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| Thread ID: 64752 | 2005-12-26 10:42:00 | telescope recommendations | DangerousDave (697) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 415834 | 2005-12-27 22:15:00 | Yes I would love to own a Meade LX200GPS 10" which is only a cool $5,399 AUS $We have a Meade ETX which does us very well and didn't cost anything like that (but well over $1000 as far as I remember). | Tony (4941) | ||
| 415835 | 2005-12-28 00:13:00 | haha this is starting to sound painfully expensive :) | DangerousDave (697) | ||
| 415836 | 2005-12-28 00:29:00 | Any small Newtonian (under 6") is likely to be a bit of a disappointment. The bigger ones are expensive because of the mounts, and more and more the electronics (the computer). They have auto finding, GPS, auto orientation, and do everything except look at the stars for you. Add a camera and they will do that too. ;) I'd love a Matkusov ... Look for a Dobsonian. They seem to be great things and good value. The only expensive parts are the mirror and eyepieces -- the rest is just a tube and a friction controlled "push" pointing arrangement. They are easily transportable. |
Graham L (2) | ||
| 415837 | 2005-12-28 04:34:00 | We have a Meade ETX which does us very well and didn't cost anything like that (but well over $1000 as far as I remember). The latest ETX prices are, in Aus $. ETX-90PE $1199,105PE $1499 and the 125PE $1799. Trevor :) |
Trev (427) | ||
| 415838 | 2005-12-28 04:43:00 | Here is another NZ site to try. www.telescopes.net.nz the only thing here is that you have to ring them for prices. Here is another Aussie site to try www.bintelshop.com.au Just for a starter scope I would go for the Meade 80EQ-A refractor telescope and if you decide you like astronomy you can get something bigger later on. This is a good scope from one of worlds best telescope manufacturers. You should be able to get this from NZ. Trevor :) |
Trev (427) | ||
| 415839 | 2005-12-28 17:59:00 | A nice NZ site is http://www.astronomynz.org.nz/ and their Almanac at $20 is a good buy | Dally (6292) | ||
| 415840 | 2006-01-02 21:57:00 | Yes I saw a $100 (Chinese) telescope in Foodtown! It was looking quite professional, I am no expert on telescopes but it was big and had a tripod. Could anyone expert go and see it at Foodtown and come back with a verdict as it might be OK for a newbie?? |
GadgetF1 (9478) | ||
| 415841 | 2006-01-03 03:22:00 | Unhappily there aren't many real bargains in life - you tend to get the quality you pay for. However it might be fine and give you lots of enjoyment. I still suggest a pair of binoculars to start with. Lean against a wall or a tree to hold yourself steady or use a tripod. | Winston001 (3612) | ||
| 415842 | 2006-01-04 00:28:00 | A $100 telescope will not be a very good one, and the Foodtown one will probably be the same as the ones Dick Smith's often sell at $69 or so. Surprisingly, the optics might be quite good. The tube, and the eyepiece focus arrangement won't be stiff enough. Certainly, the tripod will not be solid enough to hold the telescope steady, even before the leg hinges break. I don't buy my groceries at a telescope shop, though the proprieter might know more about vegetables than the supermarket checkout lady knows about astronomy . :D |
Graham L (2) | ||
| 415843 | 2006-01-04 08:10:00 | I had another look at it. The scope was setup so I could check it. The tripod felt wobbly. But maybe it is better to buy something cheap in case it is a passing fad for instead of new hobby. Is there some observatories I could visit when I go to South Island? | GadgetF1 (9478) | ||
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