My wife got me this model for Christmas after I showed her this video. I wanted a "little more" (like 2" eye piece capable) but so far I am very excited she got it! It looks & feels way more expensive than it is... and it is Ed Ting approved!! I am 62 yrs old and have always wanted a telescope since I was a kid. Wifey got sick of hearing it and pushed me in! The mount is amazing from a beginner standpoint. I have not used it yet as it is still too cold in MI for a newby to venture out but I am even more anxious for warmer weather. The finder scope is cheap plastic & was cross threaded and scewed but I think it's ok now. If not I will replace it with a red dot. I am going straight ahead and replacing the eye pieces now before spring... I have old eyes and wear glasses so I want some mid grade decent ones. Thanks so much Ed for all the videos, inspiration and info... you got me in!!! 😁
SvBony makes some decent budget eyepieces that are pretty good. I picked the 68 degree ultra wide angle(with the red rings) from amazon. I have the same scope as well. I also replaced the finder scope with the SvBony SV182 which I haven't had a chance to try yet but I think the right angle diagonal will be much more comfortable to use.
Absolutely incredible to see a beginner recommendation that isn't a dobsonian. It's definitely nice to not have to deal with the height problems associated with all the smaller "tabletop" dobs, and it's exciting they've somehow made a light-ish weight equatorial mount that isn't god-awful. The fact that the scope uses standard rings and vixen plate is a great touch too at this price point, no idea how they managed to cram that in instead of just bolting a plate of some sort directly to the tube.
Celestron 102AZ is a great beginner scope (Alt-az, no collimation required, but chromatic aberration making high power on Jupiter and Saturn disappointing).
I got one a year ago and loved it. And one thing you can do to get a more stable tripod is to remove the extended legs and open the top cap to fill it up with gravel that you can get at a gardening department, to get a heavier tripod. Another thing is that the included tripod and mount pairs extremely well with smaller scopes.
Thanks for the idea. I added a hook to the bottom of the eyepiece tray and hang a grocery bag with 4 cans of beans to help stabilize it. This helps to get the vibration to subside quickly.
This baby just came in the mail! It looks beautiful, and I’m very excited for a clear night. Did have to collimate from the shipping experience, and it took only a minute or two. Love Orion scopes. Thanks Ed for your channel, it’s excellent.
Hi Ed. Nice review, and it looks like an excellent first telescope for a beginner. One extra thing you could talk about, especially in reviews of equipment for beginners, is the quality and usefulness of any manual that is supplied with the instrument. Having a good set of clear instructions for assembly and use can save a lot of trouble and worry for someone who isn't familiar with telescopes.
What a surprise! Bought mine a year ago. Suggestions, adjust the focuser tension, get a large plastic clip from Hobo Freight and put on the knob for finer adjustments. Dump the 10mm and get a 2x Barlow. After setting up, tighten the Allen bolts in the tripod legs. reduces wiggle. Would love to upgrade the focuser, but could not find anything decent or cost effective. I'll live with it until I upgrade the whole scope.
Thanks for the great review ed! Me and my dad have been watching your videos and they have informed my decision to buy this scope very nicely. Thanks for being a great influence on the hobby.
This is actually on sale right now for $210. That's just insane. It's cheap enough that I'm honestly concerned about things like worker and environmental conditions in its manufacture. Do we have any idea who Orion has making this thing in China?
Try the included eyepieces for a while. This will give you an idea of what focal lengths you like. I would then recommend a Celestron X-cel LX of your size preference for ~$100. They are excellent for the money and not too heavy. A heavy top of the line eyepiece will probably not stay steady in that focuser. @@mikess308
Long focuser means 2 things: - Secondary mirror (obstruction) is bigger, compared to if the focuser was usual + It's possible to replace standard long plastic extension with some thread adapter(s) to screw t-ring and (probably) reach focus with a DSLR
Exactly my though! Around 4 years ago I purchased my first and only telescope (SpaceProbe 130ST) and I needed to move the primary mirror which is not an easy task for an inexperienced person. This new telescope could make that way easier just like you said, cheaper and with a better mount!
I think a short tube refractor is a good option for a kid or a beginner. For people on a very tight budget Explore Scientific makes the Explore Firstlight 90×500mm Alt-Az refractor that is a really decent scope for an incredibly cheap price. I picked one years ago for around $160. It's definitely not a high-end scope, but to get someone started in the hobby it is great for some wide field views while casually observing, and learning the basics.
Yes. The problem here is the industry has completely abandoned us by not producing a quality alt-az mount in the ultra-budget category. Look at the lower end of the Orion catalog. The alt-az mounts are all flimsy yoke mounted junk.
@@edtingsir, I'm in India and here ,no orion scopes are available. Skywatcher is available but at double prices A worthy opponent of this scope(orion134) which you reviewed is A startracker(indian brand) 130/650 it's mount is okayish and has a spherical mirror . It needs a barlow for prime focus Other than that A explore scientific 130/600 Parabolic mirror and prime focus without barlow attachment is available at prices cheaper than usa😅. Could you please see it it has eq3 Explore scientific 130/600 nanoeq3 Thank you
I own one of these. Fairly nice low cost Newtonian reflector. I bought the right ascension motor for it. Both cost me $319 at Amazon. Motor drive works really well if the scope is properly aligned. Main problem with the rig is you have to use a Barlow lens to gain focus with a ZWO ASI183mc camera. Secondary problem is lack of standard finder scope mount. I had to jury rig to add a standard mount and add a 90 degree 9x50 finder scope. Tired of wresting with the equitorial mount, so I placed it on a Sky Watcher AZ GTi go to mount.
I agree with the EQ comment. There are so many options (AZ GTi, etc., manual Alt-AZ, and I think Starsense Explorer really opens the sky to beginners).
Yeah, for some reason, they didn't use the standard dovetail mount for the finder scope. The extension legs on the tripod also get a bit wobbly. Otherwise, decent size scope for the price.
I just bought one and found I was spoiled by my old 70 mm refractor with a goto mount. I've learned so much in one night. I made some mistakes, I have to re-align my finder, and I have to calibrate my spotting circles as well since they're a bit loose.
That is why I sold my Starblast. You always need a platform from which to observe, which complicates the use to the point where you might as well pair it to a standard mount. Otherwise you are relegating into using picnic tables and park benches or milk crates that are not at all stable enough to use.
@@edting I love tabletop telescopes, well the mounts anyways. I have a Skywatcher Merlin tabletop mount that's a good display for my Celestron 90 SLT. I also got a Skywatcher Heritage 130p for £30. It got sold cheap on eBay because the previous owner accidentally cracked the mirror but £30 for its mount was a steal and now "displays" my upgraded Skywatcher ST80 refractor. Yes they suck for astronomy but the mounts are both handy for display purposes and useful if you want to point your refractor out of the window for daytime terrestrial viewing with a correct image 45 prism. Still for looking up I still intend to start with a Porta ii or Twilight 1 mount.
First 'serious' scope - the Celestron NexStar 5SE, no question. The industry's hidden gem. Even comes with a built in wedge - something very few talk about.
I use the 5SE mount for my solar scope and it’s brilliant. My night time scope is the C8. For my money, the very best hobbyist scope you can buy if you don’t want a gigantic dob.
@@MikeLikesChannel Hi Mike. Yeah, a Nexstar 8 got me back into the hobby years ago, they're a great package. Light, portable, 8", and GoTo. If I had to go down to one scope (God forbid!), I'm not sure if I'd go Nexstar or dob. Both are so versatile.
I can't recommend a GOTO scope for a complete beginner, personally. I'd rather the beginner learn how to use a telescope manually than rely on something automated to do everything for them. Not to mention GOTO scopes tend to have errors and issues eventually that create problems to problem solve. I'd say either go with a scope like this or a 6 inch dobsonian if you have more money to spend.
I disagree. A beginner's first fault is wanting instant gratification. The 5SE provides enough 'guaranteed' sights to fuel the continued interest in the hobby. In addition, the 5SE is not the best GOTO scope on the shelf; and, working with that wedge takes some education and discipline...continuing the education process. I would never recommend a dobsonian for a beginner's first scope. Simply because of the size. You aren't taking that out in the field unless you own a car. One would hope that one's astronomy interest is sparked at an age prior to reaching the age to legally drive. Lastly; any one interested in the night's sky typically has spent enough time studying charts and maps before making that first purhase that I think the train of thought that the first scope be manually navigated is overkill.@@JCW86
Thanks so much for the recommendation! I'm complete new to this hobby. Last telescope I had was the one I built with two lens and a badminton ball tube almost 40 years ago. I bought it based on your suggestion a few days ago, and like almost everything about it! One thing I have to point out though, the finder scope bracket I got is different from the one in the video. The one I got is make out of rough cast iron. The issue is the bottom part the sits on the tube, it's not smooth, and won't sit flat on the tube. No matter how tight I turn the screws, i can move the scope without trying too hard! I was able to fix it by adding two strips of thick double sided "magic tapes" between the bracket and the tube. Maybe I'll replace the bracket or the entire finder scope some day.
This happens all the time, especially at the lower price points. There's often no consistency from what comes out of China. You get whatever they decide to ship that day.
Your review is encouraging. I'm a beginner and I borrowed a 6" Orion Dobsonian. I have back problems and probly couldn't lift more than 10 lbs. If the scope is 20 lbs it has to come apart easily. I've been leaning toward the Starblast but this one looks good and the aperture is a bit larger!
Between the Starblast and the 134, get the 134. With the Starblast you will constantly be searching for something to set it on. You won't have that problem with the 134.
@@edting I just bought the 134! It's lightweight & easy to put together. Haven't got too far with the EQ mount yet. I understand how it works, I just don't know how to find stuff yet.
There's a 'knock-off' version of this as well in 152mm (6 inch), which is quite nice for the price. it's definitely on the upper limit of what the mount will handle though.
Used it for the first time last night, actually the first time using a telescope.The EQ mount took some time to figure out. I just set the latitude didn't actually polar align it yet and it was good enough to test it. Only viewed Jupiter and was pleased with the results. I could see some banding on Jupiter but no detail of course. Started with the 25mm eyepiece and switched to the 10mm for a better view. I am pleased, have much to learn, thanks Ed. @@edting
I have the little brother to this scope, the 114mm and I love it. So light and portab[e with great optics. My only complait is it has 2 scews instead of a vixen base plate for the finder scope. Otherwise a great scope.
