Hi friends,
A beginner like me should buy reflector or refractor telescope?
Should i buy a reflector newtonian telescope with these specs:
Focal Length=800mm
Diameter=203mm
Finder scope: 6x30
Eyepieces: 31.7mm PL6.5mm PL25mm
1.5x Erector and 2x Barlow Lenses, Moon Filter
Aluminum Tripod with Accessory Tray
size: 82x52x43cm
weight: 25kg
do u think it's too big or heavy to carry them around to some of these
places that u went? Or should i get a smaller one of spec:
Focal Length=1000mm
Diameter=114mm
Finder scope: 6x30
Eyepieces: kellner
1.5x Erector and 2x Barlow Lenses
Aluminum Tripod with Accessory Tray
size : 79x39x27.5cm
weight : 14kgs
anyone interested in getting these telescopes?
what telescope to buy?
Hi,
It all depends on what you wanna see I guess. Deep Sky? Solar System? Wanna do astrophoto?Do you drive? How do you go to the ob site? Your size(if you're small then carrying an 8' newt + mount might be a problem.. )?
Tell us more bout yourself then I think some of the experts here will be able to help you .. =)
Anyway, I think the best thing to do now before you buy is to come join some of our ob sessions and take a look at the different scopes and accesories available ...
Be warned though - the ob sessions make me wanna go and buy the biggest Newt I can afford .. HAHA ....
It all depends on what you wanna see I guess. Deep Sky? Solar System? Wanna do astrophoto?Do you drive? How do you go to the ob site? Your size(if you're small then carrying an 8' newt + mount might be a problem.. )?
Tell us more bout yourself then I think some of the experts here will be able to help you .. =)
Anyway, I think the best thing to do now before you buy is to come join some of our ob sessions and take a look at the different scopes and accesories available ...
Be warned though - the ob sessions make me wanna go and buy the biggest Newt I can afford .. HAHA ....
Hi foomt117,
I presume u r a HDB heartlander that does not drive. I think u should go for a more general purpose scope like the 80mm short tube refractor. It is short focal length of only 400mm will give u maximum mobility and a low magnification. Thus u can see the whole M45 or M42 etc..... The reflector u mention are too long and cumblesome to bring onto a bus or MRT. :idea:
Refractor are also easier to handle and maintain as there is little need for collimation. 
I presume u r a HDB heartlander that does not drive. I think u should go for a more general purpose scope like the 80mm short tube refractor. It is short focal length of only 400mm will give u maximum mobility and a low magnification. Thus u can see the whole M45 or M42 etc..... The reflector u mention are too long and cumblesome to bring onto a bus or MRT. :idea:
Refractor are also easier to handle and maintain as there is little need for collimation. Hello,
I think it would be a good idea to get a really good pair of binoculars with sharp optics and a sturdy tripod. It will rival the Nexstar (see below) at about 2/3 of the same price.
Maybe you would like to get a cheap one (relative) over the internet from the US via Singapore Post's VPost delivery. A good one for a beginner would be the Celestron Nexstar 80 GT, in my opinion. From what I have experienced, the NExstar is really easy to use and is a cheap refractor.
Being cheap, it has its limits- the mount is weak and the optics are not very crystal clear, but it IS portable
. The entire set up can fit into one bag (available also over the internet). It is a good idea to purchase one.
Clear skies
Omega
I think it would be a good idea to get a really good pair of binoculars with sharp optics and a sturdy tripod. It will rival the Nexstar (see below) at about 2/3 of the same price.
Maybe you would like to get a cheap one (relative) over the internet from the US via Singapore Post's VPost delivery. A good one for a beginner would be the Celestron Nexstar 80 GT, in my opinion. From what I have experienced, the NExstar is really easy to use and is a cheap refractor.
Being cheap, it has its limits- the mount is weak and the optics are not very crystal clear, but it IS portable
. The entire set up can fit into one bag (available also over the internet). It is a good idea to purchase one.Clear skies
Omega
-
Airconvent
- Super Moderator
- Posts: 5803
- Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 11:49 pm
- Location: United Federation of the Planets
Hi foott117,
Please refer to the FAQ under the following forum where you can find all the info you need..
