I absolutely love love my Seestar S50 for its simplicity, portability and making deep space so incredibly accessible. It provides a wonderful entry point to the hobby and will help you figure out what you want next. I love it so much I just placed an order for the Seestar S30 even though I have an 11" Celestron sitting right beside it. Yes the Seestar doesn't always provide great results and can be frustrating, but if you think ANY option hobby is free of bad results and frustration, you're in for a long road haha.
I have an 8" SCT and am about to order a RedCat 51, wife permission pending. I can use my current mount, imaging camera, guide camera, ASIAir, and dew straps. Being able to mix pieces and parts can help reduce costs in the long run. No one telescope can do it all as you state. Just keep in mind some accessories can. Love your content, Trevor. Thank you for your channel.
My first "real" scope was an AD8, and my first "nice" eyepieces was a Baader zoom. I've spent many, many thousands on gear since then, and I'm blessed to currently own 9 scopes (2 Dobs, 2 Maks, 2 H-alpha, 3 'fracs), dozens of astro-binos (ranging from 6.5x32 - 25x100), and several eyepiece cases complete with some fancy green letter EPs. That said, I still own the AD8 & MkIV 8-24 and use both of them frequently. The 8" AD8 fits my astro-arsenal nicely between a 5" refractor and 12". The MkIV isn't my best eyepiece by far, yet it's my most used eyepiece by far. Plus the accompanying 2.25x Barlow makes it an extremely versatile planetary eyepiece.
This advice is dangerous, all these choices are so good that before you know it your bank account is empty! I own 3/4 of the setups discussed here, and honestly, wouldn't change a thing :)
Hi there Im looking at getting into this for the first time. Maybe you can answer my question I was wondering if its possible to view or track the International Space Station? Im looking at the Apertura AD8 Dobsonian 8" Telescope as my first choice?
I have a lot of trees and didn't want to spend the money and time for a big rig. It would be nice, but with two bad knees the S50 fits the bill for now. Light and easy to carry wherever I go. Plus I love the tech side as it all works pretty well. The framing mode in the latest update is outstanding from my experience. Now I'm getting into post processing learning curve.
Ay I ain't watching this video in particular but I just wanted to hop on and tell you thank you for helping me understand and grow into this hobby. It's beautiful, the night sky, and the planets. I only have a Celestron nexstar 4 slt, but just seeing the planets is just another level of beautiful. Thank you. Even if u don't think u do, u made a difference to me. And it's just so much more bc I have epilepsy and it threatens my life every month or so. So I'm scared of dying. But I found another gem thanks to you. Thank you man, really
My first ever telescope was a 10 inch dob. I had it for a year before finding an amazing deal on Facebook marketplace for a astrophotography kit. I do not regret buying the dob though! Great advice
Well presented and thought out, Trevor. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I've been doing astronomy for over 25 years. Sometimes, the right presenter can make all the difference. Kudos! See you again sometime. Maybe CSSP again. Who knows?
I’d advise a small refractor in the 400-500mm focal length range for a beginner scope. For visual, you can use a barlow or powerful eyepieces to get reach for planets and the moon, but you can also use it for astrophotography for a wide range of deep sky object. You won’t need to collimate it and it’s relatively lightweight.
I've been getting the question of what to get from so many people. Thank you for making a succinct and informational video that I can share with all who ask me "What telescope should I get?". You sir, are a legend! Thank you for getting me addicted to this amazing hobby!
I always recommend Celestron Starsense DX5. It's relatively cheap, lightweight and extremely good travel buddy, also for beginner it's easy to use and you don't have to know anything about the night sky to used it efficiently. Dobs are good, but if you are a bigger person or have some challenges moving, horrible choice. Computer mounts can be good, but they also can have problems. I know nothing is perfect.
Good video to help beginners make a solid first purchase. I have the AD8 and S50, and they both are great. My gear lives in the basement (9 ft ceilings), so the lighter, the better. Because of this, the dob doesn't get out as often. The S50 it great for getting out quickly, which I need. I have three little kids. I do have a SW SA GTI with DSLR and ASIAIR rig, which I'm learning how to use.
I bought all my stuff second hand, I found the astrophotography community on buy and sell sites to be super friendly, and if I want to upgrade my kit I can resell and hopefully not loose much money! Think I saved ~40% on resale
Really good review. The beauty of the Red Cat 51 is you can use it with a star tracker mount, I started off with a Red Cat 51, Sky Watcher Star Adventurer and a Canon EOS600D (Rebel 3Ti?) As I already had the DSLR, it wasn't that expensive,. Of course I added things to it such as an EAF, Cooled Astronomy Camera, Guide Scope, Filter Wheel, ASIair, and Harmonic Drive Mount. It is still my favourite scope because it is still light enough to move around and gives great results. I have this set up ready for use and can be outside imagining within minutes. I personally like the Samyang/Rokinon f2 135 lens as well for astro photography, here in the UK it is about half the price of the Red Cat 51 and there are various adapters and enhancement kits available. Again it can be used with a star tracker type mount. I've never really been into visual astronomy with a scope, though I do like star gazing with binoculars. I do have an explorer 150p but only use it occasionally.
I'm an old guy with mobility issues. I bought the S50 about a year ago. So much fun. I did have plans on setting up a 9.5 edge with all the toys until I discovered smart telescopes and settled on the S50. After 200+ images captured so far this clearly for me the best choice.
My friend who has pretty severe mobility issues, we have looked this same telescope. S50 costs about 700€ in EU. Since he has fixed income we have been thinking, is it worth it. On the other hand you can just think that, why don't i just look pictures online and save my money. There is still the appeal of setting it up and watch the image coming alive on the tv.
