(Part 3) Best binoculars, telescopes & optics according to redditors
We found 2,411 Reddit comments discussing the best binoculars, telescopes & optics. We ranked the 608 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 41-60. You can also go back to the previous section.
If you would like to see a comparison of an image taken with a camera 10x the price, here is a comparison of an image I took of the moon with the same telescope and a 7D Mark II
There are a few things that could have been done differently to achieve a better image on the left, however, I was looking to capture the image using the same techniques. Additionally, the main method to achieve a better image with the 7D Mark II requires third party software that isn't free so I wanted to get just a comparison with an out of box 7D Mark II.
I should also note that the ASI120MC is made for photography like this, the 7D Mark II is not. For deep space photography, the DSLR would win 9 times out of 10. Just mainly a comparison to show that the most expensive camera is not always the best tool for the job.
Equipment:
Acquisition
Processing
Thanks for looking!
If you feel like looking at some of my other images or following me on social media, here is a shameless plug to my Instagram
They said elsewhere the total cost they put into it is actually about $400
Edit: and it was that low because they got this telescope for $250. Its a great picture with a very misleading title.
https://www.amazon.com/Meade-Instruments-Coma-Free-Telescope-0810-90-03/dp/B002AK4N74
Hi /r/pics!
I enjoy building stuff, and this won’t be my last telescope--I have three more planned over the next few years, plus a shipping container observatory! The last two times, I got a ton of questions (which I love to answer), but I’ll hit the most common questions that were asked on the previous telescopes:
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How much did it cost to make?
It’s difficult to put a number on it. More than $1000, less than $2000, but there were so many small components and wasted materials it’s hard to say exactly. The optics (primary mirror, secondary mirror, spider combo) I picked up for $600 from eBay two years ago, which was a steal at twice the price. I used around $100 worth of plywood, about $80 of steel for the mirror cell, about $60 worth of plastics for the baffles and bearings, about $60 of aluminum for trusses...and I forgot how much I paid for the focuser, maybe $70? I’m also not counting wasted materials (wood, plastics, aluminum that I screwed up), which is probably in the $200-$500 range.
Also, I had to learn to weld (with help from /r/welding) in order to make the mirror cell, and bought all the welding equipment, which put me back a few hundred. However, I’ll be using that in the future, so I’m not counting that as a material cost.
If this were a professionally made dobsonian from a company like Obsession Telescopes, it would be worth around $6000.
How much does it weigh?
The entire assembly is 85 lb. The heaviest part by far is the mirror box (the thing with handles), which is a 26 lb. mirror (a 1.68” thick slab of glass), 11 lb. of steel, and 24 lb. of wood. Next time, I’m going to make the mirror cell detachable from the box so I can walk more than 30 feet before having to set it down. :P
How do you transport it?
It breaks into components (secondary cage, trusses, mirror box, rocker box, base) and can store in the back of a hatchback. It’s just a little bit too big for my Civic, but I was planning on trading up to a hatchback next month anyway because transporting lumber and raw materials is starting to put some serious nicks in the upholstery in the back seat of my Civic.
How long did it take you to build?
I began drafting the project back in January, with most of my serious design work in the spring. I welded the mirror cell in May, worked and reworked the design off and on through the summer, and did the final stretch of construction and finishing in September.
Can you take pictures with it?
Not really, at least not without another platform that I’m going to build. I have some DSLR cameras I picked up off of eBay (at an INSANE PRICE, I got a Canon D60 and Canon 20D, no lenses or batteries, for $80!!). The camera mounts right onto the scope, and I will be trying astrophotography. However, the full moon is a few tens of thousands of times brighter than the Orion Nebula, which requires around 30 second exposures to pick up anything at all. The problem is, the sky moves about a quarter of the way out of frame over 30 seconds, so all you get is a blur. It needs a tracking mount (called an “equatorial platform”) to stay fixed to a certain spot in the sky, and I’m in the process of designing and building one now.
What’s the focal length and focal ratio of the mirror?
Honestly, I don’t really know, the eBay auction is expired and I bought the optics two years ago. I think it was 2000mm, but once I used the jig to measure the optimal distance between the secondary mirror and the primary mirror, I went with that and didn’t bother going back to calculate the FL.
What should I do if I’m interested in astronomy but don’t have a huge budget?
First, subscribe to /r/astronomy!!
My advice is to get a mini-dob like this one. Some people will advise binoculars, but I disagree; a mini-dob is much easier to handle and you don’t have to deal with hand jitter. After you’ve found a bunch of Messier objects and want more, get an 8-inch classic dobsonian like this one.
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Past projects, in chronological order:
Software and math:
Future projects (in planned order):
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If you have more questions, fire away! I’ll be happy to answer them!
