Aldi/Lidl Due Another Telescope Sale Soon?

Few of us bikers headed to Fourknocks passage grave recently, the spirits didnt seem to mind

Any comments on my query ?

The discount stores generally have their stuff at very good prices.

The Meade with the autostar goto shoud be a good goto system - the handcontroller is an Autostar 497 and the user can upgrade the firmware when necessary. But a draw back of a Newtonian reflector on an equatorial mount is that the focuser and eyepiece can be very awkwardly positioned after a goto.
I get frustrated with mine at times (not a Meade system) but there are ways around this - improvised Wilcox rings (allows you to rotate the telescope to get at the eyepiece - I'm not so DIY inclined). Most of the money with this scope will be in the mount and goto system - you do want money in the mount (don't want slightest breeze rocking your view) - but you don't want too much of a slice going into the computer bit.

You could get quite a larger scope on a Dobsonion mount for that price - but if you go out of the country there's shipping costs - so convenient opportunities can sometimes be worth it.

Another comment, having a computer involved (as in the Meade - ie the handset) means more to do when setting up - time, date, summer time or not, choosing alignment stars, centering the star, acknowledging it - finding another star that you know etc. Will the baterries last etc. The less complex the setup the more often it will get used.

It's nice to have a goto system - but having a scope where the eyepiece is as in the refractor would be more comfortable. The latter should be good for planets and moon (where goto doesn't seem so important) and you have something for half of the price - though smaller aperture. How much use would you need to justify €300? This one looks like you manually track (twist the knob I think - I never had one).

Also for anyone starting of equatorial mounts can be frustrating and counter intuitive. A goto alt/az has its advantages there (as in the ETX they are also selling - I had one enjoyed it - but had to move on - it had anoying quirks/gltches - but I did get value for my small amount of money).

I hope you get more feedback than what I have said - 'cause I'm not convinced I've helped any.

Mark

ei5fk wrote:

is this Meade good value at 600€
compared to this 102mm refractor for just under 300€

I think its a little expensive given the aperture, you can get a 10" dob cheaper then that, that's over 3 times the light gathering power. It only saving grace is the goto.
If you're able to find objects in the sky then get the Dob, otherwise get the LXD.
As for 6 inch vs 4 inch, a tough one really to compare, they are so close given the central obstruction of the Newt, If I had to choose between them I get the Newt.

I have to say,
I've bought the 600 Euro one.
It's simply not worth the money.

Firsty.
The scopes drive blew up,
as did 4 or 5 out of 10 of all of them bought here.
(check out an older thread on this....
I can't find it any more)

Secondly,
as Dave says,
aside from the go to side of things,
there is little else to swing this for you.

If you are a total newbie and you seriously want a scape
I'd say got for it
otherwise invest in a soos perfiu;are
go or the damce mmogjt

You slipped into serbo-croat for the last two lines there Frank. You'll have to translate for us.

Barberskum wrote:

otherwise invest in a soos perfiu;are
go or the damce mmogjt

huh??? whats that?, some kind of new SCT? :silly: :laugh: