Telescope shortage

[Jurger]

Good evening all.

As the title says, there is an evident shortage of telescopes available from retailers. I guess COVID is the reasoning. Much like The Dogs Trust, who have been having over 200 applications submitted for a single dog (we rehomed one 4 years ago and I still look on the website from time to time).

 

So, does anyone have any idea when suppliers will be able to offer telescopes again? I checked on FLO in their 'in stock' section and there were 3 models available. 

I appreciate the feeling is that the 'used' market will be flooded post COVID, but I reckon Bob from Carlisle won't offer me finance!

The Dogs Trust will likely get a lot of their dogs back also unfortunately. 

Tia!

[knobby]

I think we'd need a crystal ball to answer this one unfortunately ... Just keep checking I guess.

[Neil H]

You could start with binoculars learn your way round and then research what telescope you fancy getting and that depends on what you fancy doing , visual , DSO , imaging 

[Tiny Clanger]

7 minutes ago, knobby said:

I think we'd need a crystal ball to answer this one unfortunately ... Just keep checking I guess.

I bet there's a crystal ball shortage too.

The manufacturers of those will not admit to unforeseen circumstances though ...

[johninderby]

All the retailers can do is give an educated guess really.

Huge increase in demand coupled with the Covid complications and also manufacturers won’t want to build new factories for what is most likely to be a temporary increase in demand. 

Also even if they wanted to increase capacoty it would take longer than the high demand is likely to last to implement such changes.

Edited January 3, 2021 by johninderby

[gilesco]

Just because an item is not in stock, doesn't mean you can't order it. Your order will go into a queue and will eventually be completed. I wouldn't expect that situation to change in the next 6 to 12 months.

I ordered an Apo in mid August, finally arrived late November.

[Jurger]

13 minutes ago, gilesco said:

Just because an item is not in stock, doesn't mean you can't order it. Your order will go into a queue and will eventually be completed. I wouldn't expect that situation to change in the next 6 to 12 months.

I ordered an Apo in mid August, finally arrived late November.

Yeah that's a fair shout tbh.

Just wondered on this community's thoughts on the subject as opposed to being strung along by a retailer on the hope of a potential customer. Didn't think about actually ordering something and just waiting.

 

[Tiny Clanger]

14 minutes ago, Jurger said:

Yeah that's a fair shout tbh.

Just wondered on this community's thoughts on the subject as opposed to being strung along by a retailer on the hope of a potential customer. Didn't think about actually ordering something and just waiting.

 

'Just waiting' is good practice for the patience required for the clouds to clear one you actually have a 'scope ...

[gilesco]

1 hour ago, Jurger said:

Yeah that's a fair shout tbh.

Just wondered on this community's thoughts on the subject as opposed to being strung along by a retailer on the hope of a potential customer. Didn't think about actually ordering something and just waiting.

 

While it is an uneasy feeling making an order and then paying the money, then waiting for the delivery - most retailers work to keep all their customers as happy as possible, just go with someone who has good reviews.

All replies on here will be skewed towards FLO as they sponsor and essentially pay for these forums, 60,000+ regular and satisfied customers is not a bad thing, but find another retailer if you wish, but apply the same criteria.

[Jurger]

18 minutes ago, gilesco said:

While it is an uneasy feeling making an order and then paying the money, then waiting for the delivery - most retailers work to keep all their customers as happy as possible, just go with someone who has good reviews.

All replies on here will be skewed towards FLO as they sponsor and essentially pay for these forums, 60,000+ regular and satisfied customers is not a bad thing, but find another retailer if you wish, but apply the same criteria.

As far as I'm aware, FLO don't do finance. Well, there's no mention of it on their website as far as I can see. Otherwise, yes I'd go with them as it's showing some loyalty to the forum sponser.

[Shimrod]

3 hours ago, Jurger said:

Good evening all.