Hey Ed, looking for a comparison review between the Observer 114 and the Starblast 114. Noticed they have lightly different focal ratios. f4.4 vs f4. Since there are no 1.25" coma correctors that I know of, I'm guessing the f4.4 might be the better option.
Looks like a great scope to begin with Ed. First thing i would do is put a red dot finder on it and put that piece of cp fiinder back in the box it comes in and forget about it. Love my 6 inch Star Blast. Get to sit comfortable at my old age. May have to get one if the price is right. Looking for a 8 inch Apertura though.
I'm glad you liked it, but I just can't recommend a manual EQ mount for a beginner - or anyone, really. Yeah, this one is nice, and boy is it cheap, and that's really good. But the EQ mount is unnecessarily complicated for a beginner. An alt-az mount is sooo much easier and completely intuitive. On the other hand, $209 for the OTA alone is a great price.
I've only used a dob, it looks like the eq mount you need to dial in the angle based on your latitude? Do you adjust that also as the earth axis changes over the seasons?
Why not the updated 130ST? I always believe the original 130ST EQ is the king of ultra budget EQ Newt kit. (Starblast II EQ's EQ1 mount is totally unacceptable IMO.) And now there is a updated version. It finally has a dovetail. It comes with a red dot finder rather than the small finder scope which can be quite hard to use. And as long as the modernized Eq2 is as good as Orion's older Eq2, it is fine. I don't believe so-called EQ3 is meaningfully stronger. Even the slow-mo knobs (which, if I remember right Ed you hated them a lot) are "larger knobs with short and hard stems" style which I feel is much better. The tripod legs are finally stainless steel tube style. Even the tripod spreader and tray is of much better quality than what Observer 134 has. They are a bit more expensive at $280 but Orion officially refurbished ones are $210+$10. Any thoughts on this one?
I’ve been watching your other videos where you recommend that 8 inch dobsonian….. I have found some for around 200-300 dollars used and was thinking of getting one but now I just saw this video. My goal is to be able to look at planets and some deep space stuff eventually working my way into astrophotography. This looks like something I can build towards that in the future vs the dobs… I’m sure your bombarded with questions and appreciate any recommendations. One other item my 6 year old is REALLY into space , blows me away with stuff he spits out on galaxy types names and even star types… pretty advanced for his age and I’m pretty sure he would like to look at those also so need to keep it kid friendly. One of my observations is the height of these things are not friendly for little kids. Also he’s done moon stuff with a tiny department student grade that causes more dissatisfaction than enjoyment so I really want something he can use too.
Im a newbie and just got this telescope about a week ago based of Ed’s review. Ive had it out 4 times now and have a few suggestions. -Loctite the counterweight bolt -add a round pencil eraser into the hole for the counterweight then tighten down the set screw. (The polished bolt will allow the counterweight to spin/loosen/jiggle without the eraser) -put about 4-5 drops of loctite into the socket of the fine tune knobs before installing, this will essentially epoxy the tune knobs on but a MAJOR source of bounce and shake comes from these never getting tight. I also gave the set screws about 1/16 of a tighten past finger tight with pliers. Theyre rock solid now. -adjust the focuser tension screws so theyre looser then stock and place tape over them so they wont fall out. I also sprayed a qtip with silicone and very lightly ran a small amount around the focuser tube then worked in and out a few times and its now buttery smooth vs the sticky squeeky way it was out of the box.
I've been playing with mine too. My main issue right now is the tension on the RA and Dec axis locks. They're either too tight or they're too loose. If you make them too tight, they eventually work their way loose and things can flop over. Has anyone come up with a solution?
@@edting Hey Ed! Maybe try a wrap of teflon tape to the threads to make things a little tighter tolerance and prevent them from backing out. I did have the telescope flop over once myself but i chalked it up to inexperience. Ill pay more attention to things after this. Id like to thank you for all your videos! Theyre excellent. Thank you very much!
Ed, have you considered reviewing the Celestron Omni AZ 102 available at Costco for $220? 4" achromat with slow mo alt az mount. Has 2" focuser too. I picked one up last year for $160 during Black Friday. Seems to be a good deal to me. Also since it's at Costco, it's readily available to lot of folks and they may wonder if it's good.
Yep, those are my recommendation for best scope for beginners (under $250). They're capable and easy to use, and far more portable than a dob (my general recommendation is an 8" dob, especially if they come up for sale cheap on craigslist)
all you see is false color on Jupiter and Saturn :) Jupiter washes out at 40x or so, Saturn a little better. But enough to see moons and two bands on Jupiter and the rings. It's really the one thing the scope does not do well. @@JCW86
@@JCW86yes, there will be false color. A fringe filter can help, but gives a yellow tint, more expensive filters like the baader semi apo are an option, but they aren't very cheap
On the off chance you see this: Can you suggest something small enough to take camping? I have a 7 year old boy and his interest in stars begins and ends at the fact that we can see them at night. But it's fun when we're camping and there's not a lot else to do. It needs to be portable and sturdy enough to not break with bumps that come with traveling in the car.
The issue with any travel scope isn't the optical tube, it's the mount. That's where people get tripped up. Good, steady mounts are not light or portable. If you can find and Orion Starblast it might work but you have to find something to set it on.
So I know entry level scopes at this size tend to have cheap and plastic focusers to keep costs down but it would be nice to know that such a recommended scope has an ability to have the focuser upgraded to a better metal one possibly with dual speed control. The only other times I have seen reflectors of this size with upgraded focusers are on cloudy nights and stargazers lounge forums with a SW 130 PDS and Intes reflector being upgraded with moonlite focusers. If this could have the focuser upgraded it's something I would personally consider. If not I would probably save up a bit more for Orion's 6 inch f4 Newtonian or anything else that was similar. But that's just me. Having said that, Ed Ting speaks a lot of sense so if this is his new default recommendation then you could do worse than not get one. Especially if you are just starting out. As an astronomy enthusiast myself I am subscribed to lots of channels that deal with this subject but of all of those channels then I tend to find Ed as interesting to watch as Carl Sagan. Yes, he's that good.
Unfortunately, there's no reflector I know of under $350 that has a metal focuser. And that price is for the OTA only, no mount included. This telescope and mount are selling for $209 currently, which is practically a steal nowadays.
It's not fair being poor and loving telescopes. I can't afford what I want - a 7" Mak or C8 on a go-to mount, and upgraded eyepieces (2), and possibly an upgraded focuser and Barlow. So here's my latest question; Could I start my imaginary hobby (I doh't have anything yet) with this telescope, and along with it buy the upgraded 2 or 3 eyepieces now? Then months from now, if all goes well, upgrade the mount, then later yet, upgrade the scope?
If you really love telescopes and don't have much money then do what I did. It was only a year ago I bought a second hand Skywatcher ST80 from eBay. It sat lowly on a camera tripod mount but week by week, month by month I added to it just by winning eBay auctions for this item and that item. Now it has a dual speed focuser, a side mounted 60mm guide scope converted into a right angled finder scope/mini telescope with the aid of a 2x Barlow to achieve focus. A 1.25" and 2" William Optics Durabrites also won in auctions for less than half there normal cost, laser pointer, William Optics red dot finder. It's fun spending time building it up over time and like you I am not actually flush with cash. I have what I have now through patience and building everything up slowly. If you just want something half decent to look up into the night sky then eBay is the place to find a bargain but do research what is being sold on eBay before you get anything as Ed would say there are a lot of junk scopes out there and a lot will end up on eBay just for that reason. Find out through recommendations what is a goer and keep an eye on eBay listings but don't be too keen to just get the first one that comes along. I remember once having some extra once in a blue moon cash once and spent £199 on a winning eBay auction for a Baader Hyperion MK4 zoom. A week later another was sold in auction for half that amount. I was gutted I didn't wait and that taught me patience. Some old timers spend their entire lives putting their gear together so don't be disheartened and just get what you can when you can 😁👍
Great review. How much shimmy in the scope when using the slow-motion contol? I wish you had tried some beginner photography with a phone mounted over the eye piece. Maybe a follow-up video. Beyond most beginners, IF I had this scope (or any scope), I would try photo stacking, and the manual slow motion would allow keeping the object in frame for a few minutes.
I would like to know if the mount is good to use for other scopes even a bit heavier? Reason: for the price you get a good mount and when you get a better similar type scope or something else if you can re-use the mount it makes it really worth it!
The main attraction of the mount is it's much better than what you normally find at this price point. But it's far more likely the opposite will happen - you'll remove the optical tube and put it on an even better mount.
@@edting Suggestions for an upgraded mount? I am now partial to the EQ mount. Also do you think that upgrading the plastic tube rings would help with the wobble?
Hi Ed, Hope you are well. just wanted to ask what would some better eyepieces be for this telescope. I just got my first telescope 2 months ago (Orion 130st eq) and it came with the same 10mm and 25mm eyepieces. What would you recommend as upgrades to those? The equatorial mount did take a few nights of getting used to but I must say it was worth the slight hardship now that I figured it out. Thanks, Phil
Right now, don't buy anything. The eyepiece is rarely your bottleneck in the beginning. Keep using the scope and in a year or so you'll know what you need, and won't be needing any advice from me. Keep going!
Much Appreciated! I think the biggest thing is getting to an area of low light pollution. Here in southeast Connecticut it’s fairly bright. Any suggestions on viewing spots here in the northeast?
