What is the best telescope for under $200?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2024
- For those on a budget, a few minor compromises can net an extremely capable optical instrument. David Fuller from Eyes on the Sky explains the advantages and the disadvantages of a popular style of telescope - and what you need to do to get the most out of it.
Other links mentioned in this video:
www.eyesonthesky.com
Telescopes On The Sky tutorials: www.eyesonthesky.com/tutorial...
Smartphone camera bracket: • EOTS: Smartphone camer...
Super Simple 2x4 Tripod: www.eyesonthesky.com/tutorial...
AstroTech 3.2mm Paradigm eyepiece: www.astronomics.com/astro-tec... - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Omg I so appreciate you doing this video. I am into astronomy right now and I don't know anything about the equipment needed. You do a very good job at explaining the equipment and how to use it and get the best performance out of these scopes. I really do appreciate the knowledge and experience you share it's really appreciated. Hat's off to you my friend, oh and thank you for sharing the homemade table top tripod that you have built great ideas...
I’ve always been into this stuff, and the more I learn about it the crazier I become. It’s truly another universe worth exploring.
As always love your style of reviewing the scopes.
Glad you like them - thank you!
I have had this scope of years now. I picked it up on Ebay for pretty cheap but even at full price it's worth every penny. Great optics, ease of use, and great for both the beginner and the seasoned vet. Thanks for making this content, David.
Thank you, great video!
Hi david thx for this review. I find if your not handle and you buy a stool like i did from amazom that was $80cdn. It is more expensive cause it can raise up and down its not a set height. so in the end sometimes these table top scopes cost as much as the full verson but then add the stool and it then alot more expensive. anyway good video
The Starblast 4.5 is a workhorse! For the money you get a great telescope with a real parabolic mirror! Mine holds collimation really well. Is it possible for you to do a detailed review on this telescope? I think it could really help someone to decide and steer them in the right direction. Thanks for the great videos!
It is an awesome little telescope. Highly capable. I may do a detailed review sometime next year.
practical for visual astronomy, but thats it.
I bought a 2nd hand 750mm newton with EQ3-2 mount and GoTo controls for 400€ (so basically around 400$).
As soon i was comfortable with the 750mm newton and a APS-C sized camera crop, i had a lot of fun with this equipment and made some decent images.
Later i even upgraded to a Off Axis Guider and a ZWO Asi 120mm guiding cam over ST4 only, and since some weeks im running the whole platform except for focus completely automated with plate solving and observation queues.
I guess thats the cheapest entry in learning astrophotography but with a decent focal range and aperture to also serve my older APS-C DSLR next to the "expensive" 1000€ full frame mirrorless i use sometimes (but i hate to abuse it for astrophotography...)
And i have to say... damn, good decision i didnt buy anything cheaper, in fact the EQ3-2 is already too cheap for proper astrophotography, let alone the like 150-200$ worth 150/750 F5 newton with the typical backfocus problems as soon you want to use a coma corrector.
Great video
Hawe one on EQ1, works like a charm 25mm eyepice gives perfect wide angle, you can always use barlow or smaler 15 or 10mm.
Magnification is not the most important thing, aperature and lack of light polution makes the day
Thanks for the great review! My current telescope is the Orion Spaceprobe 130st, and I can't wait to look at some of the objects on the TOTS list!
Love these table top dobs. I have an Orion Funscope on loan to a coworker, and I'm donating a Heritage 130p soon after I've enjoyed it a bit more 😂 just effective for aperture and the speed of setup is amazing compared to my 10" truss dob named Godzilla.
4.5 inch is nice, I got one on craigslist for 100 bucks, but it was the 1100mm focal length one and it has a wooden equatorial mount that is awful to use.
Hi David, I'm so glad I came across your videos as I'm beginning to shop for a beginner's telescope for my soon-to-be 7year old boy, but that I can also enjoy and potentially get into. I've been able to find the scope you're recommending on Amazon, but would like to know if it can be effectively used during the day too; if not, could you recommend an alternative? Also, I could not find the Astro-tech eyepiece on Amazon - could you also recommend an alternative? Thank you SO much!