As the title says, there is an evident shortage of telescopes available from retailers. I guess COVID is the reasoning. Much like The Dogs Trust, who have been having over 200 applications submitted for a single dog (we rehomed one 4 years ago and I still look on the website from time to time).

 

So, does anyone have any idea when suppliers will be able to offer telescopes again? I checked on FLO in their 'in stock' section and there were 3 models available. 

I appreciate the feeling is that the 'used' market will be flooded post COVID, but I reckon Bob from Carlisle won't offer me finance!

The Dogs Trust will likely get a lot of their dogs back also unfortunately. 

Tia!

It's worth noting that the 'in stock' page only appears to show complete telescope and mount offerings. If you rummage around the FLO website you can find separate in stock mounts and telescopes (admittedly on the more specialist side), but Bresser scopes seem to have short lead times if something in that range takes your fancy.

[Jurger]

1 hour ago, Shimrod said:

It's worth noting that the 'in stock' page only appears to show complete telescope and mount offerings. If you rummage around the FLO website you can find separate in stock mounts and telescopes (admittedly on the more specialist side), but Bresser scopes seem to have short lead times if something in that range takes your fancy.

Thanks for the info, but there's nothing I fancy available. I posted in another 'beginner' section about a Bresser scope, and the response was that the mount wasn't that good.

 

 

[Shimrod]

7 hours ago, Jurger said:

Thanks for the info, but there's nothing I fancy available. I posted in another 'beginner' section about a Bresser scope, and the response was that the mount wasn't that good.

 

 

You don't need to buy the mount and telescope as a complete unit - you can pick and mix. You haven't said whether you want to do photography or just visual observing. If you can clarify that and a budget, then you will get some suggestions as to what may be worth choosing from  stock that is available.

[Jurger]

20 minutes ago, Shimrod said:

You don't need to buy the mount and telescope as a complete unit - you can pick and mix. You haven't said whether you want to do photography or just visual observing. If you can clarify that and a budget, then you will get some suggestions as to what may be worth choosing from  stock that is available.

Hi Shimrod.

I was looking towards the Skywatcher 200PDS with HEQ5 mount. I appreciate what you're saying about picking and mixing, but it seems that you can save a few quid by buying the package.

I'd be using the scope for 'general observation' with some AP thrown in. My budget is around £1200 or there abouts. 

Many thanks.

[Nik271]

13 hours ago, Neil H said:

You could start with binoculars learn your way round and then research what telescope you fancy getting and that depends on what you fancy doing , visual , DSO , imaging 

That's an excellent recommendation. The way the weather has been recently I've found more use for binoculars than my telescopes for a quick look between clouds.

Also unlike telescopes there are more binoculars available in the 10x50 and 15x70 range and even if you buy from amazon the quality is decent. The Celestron skymaster series is a good budget starting point.

Some objects in the sky look better in binoculars than in a big telescope most notably the Pleiades, Andromeda galaxy (in dark skies), and even the double cluster.

Good luck with the search!

  

[Jurger]

5 minutes ago, Nik271 said:

That's an excellent recommendation. The way the weather has been recently I've found more use for binoculars than my telescopes for a quick look between clouds.

Also unlike telescopes there are more binoculars available in the 10x50 and 15x70 range and even if you buy from amazon the quality is decent. The Celestron skymaster series is a good budget starting point.

Some objects in the sky look better in binoculars than in a big telescope most notably the Pleiades, Andromeda galaxy (in dark skies), and even the double cluster.

Good luck with the search!

  

Hi Nik.

I do have a small pair of binoculars, and a Celestron Ultima 80 spotting scope. Unfortunately the mount is pretty garbage/basic.

This is maybe a stupid question, but do folk tend to mount binoculars? I recall getting a stiff neck and arms using a pair!

[Nik271]

13 minutes ago, Jurger said:

Hi Nik.

I do have a small pair of binoculars, and a Celestron Ultima 80 spotting scope. Unfortunately the mount is pretty garbage/basic.

