Trying to buy a telescope in NZ

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gished

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#115119 14-Mar-2013 13:00

Have any other geekzoners bought a telescope recently in NZ? I'm looking around for a beginners one but the prices just seem over the top compared to what can be purchased in the States for the same amount. I also tried going after a cheap second hand one on Trademe recently and was outbid by a telescope dealer!

It's kinda frustrating trying to get into this hobby.

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#781573 14-Mar-2013 13:00

Hmmmm. Here we go.

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

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gished

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#781578 14-Mar-2013 13:04

PeterReader: Hmmmm. Here we go.

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#781595 14-Mar-2013 13:15

PeterReader probably took offense to "TradeMe" in that post ;)

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#781625 14-Mar-2013 13:35

trademe

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#781626 14-Mar-2013 13:36

I am interested too, what type to get is a tad confusing. Its one of those items that you can get one that seems good, only to find out later that I should have got another.

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#781632 14-Mar-2013 13:48

I wouldn't mind getting one too, so I'll wait and hope someone coems buy with some useful advice.

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#781637 14-Mar-2013 13:53

I know very little about telescopes but I do know that that there are various types and what you plan to use it for determines the type you should buy. Some types that are good for, say, birdwatching may be no good for astronomy.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

NonprayingMantis

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#781640 14-Mar-2013 13:55

One thing I have learned is not to buy a cheap one.

If you just want to get into astronomy at a beginner's level (look at constellations, the moon, Jupiter etc), buying a good pair of high powered binoculars will get you much better bang for buck than one of the cheapo circa $100-200 telescopes

surfisup1000

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#781653 14-Mar-2013 14:09

gished: Have any other geekzoners bought a telescope recently in NZ? I'm looking around for a beginners one but the prices just seem over the top compared to what can be purchased in the States for the same amount. I also tried going after a cheap second hand one on Trademe recently and was outbid by a telescope dealer!

It's kinda frustrating trying to get into this hobby.

I'm afraid it is difficult to get a good price in NZ - I ended up buying one from the USA while travelling through.

It was about 50% the cost of buying one in NZ from memory.

I also bought a decent quality microscope from the US for about 1/4 of the NZ price for the next model down!!!!

Unfortunately some of the decent manufacturers place shipping restrictions on their products sold in the US.

Good luck, but, it's a fairly niche product unfortunately.

timmmay

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#781654 14-Mar-2013 14:10

Why not just import one?

surfisup1000

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#781658 14-Mar-2013 14:14

timmmay: Why not just import one?

Manufacturer import restrictions usually.

At least when I bought one, Meade woudn't export out of the US.

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#781664 14-Mar-2013 14:19

NonprayingMantis: One thing I have learned is not to buy a cheap one.

If you just want to get into astronomy at a beginner's level (look at constellations, the moon, Jupiter etc), buying a good pair of high powered binoculars will get you much better bang for buck than one of the cheapo circa $100-200 telescopes

Truth Speaker

Got a 900mm Reflector from DSE some years back, good for basic stuff. But thats as far as it goes.

The barlow kit that come with it are unusable (plastic extension tubes that dont allow focus)

And it wobbles like a mofo. Even with a big chunky counter weight and stand due to the gearing not being too flash its only really good for spotting, and infact it was designed for the northen hemisphere, so when you turn it around and try to use it here for aligning, the rotating knob gets in the way of the base and the guides don't match the RA readings you get for our skies.

DSOs are visible, but not clear and move to fast out of view, if you bump it with your eye.. it's too small to keep static.

Good for moon watching :)

Theres a SkyLab office in CHC (antigua St) who ship nationwide. But those dinky "nature discoveries" shops still can get the smaller motorised units etc if need be. (skylab appears to = nature discoveries pure telescope outlet)

gished

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#781666 14-Mar-2013 14:20

surfisup1000:
timmmay: Why not just import one?

Manufacturer import restrictions usually.

At least when I bought one, Meade woudn't export out of the US.

From what I've read Celestron are the same and this probably explains why I can't find an international seller on Amazon.

I did contemplate using buyusa or the nzpost equivalent, but then it is a fragile item and if it broke in transit may be difficult to return.

[edit: I'm having a typing issues today]

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#781817 14-Mar-2013 17:49

NonprayingMantis: One thing I have learned is not to buy a cheap one.

If you just want to get into astronomy at a beginner's level (look at constellations, the moon, Jupiter etc), buying a good pair of high powered binoculars will get you much better bang for buck than one of the cheapo circa $100-200 telescopes

I always understood that binoculars (and monocular telescopes) were no good for astronomy because the prism/s screw up small and bright images. I thought you need reflector or refractor for astronomy.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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#781846 14-Mar-2013 18:51

I agree with that totally. There are many so called 'astronomical telescopes' on the market that are not really fit for purpose because of inadequate optics -- and mostly do not let sufficient light to be effective. It is not hard to find useful information on how to choose the most suitable type for you needs. This link is particularly good:

http://www.universetoday.com/13665/binoculars-for-astronomy/

I have used all kinds of kit from an old pair of East German Zeiss 10 X 50 binoculars to a computerised Meade 8 inch mirror telescope. A good maxim is if it takes two people to comfortably set up a telescope up it halves the chance of it ever being used. A lot of pleasure can be had by simply starting off with a good pair of binoculars, a sturdy tripod and a reasonably priced book of star charts to help find your way round the night sky .

There also some useful apps for iPad and Android: http://pocketuniverse.info/

Hope this helps

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