Head over to /r/telescopes and read the stickied thread over there. Great community. You may find a particular need will lead you to a certain telescope, but for purely visual observing, it's hard to beat a dobsonian reflector. Dobs are often called "light buckets" because the primary mirror is large and can collect a lot of light, making for better views. Don't even think about astrophotography because it's way too damn expensive.
The cheapest dob worth buying is the $200 AWB OneSky. It's a collapsible tabletop scope with a 5" primary mirror. Another scope of the same size and price is the Zhumell Z130. Zhumell is a respected dob maker, and I haven't heard many reviews of the Z130, but it won the "best telescope value" award for 2016. It's slightly less portable, but that portability requires a little bit of setup, so the choice is kind of just about your personal situation.
With a telescope like one of those, you will be able to see all the planets (Uranus and Neptune will appear just as blueish dots), Saturn's rings and moons, and Jupiter's moons and great red spot (in good seeing conditions).
You will be able to watch the moon in great detail, and see galaxies - Andromeda will look like this, nebula - Orion will look like this, and star clusters - M13 will look like this, all depending on seeing conditions.
If you can afford an 8" dob telescope, you will be able to collect 250% as much light as with a 5" telescope, and will get better results. Again, Zhumell is a good manufacturer. The Z8 is $400 and often considered the best value for an 8" dob because of the good accessories.
If you are ok buying used, you may be able to get a lightly used 8" for the price of a new 5". I got this collapsible 8" telescope for $250 lightly used. I once saw an 8" go for $100, but the person selling didn't know what they had.
Here is a picture that I took last week. My son and I set up in the town center and invited people to look at Saturn and its rings and moons.
Good times.
And adds a link to basically a $2k telescope he/she bought for $250 with no indication how
I'm on the wrong side of 50 so I've got the reading glasses, magnifier on a stand and phone camera to zoom in (Pixel2, great cam). But per tool creed, the want for more outweights the need for few.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.ca/Celestron-Handheld-Digital-Microscope-Pro/dp/B00CMJ1I08
Sample pic of one of my old precision drivers: https://i.imgur.com/obZ1PM2.jpg
Grabbing "meade-8inch-lx90-acf-computerized-telescope" from his URL, this is what I find https://www.amazon.com/Meade-Instruments-0810-90-03-Coma-Free-Telescope/dp/B002AK4N74
Hello :-)
Telescopes aren't better or worse for observing "distance". In fact, binoculars can see galaxies much further away than anything in the solar system; And even with the naked eye, under truly dark skies, you can see the Andromeda Galaxy.
As a rule of thumb, a larger aperture will show more. It can show fainter structures, and has a higher resolution.
Here are links on what to expect with different telescope aperture sizes.
If you can stretch your budget a little more, you can get a used/refurbished 6" dobsonian:
New and for $200 or less, the Zhumell z130 is the best deal. It's sometimes on sale for $179/$189. There's also the Meade Lightbridge Mini 130 and the AWB Onesky. The closed tube telescopes have contrast benefits and better focusers, but the OneSky is a great compact telescope despite it's quirks.
The 6" dobsonian is high enough to observe seated or standing. The 5" table tops require something to put them on (e.g. the $19 Ikea step-stool Bekväm).
The 6" also has a longer focal length, resulting in an F/8 aperture ratio. The table-top telescope's F/5 aperture ratio result in a lower contrast (larger obstruction, coma, mirror parabolization requirements).
 
Telescopes with tripod are available, but are usually too weak, making focusing and tracking tedious. A good equatorial mount can cost more than the telescope it's supposed to carry.
E.g. there's the Meade Polaris 130eq for $150-$180. The telescope itself is similar to the mentioned 130mm table-top dobsonians. Stability is already an issue. A better mount for it would cost $250 or so (neq3/cg4/skyview).
Avoid all 150/1400, 114/1000 and 127/1000 telescopes (Astromaster 114, Powerseeker 127eq for example). These are flawed "bird-jones" telescopes; Easy to identify as they are much shorter than their focal length, as they have a flawed spherical mirror of short focal length and a corrector lens that often makes things worse. Also the Celestron Astromaster 130eq has a spherical mirror resulting in spherical aberration and thus is not recommended.
Some smaller refractors (3"-4") are available in this price range as well and do not suffer the stability issues. But they show significantly less. The shorter ones (e.g. Infinity 102az) also will show chromatic aberration when observing at higher magnification (planets), thus reducing the contrast.
TL;DR: 6" dobsonian or z130/mini130/Onesky
You can see them even with a crappy set of binoculars. It’s what got me hooked on astronomy.
