The best newtonian 8" for the cheapest price?

[Buick]

Hello all, this is my first post here. Am not too sure if this is a pc place for this post but need a little help.

I have a 114mm EQ Celestron, and have used it extensively since having it now for 6 months.

However I want to upgrade soon gain some more detail in my images.

I also want to tackle some photography later, so what I get must be upgradeable.

I've been told that 8" is pretty much the smallest for such use and as such is my minimum aperture and expect to pay £200-£300-ish

The cheapest I can find is the Skywatcher 200P - it's a little over my budget and I'm not overly convinced that it's not some cheap Chinese thing.

So I don't really know where else to find what I want.

Anyone have any tips?

I have some months yet of saving to do first lol but no harm in being prepared

[dweller25]

Wecome to SGL Buick.

I have the Skywatcher 8" F/6 Newtonian and it is optically excellent - to give you an idea of what it can do on the planets see my drawings in the sketching section.

I started off using it as a Dobsonian and later bought some tune rings to mount it on a GEM for automatic tracking - very easy to do.

You cannot go wrong with this scope.

[Sam]

I agree, the Skywatcher 8" is a great scope and very well priced.

[axolotl]

The Skyliner 200P Dobsonian is a very good scope and is within your budget (Dobsonians)

[johninderby]

The 200P is as good as you can get optically in a mass produced Newt. It really is very, very good.

To get better you'll need to go to a specialist manufacturer (£££). The Orion Optics UK 8" with Ultra Grade optics is the best but it will cost a lot more.

John

[John]

Another vote here for the Skywatcher 8" F/5 or F/6 newtoinains - excellent scopes !.

They are Chinese made (as much astro equipment these days) but don't let that put you off. I currently own an Orion Optics (UK made) 10" F/4.8 newtonian which costs a lot more than the Skywatcher equivlent but is mechanically no better and optically perhaps only marginally better.

[ollypenrice]

With an eye to photography, make sure you get the right version. A good dealer like FLO, the forum sponsors, will ensure that you do.

It is not true that you need large aperture for imaging, by the way. The 80mm refractor is a mainstay of astrophotography and can take world class images. If you are going to try photography look for a fast focal ratio and a reasonably short focal length to start with.

Olly

[Hypernova]

I'd go with what Dweller says and purchase the Skywatcher Dobsonian and use that as a visual scope for a while and when you decide that you want to have a crack at photography just buy a set of tube rings and eq mount.

The dob is a great scope optically and a joy to use and it shouldn't be too much trouble to mount it.

[TheThing]

With an eye to photography, make sure you get the right version. A good dealer like FLO, the forum sponsors, will ensure that you do.

It is not true that you need large aperture for imaging, by the way. The 80mm refractor is a mainstay of astrophotography and can take world class images. If you are going to try photography look for a fast focal ratio and a reasonably short focal length to start with.

Olly

Second what Olly says. I use a 6", 750mm f/5 for my webcam stuff (admittedly only solar system stuff so far, but we all start somewhere).

Who told you 8" minimum was needed?

[AlanB]

My 200p is a cracking scope, however its problem for me is is size/bulk and my poor HEQ5 struggles a bit when i add all my other bits and pieces to allow me to do photos. Visually its able to see much more than you'd believe.

Tend to use C80ED and SW80 for photos now, especially for deep sky stuff.

Alan

[Buick]

Wecome to SGL Buick.

I have the Skywatcher 8" F/6 Newtonian and it is optically excellent - to give you an idea of what it can do on the planets see my drawings in the sketching section..

Thanks Dweller, and your drawings are very good

I reckon that after the responses of everyone here, the general consensus is that the Skywatcher 200P is not 'alf bad at all - so that's what shall aim for then

Thanks to you all for contributing.

[Astro_Baby]

Another vote fopr the 200 for me - if you want a review of one yuo could take a look at my site.

[Rusty Strings]

And another very satisfied 200p owner here.

[brantuk]

The only thing that put me off the 200P was the 300P lol - can't go wrong

[joner]

A second hand one.

[ollypenrice]

The only thing that put me off the 200P was the 300P lol - can't go wrong

Olly

[Buick]

The only thing that put me off the 200P was the 300P lol - can't go wrong

LOL I would feel the same if it were inside my budget! at 4 digits before the decimal its only slightly out (only by about two digits!).

[Peter Drew]

I'm seconding JONER on this one. Why this obsession with new?, if operating on a budget it's by far the best option to consider secondhand as a good scope should always be a good scope and most people look after them. Just be sure to invest in a recommended example'.

[Buick]

Yes I do agree with buying second hand too, Peter. My problem is that I don't really know where and what sources to trust other than the likes of eBay and similar.

So my safest bet would be to buy new.

There are a lot of these 200P 's on eBay, all similarly priced at just under £400. But the way there are so many makes me feel something isn't right about it - there was a whole series of fake binoculars just recently on that site...

[dweller25]

Hello Buick,

Skywatcher 200P's crop up in the for sale section of SGL regularly and at very good prices.

See here .....

http://stargazerslounge.com/sale/107566-skywatcher-skyliner-200p-fully-flocked.html

[Buick]

Thanks for that link, but I'm not allowed to see it, dweller25

apparently I don't have sufficient admin privileges....

[russ]

That one is also advertised on UK Astro Buy'n'sell (it's marked up as £160):

U.K. Astronomy Buy & Sell

there's also another 200P on there:

U.K. Astronomy Buy & Sell

I also have mine on Ebay for a Buy it Now price:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330447789268&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Or even a 10":

U.K. Astronomy Buy & Sell

[Buick]

Thanks for those links Russ. I would prefer the EQ5 mount but the website itself is a good start

[gary1968]

Buick, you need to have 50 posts on SGL to see / use the for sale section, IIRC. I too agree that the 200p would be a cracker, its probably one of the best 'all rounders' there is IMO.

HTH,

Gary

[Buick]

Thanks Gary