A load of Astronomy gear in Lidl

Here ya go.....

www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20071210.index

www.lidl.ie/ie/home_ni.nsf/pages/c.o.20071210.index

Keith...

Bresser Messier R-102 Refractor Telescope

Is it just me or does 329 lids for a non-motorised achromatic refractor not seem like such good value? My opinion, the skylux is oodles better value.

Also I notice David Hinds is selling the C4-R for 189STG (about 263euro). Just food for thought.

so what are "anti-fog" hunting binoculars ??

Bresser Messier R-102 Refractor Telescope

Is it just me or does 329 lids for a non-motorised achromatic refractor not seem like such good value? My opinion, the skylux is oodles better value.

Also I notice David Hinds is selling the C4-R for 189STG (about 263euro). Just food for thought.

There's a big gap between a 70mm objective and a 102mm. The 70mm objective has 3848.45 square mm of light gathering area versus 8171.28 square mm for the 102mm, which is a 2.1 times difference. The Dawes Limit of the 70mm is 1.65 seconds of arc compared to 1.14 for the 102mm, and the maximum practical magnification for a 70mm achromat is generally held to be 140x versus 204x for the 102mm. Add to that 3 Plossls, a Barlow, a nice illuminated reticle finderscope, a polar scope and a sturdier tripod as opposed to the low cost accessories with the Skylux and you can see where the price difference comes from. Which is not to say that the Skylux is rubbish - it's very good value for the Lidl price and I already own one - but so is the R102.

English specialist retailers are selling the R102 for £349 and the Bresser RRP is €499, so in my book €329 at Lidl is good for that product. However given that the C4R is an end of line product a fair comparison with the R102 would be its replacement, the Omni XLT 102, which David Hinds prices at £329.

David Hinds won't sell direct into AI's 'territory' so the real question is what would be the total cost of getting it from a local dealer? The £189 price on offer in the UK is fair for an end of line product and the C4R does have a good reputation but there are less than a dozen in stock. Realistically, how many will be sold here rather than in the UK and Scandinavia (the UK, Ireland and Scandanavia is the area for which David Hinds is the Celestron distributor)?

All of the extras included in the R102 kit add value, particularly if it's a first time purchase and it's unfair to compare the bare bones C4R kit simply on the basis of price. The 10mm, 15mm & 25mm included Plossls, illuminated polarscope and 2x Barlow add significant value for a first time purchase when compared to the lone 25mm Plossl that comes with the C4R. The 8x50 illuminated reticle finderscope is also a genuine step up from the 6x30 model on the C4R. All told, I consider the R102 to be better value at the Lidl price - for just a little more money - I don't need the Plossls and Barlow but the other extras make up for the price difference in my book, and as a total package it doesn't need any immediate extras if chosen as a starter package.

And finally, the R102 also fits my LXD75 and Giro II mounts. So would the C4R - but the colour is all wrong

Would the R-102 be a good advanced starter scope? I was planning on spending a bit more and getting either a 8" Newt on a EQ5, or a 10" Dob. The R-102 does have a few nice extras like a polar scope and an illuminated finder scope. This would be my first telescope, so I am starting from scratch.

Have done a quick google search and seen the mount described a MON2(eq5)
Does this mean that the mount is equivalent to an EQ5? Could I buy a 8" Newt OTA with mounting rings and dovetail, and attach it? Could be a relatively cheap way to get two telescopes.

Would the R-102 be a good advanced starter scope? I was planning on spending a bit more and getting either a 8" Newt on a EQ5, or a 10" Dob. The R-102 does have a few nice extras like a polar scope and an illuminated finder scope. This would be my first telescope, so I am starting from scratch.

10" Dob! 10" DOB! Get the 10" Dob if it's on your I can afford this as a starterscope list!