Help!!! Need help finding a telescope!

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kayheem
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Post by kayheem »

[BPST]FerMIons&BOsOns wrote:lol ok...how much do i need to get a decent scope?
Hi,

My advice is, do not get a scope based on budget alone.

Look around and decide what type of scope you want (based on the objects you will most likely want to see) and get it 2nd hand. If you want something the most portable for the aperture, you will want to consider the Mak-Cass or SCT. Based on your budget, go for a 4" MCT with a photo tripod with geared head.

If you are willing to sacrifice a bit of portability and budget for greater aperture, go for a 6" F5 newt on a dob mount.

If all these do not appeal to you, I suggest you save up some more. Go for a few observation sessions and get a feel of the different kind of scopes.
This may sound cliched, but ...."Try before you buy!"

Kay Heem
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[BPST]FerMIons&BOsOns
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Post by [BPST]FerMIons&BOsOns »

THx
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weixing
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Post by weixing »

Hi,
If you want something the most portable for the aperture, you will want to consider the Mak-Cass or SCT. Based on your budget, go for a 4" MCT with a photo tripod with geared head.
I think it is quite difficult to get a 4" MCT with a photo tripod with geared head at his budget range (S$400-S$550)... even a 2nd hand one.

Given your requirement (portability), you need at least S$1000 to get a new decent scope (4" or larger OTA plus a suitable mount) setup. Generally, a portable scope setup is more expensive than a bulky scope setup... you need to pay for the portability.

A 2nd hand scope setup will be lower than that, but it will depend on how lucky you are to find a scope setup that is cheap and good.

Good luck and have a nice day.
Last edited by weixing on Thu Jul 29, 2004 4:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Yang Weixing
:mrgreen: "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." :mrgreen:
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ariefm71
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Post by ariefm71 »

Based on your budget, go for a 4" MCT with a photo tripod with geared head.
Kayheem, can advise where to get these with S$500 budget? I also want to have a quick grab'n-go scope. Any chinese-made scope will do.
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kayheem
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Post by kayheem »

ariefm71 wrote:
Based on your budget, go for a 4" MCT with a photo tripod with geared head.
Kayheem, can advise where to get these with S$500 budget? I also want to have a quick grab'n-go scope. Any chinese-made scope will do.
OK, I admit, I may have been a bit optimistic in my estimation. :oops:

Maybe a used 90mm MCT with a 2nd hand tripod and head. Apogeeinc has a 80mm short tube (F6) going for US$130. A Chinese Gitzo clone tripod is about $140 and a geared head about $200 brand new. If you can get all of them at 2nd hand, the $500 may just be achievable.

http://www.apogeeinc.com/scopes.html

The other option is to buy a short tube reflector (5" or 6") and put it on a simple DIY dob mount which Chris has done.

Kay Heem
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weixing
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Favourite scope: Vixen R200SS & Celestron 6" F5 Achro Refractor
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Post by weixing »

Hi,
The Short Tube Reflector (F5) is more expensive than a normal Reflector.

If he can sacrifice portability , I would recommend him the Sky-Watcher 6" DOB which is only S$800 for a new one... a lot cheaper than my 6" F5 Reflector OTA.

Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
:mrgreen: "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." :mrgreen:
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bodoh
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Post by bodoh »

Not sure if it's updated... but Samuel (Harlequin) was selling a skywatcher short tube 80 f/5 for $785. Check if prices have changed.
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weixing
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Post by weixing »

Hi,
Not sure if it's updated... but Samuel (Harlequin) was selling a skywatcher short tube 80 f/5 for $785. Check if prices have changed.
I think the price should be still around there. A 80mm F5 Short Tube is a good seconardy scope, but I won't recommend it as a First Scope for a beginner in Singapore... it may kill the interest straight!

A 4" scope will be better... you can still see a lots of objects even under singapore light polluted sky.

Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
:mrgreen: "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." :mrgreen:
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luke5v8
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Post by luke5v8 »

But delivery will be additional charge, right?
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weixing
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Post by weixing »

Hi,
I think most local vendor will deliver for free, unless you buy from oversea.

Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
:mrgreen: "The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." :mrgreen:
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