Excellent video, concise and clear, just what newcomers to the confusing world of telescopes need. I get the impression you’re a fan of refractors and after years of owning a reflector I might just buy a refractor myself.
So many recommend an 8in Dobsonian as a first scope. I agree with you that a refractor is easier to start out with. I think size is an important consideration. If it's big you might not want to take it out. Great video. Clear skies.
Yes two thumbs up for the video, i am happy to see everyone in the hobby is not against us who want to just step out the door and look at the planets and be happy. I bought an Astromaster 90AZ because of my budget and need for a reasonably priced hobby. i do not plan to get into astrophotography or want to take a light bucket 50 miles away from the city either. have fun and keep it simple🙂
I'm using a dob 16" newtonian reflector for visual use according to his proprties in collecting and gathering a lot of light quickly. I'm using a 6,3" refractor for astrophotography according to my local seeing vs image scale.
Very well explained, in a simplified way. I was not sure if I should get the Dobsonian or a refractor as my first telescope. I would really like you to do a video on which Refractors are best in each price point. I personally would rather spend more to get a low maintenance, easy to use telescope.
He Says,You Put Em Different Mounts,All Bets Are Off😂😂😂,I Learned With A 114LCM And Neximage 10 About 4 Years Ago From Santa,The Family Has Grown😂Then Recently Got The AR102/ f9.8..Its Really Different Than The 114,And Ne atar 6se,And My Mak90(Grab And Go) and Have The Evoguide50 ed..Great Video.Have a Great Day And Clear Skies❤️🙏🏻✨🌏
Very informative. Thank you. I noticed your very nice Lunt 60/500, but couldn't find a video in your list where you review it. I'm thinking of starting solar astronomy, and would be very interested to learn from your experiences...
Thanks for the great video. I have a question. Is their magnification in the objective lens. I don't think there would be but I'm not sure. One more question if you would please. The opening in eye pieces how can you specify the largest opening. I bought an eye piece and the hole was about an 1/8 of an inch, very hard to use. I have been away from telescopes for years and I'm thinking of buying a telescope. Thank you!
Get a long eye relief eyepiece. Sounds like you have an 8mm Plossl EP with short eye relief. I have a 6mm orthoscopic EP made for planet viewing or double stars, but it has a small peep hole and 5mm eye relief and 42 degree fov. I also have a 6mm EP wide angle with a 62 degree field of view. Don't over power your scope and get wide angle EPs if you need them. My 102 refractor I seldom take to its maximum of 204x because often the seeing conditions don't cooperate. If you're looking at the Moon close up and it is shimmering backoff the power until it cools down, but if it is still shimmering the atmosphere isn't very good for seeing so back off the magnification. If the stars are twinkling a lot it means seeing conditions are not great. If your focal length is 750 for instance a 10mm EP will give you 75x and a 5mm will give you 150x. Divide the focal length of the scope by the EP's focal length. So a 26mm will give you 29x good for searching the sky to find your objective.
If you had to pick between 2 telescope one beeing StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ refractor and the other StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ reflector wich one would you pick, I have been month still cant decied please help me out
Only question I have left after watching your excellent video, is an Apo refractor overkill for visual use only? How distracting is color fringing of a medium speed achro?
In a long focal length refractor, it is very minimal during visual use and most noticeable on the brightest objects. The cheap, shorter f ratio refractors will suffer much more. It is there that an apo is most beneficial but probably 10 to 20x more expensive. I usually stick with f8 to f10 refractors but I absolutely love my Bresser ar102s comet seeker model that is no longer made. Very excellent sharp wide angle views from an inexpensive scope. What is most unusual about it is it has a built in diagonal mirror and a reflector like focuser I converted to also use 2" eyepieces. I don't notice the chromatic aberration in my low power views at dark sights.
Overkill? Well that depends on how much time you expect to spend using it and what your budget is. For shorter refractors, the APO would be nice when looking at the moon, brighter stars, etc. Longer focal lengths substantially reduce the need for an APO. You could also get a good achromat and one of these amzn.to/3pPKKYR which does a remarkably good job considering. It certainly won't turn an achromat into an APO, but for the money, it is pretty nice.
If you had to pick between 2 telescope one being StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ refractor and the other StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ reflector wich one would you pick, I have been month still cant decide please help me out.
The number one rule of picking a telescope is which one will you be the most likely to use. For me, that is a refractor. I like the simplicity, the faster cool down, the lack of a need to collimate it, etc. the larger reflector will possibly allow you to see a little more detail, but for me, that tiny bit more detail is not worth all the pain in the rear. Now if you were comparing an 8” dobsonian to that 102az refractor, we might have more to talk about.