It will reverse the image up/down and left-right. Not really suitable for daytime use from that perspective, and there are not really any good telescopes under $200 besides this type in my opinion, to be blunt about it. You can get the Astrotech eyepiece through astronomics.com, which is a very good, customer-service driven small family company that's been around for years. Definitely well worth patronizing their business over Amazon whenever possible. Hope that helps!
My Orion starblast 6 came in last weekend. My dad and I put it together and it is beautiful. It’s been so cloudy and I haven’t used it yet. We also coughs the 6mm lense to help see the planets better Bc that’s what the lady said on the phone. I just can’t wait to explore the night sky!
Excellent! My wife owns a 6" Starblast and she loves it. I hope your skies clear soon!
Hopefully they suggested their expanse 6mm, or anything other than the plossl because at 6mm plossls are no fun to look through
Hello, Mr. Fuller;
Thank you for all you do.
GREAT video, this 1 & the 1 before are both great but I like this 1 better.
I hope you're doing a series of videos on 1scopes that are increasing in price.
If so that means the next 2 are the ones to see.
I visited this page to see you have a link to the "Astro Tech" eyepiece.
I have a cheap 70mm refractor my wife gave me & then I got an Orion StarBlast 6i.
I'm not real fond of the IntelliScope option, it doesn't seem to work very well.
I have my 6" on a kitchen cart so I can roll it out on the porch.
I've tried the "push-to" system a number of times but it never works for me.
My 70mm is too small & dark but its good for some things.
I put on an old EQ mount on an old wooden tripod but the mount is not very good.
Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!
Thanks Jon! I posted a link to the eyepiece. I have some more videos planned, for sure.
I use binoculars (25x100) for most of my sky viewing. Sometimes I grab the meade 60mm scope that's been stashed away in a closet for over 10 years. After seeing this particular scope mentioned in 2 other videos I decided to purchase one. I have to drive 20 minutes to bortle 3 skies so I need something that is easy to transport. This added piece of equipment and a small table shouldn't be too much of an added hassle.
You can see a lot under Bortle 3 skies with a telescope like this.
Which one is best to really see the moon close up
Thoughts on a 90 mm Mak like the Orion Starmax 90 ... also a tabletop model? I am looking for an upgrade to my 60mm no-brand refractor that I've been using for decades.
The problem with the Starmax tabletop is you really can't aim it overhead. The star diagonal will hit the base, and even if it didn't, good luck getting your eye close enough to the eyepiece to view through it. I'd pass on that particular model. I like most Orion products, but that one wasn't designed well.
I want to get a telescope with infrared. What’s the best one for a decent price?
Hi David, I have been thinking about that type of scope when people ask "what's should I get for my first scope"?.
The next question is always "can I take pictures with a DSLR"? I think the answer is no due to lack of inward focus but is that the case. Would a 1.5x barlow allow a DSLR? Is the focuser body strong enough to carry a DSLR? I use a 8.75in DOB on a tracker but its a beast to set up. A tabletop version could be a great option.
You are correct about the inward focus. Also, the focuser on these are plastic. Not strong enough for a DSLR. These are very much visual-only telescopes.
When people ask "Can I use a DSLR?" there are a couple good responses. 1. Get a GOOD tripod and use that ($100 to $150) and shirt focal length lenses 2. Expect to spend at least $1500 for a solid equatorial mount and small, apochromatic style telescope.
A $200 tabletop is not the vehicle for astrophotography.
What about orion 90 mm table top Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope as Beginner
Great scope for folks starting out, especially youngsters, 💫
Absolutely, just a few minor considerations to remember based on the price point, which I detail in the video.
@@Eyesonthesky true, and a scope like this, they could have for a lift time and start their kids on it too💫
Great video! I’d love to see telescopes under $500.
I started off with a scope that costed about 200$ or more, but it’s not super sturdy so I would also love to see suggestions of that price, especially for DSO’s.
I have a 114 mil Celestron Astro Master 130. Also have a case full of Omcon eyepieces. Good viewing with this unit but if you are serious get a scope with a bigger main mirror. The bigger your main mirror the more large and clear your images.
