Start small??

Post by **acc** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:21 pm

I have split this thread from its original Nexstar5i thread as it has gotten way off topic.

cheers
cc

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:29 pm

It's not the scope - it's the user.

I have a WO 66 APO for almost a year now and it has not even seen first light! I know it's portable and a 'grab-and-go' scope but each time I 'grab', I grab the 100mm instead. And I have seen newbies who lug their big newtonians around whenever the weather permits.

I guess it's not the size of the scope, but the enthusiasm of the user. With scopes such as the CPC, nowadays, the learning curve has become less steep.

JM2C!

Cheers!

Post by **VinSnr** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 5:57 pm

Tachyon wrote: I guess it's not the size of the scope, but the enthusiasm of the user. With scopes such as the CPC, nowadays, the learning curve has become less steep.

JM2C!

Cheers!

There is a reason why most recommend a small scope first....mainly due to two issues......portability and wider field of view which makes finding things easier. I am not sure now.....but in the old days, portability and difficulty in finding things are the main culprit in killing off the interest. Of course, bigger scopes are really expensive back then. Range of available eyepieces also wasn't that great.

But I guess things are different now.....you have GOTO to help you find things, big scopes are cheap and getting a good scope is far easier now. Plenty of eyepieces for you to choose too.

I miss those days when people curse and swear simply because they couldn't find an object. Today, they curse and swear because some electronics fail and the scope couldn't perform. What a difference!

river · Post by **river** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:14 pm

For me, I will start with something that I am comfortable with base on my financial status and mobility. Be it a 12" Goto, 3" refractor, bino or just a star chart. I am at the 3" refractor level.

Size doesn't matter as long as you have great time with it...
(except those toy scope!!)

I see many people here are upgrading and sell off many great scope at attractive price during such a short time(due to bonus package?). Really good deal for people to start off with.

alvinsclee · Post by **alvinsclee** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:37 pm

Hi,
Portability is definitely an issue for beginners without a car.

To learn more about the sky, one needs to be out there as much as possible... there is no other way because the naked-eye view is not quite the same as shown in astromony books. Likewise, no planetary/lunar photo can beat the experience of looking at the same planet/moon real-time through a scope.

I am very happy with the portability afforded by my small 80mm scope and porta-mount. The setup and my 2 binos (8x32 and 12x42) have already been my trusted companions in several recent outdoor trips.

Audiophiles have this to say: "The best hi-fi sound system is the one you listen to most often".

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:37 pm

alvinsclee wrote:Audiophiles have this to say: "The best hi-fi sound system is the one you listen to most often".

How true! And the best telescope is the one you drop most often and still stays collimated!

Post by **VinSnr** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:39 pm

Tachyon wrote:
alvinsclee wrote:Audiophiles have this to say: "The best hi-fi sound system is the one you listen to most often".
How true! And the best telescope is the one you drop most often and still stays collimated!

Got such scope meh? the OTA made from military strength armour with IP 67 explosion proof rating?

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:54 pm

Andrew has spare scopes when his scopes drop right?

mrngbss · Post by **mrngbss** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:04 pm

alvinsclee wrote:Hi,
Portability is definitely an issue for beginners without a car.

To learn more about the sky, one needs to be out there as much as possible... there is no other way because the naked-eye view is not quite the same as shown in astromony books. Likewise, no planetary/lunar photo can beat the experience of looking at the same planet/moon real-time through a scope.

I am very happy with the portability afforded by my small 80mm scope and porta-mount. The setup and my 2 binos (8x32 and 12x42) have already been my trusted companions in several recent outdoor trips.

Audiophiles have this to say: "The best hi-fi sound system is the one you listen to most often".

Yes, personally as a starter, having a portable scope is an added incentive to increase star obs.

river · Post by **river** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:29 pm

If only I can do it again, I want to start this hobby with a balcony facing open sky...

then get a good mount, 3" refractor and 5"Mak. Mak for planet and refractor for the rest.