Great video Trevor, I remember my first scope a Skywatcher 150/750 Newt reflector on an EQ3 manual mount. A complete pain in the backside for a paraplegic wheelchair user like myself. Of course it hooked me to hobby though to the point I've progressed to RC and SCT's on computerised mounts. I can only imagine what it would have been like to take those first few steps into the hobby using an S50.
pretty random video idea: You show ALL of your telescopes, talk about what they can do, their stats, and what they are made to see! (Ofc, that might be a long video.)
Got a REDCAT51, ASIA 5n, ASIAir plus an ASI 533mc pro, filters and all the auxiliary adapters, etc. haven’t had a chance to use as clouds and rain for month
Hi, thanks again for the videos. One comment. The 8 inch SCT and the 8 inch dob will give a view of exactly the same brightness at a given magnification. Dob has the advantage of supporting wider views. SCT is more compact. Yes, lower focal ratios make brighter images at prime focus, but the image is also smaller. Visual observation uses eyepieces to adjust magnification, so the brightness at prime focus is not relevant.
I’d highly recommend buying the lifting straps for the Dobsonian (specifically the Farpoint Astro ones). I’ve got the 10” Apertura and they make hauling it around a breeze.
In Germany the 8se costs up to 2,000 euros. Astronomical instruments are very expensive in Germany and I don't know why. Maybe a science tax I don't know. Your videos help a lot of people. Great job and Thank you. CS and best regards from germany.
I have the 8se with dedicated cam, asi air, etc. Also the s50 By the time i get the 8se outside, setup, my s50 is already imaging. In the north east time is of essence with weather. Love the s50
My first scope is a dob which has been good, but being time poor isn’t always as friendly as I’d like. I think next for me will be a ZWO AM5N mount. I’ll pair that with a 8inch Edge HD. That should be small enough to easily go to dark sites.
I started with a redcat51, ioptron skyguider pro, a micro four thirds mirrorless camera, and a decent carbon fiber tripod. I wish I hadn’t because I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. Even just getting polar alignment is a struggle for me. I just preordered the Seestar S30, but I do hope to learn how to use my more expensive equipment properly someday.
I have an 80mm refractor with a focal length of 560 mm. It has been great for deep sky objects, such as the Lagoon Nebula in Saggitarius, the Horsehead in Orion, and the M33 galaxy. Using this telescope, a Celestron AVX mount, a ZWO MC553 camera, and an ASI Air, I have been able to take great photos. This is another option to consider. Expect to pay around $2500 for this setup.
So far my path has been 10 inch Orion dob -> Seestar S50 -> Celestron C6 -> Askar 103 APO (photo rig.. poor wallet) and I still use each one. When my astronomy club meets up, I always take my dob and askar so I can do visual plus photo in one night. My C6 I use for planetary imaging(trying hyperstar soon) and seestar was my intro to processing data and I we now use it for outreach events. Just go ahead and buy them all.. lol
many years ago i only did visual astronomy and never really had any luck with astrophotography, sold most of my heavy gear and i stopped viewing. decades later, technology improved and i jumped into astrophotography. what a game changer. i must warn you, learning the editing process is a whole new ballgame. right now i own a ZWO mount, scope and camera and it has rekindled my interest in the heavens. i own the Seestar 50, for the money, it is a nice piece of equipment. join a club, good investment and you will save money and learn much.
I did look around a lot before upgrading from my 18-400mm lens. I did look at the redcat 51 GT 71 and GT 81 and star adventure 2i. First got me the star tracker. Then I started looking at dobsonian but I was told it would be hard compared to my fotolens. Because it needs collimation, but money made my decision. The 150p Quattro 600mm was way cheaper than the GT71. And I did some upgrades on it but I love it. And now I have the Player One Ares C (IMX533) Phoenix 5x2” filter wheel and it even gets better than with my Nikon D5600. The Celestron C8 Edge HD is on my wishlist. I already upgraded to the HEQ5 pro which I did the Rowan belt mod on. I just need more clear skies. Since I got my Ares C pro in August I had about 10 clear skies up until now 🙄
I started with a 10” dob. It was great as I learned how to find anything. But eventually the mirror needed cleaning. That stuff was really stuck on very tricky to clean without damage. I did okay. But I wanted to photograph after a while . Moved to a Meade 6”. Supposed to be completely automatic but turned out to be a nightmare. Wonderful optics. Some Astro photography but not very good. The Seestar 50 I’ve been using for a year now. Got all the Messiers and half the Caldwell objects documented. Hundreds of NGCs. Over the year their software updates and my technique are making better and better pictures. And the price dropped $50!
It depends on what you plan to do. For just looking at things, a big Newtonian is the most glass for the buck, but a Dob's image rotates as it's exposed, so an equatorial mount is best for imaging. No one should start with an SCT or an astrograph. It's too much money to spend when you don't know how to use it or whether it's what you actually need. Selling used scopes always means taking a big loss if you can even find someone who's interested. The fork mount that comes with most SCT's means if you image with one, the image rotates on long exposures and needs to be corrected either digitally or with a rotating focuser to turn the imager. More money. The way to start a hobby is simple and cheap, and go see what other people are using and what they think of it before spending tons of money. Join a club, they're everywhere. Scope stores usually organize free star party nights, which are a great place to see everyone's prize equipment and actually try some out. Hell, set up a scope in a park and we nerds will wander over to give you advice. When someone's an absolute beginner, I usually recommend something like an 8" Dob. That's big enough to see some cool stuff, but still manageable and easy to use. Some basic star maps, even the ones in Nightwatch, and a little willingness to learn. You have to learn at least a bit about the sky to even set up a go-to scope. I've had the same scope for more than twenty years, and the only original parts left are the mirrors and spider. It's a 12.5 Newtonian on a custom-made steel split-ring equatorial mount with a rotating cradle for the tube so the eyepiece is always aimed at a comfortable height and angle. You needed a stepladder to use it when it was a dob, and it got painful on the neck and back fast. I built a stepper motor drive so you push it around to aim, then turn it on. It tracks, has a non-rotating field, sets up in five minutes, and gets mistaken for a water heater. Not exactly a starter scope.
