What telescope?
Discussion
£200 will just about get you into GoTo style scopes where the scope points itself at celestial objects, but half the fun is finding objects yourself. For that I would suggest a dobsonian mounted reflector as you get the most bang for your buck that way and just point and look. A six inch dobsonian should be within your budget and should give you some great views of most common objects if you have a good viewing site. Downside of the dob is that it won't track objects so is useless for photos and you will constantly have to adjust aim on higher magnification viewing.
A friend recently bought one of these (slightly over budget):
http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatc...
(hope the link works)
It's great. You do have to keep "chasing" the object, but it's addictive. I've seen Saturn and the rings through it, Venus, and last week Jupiter, the bands, and about 6 moons.
Looking at our moon, you almost think you'd see a little green man waving at you! Brilliant images.
Then you'll need one of these to track things, and it all gets a bit £££
http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/...
It's damn good though. I can't wait til the summer to go and use all of his equipment!
http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatc...
(hope the link works)
It's great. You do have to keep "chasing" the object, but it's addictive. I've seen Saturn and the rings through it, Venus, and last week Jupiter, the bands, and about 6 moons.
Looking at our moon, you almost think you'd see a little green man waving at you! Brilliant images.
Then you'll need one of these to track things, and it all gets a bit £££
http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/...
It's damn good though. I can't wait til the summer to go and use all of his equipment!
Cheapest but best?
Depends what you hope to do but a bird watching scope with camera attachment probably works best if you want a single whole of the moon image or if you want to make a patchwork composite a long tube reflector with a modified webcam would give you most bang for your buck.
Depends what you hope to do but a bird watching scope with camera attachment probably works best if you want a single whole of the moon image or if you want to make a patchwork composite a long tube reflector with a modified webcam would give you most bang for your buck.
I deliberately went for as much of a light gatherer I could and this meant not buying a goto. The option I can add. But also the other big factor was a stable platform and the cost was a good tube and mirror and a good set of legs.
All the fancy dohickeys I could add at a later date. But the base setup is good. As for taking pictures or film, I have managed to stop at my DSLR mounted on the scope but the itch is there for the other goodies, it looks a money pit if you want to get that far involved.
All the fancy dohickeys I could add at a later date. But the base setup is good. As for taking pictures or film, I have managed to stop at my DSLR mounted on the scope but the itch is there for the other goodies, it looks a money pit if you want to get that far involved.
IanMorewood said:
Cheapest but best?
Depends what you hope to do but a bird watching scope with camera attachment probably works best if you want a single whole of the moon image or if you want to make a patchwork composite a long tube reflector with a modified webcam would give you most bang for your buck.
Sorry, I didn't give a lot of detail.Depends what you hope to do but a bird watching scope with camera attachment probably works best if you want a single whole of the moon image or if you want to make a patchwork composite a long tube reflector with a modified webcam would give you most bang for your buck.
I have a dslr I'd like to be able to hook up to something and take some photos of the moon from which I'd be able to pick out a bit of crater detail.
So when I said cheapest but best, I was meaning the best compromise between spending a tiny amount of money, but still getting reasonable amateur results.
Will go and google bird scopes now.
I use a DSLR for the moon and get quite reasonable results however focus is a pain with mine. I have no rear screen, just the usual eye piece and usually get it a tad out.
Weather means I have not been at mine for some time now.
But here is one I made earlier
Put a Barlow on
As you can see, it aint perfect and needs attention. And just given my laptop away that was going to be part of the solution.
Weather means I have not been at mine for some time now.
But here is one I made earlier
Put a Barlow on
As you can see, it aint perfect and needs attention. And just given my laptop away that was going to be part of the solution.
Edited by jmorgan on Thursday 13th February 14:25
jmorgan said:
I use a DSLR for the moon and get quite reasonable results however focus is a pain with mine. I have no rear screen, just the usual eye piece and usually get it a tad out.
Weather means I have not been at mine for some time now.
But here is one I made earlier
Put a Barlow on
As you can see, it aint perfect and needs attention. And just given my laptop away that was going to be part of the solution.
So is that with a t mount thingy? Or some Heath Robinson contraption holding the camera to the eyepiece?Weather means I have not been at mine for some time now.
But here is one I made earlier
Put a Barlow on
As you can see, it aint perfect and needs attention. And just given my laptop away that was going to be part of the solution.
Edited by jmorgan on Thursday 13th February 14:25
T piece. Pulling what hair I had out when I first got it. Take the lens off the camera and fit the ring, then that ring will either attach to an extension tube or directly to the scope eye piece holder. I dumped the extension tube and it works. Have to balance up of course.
You lose autofocus but the light meter still work. Must use remote release and shutter lock up or those movements are transmitted through.
You lose autofocus but the light meter still work. Must use remote release and shutter lock up or those movements are transmitted through.
Not meaning to destroy the OP's dream of owning a telescope and seeing wonderful things, but I'd suggest, having owned a number of cheaper telescopes and a couple of very expensive ones, that the best thing to do, is look at celestial images in books or online.
Unless you've got kids who are keen to try out a bit of star spotting, I think many people are ultimately disappointed by what they see through a scope. The 'argos'' telescopes are all going to produce a poorer view of the sky than a decent pair of binoculars will.
If you've got the room, a good dobsonian may be the best bet bang for buck.
Unless you've got kids who are keen to try out a bit of star spotting, I think many people are ultimately disappointed by what they see through a scope. The 'argos'' telescopes are all going to produce a poorer view of the sky than a decent pair of binoculars will.
If you've got the room, a good dobsonian may be the best bet bang for buck.
As said before a six inch dobsonian is within budget new, you could perhaps find an eight second hand, with that and a dark spot to sky is full of fun things to see. Much bigger than an eight and you really need to think about a permanent base at the very least or perhaps a shed with a flip out roof.
A fourty quid special from aldi is likely to be disappointing.
A fourty quid special from aldi is likely to be disappointing.
A dobsonian isn't capable of being adapted to tracking though, which is essential if you want to take SLR photos. I would probably forget the telescope part altogether and buy a motor driven equatorial mount to sit the camera on, and look into getting an oldschool manual focus 300mm lens.
How do you mount a 300mm lens then? Mine (lens) is not so good but I thought that the idea of putting a lens (with all its glass and coatings) in the way of the scope was a step backwards if it can be avoided? I also assume that the assembly has to take the weight comfortably of the combined DSLR and lens.
I am still learning so just asking.
I am still learning so just asking.
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