Every single person here should be able to give you an answer to that 🤣
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006FCI0G8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gt8.AbHK1DNB8
AmScope M158C-E Compound Monocular Microscope, WF10x and WF25x Eyepieces, 40x-1000x Magnification, Brightfield, LED Illumination, Plain Stage, 110V, Includes 0.3MP Camera and Software
My personal suggestion lol
Honestly, you can do much better for your money... There are kits in the Starter Shopping Lists to the right on the sidebar.
I was wondering the other day what exactly I would need for a turn-key grow setup, and put the following together. Mind you, this is not TOP of the line shit, but it will absolutely get you into the hobby!
600W Tube / Timer / MH & HPS Bulbs / Hangars / Ballast - $157.50
6 Inch Carbon Filter / 440CFM Fan - $149.75
25 Ft. 6 Inch Ducting - $19.10
48 x 48 x 78 Tent - $139.99
FFOF - $18.99
General Hydroponics Go Box Starter Kit - $35.95
CALIBER IV DIGITAL HYGROMETER - $19.23
Smart Pot Container - Pack of Five - $20.65
Micro-Tip Pruning Snip - $10.19
Light Duty Soft Wire Tie - $7.84
PH & Temperature Meter - $79.95
Water Quality TDS Tester - $15.59
LED Handheld Microscope - $16.81
Total just under 700$ and you are getting a LOT more for your money.
Don't blindly take that list, shop around, deal hunt, and do the research! There are many hidden costs associated with growing ><
There aren't a lot of good scopes in that range. Perhaps the Meade lightbridge mini 114, but I'm not sure if that's the best option. If you can stretch your budget a little, the lightbridge mini 130 wouldn't be a bad deal. For planetary views, every bit of aperture helps.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01C5TG53Y
Stretch your budget or you will likely end up disappointed.
If $200 is your max. AWB OneSky
If you can stretch a bit Skywatcher 6" Dobsonian or if you're willing to second hand, an 8" inch dobsonian can be had for around $200-$250.
These will get you the best views of Jupiter and Saturn you can get for the money. But check your expectations. Through an 8 inch dob with a planetary eyepiece(which is usually bought separately) under dark mountain skies you can roughly expect visual results like this:
Jupiter
Saturn
Under light polluted town skies, the views will be approximately the same size but fuzzier and with much less detail.
It's never really a good choice to get a scope that tries to deliver both terrestrial and astronomical viewing. The only way to get an astronomical scope to see terrestrial images right side up and not mirrored or angled is to use a refractor or cassegrain scope with an Erect Image Diagonal inserted before the eyepiece. Unfortunately to get a quality refractor or cassegrain with as much visual bang for the buck as a Newtonian reflector you have to spend considerably more money.
Erect image diagonals don't work on Newtonians
So in short, it's often more affordable and definitely more satisfying to get one scope for astronomy and then something else like a birding monocular or a good pair of binoculars for terrestrial viewing.
Hope that helps.
You won't be able to see molecules like antibodies, at least not with a light microscope. If interested in why, you should check out pages such as this one explaining the limits of resolution (about 3/4 down the page).
You won't be able to diagnose health disorders via blood draw and light microscopy without the proper tools (you might see evidence for super obvious ones that depend on morphology or cell counts, but that's not a diagnosis). I'm not a clinician, but my guess is clinics use stains, qPCR, ELISAs, things like that, to diagnose.
That said, you should be able to see things like cheek cells or RBCs, with a decent 20x or 40x light microscope. It's likely you won't be able to see more. I had one when I was a child, and it probably didn't cost more than a few hundred $. Here's one that's not wonderful quality, but it looks like you can get some decent magnification and it even has a phase add-on (except one review says the add on is unuseable).
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Handheld-Digital-Microscope-Pro/dp/B00CMJ1I08
...or similar...
> I'll be picking up this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope-x/dp/B001DJ4FEE
No, save yourself 100 quid and get the better one! Behold: Sky-Watcher Skyliner 250PX. Same size, better in all regards. Also possibly faster delivery.
As for accessories, you'll definitely want a planetary eyepiece (a 6mm "gold line" should be enough for starters), a collimation tool, and maybe a replacement for the 10mm kit eyepiece (a 9mm "gold-line" will do great here too).
Paging /u/schorhr for the eyepiece links! He has the best deals saved on his notepad :)
Naw. Just have some $200 microscope(this one) and use a digital camera on the lens. Stacking focus does sound like something I should try though.
A 10" telescope will set you back $630.
How close are these open field areas? If you're driving how much room is available in the vehicle for the telescope? To start you off here are my two top suggestions:
Orion XT8 plus
Celestron Nexstar 127SLT
If I were you, I'd go with a microscope that has a trinocular view. It really helps to be able to view what your are taking images of through an eyepiece.