When you are ready to upgrade I suggest the explore scientific 24mm 68degree or televue 24 panoptic, which give the maximum field of a 1.25" eyepiece and are sharp to the edge (the televue being a little better than it's es clone), es prices are a lot higher than they used to be, but meade used to sell the series 5000 swa which had the same optics as the explore scientific, which is unfortunately now the exclusive source for that particular eyepiece series. A used meade will cost considerably less. I also suggest any version of the meade 8.8mm UWA, and the 5.5mm or 4.7mm UWA. That seems like a super high power eyepiece, but at around f5 it is not too high of a magnification, as it would be on a cassegrain, or long tube refractor or reflector. I think they are discontinued, but can be found used. I used to have the 5.5, and found it to be very comparable to a type 6 nagler, at least when using it with my 7mm type 6 nagler, it was the same quality of view and comfortable eye relief, just at a higher magnification. Many say the 5mm nagler is a star in the series, and in that case might slightly edge out the 5.5mm meade, but I only had a 7 at the time. All of my gear was stolen so I don't have them anymore, but I do now have a 4.7mm which was the older version with the same optics as es82 degree, and it is a decent performer, also a copy of the type 6 nagler design like the es82 are in the smaller focal lengths. The larger ones seem to be more like the type 5 naglers, but those are 2" and irrelevant to the orion 134. A really nice set for that scope would be a 4.7 or 5.5uwa/es82 (you don't need both), an 8.8mm uwa/es82, and the 24swa/es68. If you get all crazy fiddly like many of us do, and want the ability to go in-between magnifications, a 6.7mm UWA/es82, or 7mm nagler (type1 can be found for lower price, sometimes as low as $100), and a 14mm UWA/es82, or 15mm celestron axiom lx or luminos are good compliments, and you might not want to have nothing between the 8.8 and the 24. The 13mm type 6 nagler is the Uber premium option but very expensive. I would not suggest the massive 13mm type 1 nagler or older version meade series 4000 14mm eyepieces for that plastic focuser, stick to the smaller ones. Some might say that is overkill, but if you get a chance to go to a star party and try any of these, and can appreciate the well corrected wider fields, consider it an investment as you will use them as you upgrade to a bigger dob. If you go to an SCT, the 4.7/5.5 will be at the theoretical limit of those f10 scopes, but the other ones are all very usable, especially the 8.8, 13/14/15 and 24mn. If you just want a lower power, brighter view than the 25mm, a 32mm plossl is a good choice, and you don't need an expensive one, a $30-40 celestron omni or orion Sirius plossl is a good one. They are also the widest field in a 1.25" eyepiece, but at 52degrees instead of 68, same true field but at a brighter, lower power. Also consider long eye relief, more moderate 60deg field eyepieces, which are available in many brands and price points, as a lower cost alternative to the 82deg eyepieces in the higher powers, that also have more eye relief than the 82deg eyepieces. Such as the celestron x-cel LX series, and other brands of "long eye relief planetary" eyepieces as they are typically referred to. But me personally, I like the really wide stuff, and only break out the low power plossls when I need a bigger exit pupil than is possible with the lowest power widefield for the given focuser size of the scope I am using. 32plossl 24 5kSWA/es68/panoptic 15mm AxiomLX/luminos OR 14mm 5kUWA/es82 OR 13mm Nagler6 8.8mm 5kUWA/es82 7mm Nagler 1 or 6 OR 6.7mm 4k or 5kUWA /es82 5.5mm 5kUWA OR 4.7mm 5kUWA (there is a 4kUWA and a 4.8 nagler1, but both of these have very short eye relief and are not very comfortable) 4k= meade series 4000 5k= meade series 5000 ES82/ES68 = explore scientific 82 and 68 degree series. Axiom LX and luminos are celestron's 82 degree offerings, the axiom LX was the same optics as the ES/5K, the luminos is not quite as good but close enough for government work.
Love your nice, reasoned reviews, Ed! Two quick questions about this scope if you are still reading the comments. Firstly, does this new EQ Mount convert to alt az mode like the older ones? Secondly, is the finderscope in a standard dovetail mount? I have a very nice right angle finder scope that I would like to put in there. Thank you!
You could technically set the altitude axis to zero degrees and use it as an alt az mount. I'd just leave it as is. The finder mount is what I call the "cheap standard". It's the one that appears on the Starblast. You can always drill your own holes for your finder.
Thanks for your videos! what is your recommendation if one has to chose between a 6” f8 vs a collapsible 6” f5. Eg Apertura AD6 vs Sky-watcher heritage 150p. Objective is to view Messier objects and also travel around via a 3 row SUV
Great video for beginners like me, I’m looking for my first telescope and this was the video I was looking for. I have one question for you, I live 30 miles away from a city and on the light pollution map I am bright red, is that gonna have a heavy effect on my viewing?
Any light pollution will degrade the images you see through the telescope. Start with the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. Those are bright enough to burn through. There are some bright deep sky objects that will show up under mild light pollution, like the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula. For best results, get to the darkest location possible.
Ed, can you please recommend an eyepiece upgrade for this telescope? I’ve watched your eyepiece video but I believe this telescope falls pretty shy of the focal length you based your recommendations on in that video. Please!
My usual recommendation is not to buy anything for a while. The eyepiece is not your bottleneck here, it's usually the mount that causes you frustrations. If you must, replace the stock eyepiece with a TeleVue 25mm Plossl or a 19mm Panoptic. As you grow, those eyepieces will stay with you.
What is your opinion of the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope? Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge and experience with us. Your videos are awesome and very informative.
The space probe has the same optics as the nexstar 130, vixen r130, and the awb130 and skywatcher 130. A consistently decent set of objects. But the mount is a little on the undersized end, being an eq2
Hi Ed. Great video! I am looking for a a beginner telescope. Would you recommend this over a 6 inch dob? With this scope being about half the price I am not sure what to get.
The 2 inch eye pieces on the dob are great! You'll love the huge field of views you'll get from a 25mm eye piece. Just point it around some constellations and enjoy the amazing sky Remember to keep your finder eye piece oriented straight up from the scope. That will help as you slew it around tracking from a constellation star towards an object off to one side or the other. Try turning the finder and you'll probably notice its more difficult. Just a beginner tip I figured out but it could be a me thing.
Thank you so much for the video. I am hoping of gifting this to my 10 year old nephew. Just a quick question- would he be able to see the Saturn rings through it. I feel that is a fascinating image and gets you hooked. Also, is (134”) too big to carry in a suitcase to a airplane flight? Thank you so much for the video!
Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons are no problem. Forget about taking it on a plane. The idea of an airline portable scope is a big debate. The problem isn't the optical tube, it's the mount. You saw the size of the shipping carton, right?
I've been curious if the Gskyer refractors are of similar quality to the Orion short tube 80. The mount doesn't seem terrible and it would be nice to find a kit so i don't have to track down a set of rings. They are both in the department store junk price range though. Are they worth looking at? Either the 80mm or the 90.
Currently it is at a good price, around 210 dollars or if you like to save more at 170 if you buy it used, it sounds very tempting, unfortunately because of where I live (Chile) I highly doubt that I can Bring it, if I could because Amazon according to my location is not available (like most equipment) importing it costs between 150 dollars more, for the moment I have been able to see options in my area and I have been able to find a copy of Meade's starblast 4.5, so I think I will go for it as my first telescope (its mount will improve it of course)
@@edting I kept looking for almost the entire day for pages that sell in my country, the truth is I was surprised by the low number of telescopes to start with that are worth it, the prices leave a lot to be desiredAmong what I could see related to was an Orion Skyscanner 100 mm but with a high price (in used sales I found it for 105 dollars), Bresser I could not find and konus about 2 60 mm refractors, for the moment I think I'm getting together for this Orion Star blast (Meade) I liked the price although it may vary (it is used), But if it's sold and the ad was still there, I'll look for a second option.
Great review Mr Ting. Although the price point is fantastic I will be purchasing the Orion Starblast 4.5 as a first scope for an eight year old. I believe the height will serve him better, appears slightly more portable, comes with a better initial finder scope, and he will not have the frustrations of learning the EQ mount as a beginner. I do have a question regarding the Orion Starblast 4.5 with its 450mm focal length. I plan to purchase a couple plossl eyepieces. A 10mm for a 45x magnification and would you have a recommendation between 5mm @ 90x magnification and a 3mm @150x magnification for moon/planetary viewing? Although I am aware Tele Vue eye pieces are the gold standard I will be looking for a mid tier eye piece in the "everything else category" Or Would you recommend different focal length eyepieces altogether? I have researched the library program (unfortunately, we do not have anyone offering this in my city) with this scope, and many are modified with a zoom eyepiece. Would this be the preferred method over two individual eyepieces?
Good job getting the Starblast. A couple of thoughts: 1) That thing is really low to the ground. Even a kid will need it boosted. You will need something steady and will need to watch to see the scope doesn't get pushed off. This is your major challenge (I'll note the Orion 134 avoids this problem entirely). 2) Don't get the 5mm/3mm eyepieces. That is way, way too much magnification. Neither the optics nor the mount can support that kind of power. I wouldn't buy anything for now. The eyepiece is rarely your bottleneck in the beginning. If you must, a TeleVue 20mm Plossl is a good replacement for the stock Kellner and won't break the bank.
If I'd have bought something like this instead of that shaky scope I sent back I'd probably still have it. Agena Astro has a 1.25 Crayford focuser by GSO for $95 for a 150mm tube that should be able to be fitted with a little tape to stop light encroachment to replace the plastic one. if it's too short just screw the glass element out of a cheap Barlow to extend it if you already have one, but extensions are fairly inexpensive anyway.
Hello once again, I am planning to make a solar filter for this telescope with a proper solar film and some cardboard papers, how safe would you say this is?
Does anyone have a suggestion for an upgrade to the plastic focuser? I foresee smacking this thing off the tube the first time I move it from storage location to the drive way 😆
Hi Ed. Have you done any reviews of the Celestron Nexstar SLT series of telescopes? I bought the Nexstar 130 SLT as my "Starter" telescope and have been happy with it in general. It does have a fair bit of vibration when focusing which you just learn to live with. I am curious to know what you think about this series of scopes.
The SLT is a cheaper version of the NexStar se, and if you've followed me here you know I have mixed-to-positive feelings about the whole NexStar series. The SLTs and ETXs have typical lower-end Goto problems - pointing accuracy and long-term reliability. I'm curious, does your SLT always find every object you ask it to find? If so, does it always place the object in the center of the field of view in a low power eyepiece, or is it off to the side?
@@edting I have really liked it. Although lately I am having trouble getting it to align. Once I do get it aligned it tracks well and gets the object I am slewing to pretty close to the center of my 25mm eyepiece. I am going to check for updated firmware and see if that helps. The other issue I am having is the direction buttons on the controller seem to be wearing out. I may need to get a new controller, unless you know of a way to "reset" the buttons so that they respond to the firs touch. I have to press them multiple times to get the scope to move.Other than that I am very happy with it. I do want to get an SCT at some point though.