I'm wanting to get a new telescope but I'm on the fence between the Celestron omni xlt 102 and the Orion Astroview 120ST. Both are on equatorial mount. The Celestron is 1000mm focal length and the Orion is 600mm focal length
Both are excellent scopes for visual use. The Orion would be a better choice for wide field and the Celestron for smaller areas. Personally I would take the celestron as I think I would get more use out of it. I love the moon and smaller clusters so that would fit right in.
@@AllanHall the one from Orion is no longer available I've thought about either the Celestron Omni XLT 102 or the 120. Ed Ting says the 120 is getting too heavy for the mount
@@jimconnoy6133 I would go for the 120 personally. Ed is correct, the 120 is hitting the limit of the mount, but if your scope is very well balanced (that’s up to you) and you observe in low wind conditions it should not be a problem. I have done a lot of viewing on a 127mm refractor on a similar mount and not had much trouble. If we were talking astrophotography, which neither of those scopes are suited for, then I would opt for something smaller on that mount.
@@AllanHall i just do visual astronomy. The astrophotography requires stuff that I can't really afford right now. Plus I just don't have the inclination for it
That depends on what you consider short, and what you want to do with it. My go-to answer is the Orion 80mm scopes for a beginner oriented scope. They have an OTA version amzn.to/3IGXMA1 and a different one if you are looking for a complete observing package amzn.to/3lYvxDc and those are both f5-f6 ish. For something nicer, I really like the www.highpointscientific.com/orion-80mm-ed-f-6-cf-triplet-apo-refractor-ota-09534 but that is a huge price jump. Williams Optics and Takahashi both offer scopes in that price range that are excellent.
What do you consider expensive? You can get some really nice visual telescopes for under $1,000 which isn’t bad for something you could potentially use for 30 or more years. Have you priced golf clubs, hunting rifles, good bicycles, or even tablets lately? Clear skies!
highly underrated video, explains a lot of things I had no idea about... really a great great video.
Excellent video, concise and clear, just what newcomers to the confusing world of telescopes need. I get the impression you’re a fan of refractors and after years of owning a reflector I might just buy a refractor myself.
So many recommend an 8in Dobsonian as a first scope. I agree with you that a refractor is easier to start out with. I think size is an important consideration. If it's big you might not want to take it out. Great video. Clear skies.
Great info! Thank you so much! 😊
Very well explained!
Yes two thumbs up for the video, i am happy to see everyone in the hobby is not against us who want to just step out the door and look at the planets and be happy. I bought an Astromaster 90AZ because of my budget and need for a reasonably priced hobby. i do not plan to get into astrophotography or want to take a light bucket 50 miles away from the city either. have fun and keep it simple🙂
Really helpful video. Thanks 👍
Informative and concise.
I'm using a dob 16" newtonian reflector for visual use according to his proprties in collecting and gathering a lot of light quickly.
I'm using a 6,3" refractor for astrophotography according to my local seeing vs image scale.
Beautifully and clearly done. Thank you for this informative video.
Very well explained, in a simplified way. I was not sure if I should get the Dobsonian or a refractor as my first telescope. I would really like you to do a video on which Refractors are best in each price point. I personally would rather spend more to get a low maintenance, easy to use telescope.
Good explanation of refractors, Thanks
Awesome! I was doing it all wrong. Still cant see crap with the 80mm but great for bird watching. 😂
Great presentation. Thank you
He Says,You Put Em Different Mounts,All Bets Are Off😂😂😂,I Learned With A 114LCM And Neximage 10 About 4 Years Ago From Santa,The Family Has Grown😂Then Recently Got The AR102/ f9.8..Its Really Different Than The 114,And Ne atar 6se,And My Mak90(Grab And Go) and Have The Evoguide50 ed..Great Video.Have a Great Day And Clear Skies❤️🙏🏻✨🌏
Very informative. Thank you. I noticed your very nice Lunt 60/500, but couldn't find a video in your list where you review it. I'm thinking of starting solar astronomy, and would be very interested to learn from your experiences...
well explained. thanks for the videos.👍🔭✨🌙
Thanks for the great video. I have a question. Is their magnification in the objective lens. I don't think there would be but I'm not sure. One more question if you would please. The opening in eye pieces how can you specify the largest opening. I bought an eye piece and the hole was about an 1/8 of an inch, very hard to use. I have been away from telescopes for years and I'm thinking of buying a telescope. Thank you!
Get a long eye relief eyepiece. Sounds like you have an 8mm Plossl EP with short eye relief. I have a 6mm orthoscopic EP made for planet viewing or double stars, but it has a small peep hole and 5mm eye relief and 42 degree fov. I also have a 6mm EP wide angle with a 62 degree field of view. Don't over power your scope and get wide angle EPs if you need them. My 102 refractor I seldom take to its maximum of 204x because often the seeing conditions don't cooperate. If you're looking at the Moon close up and it is shimmering backoff the power until it cools down, but if it is still shimmering the atmosphere isn't very good for seeing so back off the magnification.