You can get a goto Dobsonian, focal reducer, a Ryzen 7 mini pc, nice camera and do planets and astrophotography (short exposures 5s to 10s sometimes up to 30s if the mount is tuned properly). I’ve been taking images with my Sky-Watcher 300P. Not easy but very possible.
This is a great and comprehensive selection for beginners in visual astronomy, but I think the astrophotography setup could be built for about 1/2 the price
For beginners anything between 400-500mm with aps-c size camera covers most of the targets. William optics Zenithstar or Gran Turismo lineup is great for that. It's also decent for the Moon.
Ahh Darn just too late, i just bought a RedCat61 WIFD an Asiair plus, a Zwo guiding scope and a Zwo asi533mc pro. \o/ But no EAF and learning to get good focus via my ipad and the Asiair. clear skies! ...And ofcourse thanks for this awesome content
Another excellent video, and perfect timing! I’m looking to get a scope for deep sky astrophotography and really like the idea of starting out with a shorter FL to minimize the effects of less-than-optimal tracking, but will want to go longer eventually. Would you mind telling me your thoughts on these options I’m considering? 1. Get a scope with a little longer FL (~700mm) and use reducers at first. Thinking about the Stellarvue SVX102T-RA here. 2. Get something like the Askar V that supports multiple FLs out of the box. Or 3. Get something like a RedCat 61 or Askar FRA 300 pro and plan to get another scope when the time for longer FL comes? Thanks Trevor, your channel has been a big part of my wanting to get into this amazing hobby!
The stellarvue with a .8 reducer will give you 102 at its native focal length and about 82 with reducer . So two scopes in one . Much cheaper in the long run . Also American made premium optics with excellent support .
1:20 i think the 6se is better because the scope is lighter and the scope puts less strain on that alt az mount, i still do think that the 8se is a good choice though
If you're planning to get a redcat51, I would strongly suggest looking at the svbony sv555. I don't think they started shipping yet, but Cuiv just reviewed it and it's better than the redcat for like $350 less.
I have a skylux 70/700 that i bought for 30 euros used. And a 10mm eyepiece got me able to see 2 clear bands of jupiter and its 4 moons i have a 2x barlow on the way to see saturn better
Honestly as owner of NexStar SE - I absolutely hate the mount. Its interface is outdated and while tracking is nice it really disconnects you from the sky for visual. At some point I disocovered that one of the bearings failed creating backlash that was just too big, instead of replacing the bearing/motor, I just disassembled all the electronics and battarey tray and converted it to manual alt-az mount (that is BTW very good) and I point to objects with AstroHopper (much easier than the "robot") However the huge advantage of C8 is storage space and ability to use from balcony, take it out in reasonable size pack. Something I couldn't do with a dob.
Hey Trevor I just wanted to ask if telescopes overall are durable. Like did you ever get something destroyed? Also thank you so much for making great videos every single time😃
I have had an Apertura AD8 Dobsonian for 2 years and have gotten great results with just my smartphone, an adapter, and the scope. I dont have a laptop for any stacking software so I have to manually resize and stack each sub. I want to know what I should do to step things up a little. Should I get a DSLR? Should I get filters? What should I do? I dont know the next step without spending 1000s on stuff. Edit: I am using the eyepieces that came with the Apertura AD8 so since I am using my phone camera to shoot through those, I don’t know if they are the limiting factor or not. Also my phone is a Samsung S20 so it's not the newest so I don't know if the phone camera is limiting me. I live in bortle 4-5 skies so I don't know if that is limiting me. If so, I will want a light pollution filter. But I don't know which one I should get.
You didn't mention that you can power the 8SE from internal batteries, which although not perfect, it does mean that you don't have to use external power.
The first two are by far the best value. 8SE or any of its lower versions don't have much of learning curve. Point to three stars to get aligned and you are all set.
Great video Trevor, 👍🤓👍 Which option would be the best for an area close to a town (with average light pollution...)? I know we should avoid this as best we can but in a situation where time is scared, so I can't get very far from the city nor have much time to process the images... The smart telescope seems a good choice, but if this is the case, is the one from your video the best, or would there be better scope for those conditions? (Hopefully, smart scope are not using AI to create their pictures...)
My debates are between a 8" with and without Starsense, or a 10" with and without starsense. The thing is I'm still incredibly new to astronomy and I unfortunately live in bortle 9 skies, and while I have the money to spend, I obviously want to minimize spendings as much as possible. What would you recommend to me if the best skies I can afford to go to are bortle 5-6?
The Apertura AD line is pretty much the best value on the market. All three dobs you mentioned will be practically the same optics-wise. The Apertura comes better equipped by a mile (especially the dual-speed focuser and finder scope). The Celestron is pretty much a bare bones dob with their StarSense dock bolted on (and an extra $200 bolted on). Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic app, just a bit pricey. Alright, so the Sky-Watcher Flextube dob is a strange one. I really wanted one of these (I think they look cool) until I dug into the specs. You only gain 11" (28 cm) vertically from the collapsible design, which doesn't (to me, anyway) provide any real benefits when it comes to transport or storage. Interestingly, their Flextube dob is 5.2 lbs (2.4 kg) HEAVIER than the Classic solid tube dob. If it were me to decide between the three, I'd get the AD8. Then, if you also really want that StarSense experience, I'd get one of the cheaper Celestron StarSense telescopes like the LT 114AZ (new or used) solely for the dock and app code. You can easily adapt the dock to use on any telescope you want. There's a couple threads on the CloudyNights forum about this.
Thanks for the forecast! I have a quick question: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?
I currently have an ed120 but it seems more and more companies and people are going smaller, even smaller than the traditional ed80. are these newer small ones just as good as the older large ones? I would have always thought bigger is better.