I am astronomy lover since my childhood and I want to start looking at sky with a toll as I had been looking it using naked eyes and a app but I wanna upgrade. I have low bidget of 200 - 230 $ so what telescope do you prefer and can I buy one from Amazon. Also I live in such a city where there's too much smoke in winter while I travel from city to city too. (Empty highways are population less)
They might be expensive but far cheper than a decent camera these days i mean you can get a 10 dob inch reflector far cheaper than aps-c camera with kitlens, so for a tube that size of 10 its a bargain compared to photo kit of the same size. However i cant seem to find anything in the night sky since im a beginnner, its just a sand to my eyes.
I have a question: What can you recommend for a decent amount that won't break the bank? For this particular telescope, The mount that comes with this 134 is horrible waggles way too much.
Actually the 134's mount is quite good for the money. Keep in mind all mounts will wiggle, even the $20,000 ones. Previous versions of budget scopes use EQ1 or EQ2 style mounts which are much worse than the one on the 134.
Nice review Ed. How about doing a video (if you have not already) that adds 2 dimensions to the "which scope" question? The dimensions I'm referring to are the questions of what kind/age of person are we talking about and how will the scope be used? Some people are "learners" who enjoy a challenge and will power through difficult problems. Some people LIKE to do things the hard way and want to spend months/years learning to find faint smudges. They don't need/want a GOTO. Some people are "status aware" who need a Dob to maintain their status as a hip dude amongst their astro club. Some are "socializers" who have family/friends around them and might need a scope with a motor drive to keep objects in view. Sometimes, looking at how people buy/use other toys offers a big clue to their type. IMO, many people who offer advice assume that everyone has their personality type.
Could you please please please do a review of the 114mm version of this telescope I’ve been looking at it thinking about buying it but I don’t know if it’s worth it
It's the same mount with a shorter, faster optical tube on top. People tell me it's OK. Keep in mind, at f/4 your margin of error and tolerances get very tight.
Thanks for the vid, I can't seem to find this scope in the USA or Canada. What else would you recommend for a beginner, I wouldn't mind spending an extra $100 to $150 for something that'll last a few years before upgrading.. I'm in Canada but don't mind buying from the US.. thanks
Orion shocked everyone by suddenly closing their doors a few weeks ago. If you're looking for a good starter scope, see if you can find a 6" or 8" Dob in your area.
All that stuff comes from the same 2-3 places in China. The differences are not great. Just get one. I'll answer your next question too - don't buy any accessories. There's plenty to keep you busy for a long time. Stay away from silly colored filters, barlows, high power eyepieces, etc.
Hi Ed I’m returning to astronomy I am trying to choose between a Sky-Watcher Dob 8 inch a XT8 and a Bresser messier 8 inch Dob I have reduced mobility So looking to not move it much which one of these do you think would you choose the prices are all around the £350-450 mark Cheers Simon 🇬🇧
Ed, thank you for sharing your knowledge in this great hobby. ChatGPT says the following regarding the plastic focuser: Yes, there are several aftermarket focusers available in the marketplace that could potentially offer better performance or features compared to the stock focuser on the Orion Observer 134. Companies like Moonlite, Feathertouch Starlight Instruments, and Baader Planetarium, among others, produce high-quality replacement focusers designed to improve precision, smoothness, and stability during focusing. Before purchasing a replacement focuser, it's essential to ensure compatibility with your specific telescope model and to consider factors such as load capacity, fine-focus capability, and ease of installation. Additionally, reading reviews and seeking advice from fellow astronomers or forums can help you make an informed decision based on your needs and budget. Ed, . you probably are already aware of this information, but I wanted to get your feedback. Thanks again for your hard work and all that you do and have an awesome day, sir!
Two of my favorite budget apos are the Astro-Tech AT72 (either version) and the Orion ED80 (check for clones). Reviews of both are on this channel. Keep in mind, the purchase of any good refractor begins with the mount. Have that sorted away before buying the optical tube.
Hey Ed I was wondering if you could help me troubleshoot this issue. When I point my finder scope lets say Jupiter it doesn’t show up on the telescope. What problem and my having? and what do I need to do? Thanks for the help.
You need to align the finder to the telescope. Do this in the daytime. Aim at a distant object like the top of a telephone pole and keep adjusting the 6 screws on the finder bracket until everything is lined up. I show this in the video.
I ordered one of these on July 22 through Amazon. Still says it hasn't shipped from Orion, so I assume the rumors of Orions demise have not been exaggerated.
@@edtingyes, that is what I usually do. And have spotted a lot of objects this way. However a few months ago I was wanting to see a comet. And with the RA and Dec coordinates I wanted to point the telescope to the exact spot. But didn't know how to use them.
The tall focuser concerns me. To illuminate the field wouldn’t a tall focuser require a larger secondary which in turn would have a more deleterious effect on the visual image. Also the rings appear to be plastic, but whatever, glad to see it at least has rings and dovetail as standard. Thanks for evaluating the mount, the EQ-1’s usually supplied are just very poor, have not seen one that was not sloppy.
There was another guy on youtube who reviewed this and HATED the mount, for reasons like the dec slo mo not following the ota and it being hard to reach the control in some positions. He had the knobs wrong, the long one on the ra and the short one on the dec. I was SCREAMING inside. But of course this guy has comments turned off on all his videos. There has never been a shortage of bad information on the internet unfortunately. And dunning kruger makes very convincing arguments to their uninformed audience
Not sure why an equatorial is so bad for a starter, I started with an eq, with zero exposure to one, and loved it. As he stated, stick with it a couple sessions and you will get it. Took me just a few min to figure it out
@@johnmarler6735 very young beginners should be taught by a parent or relative. they need someone with more knowledge to teach/guide them in astronomy.
Hi Ed, yesterday I asked for your opinion about starting this hobby with the Orion Observer 134 you just reviewed and recommend . But today 11/19/23. I actually bought it from your link. Now I see that Costco is offer the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ with Eyepiece Kit & Smartphone Adapter for $200. Do you have an opinion on the Celestron Astromaster 130EQ?
Thanks. So I'm going with the 134 from your link. Does it make sense to buy the two quality eyepieces you recommend now and use them on the little 134? @@edting
You didn't specify which mount you are using. At these lower price ranges, your enjoyment of the scope is mostly determined by how easily the mount moves. My guess is by the time you get a suitable mount under that refractor, you are going to wind up spending way more than $249.
My wife got me this model for Christmas after I showed her this video. I wanted a "little more" (like 2" eye piece capable) but so far I am very excited she got it! It looks & feels way more expensive than it is... and it is Ed Ting approved!! I am 62 yrs old and have always wanted a telescope since I was a kid. Wifey got sick of hearing it and pushed me in! The mount is amazing from a beginner standpoint. I have not used it yet as it is still too cold in MI for a newby to venture out but I am even more anxious for warmer weather. The finder scope is cheap plastic & was cross threaded and scewed but I think it's ok now. If not I will replace it with a red dot. I am going straight ahead and replacing the eye pieces now before spring... I have old eyes and wear glasses so I want some mid grade decent ones. Thanks so much Ed for all the videos, inspiration and info... you got me in!!! 😁
SvBony makes some decent budget eyepieces that are pretty good. I picked the 68 degree ultra wide angle(with the red rings) from amazon. I have the same scope as well. I also replaced the finder scope with the SvBony SV182 which I haven't had a chance to try yet but I think the right angle diagonal will be much more comfortable to use.
Absolutely incredible to see a beginner recommendation that isn't a dobsonian. It's definitely nice to not have to deal with the height problems associated with all the smaller "tabletop" dobs, and it's exciting they've somehow made a light-ish weight equatorial mount that isn't god-awful. The fact that the scope uses standard rings and vixen plate is a great touch too at this price point, no idea how they managed to cram that in instead of just bolting a plate of some sort directly to the tube.
Celestron 102AZ is a great beginner scope (Alt-az, no collimation required, but chromatic aberration making high power on Jupiter and Saturn disappointing).
I love just seeing those massive Meades standing in the corner just like “ONE MORE REVIEW ED AND THEN WE WILL LET YOU LEAVE!!”
I got one a year ago and loved it. And one thing you can do to get a more stable tripod is to remove the extended legs and open the top cap to fill it up with gravel that you can get at a gardening department, to get a heavier tripod. Another thing is that the included tripod and mount pairs extremely well with smaller scopes.
Thanks for the idea. I added a hook to the bottom of the eyepiece tray and hang a grocery bag with 4 cans of beans to help stabilize it. This helps to get the vibration to subside quickly.
This baby just came in the mail! It looks beautiful, and I’m very excited for a clear night. Did have to collimate from the shipping experience, and it took only a minute or two. Love Orion scopes. Thanks Ed for your channel, it’s excellent.
You are a genuinely good soul. Thanks Ed
Always a good day when Mr Ed uploads! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Hi Ed. Nice review, and it looks like an excellent first telescope for a beginner. One extra thing you could talk about, especially in reviews of equipment for beginners, is the quality and usefulness of any manual that is supplied with the instrument. Having a good set of clear instructions for assembly and use can save a lot of trouble and worry for someone who isn't familiar with telescopes.
What a surprise! Bought mine a year ago. Suggestions, adjust the focuser tension, get a large plastic clip from Hobo Freight and put on the knob for finer adjustments. Dump the 10mm and get a 2x Barlow. After setting up, tighten the Allen bolts in the tripod legs. reduces wiggle. Would love to upgrade the focuser, but could not find anything decent or cost effective. I'll live with it until I upgrade the whole scope.
Thanks for the great review ed! Me and my dad have been watching your videos and they have informed my decision to buy this scope very nicely. Thanks for being a great influence on the hobby.
This is actually on sale right now for $210. That's just insane. It's cheap enough that I'm honestly concerned about things like worker and environmental conditions in its manufacture. Do we have any idea who Orion has making this thing in China?
That thought crossed my mind too. In today's inflationary environment the price of this product has (at least temporarily) gone down 25%. Wow.
Hey Ed, can you suggest some eyepieces for upgrade? Im purchasing this telescope as I type this.