A 130 is 130, not 114, but both of those are bad telescopes, the 114 is a bird Jones with 1000mm focal length and has lenses in the focuser to correct the spherical primary and increase the focal length much longer than the tube.
The 130, other than the ones from the first few years, has a spherical primary, but at f5 without a corrector, way too fast for spherical.
Both scopes are only sharp at their lower powers, so you might not need a larger mirror, but a scope with a better mirror and a known good design, like a basic parabolic newtonian. Then you will get better views at higher power. Yes a larger telescope will show you more.
I had an omcon eyepiece, an older made in Japan plossl with red lettering, but it was actually a rebranded 5 element celestron ultima, also offered as Antares elite plossl, orion ulrascopic, parks gold series, and baader eudiascopic. The original meade series 4000 super plossl had the same optical design but made by a different OEM. They are really nice, I kinda like them better than televue plossls.
I don't know much about what other eyepieces omcon has or had, since it was not a brand we frequently saw in the US.
I really like the little 4.5" Starblast. Maybe next year I'll get one for myself.
And I'm going to have to get one of those cool hoodies soon, too!
They are amazingly capable little telescopes; perfect "grab n go" and even if you get a solar filter for one to see sunspots. Just need a good short focal length eyepiece for the higher magnifications is all.
The premium hoodies are super comfortable!
Hi Mr. Fuller, I want to get this kind of telescope can I please ask for the specific model of this telescope? I think there are other Orion telescope like this but of different model? Thank you so much.
This one is the Orion Starblast 4.5.
Hi David, how is the performance of the astrotech ed eyepiece on this starblast 4.5? does the image remains sharp at 140x magnification?
It is pretty good. Certainly the view is better through a 6" or larger telescope as the resolution is better. But as long as the Starblast is well collimated, it is a good viewing option for higher magnification.
I have an Orion 4.5 EQ. We got it used "like new" from friends (an older couple) who are moving for $100. Optics are quite good, and better with better eyepieces. I'm thinking about putting the optical tube on a table top Dobsonian mount, not because the EQ mount is difficult, but because it wobbles with the slightest touch (even just turning the RA control to track). The weak link in the entire thing is the tripod and mount. That said, views of Saturn's rings, Jupiter's bands and moons, M-42, and detail on the moon were good enough to start researching, leading to the quest of more aperture... and the Orion XT8 I got a couple of months later. The sturdy Dobsonian mount is the ticket. Your lumber tripod looks pretty solid as well.... I'm probably going to build that as well as the Dob rig. Thanks for the great video.
A more practical but more expensive option is to just buy a better mount, like the astroview, or even an eq3
@@k.h.1587 yes, spending more than the premise gets better equipment in general. My used once XT8 cost me $325. It has capability no small scope does for dim objects like Virgo galaxies etc. As far as the 4.5 and a home made tabletop dob type mount, I didn't have to do it. I ran across a table top Starblast 113mm for $55. Pretty close to the same performance, but with a solid mount.
@@petset77 my xt8 was $100, at the beginning of covid I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I also got my xt6 for the same price, and a 10" starhopper for $60, but that one is beat up and needs a mirror recoating, but still works as is
But way back when the most expensive mass market 8" dobs were under $400, some smaller dealers would sell unbranded GSO dobs for as low as $300, and one of my friends got one. In 2004 my hardin gso 8"f4 ota was only $300..
In 2005 my gso made dba deep space observer 10" dob was only $540 from antlers, and 12s were $700.
I got my gso hardin DSH6 dob for $99 during the hardin fire sale.
Those days are long gone, and it only took the last few years for it to happen
@@petset77 I also picked up a meade branded light bridge 114 version of the Starblast for $40 a few years ago. Was pretty good optically. I was surprised to see meade having a scope made by synta. I lent it to someone who shorlty afterwards cut me off and refused to give it back when asked. It was going to be my primary wide field visual scope, and goto assist for my bigger scopes, since I had a nexstar gt mount to put it on. Unfortunately I lost the GT, an omni102 tube, my xt8, my 127mak, an old rough shape cg5, a vixen 60mmf15 refractor with az mount, some eyepieces and filters, and a slew of music gear, guitars basses and amps, and my van that they were all in, in a BS arrest and inpoundment, it was criminal but city hall always wins, you can't fight them without tactical nukes.
