is this a good buy or not?

[jindivik]

i remain scope-less, browsing the catalogue (lol) & i found this in Argos<br /><br />Celestron Powerseeker 675 Reflector Telescope. <br /> 5803680 <br /> <br /> <br />£179.99 <br /><br /><br />Maximum magnification 675x.<br /><br />Optimum magnification 225x.<br /><br />Full size equatorial mount with fine tracking controls. <br /><br />Fully adjustable aluminium tripod.<br /><br />Precise rack and pinion focussing.<br /><br />Spherical aluminised mirror.<br /><br />Micro altitude control.<br /><br />Accessory tray.<br /><br />114mm (4.5in) objective diameter. (im guessing thats aperture?)<br /><br />900mm focal length.<br /><br />Focal ratio: 8.<br /><br />Red dot finderscope for pin point accuracy.<br /><br />Eyepiece 20mm-1.25in (x45).<br /><br />Eyepiece 12mm-1.25in (x75).<br /><br />Eyepiece 4mm-1.25in (x2255).<br /><br />3 x Barlow lens 3 x-1.25in giving 135 x used with 20mm eyepiece, 225 x with 12mm and 675 x with 4mm.<br /><br />CD rom of the sky.<br /><br />Manufacturer's 10 year guarantee. <br /> <br /><br />is it worth it as a relative beginner or not?<br /><br />any help appreciated <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> thanks

 

[joshbe]

DON'T BUY IT!!! A 4mm eyepiece, 3x barlow, and ad that says 675x are all the signs of an el cheapo telescope. It would be very bad optically, and besides, 4.5 inches!!!??? The best beginners scope is a 6 inch Dobsonian, like the Orion Skyquest XT6.

 

[jindivik]

ive been looknig to buy an orion scope but they are hard to find in the UK, anyway thanks for the advice & i wont buy it <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> just checking my options really i suppose <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[tfwthom]

The scopes that Orion sells are made by Synta in China. They are called Sky-watcher scopes on the UK http://www.skywatchertelescope.com/Dob.html Prices should be about the same. Some features are missing but the optics are the same.<br /><br />Synta now owns Celestron and is making a lot of their scopes. http://www.celestron.com/news/ <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>