Hi all

[Rad73]

Hi all

im new to this site and telescopes in general 

I have a Prinz 550 Astronomical telescope and was wondering if anyone could tell me the age of it and how much it is worth as I would love to know if I bagged a bargain 

 

thanks in advance

brad

[Mr Spock]

Hi Brad, welcome to SGL 

A Prinz 550 was my first real scope back in 1972. A very nice find you have there. I'm not sure of value though. I sold mine in 1975 for £27.50 to pay for driving lessons...

Do please never use the sun filter - they are extremely dangerous.

[Floater]

Welcome, Rad. Hope you have fun with the hobby.

Can’t give any specific help with your scope but a word of warning about that ‘SUN’ filter - it may be dangerous. Don’t use it unless you are absolutely sure and assured that it is 100% safe!!

EDIT - Michael beat me to it. Ditch the sun filter!

[RWB]

Hi and welcome hope you enjoy both your scope and your time on this forum and PLEASE do not use 'sun filter'

it will,most likely disintegrate and probably,take your sight away from the eye you use forever!!!!

As for value  I cannot help you,sorry. but as long as you can see through it enjoy the views that you can get

and remember that we all had to start somewhere  good luck and clear skies.

 Regards                Robin.

[ronl]

Hello Brad and welcome to SGL, hope you enjoy your time with us,

enjoy your scope and have fun.

Clear Sky's.

[F15Rules]

Hi Brad,

Welcome!☺

As Mr Spock says, that is a nice 1970s Prinz 550 refractor scope of 60mm aperture (diameter of the front lens) and F15 (focal length, or distance from the front lens to the point of focus where you view the image through the eyepiece). 

The F15 comes from multiplying the diameter of the main lens (60mm) X 15 to give a focal length of 900mm (in the case of your scope 910mm to be precise, as shown on the focuser plate, D= 60mm, F=910mm).

Your scope was sold by Dixon's, then (1970s) the main national photographic chain. The scope has a small circle with a letter K inside the circle, again on the focuser plate, at the bottom right in your photo..this means the scope was made by a Japanese firm called Kenko, a well regarded mass producer of traditional refractors at the time.

If you paid less than £50 for it you did fine. It will give you very nice, albeit narrow, views of the Moon and brighter objects.

It does use old fashioned 0.965" guage eyepieces, which aren't the best quality...modern ones are 1.25" or 2", but your  a scope would need an adapter to use  modern 1.25" eyepieces. But it will make you smile when you see the moon through it.

Modern scopes are much better in many ways, but take time to read the forums on here and you will soon learn about what's available if you want to take up astronomy more seriously. 

I hope you do!

Hope that helps☺

Dave

 

 

[Pete Presland]

Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire :-) 

[PeterCPC]

Hello Brad and welcome.

Peter

[Ally8446]

YEP......don't EVER use the sun filter. 

[hippie]

Welcome to SGL.

[Ben the Ignorant]

9 hours ago, Ally8446 said:

YEP......don't EVER use the sun filter. 

I wrapped my old green sun filter in a paper towel and crushed it with a hammer. Will not put anyone in danger because it no longer exists.

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi Brad, that`s an old and precious scope. White tube and black dewshield always looks right somehow. Mine are all black tubes and white dewshields.

[Dave Lloyd]

p.s +1 for not using that sun filter.

[JamesM]

Hi Brad and welcome to the forum

Clear skies

[odiferous02]

I'm also new on this forum and I love it here! Enjoy!

[Charon]

Welcome aboard.

[westmarch]

Hi Brad,

welcome to the forum.  Enjoy finding your way around the sky.

John

[sloz1664]

Hi Brad,

A very warm welcome to the Lounge 

• Steve