71 replies to this topic

[TheWall]

Hello,


I am looking to buy my first telescope in $300-400 range. Looking to buy Made in USA or Germany telescope or atleast lens if possible.

Curious to explore distant sky and specifically planets and stars within Milky Way.

Any recommendations or suggestions with brands or specific models would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Nemo51]

Look for a used Celestron 4se or 127slt. 

[TheWall]

Thank you for the suggestion.

[Leia]

Hello,


I am looking to buy my first telescope in $300-400 range. Looking to buy Made in USA or Germany telescope or atleast lens if possible.

Curious to explore distant sky and specifically planets and stars within Milky Way.

Any recommendations or suggestions with brands or specific models would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

What size/weight/mount type do you want?

[TheWall]

Looking for reflector type which is ideal for distant observations I guess? Weight around 10-15kgs should be fine. I came across Celesteon AstroMaker 130EQ not sure how good is that!

[Hexley]

Don’t buy a newtonian on an EQ mount as a first scope for visual use. Get something on a Dobsonian “altitude-azimuth” base. You gain nothing from a polar alignment if you’re not imaging DSO, which isn’t in your budget.

 

Your budget probably supports a used Celestron 4SE, or get a 5-6” Dob if you want to do the driving. Nothing in the $300-400 range is made anywhere but China. US made boutique, hand-made scopes (often the work of a tiny shop where the owner or his wife answers the phone) start around $3000 and have months-to-years long waiting lists. Not for a beginner.

Edited by Hexley, 15 December 2022 - 05:50 PM.

[TheWall]

Thank you Hexley for your advice. This is very helpful. I should perhaps prefer Taiwan or China manufactured models.

[Napp]

Trying to understand your requirements.  Planets I understand.  Stars?  Stars will just be points no matter how big the scope.  Are you referring to splitting double stars?  Are you interested in the faint fuzzies - nebulae and galaxies?  Star clusters?  For deep space objects like nebulae and galaxies you need dark skies and aperture.  You asked for Made in USA or Germany.  Not gonna find.  Almost everything is made in China - especially in the price range you are looking.  Generally the usual recommendation for a good starter scope is an 8 inch DOB - a Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount.  However, a new one is outside your price range.  Used might be possible.  I recommend you spend time at outreach events and group observing sessions of your local astronomy club.  You can watch transportation, setup, operation and breakdown of different types of scopes and mounts.  You can look through different types of scopes and talk with owners about what each type is better for.  Since your budget is limited, used equipment is likely your best option.  Club members will understand the used market in your area.

[TheWall]

This make sense. I am just a beginner so completely ignorant of potential of a scope within my budget to explore far distant systems. I'll look out for used telescopes with similar specifications.

[FRANKVSTAR]

I also agree that the used Celestron 4se or 6se would be my choice for a first scope. Other than that save up for a really good mount and scope, may take several years but if you can stash away say $225 every month for 12mths you'll have a great start and then after the 2nd year you will have $5400 that will get you a nice CEM70 mount and a very nice scope also with camera.

 Glad you want to enjoy the stars as I did to some 45 years ago, did not know then what I know now, so if then I would have waited and saved I would have had what I wanted at least 30 something years earlier. Nothing wrong with buying used so all your funds don't go up in smoke,  get a starter system and then save like mad.

  My input is not much, as I cant even follow what I know to be the thing to do. That problem I guess I was born with! Good luck and welcome.

[UnityLover]

If you want EQ mounted newtonians, best scope is the spaceprobe 130. Good eyepieces, nice star chart, amazing optics, and a nice mount. It works fine at 93x, but the wobbles can be mildly annoying. It dampens in about a second at that magnification though. Almost no dobs except tabletop dobs can be found under $400. Tabletops have a great mount, but they are on the floor. They require tables to be set on, and most chairs just wont do. Thats why im not a fan. If you can browse the used market, look for 6-8 inch dobs. You may not find any though. The astromaster 130eq uses a spherical mirror, which although fine at high f/ratios such as f/9, are horrible at anything under f/7.5

 

 

Basically, If you want new, best bet is the spaceprobe. If you are fine with a new tabletop, get the heritage 150 or a zhummel z130. If you can go used, get a 6-8 inch dob. Try to stay away from cassegrains, since they have a small fov, and if not go-to, will be a pain to find objects with. Dont get them unless they are really cheap and have large apertures.

[UnityLover]

Don’t buy a newtonian on an EQ mount as a first scope for visual use. Get something on a Dobsonian “altitude-azimuth” base. You gain nothing from a polar alignment if you’re not imaging DSO, which isn’t in your budget.

 

Your budget probably supports a used Celestron 4SE, or get a 5-6” Dob if you want to do the driving. Nothing in the $300-400 range is made anywhere but China. US made boutique, hand-made scopes (often the work of a tiny shop where the owner or his wife answers the phone) start around $3000 and have months-to-years long waiting lists. Not for a beginner.

