Dave Lane - Telescope Buying Tips Thread

[Dayze]

your PM box is full - most likely filled with helpful links from CPers about religion.

So I figured you’d be the resident expert on such a topic ; telescopes. My wife and I have been interested in the cosmos (obviously, while randomly meeting you at the Louisburg telescope lol). I was thinking of surprising her for Christmas with a telescope.

I know, like most things, it’s a pretty wide-open slate and simple boils down to how much $ you want to drop. I’d like to consider something that’s not a cheap $50 POS, but something that we could maybe ‘grow into’ a bit (if that makes sense.

What sort of scopes are out there in that, say, $150-500 range (is that too wide of a spectrum)? Or is that price range pretty much all garbage?

Sorry if the questions are vague. I’m mainly wanting to get her something that isn’t a POS, but something that’s decent quality that will provide some enjoyment.
Thoughts?

TIA
God Bless

[TimBone]

Dayze....I figured it was small...but not THAT small. Sheesh.

[TimBone]

[Dayze]

[TribalElder]

I nabbed one for about 3 bills a few years ago

Something like this

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/...CategoryId=398

It's kinda cool. Others will,probably tell me how much dobsonians suck tho

[notorious]

Jesus Timbone, let him start with something a little simpler before stepping up to that.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

I nabbed one for about 3 bills a few years ago

Something like this

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/...CategoryId=398

It's kinda cool. Others will,probably tell me how much dobsonians suck tho

that thing need to run on 92 Octane?

[TribalElder]

Looks like for close to 5 you can get one with the locator

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/...CategoryId=398

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by Dayze

that thing need to run on 92 Octane?

It's a hemi

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

It's a hemi

It also has changeable eye pieces

[TimBone]

Originally Posted by notorious

Jesus Timbone, let him start with something a little simpler before stepping up to that.

lol....I read this thread right before I walked into Walmart. I passed by that thing and a big smile cane across my face. Had to share.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by Dayze

your PM box is full - most likely filled with helpful links from CPers about religion.

So I figured you’d be the resident expert on such a topic ; telescopes. My wife and I have been interested in the cosmos (obviously, while randomly meeting you at the Louisburg telescope lol). I was thinking of surprising her for Christmas with a telescope.

I know, like most things, it’s a pretty wide-open slate and simple boils down to how much $ you want to drop. I’d like to consider something that’s not a cheap $50 POS, but something that we could maybe ‘grow into’ a bit (if that makes sense.

What sort of scopes are out there in that, say, $150-500 range (is that too wide of a spectrum)? Or is that price range pretty much all garbage?

Sorry if the questions are vague. I’m mainly wanting to get her something that isn’t a POS, but something that’s decent quality that will provide some enjoyment.
Thoughts?

TIA
God Bless

Deal breaker there