Can't see a thing out of new Newtonian

[cjsims86]

Ok I'm probably doing something really stupid. Just receive a new scope and had a quick go with it last night. The finder scope is great is all I can say about the Newtonian. Couldn't see a thing out of it apart from the secondary mirror supports. Just had a go in daylight and it won't focus on anything. If I take my eye about 8" away from the eyepiece I can see the trees at the back of the garden like I'm looking through binoculars backward. Does it just need collimating or am I just as daft as a brush? Never owned a Newtonian before as they've always looked like impractical flimsy junk to me. A sort of glorified shaving mirror at the bottom of a drain pipe. What am I doing wrong?

[x6gas]

Ummm - you did have an eye piece in the focusser, right?

If you are using it in daylight the target needs to be pretty far away, of course...

[malc-c]

Make, model any more info on the eyepiece you use - all would help in suggesting what might be the problem

[cjsims86]

Yes, the eye piece is in the focuser. 2" 28mm job great big thing. If I look through the focuser without an eyepiece it all look pretty much in line.

[cjsims86]

It's a skywatcher 200 pds with a 28mm 2" eyepiece.

[cjsims86]

Found a three inch long metal tube that fits between the eyepiece and the focuser. Maybe I shouldn't be so gung-ho. Note to self must read instructions in future.

[Boondock Saint]

Don't worry, we are all learning everyday.

[LukeSkywatcher]

Ah the old RTFM problem. Always the last thing i do but should be the first thing i do.

[lukebl]

... A sort of glorified shaving mirror at the bottom of a drain pipe. ...

Impractical flimsy junk? How very dare you! Handled properly, they are superb pieces of equipment. Just look at some of the imaging on this forum achieved using Newtonians.

A bit of practice and you'll be fine.

From a Newtonian fanatic.