This is the microscope I use and I have no complaints yet:
https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-T490B-Magnification-High-Resolution-Microscopes/dp/B004QEFO1Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524069091&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=trinocular+microscope&amp;dpID=41a90GOXjiL&amp;preST=_SY300_QL70_&amp;dpSrc=srch
You can get decent photos / videos using a phone adapter if you're on a budget.
Something like this perhaps:
https://www.amazon.com/Gosky-Universal-Phone-Adapter-Mount/dp/B013D2ULO6/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524069164&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=microscope+phone+adapter&amp;dpID=41riC-uLXTL&amp;preST=_SY300_QL70_&amp;dpSrc=srch
Thanks for the advice! I was looking at this particular microscope which does have the vertical attachment.
As with everything I have had to purchase for all of my hobbies, it is not cheap, but I am willing to pay a premium for something if I can use it for life.
Looking good- I would hazard to guess you still have a few weeks though based on all the white pistils. Are you checking trichomes? thats the sure fire way to know when to harvest. get something like this to look at them.
this guide should help
Sweet, ok, this is sorta making sense. This? https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B005TJ5CEG/ref=pd_gwm_psimh_0?pf_rd_p=68979bf7-088b-4ac5-855a-4158ad0ce6aa&amp;pf_rd_s=blackjack-personal-1&amp;pf_rd_t=Gateway&amp;pf_rd_i=mobile&amp;pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&amp;pf_rd_r=T3BPR4QF6JZ64WNGBSPE&amp;pd_rd_wg=YW4cv&amp;pd_rd_r=T3BPR4QF6JZ64WNGBSPE&amp;pf_rd_r=T3BPR4QF6JZ64WNGBSPE&amp;pf_rd_p=68979bf7-088b-4ac5-855a-4158ad0ce6aa&amp;pd_rd_w=chRnZ&amp;pd_rd_i=B005TJ5CEG
its a 50-500. i usually get 2 focal points one high one low. that picture is probably somewhere around 100. this photo is closer to 500. and the actual scope wasnt that expensive at all
I just started with the stargazing hobby a month ago with a cheap $120 reflector (https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21045-Equatorial-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0000Y8C2Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485796129&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=114mm+eq).
I did enough research and know full well it's no where near the level of telescopes the folks at /r/astrophotography use. But you know what? It didn't matter. Just being able to see some of the little things in space close-up was enough to really make me want to invest in this hobby. Seeing the Orion Nebula close-up, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the crescent of Venus, and even the moon craters all for the first time felt amazing and rather humbling. I mean all those things have always been there but I've never bothered to really absorb it until now. Mind you I live in a Bortle 9 region, but I've already planned trips down to a Bortle 2 zone just a couple hours from me and I am super excited.
Hey! Thanks for the reply :) I dont really care about Photography yet and would rather just do visual. Id love to get it but I imagine the weight and size being a big problem in moving it (30KG).
What about a [Celestron Nexstar6SE] (https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B000GUKTDM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1496282160&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=celestron&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=31eM8Sy0kFL&amp;ref=plSrch&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1) ? How inferior is it compared to a 8inch dob?
Argentina eh? Is that 570 American Dollars?
Good looking scope.
Do you have dark skies where you are? I started off with a Celestron 130mm, but I live in San Jose, CA (which has bad sky pollution), so sold it for a smaller 90mm Mak. In city areas, I think 90mm Maks or (or small Dobs) are the way to go. Easy set up.
But this is a personal preference (I have no patience for those EQ mounts! It took me three trips from my room to the drive way to set everything up. Then you have to align it, etc.)
Get this while it lasts:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-31045-AstroMaster-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B000MLL6RS/ref=sr_1_16?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1279354330&amp;sr=1-16
It has a 130mm mirror and only costs 223.19. Free shipping.
With that price point it's pretty hard. here are some options that you may want to consider, http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21037-PowerSeeker-70EQ-Telescope/dp/B001592LFC/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1462242322&amp;sr=8-18&amp;keywords=telescope
http://www.amazon.com/Meade-Instruments-Infinity-Refractor-Telescope/dp/B00LY8JVZC/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1462242120&amp;sr=8-16&amp;keywords=telescope
Also, if you pick him up a new telescope, depending on what you spend within your budget, you might want to get him an eyepiece to go with it. Or even a moon filter since I'm sure that will be one of his main targets living in a high-rise in downtown Chicago. I hope this helps.
$100 enjoy!
This was taken with a Dobsonian scope, large but cheaper -- good bang for the buck but not very portable. Looks like prices have gone up since I bought it in 2011, I paid $529 from Amazon. This one: http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8946-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DJ4FEE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1395592101&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=dobsonian+telescope+xt10
A friend of mine has one of these monsters:
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8946-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DJ4FEE/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1396383050&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=orion+xt10
The term "light bucket" gets bandied around, and these dobsonians are certainly that. Even the smaller ones.