Hi Trevor, pls could you help me? have a dslr and a tracking mount, however my current lens has star deformities (canon 100-400 mk2), i am thinking of getting a Sigma 105mm f1.4 as it seems to have little to no defects with stars, do you think this is a good idea?
@@AstroBackyard I can confirm, I have the same lens but the 35mm version which I specifically bought for meteor showers and it's been one of my best purchases for sure.
Any thoughts on the 8SE vs the Nexstar Evolution 8? I read that they're basically the same telescope, but I'm not able to find a ton of info on the differences
Also, finding an astronomy club here in Michigan has been, well, depressing. I found a short list, but every website I visited hasn't been updated in over a decade, has the domain for sale, or is no longer functioning. Do you have any resources for finding local astronomy clubs?
WAY less expensive rigs for astrophotography are available for those wanting to get started. I'm starting with a Sony A6400 and the lens that came with it, just stuff I had on hand already. However, mentioning the price of your astrophotography kit in this video seems like it would scare people away from astrophotography.
Hey! I really want to get started with astrophotography, and currently I have a Nikon D850, and a 200-500 mm lens alongside. I live in a bortle 9, so the light pollution is so bad you cannot even make out clouds in the sky. I am concerned that even if I get a go-to mount, I simply would not be able to star align it, as even on extremely good nights I can only see jupiter. Is this an actual concern? If it is, how do I solve it? And is there any other option aside from an expensive go-to for me? (DSO)
Would I be able to look at drones with this at night and try to capture a picture of it ? I’m trying to get pictures of these drones all over nyc where I am .. ty
HELLO: ARE SPOTTING SCOPE GOOD FOR STARGAZING? I’M PLANNING TO GO TO THE STAR PARTY IN CHERRY SPRING PA. IN JUNE OF 2025. I HAVE A SWAROVSKI SPOTTING SCOPE WITH A 95MM LENS AND THINKING OF PURCHASING A 115 MM LENS AS WELL. I’LL BE TAKING BINOCULARS TOO. (SWAROVSKI NL 12X42) THANKS…PETE
Good day, I am planning to purchase a celestron powerseeker 114eq for my personal use and academics, that is to replace my 1st scope, a 76mm reflector. The celestron powerseeker 114 eq cost atleast 13,599 php (234 usd) , however there were good comments about the scope, but I am a bit skeptical, and so I wanted to know your's and other's opinion about this scope.
I hate to be that person! BUT, I would like a DSLR as well as the red cat 61 or 71, Could you please recommend a Cannon DSLR that pairs well with the telescope.
will you be doing a review on one of the sv503 70/80/102 ed refractors soon would really like to see what them can do for the price I've been looking at getting one for months but need a really good review on it before i would buy?
Seestar s50 is a beauti for starting i just got a redcat 71 set up for my bday next month witch they sale a bundle deal with red cat am3 redcat 71 red guider for 2988 just need to buy a camera an asiair now but highly recommend the seestar s50 thanks you astro back yard for making me broke 😂😂😂😂 💪 but thank you for showing me the way to enjoy myself an me to answer all my childhood questions myself
I have a new rig. Askar 107 PHQ and ASI2600MC Pro. I've got a blotch on my photos, in exactly the same size & shape, and in the same position. The sensor cover plate looks clean, as does the scope's primary lens. I took out the filter, and the blotch was still there. Any ideas?
My first time staying up all night with a dobsonian was such a wonderful time. Finding the objects myself was 80% of the fun.
I absolutely love love my Seestar S50 for its simplicity, portability and making deep space so incredibly accessible. It provides a wonderful entry point to the hobby and will help you figure out what you want next. I love it so much I just placed an order for the Seestar S30 even though I have an 11" Celestron sitting right beside it. Yes the Seestar doesn't always provide great results and can be frustrating, but if you think ANY option hobby is free of bad results and frustration, you're in for a long road haha.
I have an 8" SCT and am about to order a RedCat 51, wife permission pending. I can use my current mount, imaging camera, guide camera, ASIAir, and dew straps. Being able to mix pieces and parts can help reduce costs in the long run. No one telescope can do it all as you state. Just keep in mind some accessories can. Love your content, Trevor. Thank you for your channel.
That wife permission ain't coming anytime soon my friend
@@brainstarbrawlstars7396 One of the benefits of being single, I don't need permission. 😀
I was gonna get the 51 but went with the 71 boundle deal they have a double 51 boundle deal about the same price lol
I absolutely love my AD8 paired with a Baader 8-24 zoom eyepiece and a telrad. The clarity and ease of use of the AD8 is so good.
My first "real" scope was an AD8, and my first "nice" eyepieces was a Baader zoom.
I've spent many, many thousands on gear since then, and I'm blessed to currently own 9 scopes (2 Dobs, 2 Maks, 2 H-alpha, 3 'fracs), dozens of astro-binos (ranging from 6.5x32 - 25x100), and several eyepiece cases complete with some fancy green letter EPs.
That said, I still own the AD8 & MkIV 8-24 and use both of them frequently. The 8" AD8 fits my astro-arsenal nicely between a 5" refractor and 12". The MkIV isn't my best eyepiece by far, yet it's my most used eyepiece by far. Plus the accompanying 2.25x Barlow makes it an extremely versatile planetary eyepiece.
This advice is dangerous, all these choices are so good that before you know it your bank account is empty! I own 3/4 of the setups discussed here, and honestly, wouldn't change a thing :)
😊
Too funny the same i own some version of 3/4 he's showing. 8" orion dob, 9.25" celestron, and a vespera. Definitely a dangerous hole to fall into.
@@dn5101evolution 9.25?
Haha, you can't threaten me... My bank account is already empty !! 💸
Hi there Im looking at getting into this for the first time. Maybe you can answer my question I was wondering if its possible to view or track the International Space Station? Im looking at the Apertura AD8 Dobsonian 8" Telescope as my first choice?
