Hello just dropping in to say HI

jimmyleong · Post by **jimmyleong** » Sun May 08, 2011 10:23 pm

it is advisable to buy locally as compared to buying from overseas right? can inspect and maybe check on the spot. but i think overseas will be cheaper right?

cloud_cover · Post by **cloud_cover** » Sun May 08, 2011 11:33 pm

Generally you can get better deals buying from overseas: This is because the market is larger there and you have not yet accounted for shipping.
Also, Ang-Mohs are more likely to offer a lower price than asians and be more amenable to bargaining (personal experience only)
The downside, as you rightly pointed out, is the inability to see the item for yourself, with the result that sometimes you can get cheated.
One of the ways to mitigate that risk is to google search the seller to make sure he is a regular member of whatever forum you are using and that his posts have been relevant to the item he's selling. Another way is to sign on to Astromart, a paid astronomy classifieds service and buy from well rated users.
Also, one of the best ways to ensure your item is as described is to ask for detailed photos of the item in question and insist that any "stock" manufacturer's photos are not acceptable. This ensures that the seller truly has the item and that at least to visual inspection, is as advertised. Don't be afraid to walk away from a deal at any stage before money has changed hands if anything smells fishy.
Regarding shipping, its generally cheaper to buy from the US (new) and pay shipping yourself than it is to purchase locally. www.comgateway.com is a good forwarder and I use it regularly. Most sellers and retailers will ship to them, with the exception of www.telescopes.com
As a personal note, almost every item I have has been bought second hand and virtually all from the US market. This includes several nagler and Ethos eyepieces, a VMC200L, a Sphinx SXD, various filters, diagonals and finders.
Hope it helps

jimmyleong · Post by **jimmyleong** » Tue May 10, 2011 9:53 pm

wow... almost every item from overseas.... wont the weight of the items be heavy and contribute to high shipping cost?

shirox · Post by **shirox** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:43 am

haha in fact if you compare the local marked up price, the price is still very attractive if you buy from US. Certain items local dealers have to cover, like shipping, insurance out of box warranty etc.
But beware, some dealers will go all out to close your deal and dilly dally when it comes to delivery so better check before purchase.
Astrobargain.com is a good place to buy if you want security but don't mind waiting.

jimmyleong · Post by **jimmyleong** » Wed May 11, 2011 3:47 pm

i understand that a refractor telescope is easier to maintain that reflector telescope right for beginners?

jimmyleong · Post by **jimmyleong** » Wed May 11, 2011 4:32 pm

i also realise that the price in amazon.com is cheaper. is it advisable to buy from there and ship over?

cloud_cover · Post by **cloud_cover** » Wed May 11, 2011 4:41 pm

Well, when you purchase in Singapore you have already paid for the shipping! Regarding weight: shipping is more a function of the volume than the weight, except for heavy things. Telescopes are mostly little bits of glass and some metal tubing enclosing mostly air so you'll find the volumetric weight far exceeds the actual weight. Case in point: My VMC200L weighs 12 lbs but its chargable weight for shipping, due to the volume, came up to 35lbs.
Still, when you add shipping to the new price of items inthe US, you'll find that its still cheaper to purchase online. As I said before, the one caveat is that you don't have any support or warranty so if you have a broken product, you'll need to pay extra 2x shipping - return then the new item back to you again. The return is usually even more expensive!
I agree with Shirox: I think of all the local dealers, astrobargains is the cheapest and Joo Beng will help you if there are any problems.
A refractor is easier use because it does not require collimation and a poor image is unlikely to be due to the telescope itself, if you have already verified it is of good quality. Also, because most beginner refractors tend to be smaller (80-100mm), cooldown is almost negligible in our climate. On the other hand, with a reflector you have to worry about collimation in addition to atmospheric effects on what you finally see in the eyepiece and as the size increases, some cooling time is required, even in Singapore (although admittedly, not much. My 8" VMC200L is isothermal by the time I finally finish setting up my SXD mount. Then again, maybe that's cos' I'm slow at setting up :p)
The benefit of a reflector is its size. You can get a lot more aperture for the money you'll pay as compared to refractors. A large telescope will magnify more light, making dimmer objects better seen or giving you more leeway to use filters to bring out nebulosity - an almost necessity in Singapore if you want to see any nebula at all (except the very brightest - M42 and M8, but those are mostly smudges in an 8" without filters)
However, size does come with drawbacks - larger scope are heavier and more demanding to set up so they tend to get used less often. I find even with an excellent reflector, I now mostly use my 80mm achromat finderscope simply because you can't beat a 10min setup/take down time with a laptop beside you guide

So consider your situation: Do you think you want to make a life-long investment or just dip your toes? the latter, then I suggest a 80 refractor or a 4" class reflector on a suitably stable mount, cheap and portable, with a 2-3 generic plossl eyepieces.
If you're looking to make a serious hobby, then consider your mobility. If you have the privilege of open skies from your home, consider a larger reflector on an EQ mount (if photography is an interest), or a larger dobsonian (if visuals only is your interest). If you need go out to set up, then seriously consider its size and weight before making any purchase, together with the availability of transport (car or no).
As an idea, I find that my 8" Cat, SXD mount, Bag with eyepieces, battery, mount controller, misc photography items and 80mm finderscope will take most of the boot of my car (a standard sedan, some space taken for the usual emergency items) and takes me 2 trips from home to place in car for a total time of close to 1 hr to drive 5 mins to a nearby field and set up before I'm ready to view (not photograph yet!)
Hope it helps

cloud_cover · Post by **cloud_cover** » Wed May 11, 2011 4:43 pm

If you want to buy, try www.optcorp.com or www.astronomics.com They are specialists in astronomy products and will give o good advice if you want to call prior to purchase (free on Google voice)
They also have discounts for cloudynights members

Also try the cloudynights classifieds and Astromart for used items. These are much cheaper and you can sell later for minimal loss

Robin Lee · Post by **Robin Lee** » Wed May 11, 2011 4:57 pm

jimmyleong wrote:i understand that a refractor telescope is easier to maintain that reflector telescope right for beginners?

Not necessary unless you mean the collimation part. Refractor normally doesn't need to be collimated after a long period of time. However, some reflectors hold collimation equally well but the norm is you have to collimate a Newtonian frequently.

A bit off-topic: It's recommended to store your mirrors and lenses under 55% humidity to prevent the growth of fungus. It's a great pain if you choose not to follow the saying, "prevention is better than cure".

jimmyleong · Post by **jimmyleong** » Wed May 11, 2011 5:23 pm

Thanks for all the advice once again. Appreciate that.

I have just placed order for two books recommended - Nightwatch and Backyard Astronomer's Guide via Book Depository in UK. Now waiting for the books to be delivered. Soon I hope....

I was browsing through all the beautiful telescopes in the various websites and this piece caught my eye: Orion Short Tube 80-A Refractor Telescope

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Ref ... p/9947.uts

Astrobargains is selling the 80-T version for S$519.

If I buy it from Amazon or telescope.com, it cost $230USD. I expect the shipping charges to cost around $40USD. That would total about $270USD or about S$330.

I hope to use this with my Nikon DSLR in the future I were to buy this piece.

Any comment? Thanks.