by Jne_K on Wed Apr 14, 2010 7:34 am
Hi
Yes, that is the all time leader when it comes to questions about
telescopes, but, then, it should be. The number and types of
telescopes out there can be a bit overwhelming.
First, there is never a "best", simply because there is a lot of personal preference involved, here. In the interests of keeping it simple, though, we can make a few helpful generalizations.
Telescope size, in terms of the diameter of the lens or mirror is still the single biggest factor in terms of potential performance - what you can see. No amount of sophistication, quality, accessories and so on will turn a 4" scope into an 8" scope, despite the enthusiastic advertising of manufacturers. However, as size increases, portability rapidly decreases as many ambitious beginners learn the hard way. When the scope becomes too much of a hassle to set up, use and move, you bought too big a scope.
There is a reason that an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain on a computerized fork mount has become the world's standard in the advanced amateur category. This is big enough to offer plenty of performance, but still small enough and portable enough to move, as needed. The Schmidt-Cassegrain is also the most versatile design - it may not be the best for a given use, but it is always at least a good choice and, with the right accessories can do just about anything you ever want to do in astronomy. This is a BIG plus for a beginner, since it allows you to explore the many different types of astronomy activities to find out which you like best.
In the world of SCTs on a fork mount, it's been pretty much a
Meade and
Celestron game. The
Celestron CPC 8" and the
Meade LX90 8" are so darn close, feature for feature and price that it is really a Ford vs Chevy debate. Have used, both and will recommend, both. That's going to stretch that $1600 budget, yes, but it is well worth it. You can still get an 8" SCT for that price, on an equatorial mount, such as the
Celestron Advanced GT or
Meade LXD75, but you do so at the price of losing portability and ease of use. On the other hand, an equatorial is still the best platform for astrophotography, should you want to explore that option.
Hi
Yes, that is the all time leader when it comes to questions about [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/telescopes.html]telescopes[/link], but, then, it should be. The number and types of [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/telescopes.html]telescopes[/link] out there can be a bit overwhelming.
First, there is never a "best", simply because there is a lot of personal preference involved, here. In the interests of keeping it simple, though, we can make a few helpful generalizations. [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/telescopes.html]Telescope[/link] size, in terms of the diameter of the lens or mirror is still the single biggest factor in terms of potential performance - what you can see. No amount of sophistication, quality, accessories and so on will turn a 4" scope into an 8" scope, despite the enthusiastic advertising of manufacturers. However, as size increases, portability rapidly decreases as many ambitious beginners learn the hard way. When the scope becomes too much of a hassle to set up, use and move, you bought too big a scope.
There is a reason that an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain on a computerized fork mount has become the world's standard in the advanced amateur category. This is big enough to offer plenty of performance, but still small enough and portable enough to move, as needed. The Schmidt-Cassegrain is also the most versatile design - it may not be the best for a given use, but it is always at least a good choice and, with the right accessories can do just about anything you ever want to do in astronomy. This is a BIG plus for a beginner, since it allows you to explore the many different types of astronomy activities to find out which you like best.
In the world of SCTs on a fork mount, it's been pretty much a [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/meade-brand.html]Meade[/link] and [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/celestron-brand.html]Celestron[/link] game. The [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/celestron-brand.html]Celestron[/link] CPC 8" and the [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/meade-brand.html]Meade[/link] LX90 8" are so darn close, feature for feature and price that it is really a Ford vs Chevy debate. Have used, both and will recommend, both. That's going to stretch that $1600 budget, yes, but it is well worth it. You can still get an 8" SCT for that price, on an equatorial mount, such as the [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/celestron-brand.html]Celestron[/link] Advanced GT or [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/meade-brand.html]Meade[/link] LXD75, but you do so at the price of losing portability and ease of use. On the other hand, an equatorial is still the best platform for astrophotography, should you want to explore that option.