Used 8" Dob for visual fun. SeeStar S50 for intro astrophotography. Observe brighter objects while the SeeStar is imaging. Awesome duo.
I have a lot of trees and didn't want to spend the money and time for a big rig. It would be nice, but with two bad knees the S50 fits the bill for now. Light and easy to carry wherever I go. Plus I love the tech side as it all works pretty well. The framing mode in the latest update is outstanding from my experience. Now I'm getting into post processing learning curve.
Ay I ain't watching this video in particular but I just wanted to hop on and tell you thank you for helping me understand and grow into this hobby. It's beautiful, the night sky, and the planets. I only have a Celestron nexstar 4 slt, but just seeing the planets is just another level of beautiful. Thank you. Even if u don't think u do, u made a difference to me. And it's just so much more bc I have epilepsy and it threatens my life every month or so. So I'm scared of dying. But I found another gem thanks to you. Thank you man, really
My first ever telescope was a 10 inch dob. I had it for a year before finding an amazing deal on Facebook marketplace for a astrophotography kit. I do not regret buying the dob though! Great advice
Well presented and thought out, Trevor. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I've been doing astronomy for over 25 years. Sometimes, the right presenter can make all the difference. Kudos! See you again sometime. Maybe CSSP again. Who knows?
I’d advise a small refractor in the 400-500mm focal length range for a beginner scope. For visual, you can use a barlow or powerful eyepieces to get reach for planets and the moon, but you can also use it for astrophotography for a wide range of deep sky object. You won’t need to collimate it and it’s relatively lightweight.
I've been getting the question of what to get from so many people. Thank you for making a succinct and informational video that I can share with all who ask me "What telescope should I get?". You sir, are a legend! Thank you for getting me addicted to this amazing hobby!
Helpful For Newbies In Astrophotography!!
I always recommend Celestron Starsense DX5. It's relatively cheap, lightweight and extremely good travel buddy, also for beginner it's easy to use and you don't have to know anything about the night sky to used it efficiently. Dobs are good, but if you are a bigger person or have some challenges moving, horrible choice. Computer mounts can be good, but they also can have problems. I know nothing is perfect.
I love my small 130 pds, it’s relatively lightweight for its aperture and does fairly well almost everything. Cons: you need a mount & tripod
Great video! My favorite is the Dobsonian 🤩
Thank you! Good choice ;)
You are a brave man to try to cover all the options a beginning astronomer has! Well done. I’ll refer new guys to this.
Just assembled my 10" dobsonian (celestron starsense) and can't wait to get going!
Hi you are my inspiration. After seeing your videos I started astrophotography thanks brother for inspiring me ❤.
Good video to help beginners make a solid first purchase. I have the AD8 and S50, and they both are great. My gear lives in the basement (9 ft ceilings), so the lighter, the better. Because of this, the dob doesn't get out as often. The S50 it great for getting out quickly, which I need. I have three little kids. I do have a SW SA GTI with DSLR and ASIAIR rig, which I'm learning how to use.
I bought all my stuff second hand, I found the astrophotography community on buy and sell sites to be super friendly, and if I want to upgrade my kit I can resell and hopefully not loose much money! Think I saved ~40% on resale
Really good review.
The beauty of the Red Cat 51 is you can use it with a star tracker mount, I started off with a Red Cat 51, Sky Watcher Star Adventurer and a Canon EOS600D (Rebel 3Ti?) As I already had the DSLR, it wasn't that expensive,. Of course I added things to it such as an EAF, Cooled Astronomy Camera, Guide Scope, Filter Wheel, ASIair, and Harmonic Drive Mount. It is still my favourite scope because it is still light enough to move around and gives great results. I have this set up ready for use and can be outside imagining within minutes. I personally like the Samyang/Rokinon f2 135 lens as well for astro photography, here in the UK it is about half the price of the Red Cat 51 and there are various adapters and enhancement kits available. Again it can be used with a star tracker type mount.
I've never really been into visual astronomy with a scope, though I do like star gazing with binoculars. I do have an explorer 150p but only use it occasionally.
I'm an old guy with mobility issues. I bought the S50 about a year ago. So much fun. I did have plans on setting up a 9.5 edge with all the toys until I discovered smart telescopes and settled on the S50. After 200+ images captured so far this clearly for me the best choice.
My friend who has pretty severe mobility issues, we have looked this same telescope. S50 costs about 700€ in EU. Since he has fixed income we have been thinking, is it worth it. On the other hand you can just think that, why don't i just look pictures online and save my money. There is still the appeal of setting it up and watch the image coming alive on the tv.
Great video Trevor, I remember my first scope a Skywatcher 150/750 Newt reflector on an EQ3 manual mount. A complete pain in the backside for a paraplegic wheelchair user like myself. Of course it hooked me to hobby though to the point I've progressed to RC and SCT's on computerised mounts. I can only imagine what it would have been like to take those first few steps into the hobby using an S50.
pretty random video idea: You show ALL of your telescopes, talk about what they can do, their stats, and what they are made to see! (Ofc, that might be a long video.)
Got a REDCAT51, ASIA 5n, ASIAir plus an ASI 533mc pro, filters and all the auxiliary adapters, etc. haven’t had a chance to use as clouds and rain for month
I own the AD8 dobs it is wonderful, it's just the right size for me and comfortable to use from a regular lawn chair too. 😁
Hi, thanks again for the videos. One comment. The 8 inch SCT and the 8 inch dob will give a view of exactly the same brightness at a given magnification. Dob has the advantage of supporting wider views. SCT is more compact. Yes, lower focal ratios make brighter images at prime focus, but the image is also smaller. Visual observation uses eyepieces to adjust magnification, so the brightness at prime focus is not relevant.
