I'd like to get something for quick looks, wide-fields scans, and portability. Must be cheap (I've spent enough on my 8" SCT already). I enjoy scanning the sky with my small 8x30 binoculars; it's nice to be able to just walk outside and lie down and look, but I have a hard time holding them steady and sometimes I think I'd like a bit more power. I don't like the idea of putting binos on a tripod as my neck would not be happy with the viewing angle. The disadvantage of a scope is it would be a little harder to find stuff, the field would be a little smaller, and a little more work to set up, but hopefully minimally. So I'm thinking a small scope that just goes on a photo tripod. But I've heard that good binos are better than a cheap scope, but for the same price it doesn't make sense that you could get better quality when you have twice the optics, a bunch of prisms, and a cheap eyepiece. For those that have tried one or both methods, which would you recommend? Or are both valuable? For things like M31, does the contrast improvement of binos offset their additional light loss and potentially smaller size?
Binos vs small scope
Started by hemismith, 12/13/2004 03:03PM
Posted 12/13/2004 03:03PM
Opening Post
Posted 12/13/2004 03:12PM
#1
Most binoculars are terrible optically (or so I've heard), even a cheap refractor might be better than most of them. My ST80 has 4.2 degrees FOV with a 35mm eyepiece, and there is a lot of spectacluar stuff that are 0.5-1-2 degrees in size that neither STC nor binos frame well. But you see more stars in binos.
Dmitri
Dmitri
Posted 12/13/2004 03:41PM
| Edited 12/13/2004 03:52PM
#2
"I'd like to get something for quick looks, wide-fields scans, and portability. Must be cheap.
...So I'm thinking a small scope that just goes on a photo tripod."
-------------------
How about an 80mm f/5 short tube. There is one in the refractor classifieds. This will also make a very serviceable birding/spotting scope.
Another option is an Astroblast or Astroscan. A table, stool or hood of a car is all you need for these guys, and they'll do 3(+) degree field with a common 32 mm plossl. Color free.
...So I'm thinking a small scope that just goes on a photo tripod."
-------------------
How about an 80mm f/5 short tube. There is one in the refractor classifieds. This will also make a very serviceable birding/spotting scope.
Another option is an Astroblast or Astroscan. A table, stool or hood of a car is all you need for these guys, and they'll do 3(+) degree field with a common 32 mm plossl. Color free.
Posted 12/15/2004 12:59AM
#4
I've also done it both ways. If you go with a small scope, I'd get something larger than 80mm because I feel the view is too dim in that size. A Short Tube 90 is a good compromise between aperture and field of view, only I don't know who makes them anymore.
One thing I definitely recommend is not using it with a pan head. It is fine if you are spotting terrestrial targets, but will become unbalanced and awkward if you are looking up. Instead, get either a MicroStar (New) or UniStar mount from Universal Astronomics. I have the slightly larger UniStar Light Basic, and it works great with my 4" f6/4 refractor. I pick up the scope/mount/tripod with one hand and I'm outside observing within a minute! They slew like a Dob and travel well because they are very lightweight in and of themselves, and don't require counterweights.
Hugh Bartlett
Oakland, CA
One thing I definitely recommend is not using it with a pan head. It is fine if you are spotting terrestrial targets, but will become unbalanced and awkward if you are looking up. Instead, get either a MicroStar (New) or UniStar mount from Universal Astronomics. I have the slightly larger UniStar Light Basic, and it works great with my 4" f6/4 refractor. I pick up the scope/mount/tripod with one hand and I'm outside observing within a minute! They slew like a Dob and travel well because they are very lightweight in and of themselves, and don't require counterweights.
Hugh Bartlett
Oakland, CA
"Praise the Lord for the expanding grandeur of creation, worlds known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations." 2007 Reform Siddur
Posted 12/15/2004 05:21PM
| Edited 12/15/2004 05:22PM
#5
If I were to acquire another quick peek instrument I think I would go for a 4-5" reflector, F5 or thereabouts, on a dob style mount. Quick to set up, brighter than most binos, cheap enough to get, nice wide field, no secondary color issues, and comfortable to use.
clear skies,
dan
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I have just such a beast, the Orion Space Probe 130ST, a 130mm F5 Newtonian with a Parabolic mirror and an added on 2 inch focuser. I have used it on an Alt-AZ mount but currently it is on a EQ-3.
With a Paracorr it gives nice widefield views, 3 degrees plus and it also works amazingly well at high mags, splitting doubles quite nicely and doing a good job for a 5 incher on the planets.
But, its not a refractor and it needs to collimated at times and it does have cool down issues (not a lot but some) and it is worthless for birding.
Its a neat scope and certainly will do stuff that a C-8 cannot, but I still like a small refractor better as a mate to something like the C-8.
The budget approach to the ST-80 is the Apogee Inc jobber on an Alt-AZ mount for $99. Plastic focuser but rumour has it that its not such a bad scope. I had the previous Apogee Inc $99 special and with a bit of work I split the double double with it and even saw a shadow transit....
These days use a Pronto and its about right as a second scope to setup beside a real scope.
jon
clear skies,
dan
------
I have just such a beast, the Orion Space Probe 130ST, a 130mm F5 Newtonian with a Parabolic mirror and an added on 2 inch focuser. I have used it on an Alt-AZ mount but currently it is on a EQ-3.
With a Paracorr it gives nice widefield views, 3 degrees plus and it also works amazingly well at high mags, splitting doubles quite nicely and doing a good job for a 5 incher on the planets.
But, its not a refractor and it needs to collimated at times and it does have cool down issues (not a lot but some) and it is worthless for birding.
Its a neat scope and certainly will do stuff that a C-8 cannot, but I still like a small refractor better as a mate to something like the C-8.
The budget approach to the ST-80 is the Apogee Inc jobber on an Alt-AZ mount for $99. Plastic focuser but rumour has it that its not such a bad scope. I had the previous Apogee Inc $99 special and with a bit of work I split the double double with it and even saw a shadow transit....
These days use a Pronto and its about right as a second scope to setup beside a real scope.
jon
Funding Member
