Celestron, Seben, Skywatcher

[Interstellar_Explorer]

Hey guys! I have been looking for more telescopes in my price-range (80 euros) and i have found these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-21043-PowerSeeker-Refractor-Telescope/dp/B0002CTZAM/ref=sr_1_66?crid=1TI3ORVGZVCRE&keywords=telescope&qid=1554995296&refinements=p_36%3A138895031&rnid=389035011&s=electronics&sprefix=telesc%2Celectronics%2C272&sr=1-66

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seben-Commander-900-60-Refractor-Telescope/dp/B005JSCRF4/ref=sr_1_52?crid=1TI3ORVGZVCRE&keywords=telescope&qid=1554995296&refinements=p_36%3A138895031&rnid=389035011&s=electronics&sprefix=telesc%2Celectronics%2C272&sr=1-52

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-21041-PowerSeeker-60AZ-Telescope/dp/B0002CTZAC/ref=sr_1_36?crid=1TI3ORVGZVCRE&keywords=telescope&qid=1554994597&refinements=p_36%3A138895031&rnid=389035011&s=electronics&sprefix=telesc%2Celectronics%2C272&sr=1-36

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skywatcher-Mercury-607-Refractor-Telescope/dp/B00186GK9U/ref=sr_1_44?crid=1TI3ORVGZVCRE&keywords=telescope&qid=1554994597&refinements=p_36%3A138895031&rnid=389035011&s=electronics&sprefix=telesc%2Celectronics%2C272&sr=1-44

I have also been looking at second-hand telescopes and can't find and don't know any good sites except for ebay lol

I would also appreciate if you guys could put it in a top 4 list!

Anyways, thank you all for helping me through my stargazing journey!

[Gfamily]

Personally, with your budget, I would go for a shorter focal length 70mm like the Celestron Travel scope 70 or an equivalent. 

https://www.celestron.com/products/travel-scope-70-portable-telescope

The field of view will be wider, so it will be easier to find things. 

I accept that the tripod that comes with travelscopes are very lightweight, but I don't think they are any worse than you'll get with the long tube beginner scopes you are looking at. 

You can use them on a steady table with the legs un-extended and they will be stable enough, or if you have a better camera tripod already, they have the standard 3/4 thread mount. 

I bought one for my nephews and they were very pleased with it - it's easy enough to use and get satisfying views of the night sky and it comes with 'standard' 1.25" eyepieces, rather than the smaller 0.965" eyepieces you often get (I've not checked the scopes you linked to) with 'starter' scopes. 

Edit to add

Alternatively, if you have gumtree in your country,  they often have well priced bargains.  

If it helps, think of this as your 'first' scope; if you love the hobby, you can look to upgrade in the future.

 

Edited April 11, 2019 by Gfamily

[knobby]

Hi, where are you based ? noticed you already have 50 /600 refractor, the above scopes will only be slightly if no better than what you have already.

deals like this https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=148612 crop up occasionally but it's a UK site

[John]

If you are in the UK, an excellent website for used astro equipment is the UK Astro Buy & Sell site:

https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/

I believe there are similar sites in some European countries but the UK one does often feature European based sellers.

The scopes you have linked to are all pretty much exactly the same in terms of optical design and ability. The 1st one is on an equatorial mount wheras the others are on alt-azimuth mounts.

Some of the scopes that you have linked to in previous posts are around the same quality and ability - 80 Euros will only buy so much in terms of performance. If you really have to stick that budget then I think this will at least be a step up from your current 50mm scope:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/sky-watcher-mercury-707-az-telescope.html

This is a very similar instrument from a German dealer:

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4999_TS-Optics-Starscope-70-700-mm-Refraktor-Einsteigerteleskop-mit-Montierung---Stativ.html

 

 

 

[Interstellar_Explorer]

4 minutes ago, knobby said:

Hi, where are you based ? noticed you already have 50 /600 refractor, the above scopes will only be slightly if no better than what you have already.

deals like this https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=148612 crop up occasionally but it's a UK site

Hello! I currently live in Greece!

[knobby]

Just now, Interstellar_Explorer said:

Hello! I currently live in Greece!

Ah, postage might be an issue then ?

[John]

The telescope that knobby has linked to is good but does not come with a mount so you will need to allow for the purchase of one.

[Interstellar_Explorer]

1 minute ago, John said:

If you are in the UK, an excellent website for used astro equipment is the UK Astro Buy & Sell site:

https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/

I believe there are similar sites in some European countries but the UK one does often feature European based sellers.

The scopes you have linked to are all pretty much exactly the same in terms of optical design and ability. The 1st one is on an equatorial mount wheras the others are on alt-azimuth mounts.