Try the included eyepieces for a while. This will give you an idea of what focal lengths you like. I would then recommend a Celestron X-cel LX of your size preference for ~$100. They are excellent for the money and not too heavy. A heavy top of the line eyepiece will probably not stay steady in that focuser. @@mikess308
Thats not cheap😢
@@baileyslater2599 For a good telescope these days it is
Long focuser means 2 things:
- Secondary mirror (obstruction) is bigger, compared to if the focuser was usual
+ It's possible to replace standard long plastic extension with some thread adapter(s) to screw t-ring and (probably) reach focus with a DSLR
Exactly my though!
Around 4 years ago I purchased my first and only telescope (SpaceProbe 130ST) and I needed to move the primary mirror which is not an easy task for an inexperienced person. This new telescope could make that way easier just like you said, cheaper and with a better mount!
Another amazing review Ed! I've been watching your reviews all day😂
I think a short tube refractor is a good option for a kid or a beginner. For people on a very tight budget Explore Scientific makes the Explore Firstlight 90×500mm Alt-Az refractor that is a really decent scope for an incredibly cheap price. I picked one years ago for around $160. It's definitely not a high-end scope, but to get someone started in the hobby it is great for some wide field views while casually observing, and learning the basics.
2:10 - it would have been interesting to see a side by side image comparison between the 90 mm refractor and this Newton telescope.
Enjoy your videos, this one is no exception. My only concern with this setup is the EQ mount. Alt-Az is a much better option for beginners.
Yes. The problem here is the industry has completely abandoned us by not producing a quality alt-az mount in the ultra-budget category. Look at the lower end of the Orion catalog. The alt-az mounts are all flimsy yoke mounted junk.
@@edtingsir,
I'm in India and here ,no orion scopes are available.
Skywatcher is available but at double prices
A worthy opponent of this scope(orion134) which you reviewed is
A startracker(indian brand) 130/650 it's mount is okayish and has a spherical mirror .
It needs a barlow for prime focus
Other than that
A explore scientific 130/600 Parabolic mirror and prime focus without barlow attachment is available at prices cheaper than usa😅.
Could you please see it it has eq3
Explore scientific 130/600 nanoeq3
Thank you
I own one of these. Fairly nice low cost Newtonian reflector. I bought the right ascension motor for it. Both cost me $319 at Amazon. Motor drive works really well if the scope is properly aligned. Main problem with the rig is you have to use a Barlow lens to gain focus with a ZWO ASI183mc camera. Secondary problem is lack of standard finder scope mount. I had to jury rig to add a standard mount and add a 90 degree 9x50 finder scope. Tired of wresting with the equitorial mount, so I placed it on a Sky Watcher AZ GTi go to mount.
I agree with the EQ comment. There are so many options (AZ GTi, etc., manual Alt-AZ, and I think Starsense Explorer really opens the sky to beginners).
Yeah, for some reason, they didn't use the standard dovetail mount for the finder scope. The extension legs on the tripod also get a bit wobbly. Otherwise, decent size scope for the price.
@@skiinggator Don't know about extension legs. Always do my sky watching sitting down and never extend legs on any tripod.
@@skiinggator ((I have a Gators Ski Club patch on an old jacket of mine))
I just bought one and found I was spoiled by my old 70 mm refractor with a goto mount. I've learned so much in one night. I made some mistakes, I have to re-align my finder, and I have to calibrate my spotting circles as well since they're a bit loose.
That is why I sold my Starblast. You always need a platform from which to observe, which complicates the use to the point where you might as well pair it to a standard mount. Otherwise you are relegating into using picnic tables and park benches or milk crates that are not at all stable enough to use.
Yes. The older I get, the less tolerant I have become for tabletop telescopes. But that's me. Others do not mind.
@@edting I love tabletop telescopes, well the mounts anyways. I have a Skywatcher Merlin tabletop mount that's a good display for my Celestron 90 SLT. I also got a Skywatcher Heritage 130p for £30. It got sold cheap on eBay because the previous owner accidentally cracked the mirror but £30 for its mount was a steal and now "displays" my upgraded Skywatcher ST80 refractor. Yes they suck for astronomy but the mounts are both handy for display purposes and useful if you want to point your refractor out of the window for daytime terrestrial viewing with a correct image 45 prism. Still for looking up I still intend to start with a Porta ii or Twilight 1 mount.
OK inexpensive 90mm refractor sparks my interest. Easy to pack and if it falls off a cliff I won't have tendency to jump after it.
First 'serious' scope - the Celestron NexStar 5SE, no question. The industry's hidden gem. Even comes with a built in wedge - something very few talk about.
I use the 5SE mount for my solar scope and it’s brilliant. My night time scope is the C8. For my money, the very best hobbyist scope you can buy if you don’t want a gigantic dob.
@@MikeLikesChannel Hi Mike. Yeah, a Nexstar 8 got me back into the hobby years ago, they're a great package. Light, portable, 8", and GoTo. If I had to go down to one scope (God forbid!), I'm not sure if I'd go Nexstar or dob. Both are so versatile.
I can't recommend a GOTO scope for a complete beginner, personally. I'd rather the beginner learn how to use a telescope manually than rely on something automated to do everything for them. Not to mention GOTO scopes tend to have errors and issues eventually that create problems to problem solve. I'd say either go with a scope like this or a 6 inch dobsonian if you have more money to spend.
I disagree. A beginner's first fault is wanting instant gratification. The 5SE provides enough 'guaranteed' sights to fuel the continued interest in the hobby. In addition, the 5SE is not the best GOTO scope on the shelf; and, working with that wedge takes some education and discipline...continuing the education process. I would never recommend a dobsonian for a beginner's first scope. Simply because of the size. You aren't taking that out in the field unless you own a car. One would hope that one's astronomy interest is sparked at an age prior to reaching the age to legally drive. Lastly; any one interested in the night's sky typically has spent enough time studying charts and maps before making that first purhase that I think the train of thought that the first scope be manually navigated is overkill.@@JCW86
Thanks so much for the recommendation! I'm complete new to this hobby. Last telescope I had was the one I built with two lens and a badminton ball tube almost 40 years ago. I bought it based on your suggestion a few days ago, and like almost everything about it! One thing I have to point out though, the finder scope bracket I got is different from the one in the video. The one I got is make out of rough cast iron. The issue is the bottom part the sits on the tube, it's not smooth, and won't sit flat on the tube. No matter how tight I turn the screws, i can move the scope without trying too hard! I was able to fix it by adding two strips of thick double sided "magic tapes" between the bracket and the tube. Maybe I'll replace the bracket or the entire finder scope some day.
This happens all the time, especially at the lower price points. There's often no consistency from what comes out of China. You get whatever they decide to ship that day.
Just made a link to this review in my review of the Orion Spaceprobe 130mm Reflector.
Ed. You are a legend.
You've delivered again, as always. Another great comprehensive review!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. I think I'll purchase this telescope!
it looks like celestron powerseeker 127eq but much better
😂
Fantastic video. Thank you very much. I am looking for a telescope for my son currently and this is perfect. Checks all the boxes.
I ended up grabbing the 114 version just for the mount and the mounting rings for my homemade refractor. But I will definitely use the scope as well.
Your review is encouraging. I'm a beginner and I borrowed a 6" Orion Dobsonian. I have back problems and probly couldn't lift more than 10 lbs. If the scope is 20 lbs it has to come apart easily. I've been leaning toward the Starblast but this one looks good and the aperture is a bit larger!
Between the Starblast and the 134, get the 134. With the Starblast you will constantly be searching for something to set it on. You won't have that problem with the 134.
@@edting I just bought the 134! It's lightweight & easy to put together. Haven't got too far with the EQ mount yet. I understand how it works, I just don't know how to find stuff yet.
Just bought the last one from Amazon! 1st telescope
Nice. Someone just told me they just bought one off Orion's "clearance" section for $174. Wow.
There's a 'knock-off' version of this as well in 152mm (6 inch), which is quite nice for the price.
it's definitely on the upper limit of what the mount will handle though.
Just ordered one on Amazon for $210.00 based on your review. Will report how it works out
$210, great deal!
Yes, thanks. What eyepieces would you recommend as an upgrade@@edting
Just received mine today👍
Used it for the first time last night, actually the first time using a telescope.The EQ mount took some time to figure out. I just set the latitude didn't actually polar align it yet and it was good enough to test it. Only viewed Jupiter and was pleased with the results. I could see some banding on Jupiter but no detail of course. Started with the 25mm eyepiece and switched to the 10mm for a better view. I am pleased, have much to learn, thanks Ed. @@edting
I have the little brother to this scope, the 114mm and I love it. So light and portab[e with great optics. My only complait is it has 2 scews instead of a vixen base plate for the finder scope. Otherwise a great scope.
Thanks for that. I'm hoping to get my hands on the 114 mm to compare to this one.
I paid $200 for mine when it first came out a few months back. Now it's on sale for $149 with the same mount as the 134mm. A true bargain!@@edting
What's the diff between the 2? Im a beginner and looking to buy one for my 10 year old she's been begging for one since she was 8
I have the smaller one which is much lighter and perfect for a child.@@janjaf844
Hey Ed, looking for a comparison review between the Observer 114 and the Starblast 114. Noticed they have lightly different focal ratios. f4.4 vs f4. Since there are no 1.25" coma correctors that I know of, I'm guessing the f4.4 might be the better option.
Get the Observer, because it has a better mount. Remember, in a cheap scope, it's all about the mount.
Looks like a great scope to begin with Ed. First thing i would do is put a red dot finder on it and put that piece of cp fiinder back in the box it comes in and forget about it. Love my 6 inch Star Blast. Get to sit comfortable at my old age. May have to get one if the price is right. Looking for a 8 inch Apertura though.
I'm glad you liked it, but I just can't recommend a manual EQ mount for a beginner - or anyone, really. Yeah, this one is nice, and boy is it cheap, and that's really good. But the EQ mount is unnecessarily complicated for a beginner. An alt-az mount is sooo much easier and completely intuitive.
On the other hand, $209 for the OTA alone is a great price.
agree
I've only used a dob, it looks like the eq mount you need to dial in the angle based on your latitude? Do you adjust that also as the earth axis changes over the seasons?