They're not super portable, but for beginning back yard stargazing, it would be hard to go wrong with one of these.
You can get a pretty darn decent 10" Dobsonian for far less than that. For instance - here's one for $500.
Morthylist:
Item which would most make you seem like an old posh Englishman: Keep calm and carry on mug ("Random" WL)
Most "oh god, I would never be seen with this in public" looking item: As much as I love the movie, I'd still be a little embarrassed to be carrying The Little Mermaid around ("Moving Pictures!" WL)
Most phallic looking item: Uh...a sword, I guess ("If I had a million $$$s" WL)
Akeleielist:
Most geeky item: Coffee mug with a caffeine molecule on it ("Random" WL)
Item which would most help you achieve a goal: Running shorts to get my butt back in shape ("Fandom" WL)
Best item to bring to a deserted island: A telescope? I can look for ships on the horizon during the day, and look at the pretty astronomical sights at night! ("If I had a million $$$s" WL)
Love you both! :)
I would recommend an 8-inch dobsonian. You will see the planets very nicely in them, and you'll be able to see deep sky objects at a dark sky location.
You won't be able to do much astrophotography with this though, because dobsonians can't track, you could buy a GoTo dobsonian, which are more expensive but will move to and track an object as long as it is aligned.
A new 8 inch dobsonian from Orion is currently $400 on Amazon.
But keep in mind, when viewing deep sky objects, you won't see beautiful, colorful nebula like you do in pictures. It will appear grey, and you will see less detail. The pictures you see from people's telescopes are stacked and post-processed, bringing out colors and making it look nicer.
Also, go to /r/telescopes, which is a subreddit made for the stuff you're looking for .
Haven't used that one, but it's 5.1 inch, so that's plenty big enough to see Saturn. Good eyepieces are key, though, to getting a good image. I had a cheap Meade 4 inch and it did okay. The model you link to included 1.25" eyepieces, so that's a good start. I haven't been into that stuff in years, though, so I don't know what else is available on the market.
EDIT: This one might be a better choice: http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope-Beginner/dp/B003ZDEUS2
Get an Orion XT8. Big enough to see cool shit, small enough to be transportable. That'll cost you 350, or 400 bucks if you get the version with a barlow lens. Barlows are great for planet viewing, as they make everything 2x bigger.
Too bad you didn't post this a couple of weeks ago. I got my XT8 + Barlow kit for $369. Now it's $420.
Thanks for the writeup.
I'm looking at a 8" Dobsonian.
I like the collapsible feature. I have a Celestron 102 now, and its footprint with tripod open is a bit much in my living room.
How do you like your dobsonian? I'm currently debating buying this Sky-Watcher 8" Dobsonian as my first telescope (hopefully of many) but I haven't been able to get a handle on whether this is a good deal or not in terms of price, brand, or whether a dobsonian is good for a "starter" telescope.
So it sounds like 8" Dobsonian and a little learning is the best way to go. Thoughts on this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Watcher-8-Collapsible-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B004Q78OII/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1449087907&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=8%22+Dobsonian&amp;refinements=p_85%3A2470955011
Anytime. FWIW, I've got one of these that I use for my own DIY bio projects around the house. It's not the greatest in terms of optical quality but I was really impressed with the build quality/value since I think I paid about $150 for it.
https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-T490B-Magnification-Illumination-High-Resolution/dp/B004QEFO1Q
There are some decent Amscope scopes on Amazon. I got something like [this one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004QEFO1Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1500439482&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=B007LBETCQ%7CB004UMDLAA%7CB00AM5XB5O%7CB005O0XVTS%7CB00AZOICT2%7CB009JROROU%7CB004QEFO1Q%7CB007LBETCQ&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41a90GOXjiL&amp;ref=plSrch) a few years back and I actually prefer it over my clinical lab scope at work. It's really quite heavy and sturdy, so I don't hesitate to let my sons play with it. We go "bear hunting" in the backyard after it rains. You can connect a digital camera to the trinocular piece on the top. Amscope sells those, too, but they are usually a low mp. I got the Canon converter and attach my Canon 6d to it.
I'm sure your daughter would love it! My kiddos are always bringing random things home to look at under the microscope. They could spend hours with a little cup of pond water.
Here is the mobile version of your link
How did you come to that conclusion? Did you put it under a microscope? Was there no smell on the material pre-blast? Smell would be a major indicator to me, I mean terpenes are boiling off at room temp and you get smell, no terps =nothing to extract.
A buddy of mine suggested picking up one of these to inspect material before bringing it home to run, haven't done it yet but it seems like a good idea.
