How bad are "junk scopes"

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How bad are "junk scopes"

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Micheal Artindale

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:50 pm

Guest

I am looking at getting a telescope.

I am looking something inexpencive and relitively portable.

I know that scopes found at places like Walmart are not that good, but....
How bad are they?

I have a pair of 10x50 binoculars. I would like something better.

I am looking at geting me something that, in 5 years, I can replace with a
"real" telescope. One that would be over $1500 CDN.

Would that $300-500 Walmart scope be good enough?

Thanks

Micheal

Micheal Artindale

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 7:14 pm

Guest

"Odysseus" <odysseus1479-at@yahoo-dot.ca> wrote in message
news:odysseus1479-at-F15380.11250201092007@news.telus.net...
[quote:d13870e41a]In article <S20Ci.4734$Pd4.3405@edtnps82>,
"Micheal Artindale" <michealartindale@eastlink.ca> wrote:

I am looking at getting a telescope.

I am looking something inexpencive and relitively portable.

I know that scopes found at places like Walmart are not that good,
but....
How bad are they?

I have a pair of 10x50 binoculars. I would like something better.

I am looking at geting me something that, in 5 years, I can replace with
a
"real" telescope. One that would be over $1500 CDN.

Would that $300-500 Walmart scope be good enough?

Hard to say: it depends on your expectations, and those department-store
'scopes vary. The optics will probably be good enough to get you much
better views of planets &c. than your binoculars provide ... but the
mount will likely be flimsy. The main danger is that you'll get
frustrated enough to be put off the hobby altogether. If you do go that
route, though, be sure to get an instrument that comes with 1.5"
eyepieces: the 0.965" ones, especially the shorter-focus
(higher-powered) sizes, can be very hard to use. If possible examine the
mounting for wobbles, poor-quality parts and machining, and so on.
[/quote:d13870e41a]
I am wanting to see the heavens a bit better than my binoculars. Oddly
enough, when Mars was close, I could actually make out the polar caps.
[quote:d13870e41a]
In that price range you should be able to find quite a decent small
(4.5" - 6") equatorially mounted Newtonian from a reputable
manufacturer, or a somewhat larger Dobsonian. Some of these even provide
the option of adding a motor drive or other electronic gear at a later
date. And you'll get much better advice and service from a specialty
store than from WalMart ...
[/quote:d13870e41a]
Most basic ones that I am looking at are over $1000 for the basics, the
scope, a few eye pieces, and the mount.

[quote:d13870e41a]
What kind of "real" telescope were you considering for five years hence?
If you choose something for now that will complement your next 'scope,
it needn't be considered disposable.
[/quote:d13870e41a]
I believe it is a Dobsonian. It is a large tube, about 1m or longer, about 8
inches or bigger in diamater, and the eye piece looks into the mirror at the
end of it.

Thanks for your suggestion

Micheal

[quote:d13870e41a]
--
Odysseus[/quote:d13870e41a]

Llanzlan Klazmon

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:26 am

Guest

On Sep 1, 9:50 am, "Micheal Artindale" <michealartind...@eastlink.ca>
wrote:
[quote:35c79d0669]I am looking at getting a telescope.

I am looking something inexpencive and relitively portable.

I know that scopes found at places like Walmart are not that good, but....
How bad are they?

I have a pair of 10x50 binoculars. I would like something better.

I am looking at geting me something that, in 5 years, I can replace with a
"real" telescope. One that would be over $1500 CDN.

Would that $300-500 Walmart scope be good enough?

Thanks

Micheal
[/quote:35c79d0669]
Telescope buyers FAQ:

http://home.inreach.com/starlord/

Some of these Orion are good beginner scopes. The Dobsonian
intelliscopes are reasonable value for money with quite good optics.
Forget the cheap stuff on equatorial mounts. Good equatorial mounts
are not cheap.

http://www.telescope.com/jump.jsp?itemID=0&itemType=HOME_PAGE

Everything from cheap to expensive here:

http://www.buytelescopes.com/

Some others:

http://www.discovery-telescopes.com/
http://stargazer.isys.ca/

My favorite:

http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/

Klazmon

Odysseus

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:50 pm

Guest

In article <AfnCi.7750$Pd4.6105@edtnps82>,
"Micheal Artindale" <michealartindale@eastlink.ca> wrote:

[quote:6a3c27147f]"Odysseus" <odysseus1479-at@yahoo-dot.ca> wrote in message
news:odysseus1479-at-F15380.11250201092007@news.telus.net...
In article <S20Ci.4734$Pd4.3405@edtnps82>,
"Micheal Artindale" <michealartindale@eastlink.ca> wrote:

snip
[...] be sure to get an instrument that comes with 1.5"
^^^^[/quote:6a3c27147f]
Should be 1.25".

[quote:6a3c27147f]eyepieces: the 0.965" ones, especially the shorter-focus
(higher-powered) sizes, can be very hard to use. [...]

What kind of "real" telescope were you considering for five years hence?
If you choose something for now that will complement your next 'scope,
it needn't be considered disposable.

I believe it is a Dobsonian. It is a large tube, about 1m or longer, about 8
inches or bigger in diamater, and the eye piece looks into the mirror at the
end of it.
[/quote:6a3c27147f]
Yes: that sounds like a Newtonian optical design; the Dobsonian part
refers to the altazimuth mount comprising a rocker-box and turntable.

Orion -- not exactly 'high-end' but quite reputable AFAIK -- advertises
their eight-inch "Intelliscope" for $480 (US), or $620 with "push-to"
electronics: see

<http://www.telescope.com/content/learningcenter/content2main.jsp?iCatego
ryID=85&iContentID=618&CCNavIDs=19,20,85>

(or <http://tinyurl.com/3xh2f9>). For $1000 you can get their
twelve-inch Dob: see

<http://www.telescope.com/jump.jsp?itemID=9&itemType=CATEGORY&iMainCat=4&
iSubCat=9>

(or <http://tinyurl.com/2f3qhf>).

You might consider something like the six-inch "Classic" Dob shown
above, at $270 including some accessories. It should be quite portable
and would give you a chance to decide whether you like the design enough
to upgrade to a larger one, or would prefer to put more of your money
into e.g. portability or tracking ability, with a different type of
instrument.

There are a great many telescope reviews online (Googling for "Orion XT6
review" yields some fifteen thousand hits); a little searching will give
you some idea of what brands and models can be expected to provide more
enjoyment than frustration. I would also recommend getting in touch with
an astronomical society in your area (if you're in Canada, the RASC
probably has a branch reasonably nearby -- see
<http://www.rasc.ca/centres/index.shtml>): you can get direct advice as
to what kind of 'scope will suit you, based on personal experience, and
help with diagnosing & solving any problems that crop up once you get
one.

--
Odysseus

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