Personally, I think you should get a small scope first, something you have no problem moving around with little effort. That way, you get yourself familiar and prep yourself for the inevitable "aperture" fever. Buying too big a scope
when you are still a newbie may kill your interest there and then as you find it cumbersome to carry it around, unless you join an obs group with season people like weixing...heh heh
cheers
http://www.singastro.org/viewforum.php?f=19
Please refer to the FAQ under the following forum where you can find all the info you need..
Personally, I think you should get a small scope first, something you have no problem moving around with little effort. That way, you get yourself familiar and prep yourself for the inevitable "aperture" fever. Buying too big a scope
when you are still a newbie may kill your interest there and then as you find it cumbersome to carry it around, unless you join an obs group with season people like weixing...heh heh
cheers
http://www.singastro.org/viewforum.php?f=19
Last edited by Airconvent on Mon May 30, 2005 12:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
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United Federation of the Planets
Captain, RSS Enterprise NCC1701R
United Federation of the Planets
Re: what telescope to buy?
My question for you is this : Have you even seen any of these scope in person?foomt117 wrote:Hi friends,
A beginner like me should buy reflector or refractor telescope?
Should i buy a reflector newtonian telescope with these specs:
Focal Length=800mm
Diameter=203mm
Finder scope: 6x30
Eyepieces: 31.7mm PL6.5mm PL25mm
1.5x Erector and 2x Barlow Lenses, Moon Filter
Aluminum Tripod with Accessory Tray
size: 82x52x43cm
weight: 25kg
do u think it's too big or heavy to carry them around to some of these
places that u went? Or should i get a smaller one of spec:
Focal Length=1000mm
Diameter=114mm
Finder scope: 6x30
Eyepieces: kellner
1.5x Erector and 2x Barlow Lenses
Aluminum Tripod with Accessory Tray
size : 79x39x27.5cm
weight : 14kgs
anyone interested in getting these telescopes?
which telescope?
hi helpful friends,
thank you for your many valuable advices, i hope to see u all in one of those astro party. but there isn't any activity locally so far. not sure if i am part of the activation list in the singastro@yahoogroup yet.
the idea of using a bino doesn't seems 'professional' nor 'ideal'. i will need to really see one to change my imagination. it would be great if workable since it's very portable & easier on the eyes with 2 sides to see. but i am expecting a much higher & prohibitive price for the same quality of view to the normal telescope, is that so?
i have not seen those 2 telescopes yet, do u think the bigger one would be more ideal if i just use it at home & at one of those fields near my hdb flat? with the heavier light pollution at hdb, would it be better to get bigger 203mm aperture telescope? the heavy weight will be less of a problem since it will be near my house.
thank you for your many valuable advices, i hope to see u all in one of those astro party. but there isn't any activity locally so far. not sure if i am part of the activation list in the singastro@yahoogroup yet.
the idea of using a bino doesn't seems 'professional' nor 'ideal'. i will need to really see one to change my imagination. it would be great if workable since it's very portable & easier on the eyes with 2 sides to see. but i am expecting a much higher & prohibitive price for the same quality of view to the normal telescope, is that so?
i have not seen those 2 telescopes yet, do u think the bigger one would be more ideal if i just use it at home & at one of those fields near my hdb flat? with the heavier light pollution at hdb, would it be better to get bigger 203mm aperture telescope? the heavy weight will be less of a problem since it will be near my house.
-
weixing
- Super Moderator
- Posts: 4708
- Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 12:22 am
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Hi,
Of course the bigger aperture one will be better, but remember the big and bulky telescope may limited the number of times you bring out to use even at places near your house.
By the way, you never mention what is the mount. IMHO, the mount is as importance as the scope itself... a bad mount will basically make the scope useless.
Have a nice day.
Of course the bigger aperture one will be better, but remember the big and bulky telescope may limited the number of times you bring out to use even at places near your house.
By the way, you never mention what is the mount. IMHO, the mount is as importance as the scope itself... a bad mount will basically make the scope useless.
Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." 