Tasco Luminova 578x good?

ron · Post by **ron** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 3:04 pm

Hi everybody here,

Is this scope http://www.tasco.com/telescopes/luminova_40060578.shtml
good enough for a beginner on a limited budget? Thanks for!

Post by **weixing** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 3:15 pm

Hi,
This is a scope what we call a department store scope. Everyone here will tell you not to buy it... Don't waste your money.... Save it or buy a good binoculars....

Read up the Telescope Info/Buying FAQ for Beginnersin Astronomy FAQs/Articles section by Airconvent. It will give you some idea about what is a decent telescope.

Have a nice day and happy Chinese New Year!!

blurblock · Post by **blurblock** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 3:29 pm

How much did they quote you anyway .........

ron · Post by **ron** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 6:17 pm

Thanks for the pointers weixing. Looks like I've gotta save for quite a while more before I can get a decent beginner scope.

Btw I found this scope on eBay, works out to be around sgd 250 when shipped over.

Post by **Airconvent** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 11:31 pm

weixing wrote: Read up the Telescope Info/Buying FAQ for Beginnersin Astronomy FAQs/Articles section by Airconvent. It will give you some idea about what is a decent telescope.

Just a reminder that while Starlord's FAQ is a very convenient piece to get you started, the guy does have some strong bias against made in china scopes, so do note this when reading as not all scopes from China are bad...

rich

Post by **Airconvent** » Wed Jan 28, 2004 11:39 pm

ron wrote:Hi everybody here,

Is this scope http://www.tasco.com/telescopes/luminova_40060578.shtml
good enough for a beginner on a limited budget? Thanks for!

Tasco telescopes are generally not known for performance or quality.
And prices here are many times what Tasco was selling in the US. Tasco has since closed down and has been absorbed by Bushnell, another company with similar product range and reputation.

Once you understand you get what you paid for, you may be able to get some good out of it. You can forget about the 578x screaming at you. x120 is the maximum achievable mag based on rule-of-thumb but I'm thinking you will be very lucky to squeeze quality 70x images out of it. Strictly for wide views and moon viewing only...
Check with Samuel...he used to own one!
Otherwise, spare yourself the agony and save your angpow money for a 80mm Skywatcher, Celestron or Orion scope...

If you still want a 60mm scope and have $200 to burn, Wee Kiong (one of the vendors) has a few sets of Meade Saturn 60 scopes for sale. Like the tasco, it comes with OTA, finder and tripod mount but make more honest claims with regards to usable magnification .
They are still classified as Department Store scopes but quality is a tad better and they have the Meade name. However, eyepieces are the less common 0.96 " instead of the standard 1.25 for most scopes.

rich

Post by **weixing** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:00 am

Hi,
I think now a lots of branded telescope seller also sell some department scope. So take note if they claim to have greater than 400+++++ magnification on a 60mm - 90mm aperture telescope and they come with a box package with the greater than 400++++++ magnification on the box...

Have a nice day and belated Happy "Birthday" to all...(yesterday was Ren Ri... so it everyone birthday)

Post by **acc** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:29 am

Airconvent wrote:If you still want a 60mm scope and have $200 to burn, Wee Kiong (one of the vendors) has a few sets of Meade Saturn 60 scopes for sale. Like the tasco, it comes with OTA, finder and tripod mount but make more honest claims with regards to usable magnification .
They are still classified as Department Store scopes but quality is a tad better and they have the Meade name. However, eyepieces are the less common 0.96 " instead of the standard 1.25 for most scopes.

rich

I would STRONGLY advice anyone AGAINST buying the 60mm 'Saturn' scope (as well as most other similar-sized refractors) !!!!

The Saturn's quality is poor, and the 60mm aperture will SEVERELY limit what can be seen. The 0.96" focuser will limit ur choice of quality and affordable eyepieces. Save the $ and buy a bino instead. Then get a real scope when the budget permits.

cheers

cc

ron · Post by **ron** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 12:51 am

thanks all for the very helpful and insightful replies!

shall be patient for now hold back any such haste and waste purchases

Post by **Airconvent** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 12:25 am

acc wrote: I would STRONGLY advice anyone AGAINST buying the 60mm 'Saturn' scope (as well as most other similar-sized refractors) !!!! The Saturn's quality is poor, and the 60mm aperture will SEVERELY limit what can be seen. The 0.96" focuser will limit ur choice of quality and affordable eyepieces. Save the $ and buy a bino instead. Then get a real scope when the budget permits.

hi cc....I see you still have a dislike for 60mm refractors...

Of course compared with a $1200 Tak 60mm or a $2000 Televue Pronto, this is a "junk" scope.

But for only $200, it's a pretty decent way to get started in the hobby with simple objects. The 60mm may have a narrower view but will be able to see more objects than the bino. If the user eventually think that astronomy is not for him/her, he exits with only $200 spent but suppose he finds that its a great hobby, he will start moving up the "corporate" ladder which is what most of us has gone through...

Else the close-to-$1000 price tag for a "beginner" 127mm Mak or 80mm Short-tube may be an instant turn off before a newbie with budget constraints...

rich

SingAstro

Tasco Luminova 578x good?

Tasco Luminova 578x good?

Re: Tasco Luminova 578x good?

Re: Tasco Luminova 578x good?

Re: Tasco Luminova 578x good?