Get something like this and you can check if they are lupulin glands or not. I think that might be some weird mite damage or mineral buildup or something. I have seen plants get black spots like that when they are fed alkali water. I think whatever bugs are on there are not good though. You could try posting in /r/whatsthisbug and see if you can get a real ID
You definitely don't need to spend multiple hundreds of dollars for your first pair of binoculars. Consider these Celestrons as a similarly-priced alternative - actually, I'd probably choose these since they are tripod-adaptable without having to resort to a clamp. Astronomy can be a money-hungry hobby so the money you save now can be used for a tripod later. Your priority should be learning to use the binoculars really well. You should feel comfortable using the focus wheel, the diopter, setting the interpupillary distance for your eyes easily, and of course scanning the sky with increasing accuracy as you learn where things are. Seeing things is also a skill that requires practice, which sounds kinda funny, but as you start to learn which objects are where and return to them over and over you'll develop observing skills that will increase the efficacy of your binoculars. Spending a couple hundred more bucks won't get you any closer to that; the only thing that will is time invested in the hobby.
You should know that binoculars can get very expensive very fast, like everything else in this hobby. Later, if you want to upgrade your binoculars, you can go for stuff like these 25x100s and eventually binocular telescopes. But that's a long way off, and $50 and a field guide will have you well on your way. I suggest taking a look at the Astronomical League's observing challenges and setting some goals for things to look at with your binoculars. That way you'll have a sort of structured curriculum to try out while you get used to using them.
Get a nice set of binoculars, these are good and inexpensive:
https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B006ZN4TZS/ref=acr_search_see_all?ie=UTF8&amp;showViewpoints=1
Trust me on this. Many want to start with a telescope, and I did myself, but the scope I got I outgrew quickly and now these are my go to. Get to some dark lands and whip these bad boys out and you will be astonished all you can see with them. It's like having a telescope in your hands that you can hang around your neck.
Once you get the hang of space and what's out there to view, then get a telescope. But start with some good nocs. You wont be sorry.
Clear skies!
You can definitely get a nice hobbyist telescope for a reasonable to semireasonable amount of money. I don't know much about brands so definitely don't take this as buying advice, but here are two consumer telescopes at opposite ends of the price range for that market.
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-SpaceProbe-Equatorial-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BKOW
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-StarBright-Schmidt-Cassegrain-2800mm-Telescope/dp/B000ARFND2
i was thinking of getting this or something similar for myself
This is the microscope in question. Works with the Windows 10 Camera app, just plug & play.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00P8D96N6/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
The 114AZ isn't a bad scope per se. It's NOT a Bird-Jones scope like the 127EQ is. It's a long focal ratio reflector with a spherical mirror. However, the long focal ratio means the spherical mirror behaves about as well as a parabolic mirror, so views are comparable to a similar aperture scope with parabolic mirror.
The main issue is the mount is REALLY wobbly, and it prevents the scope from pointing vertically in certain orientations thanks to the tripod legs. Optically, it's not a bad scope for $82, but the mount makes me question whether or not it would be too frustrating an experience to get much value out of it.
Realistically, I don't recommend any scopes less than about $300 because they all have problems that can lead to a frustrating experience if you don't know how to overcome them. The bare minimum scope I would recommend is the Zhumell Z130 table-top dobsonian, but you have to understand that you're getting a small scope that has to be placed on a very sturdy table that won't move, else you'll have similar problems with view stability.
What I often recommend is a 6" full-sized dobsonian like the SkyWatcher 6" Traditional for $285. The long focal ratio is much more beginner friendly, the full size dob base means it can be placed on the ground and you can sit in a chair to observe through it, and the extra aperture will really show a lot of detail on the planets and moon on a night when the atmosphere is steady.
I'm also using a pi for monitoring and making timelapses. I was finally able to catch a grow 100%, I'll post that timelapse in a few days.
The microscope is this one. Trying to make a timelapse with the microscope is basically impossible, you'd need to refocus it constantly and if there is ANY wind, the bud will move slightly, and throw the image off. It's not super easy to get a clear picture of a larger area like the one I posted.
So the #1 thing I need you to keep in mind is that no earthbound telescope is going to get you a “Hubble” image.
I don’t personally have experience with the 130p but from a much smaller telescope I could still see jupiter/its bands and it’s moons, the gap between Saturn and its rings. With the dobsonian, those details will be enhanced and the magnification capabilities are much greater.
The planets are cool, but the treat with the dobsonian is the nebulae. Orion is big and bright so you can realistically see it with your naked eye if it was dark enough... but look at it with an 8 inch dobsonian and it will change your life. Other nebulae that aren’t as bright become very visible with wide aperture (the width of the tube) telescopes.
