help please

farmchoice

hi folks,
im sure you get this a lot but i wold appricate a little bit of help with picking a telescope.

my father's birthday is coming up and we are hoping to get him a telescope as he has always wanted one. we would like to get as good a one as possible are are in a position to spent around €500.00 i know this is not a lot for a good telescope but its our limit.

after a small bit of research i have my eye on this lad
http://www.camera.ie/products/celestron-nexstar-130slt-307x-computerized-telescope

but the there is this one for €60.00 more, would it be worth the extra.
http://www.camera.ie/products/celestron-nexstar-4se-241x-computerized-telescope

i would be very grateful for any input or for any other suggestions or advise.

thanks

squonk

The second model looks like a better buy IMHO. It's a good starter scope. I'm not a Celestron guy myself but if your dad does want to have a go at photography in the future he's set. 4 inches isn't the greatest but it's a good start and the scope looks nice and tidy which is a bit concern if he wants to move it for viewing in nearby darker areas. the handier to move the scope, the more it'll be used.

endacl

squonk wrote: »

The second model looks like a better buy IMHO. It's a good starter scope. I'm not a Celestron guy myself but if your dad does want to have a go at photography in the future he's set. 4 inches isn't the greatest but it's a good start and the scope looks nice and tidy which is a bit concern if he wants to move it for viewing in nearby darker areas. the handier to move the scope, the more it'll be used.

+1

Except, if you're happy to forego the goto facility, you will get more aperture for the cash.

Mr Teeny

As the guys have said, the 4se is a very nice scope. Of the two listed it's definitely the better option. I have used one in the past and it's an excellent wee scope, easy to move and to set up/use.

One thing to be aware of though. For both the scopes you have listed, you will need a source of power to use them. None is included with the scope (think along the lines of getting a toy at Christmas with no batteries). If it's used near the house an extension lead and 12v plug (which can be bought in woodies/argos/any DIY place) is the job.

But if you want to have a bit more freedom to use the scope away from home you'll need an external source of power. Something like:

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/accessories/celestron-powertank-12v-power-supply.html

AI sell them but it's worth shopping around for something similar. Buyers market and all that.

Oh and just so you know, the seller you have listed in the links above seems to be affiliated with AI's shop. http://astronomy.ie/dealers.html

AI are actually selling both the scopes you listed for 10 euro cheaper too. I'm sure their postage will more than make up the difference but can save a tenner if you're in Dublin to collect.

Do shop around though before you buy.

Check out http://www.ktectelescopes.ie/

The seller is a guy who posts here on boards too so you might get yourself a nice little deal if you drop him an e-mail first.

farmchoice

thanks folks i really appriciate your help and that was allgreat info. i will check out the AI website i would be more then happy to buy off them if i could.

http://www.ktectelescopes.ie/

i was looking at this website but i could not find a goto scope anywhere in my price range endacl suggested that if i was to forget about the goto facility i would be able to get better spec but i worry that without the goto it will be hard to use.

Kersh

farmchoice wrote: »

thanks folks i really appriciate your help and that was allgreat info. i will check out the AI website i would be more then happy to buy off them if i could.

http://www.ktectelescopes.ie/

i was looking at this website but i could not find a goto scope anywhere in my price range endacl suggested that if i was to forget about the goto facility i would be able to get better spec but i worry that without the goto it will be hard to use.

The goto gaps in our range will be filled with the Skywatcher SynScan scopes.
We will actually have the entire Skywatcher range on the site and a great amount of it in stock.
They won't be here for another fortnight though.

Whether it is a goto you need or not really depends on the man himself!
If he is interested in learning his way around the night sky then it might not have to be a goto.
But if he is a busy man and likes a bit of technology then a goto might be the job for him.

farmchoice

Kersh wrote: »

The goto gaps in our range will be filled with the Skywatcher SynScan scopes.
We will actually have the entire Skywatcher range on the site and a great amount of it in stock.
They won't be here for another fortnight though.

i could wait a fortnight if needs be would you be able to recomend a skywatcher goto in €500-€600 range.
thanks

Kersh

I would suggest having a look at these 3, all will come in under the lower end of your budget. We will have all 3 in stock soon.