T@@holdfastjoe8841 , Unless you move up or down miles from your location the latitude setting does not change.
show me a decent Alt-az mounted reflector for $250 or less lol. you can convert this EQ mount to an AZ one reasonably quickly also.
@@JCW86 I can't; it doesn't exist, as you know. However, I say that an EQ mount is a hobby-killer, so what are you really saving here?
Why not the updated 130ST? I always believe the original 130ST EQ is the king of ultra budget EQ Newt kit. (Starblast II EQ's EQ1 mount is totally unacceptable IMO.) And now there is a updated version. It finally has a dovetail. It comes with a red dot finder rather than the small finder scope which can be quite hard to use. And as long as the modernized Eq2 is as good as Orion's older Eq2, it is fine. I don't believe so-called EQ3 is meaningfully stronger. Even the slow-mo knobs (which, if I remember right Ed you hated them a lot) are "larger knobs with short and hard stems" style which I feel is much better. The tripod legs are finally stainless steel tube style. Even the tripod spreader and tray is of much better quality than what Observer 134 has. They are a bit more expensive at $280 but Orion officially refurbished ones are $210+$10. Any thoughts on this one?
I’ve been watching your other videos where you recommend that 8 inch dobsonian….. I have found some for around 200-300 dollars used and was thinking of getting one but now I just saw this video. My goal is to be able to look at planets and some deep space stuff eventually working my way into astrophotography. This looks like something I can build towards that in the future vs the dobs… I’m sure your bombarded with questions and appreciate any recommendations. One other item my 6 year old is REALLY into space , blows me away with stuff he spits out on galaxy types names and even star types… pretty advanced for his age and I’m pretty sure he would like to look at those also so need to keep it kid friendly. One of my observations is the height of these things are not friendly for little kids. Also he’s done moon stuff with a tiny department student grade that causes more dissatisfaction than enjoyment so I really want something he can use too.
No debate on this one - get the Dob. This Orion 134 is a budget scope and can't compete.
Aww I can not find where to buy this telescope in Australia 😢
Not a fan of equatorial mounts for beginners, not very intuitive. Can it be setup in alt-az mode?
yes it can. you can look up how to adjust an EQ mount to AZ setup on youtube.
Im a newbie and just got this telescope about a week ago based of Ed’s review. Ive had it out 4 times now and have a few suggestions.
-Loctite the counterweight bolt
-add a round pencil eraser into the hole for the counterweight then tighten down the set screw. (The polished bolt will allow the counterweight to spin/loosen/jiggle without the eraser)
-put about 4-5 drops of loctite into the socket of the fine tune knobs before installing, this will essentially epoxy the tune knobs on but a MAJOR source of bounce and shake comes from these never getting tight. I also gave the set screws about 1/16 of a tighten past finger tight with pliers. Theyre rock solid now.
-adjust the focuser tension screws so theyre looser then stock and place tape over them so they wont fall out. I also sprayed a qtip with silicone and very lightly ran a small amount around the focuser tube then worked in and out a few times and its now buttery smooth vs the sticky squeeky way it was out of the box.
I've been playing with mine too. My main issue right now is the tension on the RA and Dec axis locks. They're either too tight or they're too loose. If you make them too tight, they eventually work their way loose and things can flop over. Has anyone come up with a solution?
@@edting Hey Ed! Maybe try a wrap of teflon tape to the threads to make things a little tighter tolerance and prevent them from backing out. I did have the telescope flop over once myself but i chalked it up to inexperience. Ill pay more attention to things after this.
Id like to thank you for all your videos! Theyre excellent. Thank you very much!
Someone else suggested replacing the stock bolts with nylon-tipped ones to prevent the "bone-on-bone" feeling when tightening them down.
Very cool. It looks very similar to my first telescope, the 130 mm Meade Polaris.
Ed, have you considered reviewing the Celestron Omni AZ 102 available at Costco for $220? 4" achromat with slow mo alt az mount. Has 2" focuser too. I picked one up last year for $160 during Black Friday. Seems to be a good deal to me. Also since it's at Costco, it's readily available to lot of folks and they may wonder if it's good.
Yep, those are my recommendation for best scope for beginners (under $250). They're capable and easy to use, and far more portable than a dob (my general recommendation is an 8" dob, especially if they come up for sale cheap on craigslist)
do you see any false color on things like the moon, jupiter, saturn?
all you see is false color on Jupiter and Saturn :) Jupiter washes out at 40x or so, Saturn a little better. But enough to see moons and two bands on Jupiter and the rings. It's really the one thing the scope does not do well.
@@JCW86
@@JCW86yes, there will be false color. A fringe filter can help, but gives a yellow tint, more expensive filters like the baader semi apo are an option, but they aren't very cheap
Just gained a subscriber friend.
On the off chance you see this: Can you suggest something small enough to take camping? I have a 7 year old boy and his interest in stars begins and ends at the fact that we can see them at night. But it's fun when we're camping and there's not a lot else to do. It needs to be portable and sturdy enough to not break with bumps that come with traveling in the car.
The issue with any travel scope isn't the optical tube, it's the mount. That's where people get tripped up. Good, steady mounts are not light or portable. If you can find and Orion Starblast it might work but you have to find something to set it on.
So I know entry level scopes at this size tend to have cheap and plastic focusers to keep costs down but it would be nice to know that such a recommended scope has an ability to have the focuser upgraded to a better metal one possibly with dual speed control. The only other times I have seen reflectors of this size with upgraded focusers are on cloudy nights and stargazers lounge forums with a SW 130 PDS and Intes reflector being upgraded with moonlite focusers. If this could have the focuser upgraded it's something I would personally consider. If not I would probably save up a bit more for Orion's 6 inch f4 Newtonian or anything else that was similar. But that's just me. Having said that, Ed Ting speaks a lot of sense so if this is his new default recommendation then you could do worse than not get one. Especially if you are just starting out. As an astronomy enthusiast myself I am subscribed to lots of channels that deal with this subject but of all of those channels then I tend to find Ed as interesting to watch as Carl Sagan. Yes, he's that good.
Unfortunately, there's no reflector I know of under $350 that has a metal focuser. And that price is for the OTA only, no mount included. This telescope and mount are selling for $209 currently, which is practically a steal nowadays.
Would you say this one i sbetter than the Sky-Watcher Heritage 150p Tabletop Telescop ?
I like the 134 better because you don't have to find something to set it on.
It's not fair being poor and loving telescopes. I can't afford what I want - a 7" Mak or C8 on a go-to mount, and upgraded eyepieces (2), and possibly an upgraded focuser and Barlow. So here's my latest question; Could I start my imaginary hobby (I doh't have anything yet) with this telescope, and along with it buy the upgraded 2 or 3 eyepieces now? Then months from now, if all goes well, upgrade the mount, then later yet, upgrade the scope?
If you really love telescopes and don't have much money then do what I did. It was only a year ago I bought a second hand Skywatcher ST80 from eBay. It sat lowly on a camera tripod mount but week by week, month by month I added to it just by winning eBay auctions for this item and that item. Now it has a dual speed focuser, a side mounted 60mm guide scope converted into a right angled finder scope/mini telescope with the aid of a 2x Barlow to achieve focus. A 1.25" and 2" William Optics Durabrites also won in auctions for less than half there normal cost, laser pointer, William Optics red dot finder. It's fun spending time building it up over time and like you I am not actually flush with cash. I have what I have now through patience and building everything up slowly. If you just want something half decent to look up into the night sky then eBay is the place to find a bargain but do research what is being sold on eBay before you get anything as Ed would say there are a lot of junk scopes out there and a lot will end up on eBay just for that reason. Find out through recommendations what is a goer and keep an eye on eBay listings but don't be too keen to just get the first one that comes along. I remember once having some extra once in a blue moon cash once and spent £199 on a winning eBay auction for a Baader Hyperion MK4 zoom. A week later another was sold in auction for half that amount. I was gutted I didn't wait and that taught me patience. Some old timers spend their entire lives putting their gear together so don't be disheartened and just get what you can when you can 😁👍
Great review. How much shimmy in the scope when using the slow-motion contol?
I wish you had tried some beginner photography with a phone mounted over the eye piece. Maybe a follow-up video. Beyond most beginners, IF I had this scope (or any scope), I would try photo stacking, and the manual slow motion would allow keeping the object in frame for a few minutes.
I would like to know if the mount is good to use for other scopes even a bit heavier? Reason: for the price you get a good mount and when you get a better similar type scope or something else if you can re-use the mount it makes it really worth it!
The main attraction of the mount is it's much better than what you normally find at this price point. But it's far more likely the opposite will happen - you'll remove the optical tube and put it on an even better mount.
@@edting Suggestions for an upgraded mount? I am now partial to the EQ mount. Also do you think that upgrading the plastic tube rings would help with the wobble?
Ed's link to Amazon shows a price of $209!
$209, wow!!!
Hi Ed,
Hope you are well. just wanted to ask what would some better eyepieces be for this telescope. I just got my first telescope 2 months ago (Orion 130st eq) and it came with the same 10mm and 25mm eyepieces. What would you recommend as upgrades to those?
The equatorial mount did take a few nights of getting used to but I must say it was worth the slight hardship now that I figured it out.
Thanks,
Phil
Right now, don't buy anything. The eyepiece is rarely your bottleneck in the beginning. Keep using the scope and in a year or so you'll know what you need, and won't be needing any advice from me. Keep going!
Much Appreciated! I think the biggest thing is getting to an area of low light pollution. Here in southeast Connecticut it’s fairly bright.
Any suggestions on viewing spots here in the northeast?
Excellent advice!!!@@edting
When you are ready to upgrade I suggest the explore scientific 24mm 68degree or televue 24 panoptic, which give the maximum field of a 1.25" eyepiece and are sharp to the edge (the televue being a little better than it's es clone), es prices are a lot higher than they used to be, but meade used to sell the series 5000 swa which had the same optics as the explore scientific, which is unfortunately now the exclusive source for that particular eyepiece series. A used meade will cost considerably less.
I also suggest any version of the meade 8.8mm UWA, and the 5.5mm or 4.7mm UWA. That seems like a super high power eyepiece, but at around f5 it is not too high of a magnification, as it would be on a cassegrain, or long tube refractor or reflector. I think they are discontinued, but can be found used.