Some of the scopes that you have linked to in previous posts are around the same quality and ability - 80 Euros will only buy so much in terms of performance. If you really have to stick that budget then I think this will at least be a step up from your current 50mm scope:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/sky-watcher-mercury-707-az-telescope.html

This is a very similar instrument from a German dealer:

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4999_TS-Optics-Starscope-70-700-mm-Refraktor-Einsteigerteleskop-mit-Montierung---Stativ.html

 

 

 

Hey There! I live in Greece and i have come across that website, but i haven't seen any european sellers on that website! 

[Interstellar_Explorer]

1 minute ago, knobby said:

Ah, postage might be an issue then ?

Yeah, unfortunately!

[knobby]

Keep looking though, I see Spain - Malta - Italy quite often, It gets quite addictive !

[Interstellar_Explorer]

Just now, knobby said:

Keep looking though, I see Spain - Malta - Italy quite often, It gets quite addictive !

OK thank you! May i ask, what telescope do you have?

[knobby]

C8 for planets and a SW ED72 for imaging DSO

[Interstellar_Explorer]

Just now, knobby said:

C8 for planets and a SW ED72 for imaging DSO

Very Expensive But A Magnificent Choice!

[knobby]

This site https://www.astrovox.gr/ looks like an Astro forum similar to SGL, as I can't read Greek maybe check if they have a for sale section like ours ?

[Interstellar_Explorer]

Just now, knobby said:

This site https://www.astrovox.gr/ looks like an Astro forum similar to SGL, as I can't read Greek maybe check if they have a for sale section like ours ?

OK thank you very much!

[Interstellar_Explorer]

22 minutes ago, Gfamily said:

Personally, with your budget, I would go for a shorter focal length 70mm like the Celestron Travel scope 70 or an equivalent. 

https://www.celestron.com/products/travel-scope-70-portable-telescope

The field of view will be wider, so it will be easier to find things. 

I accept that the tripod that comes with travelscopes are very lightweight, but I don't think they are any worse than you'll get with the long tube beginner scopes you are looking at. 

You can use them on a steady table with the legs un-extended and they will be stable enough, or if you have a better camera tripod already, they have the standard 3/4 thread mount. 

I bought one for my nephews and they were very pleased with it - it's easy enough to use and get satisfying views of the night sky and it comes with 'standard' 1.25" eyepieces, rather than the smaller 0.965" eyepieces you often get (I've not checked the scopes you linked to) with 'starter' scopes. 

Edit to add

Alternatively, if you have gumtree in your country,  they often have well priced bargains.  

If it helps, think of this as your 'first' scope; if you love the hobby, you can look to upgrade in the future.

 

OK thank you!!!

[John]

16 minutes ago, Interstellar_Explorer said:

Hey There! I live in Greece and i have come across that website, but i haven't seen any european sellers on that website! 

As knobby says, European sales do crop up from time to time - you just need to keep looking. Your money will go further if you can buy used. Make sure you know what you are getting though eg: what is provided and what is not and the condition it is in.

 

[Interstellar_Explorer]

1 minute ago, John said:

As knobby says, European sales do crop up from time to time - you just need to keep looking. Your money will further if you can buy used.

 

I don't really know which sites i could go to, to buy used telescopes! Could you please recommend me a few?

[Interstellar_Explorer]

Thank you all!

Edited April 11, 2019 by Interstellar_Explorer

[Cornelius Varley]

7 minutes ago, Interstellar_Explorer said:

Hey guys! I have found an auction of the Sky-Watcher Explorer 130 for 40 euros plus 30 shipping to Greece on ebay! Is this telescope really good and what can i expect to see with it?

Plus, i really hope I win it!

Much better than the others on your list.

[Interstellar_Explorer]

1 minute ago, Cornelius Varley said:

Much better than the others on your list.

OK thank you!

[malc-c]

Glad you didn't get a Seben !! - total waste on money.

 

Your Explorer 130 should give you excellent results as a basic model.  The moon, larger planets and some of the bright nebula should be visible on a good nigh with really dark skies 

[Interstellar_Explorer]

On 27/04/2019 at 14:02, malc-c said:

Glad you didn't get a Seben !! - total waste on money.

 

Your Explorer 130 should give you excellent results as a basic model.  The moon, larger planets and some of the bright nebula should be visible on a good nigh with really dark skies 

Hello!

Thank you for your answer but

I do not own an Explorer 130! I wish!

Though, I have found a good deal on ebay for the Sky-Watcher Astrolux Az-1, and because i've noticed that Sky-Watcher is a very respected brand, should i go for it? 

Thank you!