Telescopes

[Peppermint]

Well, Summer is coming up, want to get outside at nights and do something rather than be inside. Looking at buying a telescope, another one of the various things I buy, use for a few weeks/months then is just going to sit somewhere in the house gathering dust. Which is what a lot of my stuff is doing now!

Does anyone know much about them? I've been thinking about getting one for a while, but know nothing about them technically speaking. I want to get a decent one, I'd imagine you could pick a good one up for around the $700 mark, we used to have one about 10 years ago that cost about $200 which wasn't that good (could barely make out details on the moon). I'd imagine the price has dropped and telescopes have gotten better since then, and more widely produced seeing as astronomy seems to be a lot more popular now.

I had a look on Trademe at a few, like this one (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-ph ... 885969.htm). Though I really need someone in the know about these things to point me to a good quality brand, and not one that's a Chinese import that's cheap and tacky. I suppose for a first telescope they would be alright though?

I may have some time during the week to go into Christchurch and have a look at a proper shop and ask about them there, wouldn't have the slightest idea where to look though. An Outdoors Adventure shop?

[Ian Warren]

Im very sure there is a shop on St Asaph Street close to the Montreal intersection , or that neck of the woods , science shop , Telescopes on display , very technical types least they appeared to me , i was having thoughts at getting on myself a few years back .

[dbcunnz]

Have a look at this site http://www.nztelescopes.co.nz/

[Bandit]

Most specialist camera/photography shops stock telescopes. I'd start there if you want to get a hands on look see.

The specialist shops should also have someone with a more in depth knowledge of lenses and the various quality. You generally get what you pay for.