I used to have the 5.5, and found it to be very comparable to a type 6 nagler, at least when using it with my 7mm type 6 nagler, it was the same quality of view and comfortable eye relief, just at a higher magnification. Many say the 5mm nagler is a star in the series, and in that case might slightly edge out the 5.5mm meade, but I only had a 7 at the time.
All of my gear was stolen so I don't have them anymore, but I do now have a 4.7mm which was the older version with the same optics as es82 degree, and it is a decent performer, also a copy of the type 6 nagler design like the es82 are in the smaller focal lengths. The larger ones seem to be more like the type 5 naglers, but those are 2" and irrelevant to the orion 134.
A really nice set for that scope would be a 4.7 or 5.5uwa/es82 (you don't need both), an 8.8mm uwa/es82, and the 24swa/es68.
If you get all crazy fiddly like many of us do, and want the ability to go in-between magnifications, a 6.7mm UWA/es82, or 7mm nagler (type1 can be found for lower price, sometimes as low as $100), and a 14mm UWA/es82, or 15mm celestron axiom lx or luminos are good compliments, and you might not want to have nothing between the 8.8 and the 24.
The 13mm type 6 nagler is the Uber premium option but very expensive. I would not suggest the massive 13mm type 1 nagler or older version meade series 4000 14mm eyepieces for that plastic focuser, stick to the smaller ones.
Some might say that is overkill, but if you get a chance to go to a star party and try any of these, and can appreciate the well corrected wider fields, consider it an investment as you will use them as you upgrade to a bigger dob. If you go to an SCT, the 4.7/5.5 will be at the theoretical limit of those f10 scopes, but the other ones are all very usable, especially the 8.8, 13/14/15 and 24mn.
If you just want a lower power, brighter view than the 25mm, a 32mm plossl is a good choice, and you don't need an expensive one, a $30-40 celestron omni or orion Sirius plossl is a good one. They are also the widest field in a 1.25" eyepiece, but at 52degrees instead of 68, same true field but at a brighter, lower power.
Also consider long eye relief, more moderate 60deg field eyepieces, which are available in many brands and price points, as a lower cost alternative to the 82deg eyepieces in the higher powers, that also have more eye relief than the 82deg eyepieces. Such as the celestron x-cel LX series, and other brands of "long eye relief planetary" eyepieces as they are typically referred to.
But me personally, I like the really wide stuff, and only break out the low power plossls when I need a bigger exit pupil than is possible with the lowest power widefield for the given focuser size of the scope I am using.
32plossl
24 5kSWA/es68/panoptic
15mm AxiomLX/luminos
OR
14mm 5kUWA/es82
OR
13mm Nagler6
8.8mm 5kUWA/es82
7mm Nagler 1 or 6
OR
6.7mm 4k or 5kUWA /es82
5.5mm 5kUWA
OR
4.7mm 5kUWA (there is a 4kUWA and a 4.8 nagler1, but both of these have very short eye relief and are not very comfortable)
4k= meade series 4000
5k= meade series 5000
ES82/ES68 = explore scientific 82 and 68 degree series.
Axiom LX and luminos are celestron's 82 degree offerings, the axiom LX was the same optics as the ES/5K, the luminos is not quite as good but close enough for government work.
Love your nice, reasoned reviews, Ed! Two quick questions about this scope if you are still reading the comments.
Firstly, does this new EQ Mount convert to alt az mode like the older ones?
Secondly, is the finderscope in a standard dovetail mount? I have a very nice right angle finder scope that I would like to put in there.
Thank you!
You could technically set the altitude axis to zero degrees and use it as an alt az mount. I'd just leave it as is. The finder mount is what I call the "cheap standard". It's the one that appears on the Starblast. You can always drill your own holes for your finder.
Thanks for your videos! what is your recommendation if one has to chose between a 6” f8 vs a collapsible 6” f5. Eg Apertura AD6 vs Sky-watcher heritage 150p. Objective is to view Messier objects and also travel around via a 3 row SUV
Great video for beginners like me, I’m looking for my first telescope and this was the video I was looking for. I have one question for you, I live 30 miles away from a city and on the light pollution map I am bright red, is that gonna have a heavy effect on my viewing?
Any light pollution will degrade the images you see through the telescope. Start with the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. Those are bright enough to burn through. There are some bright deep sky objects that will show up under mild light pollution, like the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula. For best results, get to the darkest location possible.
Awesome, thanks for the response
Ed, can you please recommend an eyepiece upgrade for this telescope? I’ve watched your eyepiece video but I believe this telescope falls pretty shy of the focal length you based your recommendations on in that video. Please!
My usual recommendation is not to buy anything for a while. The eyepiece is not your bottleneck here, it's usually the mount that causes you frustrations. If you must, replace the stock eyepiece with a TeleVue 25mm Plossl or a 19mm Panoptic. As you grow, those eyepieces will stay with you.
@@edting thanks so much!
What is your opinion of the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope? Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge and experience with us. Your videos are awesome and very informative.
That should be OK. I prefer this Observer 134 though.
The space probe has the same optics as the nexstar 130, vixen r130, and the awb130 and skywatcher 130. A consistently decent set of objects.
But the mount is a little on the undersized end, being an eq2
Can you do a review of the redcat 51?
That's a lengthy review! I'm not sure I'm up to exploring all its possibilities.
Ed, is the primary mirror parabolic or spherical ?
The manual says it's parabolic.
I’m getting my first telescope and don’t want a big dob to start with. Would you start with this or the starsense explorer dx 130az?
A 6" or 8" is still miles ahead of this scope. If you have the money, get the Dob.
Hi Ed. Great video! I am looking for a a beginner telescope. Would you recommend this over a 6 inch dob? With this scope being about half the price I am not sure what to get.
No, get the Dob. This is an ultra-budget alternative for those who cannot afford to spend more. It is flawed but it will get the job done.
The 2 inch eye pieces on the dob are great! You'll love the huge field of views you'll get from a 25mm eye piece. Just point it around some constellations and enjoy the amazing sky
Remember to keep your finder eye piece oriented straight up from the scope. That will help as you slew it around tracking from a constellation star towards an object off to one side or the other. Try turning the finder and you'll probably notice its more difficult. Just a beginner tip I figured out but it could be a me thing.
Thank you so much for the video. I am hoping of gifting this to my 10 year old nephew. Just a quick question- would he be able to see the Saturn rings through it. I feel that is a fascinating image and gets you hooked. Also, is (134”) too big to carry in a suitcase to a airplane flight?
Thank you so much for the video!
Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons are no problem. Forget about taking it on a plane. The idea of an airline portable scope is a big debate. The problem isn't the optical tube, it's the mount. You saw the size of the shipping carton, right?
I've been curious if the Gskyer refractors are of similar quality to the Orion short tube 80. The mount doesn't seem terrible and it would be nice to find a kit so i don't have to track down a set of rings. They are both in the department store junk price range though. Are they worth looking at? Either the 80mm or the 90.
is this portable inside a suitace plz answer.
Hi ed. for a 550€ budget (It's going to be my second telescope) should i get an 8inch dob? or maybe a 150/750 from omegon? help me please.
If it's your first scope, I will always recommend the 8" Dob!
Currently it is at a good price, around 210 dollars or if you like to save more at 170 if you buy it used, it sounds very tempting, unfortunately because of where I live (Chile) I highly doubt that I can Bring it, if I could because Amazon according to my location is not available (like most equipment) importing it costs between 150 dollars more, for the moment I have been able to see options in my area and I have been able to find a copy of Meade's starblast 4.5, so I think I will go for it as my first telescope (its mount will improve it of course)
Check to see if you have similar/clone models where you are. Bresser, Konus, etc often brand label the same products.
@@edting I kept looking for almost the entire day for pages that sell in my country, the truth is I was surprised by the low number of telescopes to start with that are worth it, the prices leave a lot to be desiredAmong what I could see related to was an Orion Skyscanner 100 mm but with a high price (in used sales I found it for 105 dollars), Bresser I could not find and konus about 2 60 mm refractors, for the moment I think I'm getting together for this Orion Star blast (Meade) I liked the price although it may vary (it is used), But if it's sold and the ad was still there, I'll look for a second option.
I don’t suppose there is an equivalent in the UK?
That's a good question. I don't know what they're selling in the UK...
Great review Mr Ting. Although the price point is fantastic I will be purchasing the Orion Starblast 4.5 as a first scope for an eight year old. I believe the height will serve him better, appears slightly more portable, comes with a better initial finder scope, and he will not have the frustrations of learning the EQ mount as a beginner.
I do have a question regarding the Orion Starblast 4.5 with its 450mm focal length. I plan to purchase a couple plossl eyepieces. A 10mm for a 45x magnification and would you have a recommendation between 5mm @ 90x magnification and a 3mm @150x magnification for moon/planetary viewing?
Although I am aware Tele Vue eye pieces are the gold standard I will be looking for a mid tier eye piece in the "everything else category"
Or
Would you recommend different focal length eyepieces altogether? I have researched the library program (unfortunately, we do not have anyone offering this in my city) with this scope, and many are modified with a zoom eyepiece. Would this be the preferred method over two individual eyepieces?
Good job getting the Starblast. A couple of thoughts: 1) That thing is really low to the ground. Even a kid will need it boosted. You will need something steady and will need to watch to see the scope doesn't get pushed off. This is your major challenge (I'll note the Orion 134 avoids this problem entirely). 2) Don't get the 5mm/3mm eyepieces. That is way, way too much magnification. Neither the optics nor the mount can support that kind of power. I wouldn't buy anything for now. The eyepiece is rarely your bottleneck in the beginning. If you must, a TeleVue 20mm Plossl is a good replacement for the stock Kellner and won't break the bank.
If I'd have bought something like this instead of that shaky scope I sent back I'd probably still have it.
Agena Astro has a 1.25 Crayford focuser by GSO for $95 for a 150mm tube that should be able to be fitted with a little tape to stop light encroachment to replace the plastic one. if it's too short just screw the glass element out of a cheap Barlow to extend it if you already have one, but extensions are fairly inexpensive anyway.
