With so many scopes out there, so which suits me?

simei-sky · Post by **simei-sky** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:58 pm

Hi guys,

That's right portable, not too heavy is the word.

I did send out some PM to make some enquires, but where can I retrieve their reply or even know if they have received my PM?

So Weixing, how do I meet you for the weekly field excursion!

Post by **weixing** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 8:05 pm

Hi,

I did send out some PM to make some enquires, but where can I retrieve their reply or even know if they have received my PM?

You can check the outbox in the PM section. If the PM is still in the outbox, they haven't read it yet.

So Weixing, how do I meet you for the weekly field excursion!

Tomorrow lor if the sky is clear and not raining... My scope haven't see enough star light yet....

Have a nice day.

starsinanutshell · Post by **starsinanutshell** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:55 pm

anyone knoews how much does a etx costs???

Post by **Airconvent** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:18 am

The local vendor's price list is here but do note they are at a premium as Wee Kiong will provide local support here if you have problems. The "EC" is actually the latest range of ETX complete with LNT technology (www.meade.com)

http://www.singastro.org/viewtopic.php?t=2734

or here for a second hand one:

http://www.astrobargains.com/Used_Products.htm

These are computer controlled scopes.

The ETX90RA is the original scope with tracking motor but no goto.
A yahoo search came up with this :

http://www.scienceandhobby.com/ETX90RA.htm

cheers

Post by **HoO_Germany** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 1:30 am

acc wrote:I would highly recommend Canopus' dob as a great beginner's scope which is going for an amazing price. The 8" aperture surely throws up a much more satisfying image then smaller scopes. If Ivan drives, this would be a perfect starter scope.

agree

Clear skys
Robert

river · Post by **river** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:55 am

Hi Ivan,
Try not to get any Equatorial Mount is you just want to do visual observation unless you are a Mechanical Engineer. To me, beginer scope should be fun, easy to use with fast setup time and fast searching time.

The Nexstar 5i is a GOTO scope: you select the object to see and it bring you there and keep the object visible in field of view of your telescope for a long time. If you a person who like a car that can read map and auto drive you to the destination, you will pay more for the GOTO scope. But if you are a person that enjoy carrying a sniper rifle (5" MCT is like a sniper rifle, easy on the high power) to hunt for your target in dark jungle with just compass and map, Go for the 5"MCT with non-GOTO mount. So are you a commando or lazy driver?

If you are tanker, get the 8" dob, you will love it!!

::just my personal view on beginer scope base on personal character.

oh! The Nexstar 5i can work without the tripod, just put them on flat surface like a table.

alvinsclee · Post by **alvinsclee** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:40 am

And if you are a missile/rocket launcher person not wanting to spend a bomb, take a look at a second-hand Sky-Watcher 120mm F8.3 Achromatic Refractor OTA. Tried and tested, with personal experiences and results on this post. More technical details on the telescope can be found here. Some general ideas on choosing telescopes can be gathered from this webpage.

Exercise caution... this hobby is a dynamite on the wallet if frugality is not observed. Remember, the universe started with a big bang!

starsinanutshell · Post by **starsinanutshell** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 9:58 am

i wanted to buy the etx80 from astrobargains however the focal length is too small, and the etx 90 seems out of my $800 budget..someone please help me...

simei-sky · Post by **simei-sky** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 10:52 am

River:

good tips here, did you see "amazing race" this ladies group are so use to driving auto cars and when they were at a 3rd world country they are given a manual car, boy, did that clutch system suffer huge shock cos they don't know what to do with the car!!! technology!! but I may be wrong cos new tech., seems easier and fast free and can help me get into the hobby faster. Will put some thoughts to it.

Alvin:
Yap, did consider a rocket launcher too, will read the tech details carefully and find out more about it...thanks Ivan

river · Post by **river** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 4:40 pm

Hi Ivan,

People travel in two ways, no right or wrong:

1) Go to many places in the shortest time... high flyer.
2) Take his/her time to explore each new places... back-packer

some say they can do 1) and 2) together... amazing racer.

same as the way people use scopes. You can do 2) with any scope but you need GOTO for 1).

cheers,