Will buy my first telescope next spring. An 8" Sky-Watcher Dobson. Really looking forward to it.
Planning to get the Seestar 50 I think it's the best all round beginners scope, time will tell.
You will have fun with it - great choice
I’d highly recommend buying the lifting straps for the Dobsonian (specifically the Farpoint Astro ones). I’ve got the 10” Apertura and they make hauling it around a breeze.
That's a great solution - thank you for sharing that
In Germany the 8se costs up to 2,000 euros. Astronomical instruments are very expensive in Germany and I don't know why. Maybe a science tax I don't know.
Your videos help a lot of people. Great job and Thank you.
CS and best regards from germany.
Thank you! Clear skies!
I have the 8se with dedicated cam, asi air, etc. Also the s50
By the time i get the 8se outside, setup, my s50 is already imaging. In the north east time is of essence with weather. Love the s50
My first scope is a dob which has been good, but being time poor isn’t always as friendly as I’d like.
I think next for me will be a ZWO AM5N mount. I’ll pair that with a 8inch Edge HD. That should be small enough to easily go to dark sites.
Thanks for the great reviews. Very helpful with my decision on which to buy. I'm going with the Seestar for dso and the 8" Dob for planets
I started with a redcat51, ioptron skyguider pro, a micro four thirds mirrorless camera, and a decent carbon fiber tripod. I wish I hadn’t because I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing. Even just getting polar alignment is a struggle for me. I just preordered the Seestar S30, but I do hope to learn how to use my more expensive equipment properly someday.
Thank you for this video! I appreciate it a lot!
I have an 80mm refractor with a focal length of 560 mm. It has been great for deep sky objects, such as the Lagoon Nebula in Saggitarius, the Horsehead in Orion, and the M33 galaxy. Using this telescope, a Celestron AVX mount, a ZWO MC553 camera, and an ASI Air, I have been able to take great photos. This is another option to consider. Expect to pay around $2500 for this setup.
So far my path has been 10 inch Orion dob -> Seestar S50 -> Celestron C6 -> Askar 103 APO (photo rig.. poor wallet) and I still use each one. When my astronomy club meets up, I always take my dob and askar so I can do visual plus photo in one night. My C6 I use for planetary imaging(trying hyperstar soon) and seestar was my intro to processing data and I we now use it for outreach events. Just go ahead and buy them all.. lol
many years ago i only did visual astronomy and never really had any luck with astrophotography, sold most of my heavy gear and i stopped viewing. decades later, technology improved and i jumped into astrophotography. what a game changer. i must warn you, learning the editing process is a whole new ballgame. right now i own a ZWO mount, scope and camera and it has rekindled my interest in the heavens. i own the Seestar 50, for the money, it is a nice piece of equipment. join a club, good investment and you will save money and learn much.
🔭Excellent Overview Trevor🔭
Thank you!
I did look around a lot before upgrading from my 18-400mm lens. I did look at the redcat 51 GT 71 and GT 81 and star adventure 2i. First got me the star tracker. Then I started looking at dobsonian but I was told it would be hard compared to my fotolens. Because it needs collimation, but money made my decision. The 150p Quattro 600mm was way cheaper than the GT71. And I did some upgrades on it but I love it. And now I have the Player One Ares C (IMX533) Phoenix 5x2” filter wheel and it even gets better than with my Nikon D5600. The Celestron C8 Edge HD is on my wishlist. I already upgraded to the HEQ5 pro which I did the Rowan belt mod on. I just need more clear skies. Since I got my Ares C pro in August I had about 10 clear skies up until now 🙄
I started with a 10” dob. It was great as I learned how to find anything. But eventually the mirror needed cleaning. That stuff was really stuck on very tricky to clean without damage. I did okay. But I wanted to photograph after a while . Moved to a Meade 6”. Supposed to be completely automatic but turned out to be a nightmare. Wonderful optics. Some Astro photography but not very good. The Seestar 50 I’ve been using for a year now. Got all the Messiers and half the Caldwell objects documented. Hundreds of NGCs. Over the year their software updates and my technique are making better and better pictures. And the price dropped $50!
It depends on what you plan to do. For just looking at things, a big Newtonian is the most glass for the buck, but a Dob's image rotates as it's exposed, so an equatorial mount is best for imaging.
No one should start with an SCT or an astrograph. It's too much money to spend when you don't know how to use it or whether it's what you actually need. Selling used scopes always means taking a big loss if you can even find someone who's interested. The fork mount that comes with most SCT's means if you image with one, the image rotates on long exposures and needs to be corrected either digitally or with a rotating focuser to turn the imager. More money.
The way to start a hobby is simple and cheap, and go see what other people are using and what they think of it before spending tons of money. Join a club, they're everywhere. Scope stores usually organize free star party nights, which are a great place to see everyone's prize equipment and actually try some out. Hell, set up a scope in a park and we nerds will wander over to give you advice.
When someone's an absolute beginner, I usually recommend something like an 8" Dob. That's big enough to see some cool stuff, but still manageable and easy to use. Some basic star maps, even the ones in Nightwatch, and a little willingness to learn. You have to learn at least a bit about the sky to even set up a go-to scope.
I've had the same scope for more than twenty years, and the only original parts left are the mirrors and spider. It's a 12.5 Newtonian on a custom-made steel split-ring equatorial mount with a rotating cradle for the tube so the eyepiece is always aimed at a comfortable height and angle. You needed a stepladder to use it when it was a dob, and it got painful on the neck and back fast. I built a stepper motor drive so you push it around to aim, then turn it on. It tracks, has a non-rotating field, sets up in five minutes, and gets mistaken for a water heater. Not exactly a starter scope.
Absolutely fantastic video. Many thanks for the guidance, have watched this a few times. Great to see where the market is at at the moment.
Thank you very much!