All of this being said, the 130p has 5 inches of aperture vs my first telescopes 3 ish inches - so you’d get a better view at first than I did, and brighter nebulae will still be a treat. I would also consider a 6 inch dobsonian mount. Less of an increase in price, wider aperture than the 130p, and has the full length the 8 inch you were shown has (longer tube, more magnification).
Sorry for the Amazon link but I’m at work and it’s the easiest way for me to show you what I mean;
SkyWatcher S11600 Traditional Dobsonian 6-Inch (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z4G3D22/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Vo-1Db3FP8Y00
This does look like a nice telescope, I'm considering saving up for it do I need to buy a lens in addition to the telescope?
I was looking at this one on amazon and it looks like it is frequently bought with a short focus. Thanks for the advice! https://www.amazon.com/Meade-Instruments-LightBridge-Telescope-203003/dp/B01C5TG53Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1485902688&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=lightbridge+min
Thanks again!
Zhumell z8: You mean below ones? I am ready to splurge more, if its worth it.
https://www.telescopesplus.com/products/zhumell-z8-deluxe-dobsonian-reflector-telescope
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002UPSPX2/
Skywatcher 6" dobsonian :
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11600-Traditional-Dobsonian-6-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3D22
As of now I am looking either at the
Orion 27193 XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
or Zhumell z8 if that good
Binoculars : any recommendations.
Yes. A skywatcher 6" dobsonian.
Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!
Here are your smile-ified links:
https://smile.amazon.com/Meade-Instruments-LightBridge-Telescope-203003/dp/B01C5TG53Y
---
^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly&nbsp;bot
I was considering this at first Orion starblast II 4.5 EQ reflector
But mu friend told me that it doesn’t have an autotracker so now I’m considering buying Sky watcher S11600 traditional dobsonian 5”
I do want to observe planets and the moon atm and no for obeserving the milky way I’ll have to travel to other cities.
I might be able to get a used Celestron 21045 D-114mm F-900mm from someone in my area, any opinions on this "used couple times" telescope locally?
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"Celestron number 21045 D-114mm F-900mm coated optics this is what is on the side of it only used couple times"
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Sounds like it might be this thing, though idk about the D part of what he described.
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21045-Equatorial-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0000Y8C2Y
It's this one It is very closely related to the winner of the 2013 best beginner's scope for the value with the best visuals. In telescope land. Or something :-)
I have one of these http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y/ and was very impressed despite the low price. I used it quite a bit for a few months before buying a much bigger and better scope of craigslist. One of the problems of lower end scopes is the quality of the eyepieces. Even that $40 scope allowed for me to see the bands of Jupiter and splotches on Mars, and using better eyepieces made it much better. Unless your son will be using the scope during the day I would recommend getting a reflecting scope. You get a bigger telescope for less money, which is great for seeing the fainter objects in the sky like galaxies, and nebulae.
If I were buying something for my son in this price range I would probably go with this: http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21045-Equatorial-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0000Y8C2Y and also get him some other presents, like a moon filter, or better eyepiece.
If he sticks with it, he can upgrade eyepieces, the mount, etc. to get improved performance out if it and use those on later scopes as well. It would be more difficult to
Have always admired astrophotography from afar, but have decided to jump in. Luckily I do have some money to spend on my hobbies. And instead of getting something I would outgrow Im going to get a more expensive scope. The one that has jumped out to me is the Celestron NexStar 8 SE . I might go down to the 6/5 SE.
What are my goals? Id like to us my Nikon D3300 and scope,, with the obviously needed T Ring and adapter for planetary images and some DSO as my next step. I know I will also need a wedge for polar alignment with the 6/8 SE. My question is will this scope be able to help me meet my goals?
Also, I am not located in a dark sky area, I have to travel a couple hours to get there.
I'd recommend a Celestron NexStar 6 SE. It fits within your budget and allows you some leftover for accessories.
They're solid telescopes, with a good mount. The Schmidt-Cassegrain design is somewhat of a compromise, but it is a jack-of-all-trades master-of-none kind of design, which seems like it would do nicely for the various things you would like to be able to do. It's relatively compact and portable, but has a large aperture for its size.
As /u/twilightmoons pointed out, you can use a 45-degree prism for upright viewing of terrestrial objects like when birding. You might also want to pick up a high quality eyepiece or two, they make such a difference in how enjoyable a scope is to use.
Imho it looks vastly overpriced for what it is - the standard 650mm FL celestron tube with a computer mount.
Better would be this
Or maybe a dobsonian
Also allow some room to buy some eyepieces
Check out the links in the side bar.
> 6SE
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-6-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUKTDM
This is the other one you mentioned. Seems to be fairly the same as the cheaper 127 slt. What would make you buy this over the cheaper one, is it more price point, or am I gaining something of definitely more value, or usefulness?