210 with a free microscope, so tempting!
Hello once again,
I am planning to make a solar filter for this telescope with a proper solar film and some cardboard papers, how safe would you say this is?
Does anyone have a suggestion for an upgrade to the plastic focuser? I foresee smacking this thing off the tube the first time I move it from storage location to the drive way 😆
Thank you.
Hi Ed. Have you done any reviews of the Celestron Nexstar SLT series of telescopes? I bought the Nexstar 130 SLT as my "Starter" telescope and have been happy with it in general. It does have a fair bit of vibration when focusing which you just learn to live with. I am curious to know what you think about this series of scopes.
The SLT is a cheaper version of the NexStar se, and if you've followed me here you know I have mixed-to-positive feelings about the whole NexStar series. The SLTs and ETXs have typical lower-end Goto problems - pointing accuracy and long-term reliability. I'm curious, does your SLT always find every object you ask it to find? If so, does it always place the object in the center of the field of view in a low power eyepiece, or is it off to the side?
@@edting I have really liked it. Although lately I am having trouble getting it to align. Once I do get it aligned it tracks well and gets the object I am slewing to pretty close to the center of my 25mm eyepiece. I am going to check for updated firmware and see if that helps. The other issue I am having is the direction buttons on the controller seem to be wearing out. I may need to get a new controller, unless you know of a way to "reset" the buttons so that they respond to the firs touch. I have to press them multiple times to get the scope to move.Other than that I am very happy with it. I do want to get an SCT at some point though.
I am astronomy lover since my childhood and I want to start looking at sky with a toll as I had been looking it using naked eyes and a app but I wanna upgrade. I have low bidget of 200 - 230 $ so what telescope do you prefer and can I buy one from Amazon. Also I live in such a city where there's too much smoke in winter while I travel from city to city too. (Empty highways are population less)
Ed. What are your top two 20” dob brands
Maybe JMI or somebody will consider making an upgraded focuser (and finderscope adapter?) for this scope?
JMI has not really been in business for a long time and many of their products are now permanently out of stock.
i'd look at agena astro for some possibly parts upgrades
They might be expensive but far cheper than a decent camera these days i mean you can get a 10 dob inch reflector far cheaper than aps-c camera with kitlens, so for a tube that size of 10 its a bargain compared to photo kit of the same size. However i cant seem to find anything in the night sky since im a beginnner, its just a sand to my eyes.
Another worthy contender is the Antares 511AZ.
I have a question: What can you recommend for a decent amount that won't break the bank? For this particular telescope, The mount that comes with this 134 is horrible waggles way too much.
Actually the 134's mount is quite good for the money. Keep in mind all mounts will wiggle, even the $20,000 ones. Previous versions of budget scopes use EQ1 or EQ2 style mounts which are much worse than the one on the 134.
how do you set the latitude?
Nice review Ed. How about doing a video (if you have not already) that adds 2 dimensions to the "which scope" question? The dimensions I'm referring to are the questions of what kind/age of person are we talking about and how will the scope be used? Some people are "learners" who enjoy a challenge and will power through difficult problems. Some people LIKE to do things the hard way and want to spend months/years learning to find faint smudges. They don't need/want a GOTO. Some people are "status aware" who need a Dob to maintain their status as a hip dude amongst their astro club. Some are "socializers" who have family/friends around them and might need a scope with a motor drive to keep objects in view. Sometimes, looking at how people buy/use other toys offers a big clue to their type. IMO, many people who offer advice assume that everyone has their personality type.
Could you please please please do a review of the 114mm version of this telescope I’ve been looking at it thinking about buying it but I don’t know if it’s worth it
It's the same mount with a shorter, faster optical tube on top. People tell me it's OK. Keep in mind, at f/4 your margin of error and tolerances get very tight.
Thanks for the vid, I can't seem to find this scope in the USA or Canada. What else would you recommend for a beginner, I wouldn't mind spending an extra $100 to $150 for something that'll last a few years before upgrading.. I'm in Canada but don't mind buying from the US.. thanks
Orion shocked everyone by suddenly closing their doors a few weeks ago. If you're looking for a good starter scope, see if you can find a 6" or 8" Dob in your area.
@@edting Thanks for the reply, there are a lot of Dobsonian telescopes, what brand would you recommend or avoid?
All that stuff comes from the same 2-3 places in China. The differences are not great. Just get one. I'll answer your next question too - don't buy any accessories. There's plenty to keep you busy for a long time. Stay away from silly colored filters, barlows, high power eyepieces, etc.
@@edting Thank you very much for taking your time to help me out, I've been looking at the Sky watcher 8 inch
Hi Ed I’m returning to astronomy I am trying to choose between a Sky-Watcher Dob 8 inch a XT8 and a Bresser messier 8 inch Dob I have reduced mobility So looking to not move it much which one of these do you think would you choose the prices are all around the £350-450 mark
Cheers
Simon 🇬🇧
All that stuff comes from the same place. Pick the one that's in stock, that offers the best deal, or (if all else fails) which one looks best to you.
@@edting thanks Ed 👍🏼😊
134mm, not 130, not 127. Hmm. Kind of odd for Orion. I suppose it is better than 133.5mm.
Ed, thank you for sharing your knowledge in this great hobby. ChatGPT says the following regarding the plastic focuser:
Yes, there are several aftermarket focusers available in the marketplace that could potentially offer better performance or features compared to the stock focuser on the Orion Observer 134. Companies like
Moonlite,
Feathertouch
Starlight Instruments, and
Baader Planetarium, among others, produce high-quality replacement focusers designed to improve precision, smoothness, and stability during focusing.
Before purchasing a replacement focuser, it's essential to ensure compatibility with your specific telescope model and to consider factors such as load capacity, fine-focus capability, and ease of installation. Additionally, reading reviews and seeking advice from fellow astronomers or forums can help you make an informed decision based on your needs and budget. Ed, . you probably are already aware of this information, but I wanted to get your feedback. Thanks again for your hard work and all that you do and have an awesome day, sir!
What would you say is the best refractor telescope without color aberration for beginners?
Two of my favorite budget apos are the Astro-Tech AT72 (either version) and the Orion ED80 (check for clones). Reviews of both are on this channel. Keep in mind, the purchase of any good refractor begins with the mount. Have that sorted away before buying the optical tube.
Cheapest option would be a newtonian reflector of some sort. More expensive option is an APO refractor.
Hey Ed I was wondering if you could help me troubleshoot this issue. When I point my finder scope lets say Jupiter it doesn’t show up on the telescope. What problem and my having? and what do I need to do? Thanks for the help.
You need to align the finder to the telescope. Do this in the daytime. Aim at a distant object like the top of a telephone pole and keep adjusting the 6 screws on the finder bracket until everything is lined up. I show this in the video.
@@edtingthanks!
Is this is a good telescope for deep space? I would like to start on astrophotography
This is a basic telescope intended to teach you the night sky, and how to use a telescope and how to see.
With Orion's store and office closure can we safely order from Orion?
That is a very good question. We've all been talking about it all weekend long. Let's see what the following days bring...
@@edting Website is down.
I ordered one of these on July 22 through Amazon. Still says it hasn't shipped from Orion, so I assume the rumors of Orions demise have not been exaggerated.
@@terrygreen9745 You were wise to use Amazon as they will get you a refund.
Amazon finally cancelled it last night. Ordered a skymax 102 instead. Should be fun to learn with.
I own this telescope. Bought it a few months ago. I still don't understand how to find objects using the Dec and RA circle.
Can anyone help?
Ignore the setting circles. Visually star hop your way across the sky (having a planisphere or app helps).
@@edtingyes, that is what I usually do. And have spotted a lot of objects this way.
However a few months ago I was wanting to see a comet. And with the RA and Dec coordinates I wanted to point the telescope to the exact spot. But didn't know how to use them.
The tall focuser concerns me. To illuminate the field wouldn’t a tall focuser require a larger secondary which in turn would have a more deleterious effect on the visual image. Also the rings appear to be plastic, but whatever, glad to see it at least has rings and dovetail as standard. Thanks for evaluating the mount, the EQ-1’s usually supplied are just very poor, have not seen one that was not sloppy.
Is it a birds jones ???
Heck no! I would never recommend a Bird-Jones scope.
Ok thank You very much
There was another guy on youtube who reviewed this and HATED the mount, for reasons like the dec slo mo not following the ota and it being hard to reach the control in some positions. He had the knobs wrong, the long one on the ra and the short one on the dec.
I was SCREAMING inside. But of course this guy has comments turned off on all his videos.
There has never been a shortage of bad information on the internet unfortunately. And dunning kruger makes very convincing arguments to their uninformed audience
How would you rank telescope brands (manufacturers)?
I personally don’t think EQ mounts are good for beginners. I didn’t use one until I was 1 year into telescope experience
It's a better than a cheap a-z mount.
Especially very young beginners
Not sure why an equatorial is so bad for a starter, I started with an eq, with zero exposure to one, and loved it. As he stated, stick with it a couple sessions and you will get it. Took me just a few min to figure it out
@@mudbuckets8902 "Anecdotal evidence is evidence of nothing."
@@johnmarler6735 very young beginners should be taught by a parent or relative. they need someone with more knowledge to teach/guide them in astronomy.
Hi Ed, yesterday I asked for your opinion about starting this hobby with the Orion Observer 134 you just reviewed and recommend . But today 11/19/23. I actually bought it from your link. Now I see that Costco is offer the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ with Eyepiece Kit & Smartphone Adapter for $200. Do you have an opinion on the Celestron Astromaster 130EQ?
Astromasters and Powerseekers are junk! See my review of the Powerseeker 127.
Thanks. So I'm going with the 134 from your link. Does it make sense to buy the two quality eyepieces you recommend now and use them on the little 134? @@edting
Comparing this to an 100mm f6 refractor, which one would be better on visual astronomy
You didn't specify which mount you are using. At these lower price ranges, your enjoyment of the scope is mostly determined by how easily the mount moves. My guess is by the time you get a suitable mount under that refractor, you are going to wind up spending way more than $249.
I just find nearly any newtonian on an eq mount to be too much of a pain.. especially for beginners..
Thankfully you can convert an EQ mount to an AZ in less than a minute.