If the stars are twinkling a lot it means seeing conditions are not great. If your focal length is 750 for instance a 10mm EP will give you 75x and a 5mm will give you 150x. Divide the focal length of the scope by the EP's focal length. So a 26mm will give you 29x good for searching the sky to find your objective.
Great video, thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Well done!
If you had to pick between 2 telescope one beeing StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ refractor and the other StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ reflector wich one would you pick, I have been month still cant decied please help me out
I Just Recently Got The AR102/1000😂Its Different From My 6se,Mak90,and My Evoguide 50ed,Thats For Sure
Well done video!!!
Only question I have left after watching your excellent video, is an Apo refractor overkill for visual use only? How distracting is color fringing of a medium speed achro?
In a long focal length refractor, it is very minimal during visual use and most noticeable on the brightest objects. The cheap, shorter f ratio refractors will suffer much more. It is there that an apo is most beneficial but probably 10 to 20x more expensive. I usually stick with f8 to f10 refractors but I absolutely love my Bresser ar102s comet seeker model that is no longer made. Very excellent sharp wide angle views from an inexpensive scope. What is most unusual about it is it has a built in diagonal mirror and a reflector like focuser I converted to also use 2" eyepieces. I don't notice the chromatic aberration in my low power views at dark sights.
Overkill? Well that depends on how much time you expect to spend using it and what your budget is. For shorter refractors, the APO would be nice when looking at the moon, brighter stars, etc. Longer focal lengths substantially reduce the need for an APO.
You could also get a good achromat and one of these amzn.to/3pPKKYR which does a remarkably good job considering. It certainly won't turn an achromat into an APO, but for the money, it is pretty nice.
If you had to pick between 2 telescope one being StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ refractor and the other StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ reflector wich one would you pick, I have been month still cant decide please help me out.
The number one rule of picking a telescope is which one will you be the most likely to use. For me, that is a refractor. I like the simplicity, the faster cool down, the lack of a need to collimate it, etc. the larger reflector will possibly allow you to see a little more detail, but for me, that tiny bit more detail is not worth all the pain in the rear. Now if you were comparing an 8” dobsonian to that 102az refractor, we might have more to talk about.
4:48 did you mean Schott glass?
Yup, forgot that pesky h, lol. Nice catch!
I'm wanting to get a new telescope but I'm on the fence between the Celestron omni xlt 102 and the Orion Astroview 120ST. Both are on equatorial mount. The Celestron is 1000mm focal length and the Orion is 600mm focal length
Both are excellent scopes for visual use. The Orion would be a better choice for wide field and the Celestron for smaller areas. Personally I would take the celestron as I think I would get more use out of it. I love the moon and smaller clusters so that would fit right in.
@@AllanHall the one from Orion is no longer available
I've thought about either the Celestron Omni XLT 102 or the 120. Ed Ting says the 120 is getting too heavy for the mount
@@jimconnoy6133 I would go for the 120 personally. Ed is correct, the 120 is hitting the limit of the mount, but if your scope is very well balanced (that’s up to you) and you observe in low wind conditions it should not be a problem. I have done a lot of viewing on a 127mm refractor on a similar mount and not had much trouble. If we were talking astrophotography, which neither of those scopes are suited for, then I would opt for something smaller on that mount.
@@AllanHall i just do visual astronomy. The astrophotography requires stuff that I can't really afford right now. Plus I just don't have the inclination for it
@@jimconnoy6133 Plenty of other people have and are making pretty pictures but only you see through your own eyes looking through a telescope.
What short tube 80 do you recommend?
That depends on what you consider short, and what you want to do with it.
My go-to answer is the Orion 80mm scopes for a beginner oriented scope. They have an OTA version amzn.to/3IGXMA1 and a different one if you are looking for a complete observing package amzn.to/3lYvxDc and those are both f5-f6 ish.
For something nicer, I really like the www.highpointscientific.com/orion-80mm-ed-f-6-cf-triplet-apo-refractor-ota-09534 but that is a huge price jump. Williams Optics and Takahashi both offer scopes in that price range that are excellent.
Why are Telescopes so expensive 😕 can they not find a way to lower the cost of making lens.
What do you consider expensive? You can get some really nice visual telescopes for under $1,000 which isn’t bad for something you could potentially use for 30 or more years. Have you priced golf clubs, hunting rifles, good bicycles, or even tablets lately? Clear skies!
340 like :D