Why dont get eq mounted newtonians? I am a beginner, and I have no pains except balancing, and you can add marks with paper to balance the scope in 15 seconds. The movement isnt too tricky, just takes a day to figure out. Rotating the tube isnt hard, and if you add marks like me, it wont shift balance.

[UnityLover]

Thank you Hexley for your advice. This is very helpful. I should perhaps prefer Taiwan or China manufactured models.

China is fine, if you get one from a reputable manufacturer, like orion, it will be high quality. Just beware of amazon no names, one of the few amazon brands you can trust are SVbony

[Mike Q]

Find a astro club outreach program and take a look at the scopes there.  Astronomers are happy to show you their scopes and explain how to use them 

[sevenofnine]

This little scope has a lot to offer a beginner. It's easy to use and very portable so you can take it to a dark site. An astronomy guide book is also very important. There are many but "The Backyard Astronomer's Guide 4th ed." is one of the best. It's available on Amazon 

 

 

https://www.telescop...ector-telescope.

[Hexley]

Why dont get eq mounted newtonians? I am a beginner, and I have no pains except balancing, and you can add marks with paper to balance the scope in 15 seconds. The movement isnt too tricky, just takes a day to figure out. Rotating the tube isnt hard, and if you add marks like me, it wont shift balance.

A beginner has enough to learn without learning an EQ mount that won’t give them any visual advantages whatsoever, and costs more.

[LJKMagic]

I would recommend getting a skywatcher heritage 130 or 150p, only downside is you have to get/make a shroud and have to set it on a very sturdy object you can walk around, good on planets and dsos

I wouldn't get an eq mount as they are mainly for astrophotography and that would be way out of your budget

[UnityLover]

A beginner has enough to learn without learning an EQ mount that won’t give them any visual advantages whatsoever, and costs more.

It can track planets, and they may not be able to use a tabletop, due to not having a rock solid table. Its 300 dollars for the eq mount, scope, eyepieces, finder, and sky maps. Solid deal if you ask me. I'd recommend the zhummel 130 if he can use a tabletop, and it costs as much the eq scope. 

Edited by UnityLover, 16 December 2022 - 09:02 AM.

[TheWall]

Thanks everyone here so far for such a wonderful input with great recommendations.

[vtornado]

Don’t buy a newtonian on an EQ mount as a first scope for visual use. Get something on a Dobsonian “altitude-azimuth” base. You gain nothing from a polar alignment if you’re not imaging DSO, which isn’t in your budget.

 

This is not completely true.  Small reflector tubes are easy to turn in the mounting

rings if the eyepiece wanders into an uncomforatble position.  What you gain with an EQ is one hand tracking and the ability to motorize the mount.  I do EAA  with 130 f/5 newt on a EQ.

 

As they grow in size the rotation becomes more difficult.  I would not put any tube over 6 inch f/5  on an EQ mount unless you know what is involved.

 

There is some "bad" reviews about the astro master 130 eq for other reasons.

One being it is unclear if all units have a parabolic mirror which is essential

for an 130mm f/5 telescope.

 

This does not mean forget about the the table top concept.  It means

don't let the small reflector on an EQ mount being difficult to use

as huge negative.

Edited by vtornado, 16 December 2022 - 08:14 AM.

[UnityLover]

Im not too much of a fan of the heritage 130p and 150p, since the "focuser" is a plastic piece with a screw thread. Its possible to screw it out when you dont pay attention, causing it to fall, and possibly damage your eyepieces

Edited by UnityLover, 16 December 2022 - 08:55 AM.

[UnityLover]

I would recommend getting a skywatcher heritage 130 or 150p, only downside is you have to get/make a shroud and have to set it on a very sturdy object you can walk around, good on planets and dsos

I wouldn't get an eq mount as they are mainly for astrophotography and that would be way out of your budget

Mainly, but planets move fast in the eyepiece at high magnifications. Its nice to turn one knob to keep them in view for a nice amount of time.

Plus, the scope in my signature only costs around the same as the zhummel 130, at $300 dollars. Its eq mount fine, with dampening time in about a second at 93x. 

[vtornado]

I find the helical focusers of the heritage scopes to be quite nice with light eyepieces.

They have trouble with large eyepieces and zoom eyepieces.  The helicals

are easier to focus at high power, than a budget R&P.  (I have both).

[RiderRoy]

If you have some flexibility in your price range and have access to a smart phone then the Celestron Starsense Explorer DX telescopes are getting good reviews. Specially the 130AZ newtonian reflector model. I have had that telescope on a different mount and was able to see many deep sky objects as well as good planetary views. Add to that that your phone helps you find objects then you'll be able to start enjoying this hobby all that much quicker.

Edited by RiderRoy, 16 December 2022 - 09:20 AM.

[UnityLover]

I find the helical focusers of the heritage scopes to be quite nice with light eyepieces.

They have trouble with large eyepieces and zoom eyepieces.  The helicals

are easier to focus at high power, than a budget R&P.  (I have both).

That would kinda be a problem, since zoom eyepieces are great! Plossl image quality, and an acceptable fov.

To be fair, my R&P is a bit difficult to focus at high power. Not hard, but you gotta be pretty careful with it.