This is maybe a stupid question, but do folk tend to mount binoculars? I recall getting a stiff neck and arms using a pair!

Indeed, beyond 10x magnification it's a good idea to support the bins somehow, I tend to use a monopod but apparently even a kitchen broom has been known to work

As for getting a stiff neck the only solution for me is to use a lounge chair. In the summer I would just lie down on the grass but obviously not a option for winter.

Some high end big binoculars also come with 45% diagonals to make it easier when looking high, but these tend to cost more than telescopes. 

You could try pointing the spotting scope or bins at the Orion nebula. It's never more than 31 degrees above horizon in the UK so the bins will be reasonably close to horizontal for comfortable viewing if you can support them somehow. 

[Smigeroona73]

On 03/01/2021 at 18:55, Jurger said:

Good evening all.

As the title says, there is an evident shortage of telescopes available from retailers. I guess COVID is the reasoning. Much like The Dogs Trust, who have been having over 200 applications submitted for a single dog (we rehomed one 4 years ago and I still look on the website from time to time).

 

So, does anyone have any idea when suppliers will be able to offer telescopes again? I checked on FLO in their 'in stock' section and there were 3 models available. 

I appreciate the feeling is that the 'used' market will be flooded post COVID, but I reckon Bob from Carlisle won't offer me finance!

The Dogs Trust will likely get a lot of their dogs back also unfortunately. 

Tia!

It’s not just telescopes. I ordered a Skywatcher Deluxe EQ5 mount and tripod for my 8” Newtonian back in January. The latest update puts its ETA in the U.K. at late July ☹️. 
Apparently it’s all down to a shortage of actual shipping containers caused by high demand last year during the 1st lockdown. Now we’re waiting for the backlog to clear. Then of course someone managed to wedge the Ever Given, doubtless on route from China, across the Suez Canal...

🤬, 🤬 and thrice 🤬

[Carbon Brush]

There are plenty of used scopes, eyepieces, mounts, etc. showing on the SGL sale section.
Being a seasoned skinflint I buy much of my stuff from there.
It is a reliable source of well looked after sometimes little used parts.
HTH, David.

[Daf1983]

I also have a heq5 and an evostar 80ed on order since january. Have been told they might be arriving on a shipment early may, or maybe on the next shipment in june/july.😭

Have thought about buying from the 2nd hand market, but since I ordered before the price rises, I wouldn't be making much of a saving. So, I will just have to be patient.

[Jiggy 67]

I had to wait about 4 months for my 100ED to arrive after ordering and paying for it. It’s a pain, but when it arrives several months after you’ve absorbed and forgotten the cost it’s like getting a new expensive toy for free! 😀

[Marvin Jenkins]

On 04/01/2021 at 10:16, Nik271 said:

Indeed, beyond 10x magnification it's a good idea to support the bins somehow, I tend to use a monopod but apparently even a kitchen broom has been known to work

As for getting a stiff neck the only solution for me is to use a lounge chair. In the summer I would just lie down on the grass but obviously not a option for winter.

Some high end big binoculars also come with 45% diagonals to make it easier when looking high, but these tend to cost more than telescopes. 

You could try pointing the spotting scope or bins at the Orion nebula. It's never more than 31 degrees above horizon in the UK so the bins will be reasonably close to horizontal for comfortable viewing if you can support them somehow. 

Great advice. I started with a five inch newt and realise now I should have started with bins.

As you say bins need support, at least in my hands, and I laughed when I realised how obvious a broom would be of use. I wish I had thought of that.

In my other life I enjoy a spot of angling. A landing net handle with a spreader block is excellent as a binocular mono pod. A landing net handle is a five ish foot fibreglass pole with a screw tread in one end. The screw thread is for the bit that holds the net, that fish, too heavy to be swung in go into.

A cheap carp landing net (discard the net) would be very cheap. Some are telescopic so can be adjusted for height.

Marv