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Charlie Hein
Postmaster
Reged: 11/02/03
Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W
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Review: iOptron 6002 900X70 Refractor Telescope
#5607829 - 01/06/13 07:04 AM
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Review: iOptron 6002 900X70 Refractor Telescope
By James Burke
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Mark9473
Postmaster
Reged: 07/21/05
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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Re: Review: iOptron 6002 900X70 Refractor Telescope
[Re: Charlie Hein]
#5607831 - 01/06/13 07:14 AM
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Thanks for this very informative article. This is the kind of scope one could be tempted to buy as a gift for a young family member - clearly not a good idea.
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rockethead26
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/21/09
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Re: Review: iOptron 6002 900X70 Refractor Telescope
[Re: Mark9473]
#5607891 - 01/06/13 08:33 AM
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I still don't know why junk like this is still sold. So may young people or even adults would be turned off to astronomy after trying to use something like this. The bigger question is why companies that sell "real" equipment would put their name on this stuff that would almost guarantee no future sales?
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Ford Prefect
sage
Reged: 09/25/05
Loc: Italy
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Re: Review: iOptron 6002 900X70 Refractor Telescope
[Re: rockethead26]
#5626173 - 01/16/13 01:10 PM
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The bigger question is why companies that sell "real" equipment would put their name on this stuff that would almost guarantee no future sales?
The answer is, sadly, that the companies are selling tons of junk and few "real" telescopes.
In the real world there are thousands of children (and adults) that want a telescope, but their parents (or themselves) do not want to pay more than 100 $ or €, preferibly less, for a "toy". So they buy exactly a toy.
There are then few persons willing to became an amateur astronomer that know what to buy, and will form their opinion about the company on the quality of the "real" telescopes (and often they spend something between 100 and 500 $/€). There are much less enthusiasts willing to pay more than 1'000 $/€.
I do not know the numbers of the astro-market, but I will not be surprised if a company will sell few millions of "toy" telescopes, few thousands of "serious" telescopes, and few high-end telescopes.
And I will not be surprised if more than half of the company profit will came from the "toy" telescopes.
And probably 99% of the people that buy the "toy" telescopes are persons that either will buy a <100$ telescope or will not buy a telescope; only the 1% are persons that know how to fix the problems (IF can be fixed) or that can recognize the error and have enough passion to buy a serious telescope.
This is why it is important to educate people to amateur astronomy.
Edited by Ford Prefect (01/16/13 01:11 PM)
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Jim_B
newbie
Reged: 11/23/12
Loc: UT
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Re: Review: iOptron 6002 900X70 Refractor Telescope
[Re: Ford Prefect]
#5715466 - 03/05/13 10:00 PM
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Last word? I was the author of this review. I have purchased several classic scopes including a Unitron 114. All of them needed work. All had been used or somewhat abused. My point with the Ioptron is that for a little work, I got a good scope that even looks nice. Repairing scopes requires experience and experience requires making mistakes. Start with a used scope or something like this and if you break something, no biggie! If you, on the other hand, are successful, then you have a new skill for your hobby for those rainy nights and you can buy and restore a classic with confidence. By the way, the colerful little ioptron is attractive to kids and wows them with moon craters and other sights.
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smallscopefanLeo
sage
Reged: 01/23/11
Loc: L.A., CA (& Home Plate, Mars!)
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Re: Review: iOptron 6002 900X70 Refractor Telescope
[Re: Jim_B]
#5715522 - 03/05/13 10:32 PM
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Last word? I was the author of this review. I have purchased several classic scopes including a Unitron 114. All of them needed work. All had been used or somewhat abused. My point with the Ioptron is that for a little work, I got a good scope that even looks nice. Repairing scopes requires experience and experience requires making mistakes. Start with a used scope or something like this and if you break something, no biggie! If you, on the other hand, are successful, then you have a new skill for your hobby for those rainy nights and you can buy and restore a classic with confidence. By the way, the colerful little ioptron is attractive to kids and wows them with moon craters and other sights.
Well put sir! Yours is a refreshingly optimistic voice to hear, thank you for your review.
Folks that can help newbies with budget scopes like these, to bring their equipment to its fullest potentials and teach the owner more about the basics, are one of the greater assets to our hobby in my opinion.
Few other things can help to foster growth in amateur astronomy as well as such actions can in my mind, as these sorts of telescopes are everywhere and are here to stay. Many, many people will NOT buy something more expensive, but if this is all they have and what they will use to show their friends, neighbors, kids, etc. objects such as Luna, the planets and what not, well then may as well help them to make the most of the gear and to encourage use, not discourage it by saying that it is rubbish, and that one cannot join this fine hobby until one has spent x amount of dollars ..
All of my refractors and reflectors happen to be very budget-minded (Costco 102GT special, Adorama Skywatcher clearance, Opt ota blowouts, etc.), but I have done TONS of homework and have chosen carefully. You have given me some good ideas here to bear in my mind for the future should I need to help someone with refractors like these (which apparently make up the huge majority of telescopes out there).
Enjoy your new and improved aluminum achromatic and great skies to you, cheers, Leo
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rockethead26
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/21/09
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Re: Review: iOptron 6002 900X70 Refractor Telescope
[Re: Jim_B]
#5716476 - 03/06/13 02:03 PM
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Last word? I was the author of this review. I have purchased several classic scopes including a Unitron 114. All of them needed work. All had been used or somewhat abused. My point with the Ioptron is that for a little work, I got a good scope that even looks nice. Repairing scopes requires experience and experience requires making mistakes. Start with a used scope or something like this and if you break something, no biggie! If you, on the other hand, are successful, then you have a new skill for your hobby for those rainy nights and you can buy and restore a classic with confidence. By the way, the colerful little ioptron is attractive to kids and wows them with moon craters and other sights.
With all due respect, this ended up being a decent scope for you, because you knew that there was potential and you knew how to fix it up to realize that potential.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of folks who buy a scope like this take it outside and discover a shaky mount and telescope that they can't even use. After an hour or so of frustration, the scope goes into a closet or the garage never to be used again. The parents who bought the scope think to themselves, "That's what we thought, Johnny would play with it for an hour or so and lose interest. Glad we didn't spend more money for something he wouldn't use".
Most young people know nothing about telescopes, eyepieces, mounts or astronomy clubs and probably don't know another person who has a telescope to whom they can go to for help. All that happens is that the kid tries to see a cool view of the Moon or Jupiter and fails.
I find this rather disheartening. I know because I was there when I received my first "toy" 60mm telescope as a gift that was all but useless. At least I was old enough, curious enough and had enough money to take it back and buy a better 4.5" model for about 150% more money. That one was good enough to grab me for life.
I don't think a lot of people ever take that second step.
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