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/synscan_az_go-to_computerised_telescopes/skymax-108_synscan_az_goto

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/synscan_az_go-to_computerised_telescopes/skymax-127_synscan_goto

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/synscan_az_go-to_computerised_telescopes/EXPLORER-130P_SynScan_AZ_GOTO


As there are many variables to consider, if you have any other particular requirements, give me a shout

Mr Teeny

Kersh wrote: »

Whether it is a goto you need or not really depends on the man himself!
If he is interested in learning his way around the night sky then it might not have to be a goto.
But if he is a busy man and likes a bit of technology then a goto might be the job for him.

Just to add to this, definitely take a look at manual scopes too. You really will get more bang for your buck.

In saying that, I fall into the busy, technology loving category (or should I say lazy) so I'd be lost without my goto.

If you do go down the non goto route though get him this book too

http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundred-Telescope/dp/0521781906

I started off with a low end non goto scope and that book. The thrill of actually finding a planet or star cluster yourself can often be as exciting as what you end up looking at


Oh and this scope that kersh just posted looks like a very nice buy, especially if it comes in under the lower end of your budget. Excellent value for money and a far better scope compared to the ones you had looked at before.

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/synscan_az_go-to_computerised_telescopes/skymax-127_synscan_goto

farmchoice

Mr Teeny wrote: »

Just to add to this, definitely take a look at manual scopes too. You really will get more bang for your buck.

In saying that, I fall into the busy, technology loving category (or should I say lazy) so I'd be lost without my goto.

If you do go down the non goto route though get him this book too

http://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundred-Telescope/dp/0521781906

I started off with a low end non goto scope and that book. The thrill of actually finding a planet or star cluster yourself can often be as exciting as what you end up looking at


Oh and this scope that kersh just posted looks like a very nice buy, especially if it comes in under the lower end of your budget. Excellent value for money and a far better scope compared to the ones you had looked at before.

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/synscan_az_go-to_computerised_telescopes/skymax-127_synscan_goto

thanks a million lads all this info has been a great help i like the look of the above scope but can i ask, just so as to increase my knowledge of the subject, why is it better? are sky-watcher a better brand, higher quality, or is it that the overall spec is better?

Kersh do you sell filters to go with this scpoe? with the saving ill be making i can afford to get a few extras.

again thanks in advance

Mr Teeny

farmchoice wrote: »

thanks a million lads all this info has been a great help i like the look of the above scope but can i ask, just so as to increase my knowledge of the subject, why is it better?

Think of telescopes as buckets we use to catch light falling from the sky.

The bigger the bucket, the more light you can 'catch', the more light you catch the better / crisper the image will be and the larger you can magnify an image while still seeing detail (magnification isn't everything though, but that's a topic for another day )

It's not that the brand is better, there are countless top quality brands out there. AI only sell celestron so they'd have you believe that that's the only brand worth looking at. Goto technology might be slightly different and they'll use that as a selling point but in reality they all do the same thing... find an object and follow it for you.

So let's say that you have a choice between a 5 inch goto scope and a 4 inch goto scope of the same telescope type (eg reflector / refractor / cassegrain)... generally speaking, the 5 inch will be better And if you can get the 5 inch scope for equal / less money, it's a no brainer!

robertxxx

What sort of image could you see with these?

farmchoice

again thanks to everybody who gave advise on this thread. in the end i went with the
http://www.ktectelescopes.ie/Starter-Telescopes/Skywatcher-Skymax-127-SynScan-AZ-Goto.html

i got this from Kersh who was very helpfull and provides a great service. i am now looking forward to getting it and getting it set up.

endacl

farmchoice wrote: »

again thanks to everybody who gave advise on this thread. in the end i went with the
http://www.ktectelescopes.ie/Starter-Telescopes/Skywatcher-Skymax-127-SynScan-AZ-Goto.html

i got this from Kersh who was very helpfull and provides a great service. i am now looking forward to getting it and getting it set up.

Excellent choice. Don't forget to come back and let us know how he gets on.

Tip! Don't try to set it up outside in the dark for the first time. A dummy run in your living room (pretending you're outside in the dark) is a good idea. Unfamiliar fiddly bits should become familiar and unfiddley.

Where are you based? There are plenty of groups/clubs who can help with any problems or questions.

Oh, and be prepared for the inevitable hints for xmas's and birthdays to come. 'I was thinking about a new eyepiece...

Kersh

endacl wrote: »

Tip! Don't try to set it up outside in the dark for the first time. A dummy run in your living room (pretending you're outside in the dark) is a good idea. Unfamiliar fiddly bits should become familiar and unfiddley.

That is so true ..

Very important advice, been there done that :pac: