how is the orion apex/starmax 102mm mak for a beginner?

branzzz · Post by **branzzz** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:49 am

i guess the shipping on the EQ2 would be crazy, so where in SG can i get one and for how much?

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:06 am

If you're just starting out, I would recommend an Alt-Az mount like the MicroStar Deluxe or the Manfrotto 410 Jr.
A 127Mak bought used is a great deal here especially if you can find one sold together.
An EQ mount might become too much of a hassle after awhile.

Speaking from personal experience - I bought a 127Mak w/ SVPro mount and it's not getting as much starlight as it should. My smaller 80mm WO on a 410 gearhead is getting much more time out. Main reason is the time it takes to setup my mount.

Which is why I'm getting an AstroSlew soon.

river · Post by **river** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:31 am

Same here, 3" refractor on a simple tripod got most star light than the 5"mak Goto.

branzzz: did you read this?
How do I buy a telescope in Singapore?

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:08 am

jermng wrote:If you're just starting out, I would recommend an Alt-Az mount like the MicroStar Deluxe or the Manfrotto 410 Jr.
A 127Mak bought used is a great deal here especially if you can find one sold together.
An EQ mount might become too much of a hassle after awhile. Speaking from personal experience - I bought a 127Mak w/ SVPro mount and it's not getting as much starlight as it should. My smaller 80mm WO on a 410 gearhead is getting much more time out. Main reason is the time it takes to setup my mount. Which is why I'm getting an AstroSlew soon.

river wrote:Same here, 3" refractor on a simple tripod got most star light than the 5"mak Goto.

Sorry, I meant I changed the 127mm to a C8 and the C8 doesn't get much use. But it's almost the same. The main reason for not taking it out is cos the EQ mount is much heavier and has more pieces to bring down. Even if you drive.

Post by **acc** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:14 pm

For visual use, I strongly discourage an eq mount. The vixen portamount or the microstar will work better instead and are much easier to setup.

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:23 pm

ACC, incidentally, that was the advice you gave me when I bought my scope. But at that time I had already ordered the scope.

(Found Singastro 2 hours AFTER I placed my order with ORION ...

)

I totally agree with your advice though...

Hee hee ...

branzzz · Post by **branzzz** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:12 pm

yeah, i'm more set on ordering the 102mm from orion straight then ship it via vpost. the high original price of the 127mms here has caused the 2nd price to be very high as well because sellers wanna get back their investments.

branzzz · Post by **branzzz** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:33 am

this is the calculation i made

Item # Description Qty Price Each Total Price
05370 Paragon™ HD-F2 Tripod $99.95
04215 FlexiShield™ for 102mm Maksutov $16.95
07212 9x50 Right-Angle, Correct-Image Finder Scope $79.95
09823 Apex™ 102mm Maksutov-Cassegrain $279.95
09055 Min-EQ™ Tabletop Equatorial Mount $49.95

sooooo....

total weight 26.5lbs

shipping $92

cost of items $831

insurance $39

vcon $26

GST $46

total $1034

gosh...its more than a 127mm new from astrobargains. will call them up tmr to see what deals i can get with them.

Post by **weixing** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:23 pm

Hi,

07212 9x50 Right-Angle, Correct-Image Finder Scope $79.95

If you going to get a Right-Angle finder, make sure you also get a 1x reflex finder(such as Red-Dot finder) also. Or you'll have a hard time aiming at object.

Have a nice day.

Canopus Lim · Post by **Canopus Lim** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:34 pm

I agree with WX. It is really hard to aim at the object without a telrad/quickfinder/dot finder. I have that Orion 50mm finder. It is very easy to align, remove and rather useful.