You can get a goto Dobsonian, focal reducer, a Ryzen 7 mini pc, nice camera and do planets and astrophotography (short exposures 5s to 10s sometimes up to 30s if the mount is tuned properly). I’ve been taking images with my Sky-Watcher 300P. Not easy but very possible.
This is a great and comprehensive selection for beginners in visual astronomy, but I think the astrophotography setup could be built for about 1/2 the price
For beginners anything between 400-500mm with aps-c size camera covers most of the targets. William optics Zenithstar or Gran Turismo lineup is great for that.
It's also decent for the Moon.
Ahh Darn just too late, i just bought a RedCat61 WIFD an Asiair plus, a Zwo guiding scope and a Zwo asi533mc pro. \o/
But no EAF and learning to get good focus via my ipad and the Asiair.
clear skies! ...And ofcourse thanks for this awesome content
Another excellent video, and perfect timing! I’m looking to get a scope for deep sky astrophotography and really like the idea of starting out with a shorter FL to minimize the effects of less-than-optimal tracking, but will want to go longer eventually. Would you mind telling me your thoughts on these options I’m considering?
1. Get a scope with a little longer FL (~700mm) and use reducers at first. Thinking about the Stellarvue SVX102T-RA here.
2. Get something like the Askar V that supports multiple FLs out of the box.
Or
3. Get something like a RedCat 61 or Askar FRA 300 pro and plan to get another scope when the time for longer FL comes?
Thanks Trevor, your channel has been a big part of my wanting to get into this amazing hobby!
The stellarvue with a .8 reducer will give you 102 at its native focal length and about 82 with reducer . So two scopes in one . Much cheaper in the long run . Also American made premium optics with excellent support .
1:20 i think the 6se is better because the scope is lighter and the scope puts less strain on that alt az mount, i still do think that the 8se is a good choice though
If you're planning to get a redcat51, I would strongly suggest looking at the svbony sv555. I don't think they started shipping yet, but Cuiv just reviewed it and it's better than the redcat for like $350 less.
I just got the s50 for photography and c6 for visual lunar and planets
I have a skylux 70/700 that i bought for 30 euros used. And a 10mm eyepiece got me able to see 2 clear bands of jupiter and its 4 moons i have a 2x barlow on the way to see saturn better
Trevor, just 1 point, the 8 inch sct is not dimmer than the dob for visual astronomy. What you said only applies when using a sensor.
Interesting
Does focal length come into play for viewing or only for astrophotography?
Honestly as owner of NexStar SE - I absolutely hate the mount. Its interface is outdated and while tracking is nice it really disconnects you from the sky for visual. At some point I disocovered that one of the bearings failed creating backlash that was just too big, instead of replacing the bearing/motor, I just disassembled all the electronics and battarey tray and converted it to manual alt-az mount (that is BTW very good) and I point to objects with AstroHopper (much easier than the "robot")
However the huge advantage of C8 is storage space and ability to use from balcony, take it out in reasonable size pack. Something I couldn't do with a dob.
Totally right about the compact design of the SCT - I should have mentioned that!
Hey Trevor I just wanted to ask if telescopes overall are durable. Like did you ever get something destroyed? Also thank you so much for making great videos every single time😃
0:09 Skywatcher solar scope spotted! so excited for that review!
Eagle eye!
I have had an Apertura AD8 Dobsonian for 2 years and have gotten great results with just my smartphone, an adapter, and the scope. I dont have a laptop for any stacking software so I have to manually resize and stack each sub.
I want to know what I should do to step things up a little. Should I get a DSLR? Should I get filters? What should I do? I dont know the next step without spending 1000s on stuff.
Edit:
I am using the eyepieces that came with the Apertura AD8 so since I am using my phone camera to shoot through those, I don’t know if they are the limiting factor or not.
Also my phone is a Samsung S20 so it's not the newest so I don't know if the phone camera is limiting me.
I live in bortle 4-5 skies so I don't know if that is limiting me. If so, I will want a light pollution filter. But I don't know which one I should get.
You didn't mention that you can power the 8SE from internal batteries, which although not perfect, it does mean that you don't have to use external power.
Hi Travor, can you test te Optolong Quad Filter, maybe in comparison with the other Optolongs!
thank you
I'm curious about care and cleaning of lenses and filters. What if they get scratched?
The first two are by far the best value. 8SE or any of its lower versions don't have much of learning curve. Point to three stars to get aligned and you are all set.
Great video Trevor, 👍🤓👍 Which option would be the best for an area close to a town (with average light pollution...)? I know we should avoid this as best we can but in a situation where time is scared, so I can't get very far from the city nor have much time to process the images... The smart telescope seems a good choice, but if this is the case, is the one from your video the best, or would there be better scope for those conditions? (Hopefully, smart scope are not using AI to create their pictures...)
I also have a 50mm Lunt solar scope
he knows its starting to get darker faster and longer, good timing to make a video for beginners
My debates are between a 8" with and without Starsense, or a 10" with and without starsense. The thing is I'm still incredibly new to astronomy and I unfortunately live in bortle 9 skies, and while I have the money to spend, I obviously want to minimize spendings as much as possible. What would you recommend to me if the best skies I can afford to go to are bortle 5-6?
Can you compare the Apertura AD8 with the Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian and the Sky-Watcher Flextube 200P Dobsonian?
The Apertura AD line is pretty much the best value on the market. All three dobs you mentioned will be practically the same optics-wise. The Apertura comes better equipped by a mile (especially the dual-speed focuser and finder scope). The Celestron is pretty much a bare bones dob with their StarSense dock bolted on (and an extra $200 bolted on). Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic app, just a bit pricey. Alright, so the Sky-Watcher Flextube dob is a strange one. I really wanted one of these (I think they look cool) until I dug into the specs. You only gain 11" (28 cm) vertically from the collapsible design, which doesn't (to me, anyway) provide any real benefits when it comes to transport or storage. Interestingly, their Flextube dob is 5.2 lbs (2.4 kg) HEAVIER than the Classic solid tube dob.
