth. Currently have a travelscope 70.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161579399548?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

On a side note on a tight budget what is the best type of motorized mount?

Cheers Greame

[greamec]

Should have said the seller does not know the model but I think it looks like a 114 .

[ronl]

It looks ok, and is a reasonable starter scope, near the bottom of the page in the ask a question,

ask if the mirrors are ok, and the spider vanes are not damaged, because if they are damaged it's

not worth buying, you can get a finder from http://www.astroboot.co.uk/AstroBoot , hope you win.

[Peter Drew]

It is a 114mm, it says so on the label if you zoom the image. 

[greamec]

Thanks all

what about the clock drive,? what is that?  Would it take much to get it working?

thanks again

[brantuk]

The motor - if it works - will enable the scope to track objects once it's polar aligned - otherwise you'll track manually turning the big knobs you see in the images. The scope doesn't appear to have a finder (which is pretty essential) so do figure that into your budget. The scope can be had new (no motor) for £119 (see FLO) so I wouldn't bid more than £40 to £50 tops if it was me. Hope that helps.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-skyhawk-1145p.html

[stepping beyond]

An ra motor drive connects to the ra gear, 9v battery powers the unit. It depends how much it was used to determine how much life it still has, the md do a nice job but, you still need to use your dec cable to compensate for the drift. I've used Celestrons with my powerseeker eq80  viewed and videoed the Moon and Planets with an electronic ep.  If everything is ok, it's a good starter set with nice views of Solar System object and brighter DSO's.

[greamec]

Are these really that bad? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Telescope-Reflector-Astronomical-Telescope-/121559420916?pt=UK_Photography_Telescopes&hash=item1c4d818ff4

[happy-kat]

I take that back my comment, as it looks like a mac newtonian which I know nothing about.

[greamec]

I take that back my comment, as it looks like a mac newtonian which I know nothing about.

Thought it was a big boss

[Peter Drew]

The 150mm 1400mm FL telescope looks like one of the Bird-Jones variety when comparing the length of the tube. Not really recommended for beginners due to the collimation difficulty. 

[greamec]

Not a big boss then that's what I got from Google

[happy-kat]

But it has a lens at the front with a centre plate, does that not make it a macsutov newtonian or at least a straight mak?

I too saw that the fl was 1400mm but the presence of a lens made me think it could not be a 'bird jones'.

Focal Length: 1400mm (catadioptric system) on searching on the reference number given.

[Peter Drew]

It could well be a "Big Boss", Bird-Jones is the name of the optical design feature. 

[Peter Drew]

I think that what looks like a centre glass plate on the photo is in fact the end cover. 

[happy-kat]

Reading the reviews I would not personally get it. But I'd suggest you do some searching on it to find more reviews then the 3 on amazon.

The description says 'catadioptric' which would explain the long focal length.

[Peter Drew]

Telescopes containing the Bird-jones modification are often described as catadioptric so you were not far wrong in your analysis.     

[RichM63]

The question in post#1 it depends on how tight is the budget. For an EQ mount then the minimum would be EQ3-2, CG4 equivalent mounts.

These would give you a little room to grow into with your 70 and up to a 150 Newt, ST80, DSLR+Lens. The EQ1 mount is really quite feeble and any wind will have the tripod shaking like a leaf. (1 on my left as I type).

The telescope you show looks cheap enough to have a punt at, but don't expect great things.

[greamec]

Thanks again all

[stepping beyond]

If it says BJ run away and get a 80mm or above refractor and enjoy . it's a win win with a refractor

[astrofox]

Generally a rule of thumb on e-bay is if the seller is unsure it works you can bet your bottom dollar it doesn't.

I once worked in a model railway shop, It was an eyeopener  to view the stuff comming in for repair from e-bay sales. They nearly was my dads/uncle/other relative, all said believed to be ok but unable to test