So I wouldn't have a mount for the 114 other than the tabletop anyway, and thay requires lugging out a suitable stool that doesn't fold so it isn't as practical as using it on the GT mount would have been.
All of my counterweights for the cg5 and my astroview, which is my main moint mainly for my 4"f10 refractor or the 127mak that I lost were in the van.as well. The only weight that I still have is the 4#, so that limits me to using my st80 as the widefield scope, and not using the 4", but I can bring my lighter tripod rather than my 2"steel tripod and pier extension that I normally use with the 4" refractor on that mount.
I had even worse luck with gear in the past, losing practically everything I owned in a storage break in in 2018.
The stuff I have (and lost) now was acquired in 2020 and early 2021, and I got some great deals like it was meant to be. Starting with the xt8, then next thing I know I had an old pre goto 10" meade LX6 (f10) that I got in a straight trade for the tripod to my losmandy g11, along with the counterweights, dovetails and rings and other hardware that the tweakers didn't know to steal.
And my old c8 was only $200 loaded from a friend who had 5 or 6 of then.
But I haven't been able to use any of it since before shit hit the fan and I lost my van in 2021.
i need a suggestion to buy for the great conjunction.
The telescope I mentioned in this video is a good one.
Do you suggest 6inch dob version with tabletop design? E.g. bresser messire 6inch
My wife has a 6" f5 tabletop Don and she loves using it. I find it quite enjoyable to use as well. It is a good balance of aperture vs. weight/size.
What is the best Sky-star computer software to see positions of the planets and stars today and thousands of years ago ?
Stellarium
Is the starblast ll 4.5 any good
I mean, you could watch the video and find out. That's why I made it.
Great review. Due to all the world craziness, the telescope is now $245. Are there better comparable options at that price or is it still a recommendation?
I'd still recommend that one. Worth the extra $45 for sure.
@@Eyesonthesky Great! I am getting one for my young kids. I wanted a "real" scope that could handle the abuse that even a parental supervised 5 year old would dole on it. (Which is why I nixed the AWB telescope...that open mirror was going to get touched...or worse...)
...and then after they went to bed...I could use it... :-P
@@RamblinPhoenix be sure to get a 3x Barlow for planetary views. It's the only really "necessary" accessory starting out with that telescope. Really capable little instrument.
I've had a powerseeker 127eq for a few years now. It sucks, I mean you can see the moon well and you can see the planets, but the planets are tough to see. It's huge and clunky and the adjustments are hard to use.
Honestly I wish Celestron would discontinue that product lineup. There is even a subreddit called "dontbuyapowerseeker" and for good reason. I even bought one just to see what it was like, and so I agree: It sucks.
i have had that scope in my amazon list since covid started. Never seems to be in stock. I may go ahead and get a 6" so i dont regret not going bigger. but then I may need to get the 8" LOL.
"There you sickness you got is called "Aperture Fever" sir."
@@Eyesonthesky I too got that
Now I know what sickness I got😂
@BigDaddyCool42 mee too bro
i waited instead of 6
@BigDaddyCool42 can you buy an 8" for under $200? Some people have a lower budget. Some want it for kids. Not everyone even wants a large telescope.
I have bought two of these 4.5" Starblast telescopes for friends this year. I ordered straight through Orion, not Bezos. I don't do business with him.
Why is the tube so short? Is this a Byrd-Jones telescope?
Very short focal length. Not a Bird Jones, fortunately.
What a difference a year makes! Current price is up from $200 to $270.
I know. And it had been $200 for many years prior too.
Can you get a certain filter for this telescope for solar viewing?
Yes you can. It is a good telescope for solar viewing with a proper solar filter fitted over the front opening.
Yes! And the Sun has been interesting lately!