If it were me to decide between the three, I'd get the AD8. Then, if you also really want that StarSense experience, I'd get one of the cheaper Celestron StarSense telescopes like the LT 114AZ (new or used) solely for the dock and app code. You can easily adapt the dock to use on any telescope you want. There's a couple threads on the CloudyNights forum about this.
I'l wait for new Sky Watcher Ha telescope and I see you have in your garage for testing ;)
Hey Trevor, I'm sure you've been asked this a million times. Any review of Celestron Origin?
Thanks Trevor. My question is, what is your opinion on the Williams Grand turismo 71 telescope?
Thanks for the forecast! I have a quick question: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How should I go about transferring them to Binance?
I currently have an ed120 but it seems more and more companies and people are going smaller, even smaller than the traditional ed80. are these newer small ones just as good as the older large ones? I would have always thought bigger is better.
Can you put the Dobsonian on an EQ Platform and do some astrophotography?
Hi Trevor, pls could you help me? have a dslr and a tracking mount, however my current lens has star deformities (canon 100-400 mk2), i am thinking of getting a Sigma 105mm f1.4 as it seems to have little to no defects with stars, do you think this is a good idea?
I haven't used that one - but my Sigma 24mm F/1.4 Art series has been fantastic. They make great astro lenses!
@@AstroBackyard I can confirm, I have the same lens but the 35mm version which I specifically bought for meteor showers and it's been one of my best purchases for sure.
Any thoughts on the 8SE vs the Nexstar Evolution 8? I read that they're basically the same telescope, but I'm not able to find a ton of info on the differences
How about the skywatcher skymax 150?
Pretty comparable to the celesteon 8se with better clearer images.
Also, finding an astronomy club here in Michigan has been, well, depressing. I found a short list, but every website I visited hasn't been updated in over a decade, has the domain for sale, or is no longer functioning. Do you have any resources for finding local astronomy clubs?
WAY less expensive rigs for astrophotography are available for those wanting to get started. I'm starting with a Sony A6400 and the lens that came with it, just stuff I had on hand already. However, mentioning the price of your astrophotography kit in this video seems like it would scare people away from astrophotography.
Hey!
I really want to get started with astrophotography, and currently I have a Nikon D850, and a 200-500 mm lens alongside. I live in a bortle 9, so the light pollution is so bad you cannot even make out clouds in the sky. I am concerned that even if I get a go-to mount, I simply would not be able to star align it, as even on extremely good nights I can only see jupiter. Is this an actual concern? If it is, how do I solve it? And is there any other option aside from an expensive go-to for me? (DSO)
Would I be able to look at drones with this at night and try to capture a picture of it ? I’m trying to get pictures of these drones all over nyc where I am .. ty
HELLO: ARE SPOTTING SCOPE GOOD FOR STARGAZING? I’M PLANNING TO GO TO THE STAR PARTY IN CHERRY SPRING PA. IN JUNE OF 2025. I HAVE A SWAROVSKI SPOTTING SCOPE WITH A 95MM LENS AND THINKING OF PURCHASING A 115 MM LENS AS WELL. I’LL BE TAKING BINOCULARS TOO. (SWAROVSKI NL 12X42)
THANKS…PETE
The Nexstar 8SE is currently on sale for $1,299!
❤Great Moccasins Trevor❤
They live on my feet from November to March
Good day, I am planning to purchase a celestron powerseeker 114eq for my personal use and academics, that is to replace my 1st scope, a 76mm reflector. The celestron powerseeker 114 eq cost atleast 13,599 php (234 usd) , however there were good comments about the scope, but I am a bit skeptical, and so I wanted to know your's and other's opinion about this scope.
can you picture markarian's chain please
I hate to be that person! BUT, I would like a DSLR as well as the red cat 61 or 71, Could you please recommend a Cannon DSLR that pairs well with the telescope.
Based on the antenna on the camera, I assume it’s a 2600 air. If so, how do you like that combined with RedCat 51?
It's a dream. I have limited clear skies - and this kit with a dual-band filter is super practical
I just got my redcat 51 and took photos of the Andromeda Galaxy the only night of no bad weather
Nice!
Serious question. Which one would be best to take pictures of UAPs?
None of them.
@TravelingStacker so a dslr camera would be better?
@@habibi750 Yes, it would.
Meade lx90 or celestron 8se?
Is that a heliostar 76 in the background?
will you be doing a review on one of the sv503 70/80/102 ed refractors soon would really like to see what them can do for the price I've been looking at getting one for months but need a really good review on it before i would buy?
No room for a Mak Cass. in the group ?
Seestar s50 is a beauti for starting i just got a redcat 71 set up for my bday next month witch they sale a bundle deal with red cat am3 redcat 71 red guider for 2988 just need to buy a camera an asiair now but highly recommend the seestar s50 thanks you astro back yard for making me broke 😂😂😂😂 💪 but thank you for showing me the way to enjoy myself an me to answer all my childhood questions myself
Thoughts on the Sky Watcher Sky-Watcher Flextube 300 SynScan Dobsonian 12-inch for a first telescope?
Oh wow. If you're most interested in photographing planets that is an incredible choice!
I have a new rig. Askar 107 PHQ and ASI2600MC Pro. I've got a blotch on my photos, in exactly the same size & shape, and in the same position. The sensor cover plate looks clean, as does the scope's primary lens. I took out the filter, and the blotch was still there. Any ideas?
NEXSTAR CAB BE POWERED BY AA BATTERIES TOO
Incredible video as always but I have a request, can you please review the iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight Equatorial Mount by explore scientific
I bought the Celestron 8 Se and I don’t know how to use it to see the Planets tell me information Okease ❤