Buying an used telescope

[Urwumpe]

What do I have to consider and check if buying a used telescope? Especially from a Shop that likely ist not about telescopes? My girlfriend has discovered one, no details about type, price and state.

 

[george7378]

The main thing is to go and look at the mirrors/lenses to make sure they're not damaged or dirty. After that, I think you should be fine.

 

[Yoda]

All depends on what you are planning to observe; if it's solar system items a Refractor would be best, if it's deep space than a Reflector (Newtonian) or a Smith-Cassegrain with large apeture would be best.
If your planning photography you definatively want a equatorial mount (motorized) or computer drive fork mounted telescope.
Just all depends on what purpose you have in mind.

 

[C3PO]

What do I have to consider and check if buying a used telescope? Especially from a Shop that likely ist not about telescopes? My girlfriend has discovered one, no details about type, price and state.

Double check the price of a new one. :lol:

My mum saw a used 80mm reflector in a personal ad, and rushed out to buy it. I tried to get it sorted out, but it was quite badly damaged. Not much use for anything else but viewing the Moon.

I found out later that she'd payed almost 3 times the price of a band new scope, and the current version has equatorial mounting as standard.

 

[Codz]

For planetary and Lunar viewing I'd recommend a refractor, for extrasolar objects, I'd recommend a reflector. I personally use a 102mm refractor for planetary viewing and some of the larger nebulae. Which type is the one that you're looking at?

 

[Urwumpe]

Double check the price of a new one. :lol:

My mum saw a used 80mm reflector in a personal ad, and rushed out to buy it. I tried to get it sorted out, but it was quite badly damaged. Not much use for anything else but viewing the Moon.

I found out later that she'd payed almost 3 times the price of a band new scope, and the current version has equatorial mounting as standard.

What I know so far is only that it is 500 mm long and 200 mm wide according to my girlfriends capability of estimating size. But she also think that |______________| is 300 mm. :lol: No information about prize and other important details, but she did at least check the lenses already... i don't know if she bought it or not. she wouldn't say less than one month to my birthday.

 

[C3PO]

What I know so far is only that it is 500 mm long and 200 mm wide according to my girlfriends capability of estimating size. But she also think that |______________| is 300 mm. :lol: No information about prize and other important details, but she did at least check the lenses already... i don't know if she bought it or not. she wouldn't say less than one month to my birthday.

ROFLMAO!

"It's the 2'nd best telescope in the world after Hubble"

Stick to that and you'll be fine.

 

[astrosammy]

I have an reflector standing around but only use my refractor now.
I just didn't find the time to sell it...

It's this one:

http://www.astroshop.de/skywatcher-teleskop-n-150-1200-explorer-bd-neq-3/p,15557

 

[RisingFury]

What I know so far is only that it is 500 mm long and 200 mm wide according to my girlfriends capability of estimating size. But she also think that |______________| is 300 mm. :lol: No information about prize and other important details, but she did at least check the lenses already... i don't know if she bought it or not. she wouldn't say less than one month to my birthday.

Errr... damn!

Might want to explain to her that if she doesn't have a clue about telescopes, it's better she lets someone else choose one.

Buying a telescope as a present for someone usually turns out as a disaster. A few years ago, the family of one of my classmates bought him a telescope for his birthday. For the price range, they had a decent refractor and a better reflector available. They went for the refractor, because the other one "didn't look like a telescope" to them :lol:

 

[tblaxland]

What I know so far is only that it is 500 mm long and 200 mm wide according to my girlfriends capability of estimating size.

Lol. At least that is better than "I got a blue one"

 

[Yoda]

What I know so far is only that it is 500 mm long and 200 mm wide according to my girlfriends capability of estimating size. But she also think that |______________| is 300 mm. :lol: No information about prize and other important details, but she did at least check the lenses already... i don't know if she bought it or not. she wouldn't say less than one month to my birthday.

Sounds like a Smith-Cassegrain (can't go wrong with that; that's what I use), and yes it is a blue one

 

[Urwumpe]

Buying a telescope as a present for someone usually turns out as a disaster. A few years ago, the family of one of my classmates bought him a telescope for his birthday. For the price range, they had a decent refractor and a better reflector available. They went for the refractor, because the other one "didn't look like a telescope" to them :lol:

Well, I trust her to know what a telescope is like, though I wouldn't expect here to tell equatorial mount from Altazimuth mount. :lol: Or what a Cassegrain Focus is.

 

[C3PO]

Lol. At least that is better than "I got a blue one"

:rofl:
That reminds me of an ad for a used car. The only thing you could tell was that the owner was female.

"Red Toyota for sale"

Shortest ad ever :lol:

 

[marcheenek]

A telescope bought at non specialty store is usually a cheap piece of crap and a big dissapointment. It actually may repel you from this great hobby.

 

[Urwumpe]

A telescope bought at non specialty store is usually a cheap piece of crap and a big dissapointment. It actually may repel you from this great hobby.

It is a rag shop, to be specific. Can mean a lot of everything.

 

[Notebook]

As its a present for your birthday...its obviously 'compact, powerful, easy to use, ideal for the Moon, ideal for the planets, ideal for asterisms..'
Feel free to write those down, memorise them, and be prepared to repeat them when required.

N.

 

[4throck]

I'd say that a 200cm SCT is always a good bet. Relatively small size with decent aperture and optic quality.

With some good maintenance (collimation) and placed on a nice equatorial mount it will perform great for planetary work (webcam imaging) and do some deep-sky stuff (with a proper CCD camera and a good mount).

Although mass produced, the average quality is "good", and if your are lucky you might end up with an above average "very good" telescope.

I haven't used mine in years, exactly because I saw all there was to see! I became so satisfied that my interest moved from astroimaging to simulation...