| Recommendations: Affordable Telescopes |
| Affordable and popular brands |
| Any telescope from these manufacturers/suppliers will deliver first-rate, excellent quality images with convenience and portability. These are not "cheap" telescopes. They are affordable instruments (there's a difference). A cheap telescope is MADE cheaply, and will rarely deliver even "good" images. Stay away from department store telescopes and house-brands, and any telescopes sold on a TV Shopping Network. [NOTE]: We advise that no matter what brand or KIND of telescope you buy, that you get the biggest aperture (diameter) you can afford. It is not power, but rather aperture size that makes the best images. Less power and bigger aperture render better images than any other combination. |
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Meade is by far the largest selling brand of telescopes. Their bread and butter items are (for the most part) the increasingly popular Maksutov-Cassegrain and SCT designs. Their latest line of ETX, LX, and DS-series instruments are amazingly easy to use, computer-accurate, and relatively affordable. Their LXD Series of Schmidt-Newtonians and refractors are excellent instruments, within reach of most beginning amateur budgets. Their 6-inch Schmidt-Newtonian, complete with Autostar GO-TO computer drive sells for $999. An optional coating process (UHTC) is available on many of their scopes. The LXD refractors, (AR-5 and AR-6) are very nice computerized "Go-To" achromats. And of course their LX200's and LX90's are always seen at star parties in prodigious quantities. Meade's Series 5000 Premium Grade eyepieces are among the finest examples of quality optics.
Meade's ETX Series (pictured here) is possibly the most popular mass produced telescope in the world. Coupled to their Autostar controller, the ETX telescopes open a wide door of accessibility to beginning amateurs as well as veteran observers. They are extremely portable, and are available in 80, 90 & 125mm aperture sizes. This is a high-quality instrument, and a lot of fun for observers of all ages and skill levels. The ETX ranges in price from $299 to $899.
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Stellarvue offers some very high quality refractors in both achromatic and APO†configurations. Achromats are available in 80mm (80mm of clear aperture as measured by Sky & Telescope magazine) and 102mm. Various packages are available starting at $499. High grade APO designs of 90 and 105mm start at $1995 (the SV90TBV is pictured here). These are extremely good bargains, and very highly recommended!
†NOTE: - APO is an abreviation for "Apochromatic", an expensive configuration of refractor telescopes which yields images that are almost completely color-corrected for chromatic aberration. Chromatic aberration is a refractor's tendency to display a bluish or violet prominence around very bright objects.
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Beware! The dangers of TV Shopping Networks, Big Box and Department Stores
Telescope Recommendations: Ultra-High Quality Scopes
Telescope Recommendations: Mid-Range Scopes
Mount Recommendations
Binoculars - the portable solution
Choosing the right Viewing Conditions
The Mars Hoax strikes again!
Back to Part 1