Awesome! Just bought it now I just need to look for a solar filter, thanks!
If anyone could suggest a solar filter for this specific telescope I would appreciate it very much!
I use a full aperture glass solar filter from Orion for my 6" Dobsonian. For a 4.5", that would easily run $100US. There are less expensive Mylar-type fims that you can buy and make into your own filter, or already in a housing that fits over the front of your telescope. I've had issues with tiny pinholes in the Mylar film filters. Either way, be very careful when handling or storing your filter to avoid scratches or pinholes.
Can I find these types of telescopes in india
I do not know - I am sorry. I am not familiar with the telescope market there.
Thanks for your reply nice of you...❤️
@@Eyesonthesky yes these are available in India
I brought a dobsonion Orion telescopes in India this Diwali
And sir your channel is V.V.helpful
Specially your beginner series
Thank you very much sir
Please add the Amazon link to this telescope. Thanks!
www.amazon.com/Orion-10015-StarBlast-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D12U1IK
@@Eyesonthesky thank you so much!
Amazon is a terrible company. Please order from Orion.
These little things are great. I break it out when I don't want to drag out my whole setup
Me too - quick and easy to bring out and set up, especially if clouds are rolling in. I can get a quick peek at things and then put it away just as quickly.
i dont think you understand what this means to starter lvl ppl.. well done.
I mean.. I hope it helps them choose a good first telescope if their budget is limited. And thank you.
hmm ... a 130p Heritage is more than 200USD ?
The 130P is a little larger in aperture (130mm vs 114mm), so it does cost slightly more.
What are planets going to look like? Mars? Saturn's rings?
In ANY small telescope (even 8", 12" and 16" telescopes), the planets will look small. They are VERY far away, so they aren't large. That said, at about 150x magnification, some detail starts to become visible. Here is a guide I wrote to help you see more for planets: eyesonthesky.com/tutorials/how-to-better-observe-the-planets-with-a-telescope
Like i want to see if i can observe ufos flying near the surface of the moon.
Well, you wont. Not with any telescope. Sorry.
Why is that?
@@dr.dazzle5183 not enough angular resolution.
Didn't age well, they are much closer to $300 now
No one has this scope right now at all. Forget about $200 too.
It looks like they just discontinued that. I looked at it a few weeks ago for my granddaughter and it was still available then. It appears the "replacement" to stay under a $200 price point is the Skyscanner BL102 that has a smaller mirror and doesn't have an option to remove / spin the tube in a clam shell mount. That's unfortunate.
@@Eyesonthesky Walmart had the Star Blaster 6", but it's gone from their website now. Was $420.
"I have to put it on a table? I want a telescope that looks like a telescope."
OK, but those cost LOTS more!
Unless you want one to just look AT, not THROUGH.
Nope - just make a tripod: eyesonthesky.com/tutorials/diy/2x4-tripod/
It depends on what you mean by "looks like a telescope". Some of the very best telescopes, do not look like traditional telescopes.
Do you want a telescope to look at celestial objects or do you want a telescope to look at.
A tripod is good for taking to a remote field or a park or hilltopin the country, but if you build or place a good solid scope table in your yard, it is much better for steady viewing.
I don't think you will be able to focus with a dslr using this scope. Short backfocus.
I should have been more specific. I meant one of the smaller ZWO-type cameras, not a dedicated astro-equipped DSLR. The focusers on this telescope would not be strong enough for a DSLR, nor would there be sufficient back focus, as you said.
@@Eyesonthesky I'm using a mirrorless camera on a similar tube (SW 130/650) which also has a delicate focuser & short backfocus. So that's also an option. BTW. GREAT CHANNEL :)
@@lewleo999 good to know - a 130mm aperture / 650mm focal length reflector is a great option too. And thank you!
This is WAY more than 200 bucks
It may be more than 200 bucks, but does anyone still trade in male deer?
In dollars it is $199.99 though.
optcorp.com/products/orion-starblast-4-5-reflector-telescope-10015
Don’t buy a $200 telescope.
So you're offering to subsidize everyone who can't afford more than a $200 telescope? That's very generous of you.