I see. It's cool that most telescopes (even entry level) those days have built-in tracking software, maybe they're hackable to track launch.
I was thinking this or this
Thank you for your response! So, pretty much, I have [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-31045-AstroMaster-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B000MLL6RS) and if I want to see the planets / deep sky objects (given that I'm in the right place to do them), purchasing this one would do the trick?
This telescope cause I've dreamed of being able to gaze at the moon and planets better since I was a kid.
is this a worthy upgrade or too similar to what I've got already?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Celestron-31045-Astromaster-130EQ/dp/B000MLL6RS/ref=pd_ys_sf_s_560798_b1_5_p?ie=UTF8&amp;refRID=17H1YVGA656815361K3Q
I can see the mount itself is worth upgrading for, the aperture is 28mm wider (130mm vs. 102mm), though the focal length is 400mm shorter (650mm vs. 1100mm)
The Best Buy website has some of the same telescopes as the Orion website. The one that looks like the best pick based on the budget:
Astromaster 130EQ
I'd prefer this scope to a 6" Dob since it's possible to add tracking and get started with astrophotography using the EQ mount.
I used my telescope and I put my iphone camera right up to the eye piece. It's kind of hard to keep it steady but with some practice you can get it.
The telescope isn't even that expensive. It's similar to this one.
man i am and i think its just convoluting my decision! everything looks great lol
here are the two i'm really liking right now, any opinion between them?
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21035-70mm-Travel-Scope/dp/B001TI9Y2M/ref=sr_1_4?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1373176171&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=telescope
^carrying case, kind of thick (i have a complex ok)
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1373176171&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=telescope
badass looking as well.. but maybe not compact enough to move around?
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21037-PowerSeeker-70EQ-Telescope/dp/B001592LFC/ref=sr_1_5?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1373176171&amp;sr=1-5&amp;keywords=telescope
idk pics show it zooming into the moon a lot
Um, I bought it at a local store, but it was a 10" Orion Dobsonian reflector. Here it is on Amazon, but I'm sure you can probably find it cheaper on other sites.
Alternate telescope link based on busted link. Looks like the 8 inch one is ~$1800.
Looks like a Meade lx90 series.
http://www.amazon.com/Meade-LX90-ACF-Advanced-Coma-Free-Telescope/dp/B002AK4N74
Some much better options:
https://www.telescopes.com/collections/telescopes/products/celestron-nexstar-114gt-computerized-telescope?view=cro-test
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-90SLT-Mak-Computerized/dp/B0038LX8WU/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1467689401&amp;sr=8-11&amp;keywords=celestron+computerized+telescope
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNN6/ref=twister_B016RNBU3E?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1
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The best for your budget and needs:
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-130-Computerized-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNNQ/ref=pd_sim_sbs_421_2?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=419lLzhgoOL&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=A04PFWRRR8GFJVYBJ2PS
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-127SLT-Mak-Computerized/dp/B0038LX8XE/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1467689401&amp;sr=8-7&amp;keywords=celestron+computerized+telescope
Also an owner of the the XT8 dob. It is my first telescope and has been great fun so far. Setup and calibration was easy too. You can also get it with a beginners barlow kit.
Possible con: It weighs around 40 lbs, so if you want a really portable scope it may not be your best option.
That is some awesome advice. Other people are recommending a dob as well. Do you know any thing about this one?
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-XT8-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1369432158&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=orion+skyquest+xt8
Also, for $30 more they have this option which to me sounds like it might be worth it?
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope-Beginner/dp/B003ZDEUS2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1369432158&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=orion+skyquest+xt8
Or do you recommend any dobs?
Mine looks exactly like this but different brand. Feeling ko same manufacturer nila sa china, branding lang. My telescope apparently came from korea.
So thats $500 without shipping and taxes medyo lalaki yan. Baka pumatak na ng $1000+.
http://www.amazon.com/420-Scope-60-100x-Handheld-Microscope/dp/B005GLQVV0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1453246267&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=marijuana+microscope
They are fairly resistant plants, continue to feed and water (maybe even water change/flush) As long as they are not scorched, they should bounce back.
[This is pretty good too] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005GLQVV0/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1 )
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005TJ5CEG/ref=pe_175190_21431760_M3T1_SC_dp_1
That is pretty nifty. I've wanted to do microscopy on the spore prints I've taken, but microscopes tend to be quite pricey. That user that occasionally posts some of his microscopy posted a link to this which is about the same price as a nice smartphone if you don't already have one.
Here is my most interesting item. I think it would be awesome to have it do I can look at everything in its smallest form. It would be incredible to be able to have this ability in my own home (although I'm not expecting it to be gifted!)
So I'm really interested in buying a microscope as a hobby item. I've always been fascinated by biology and when I was little I had a cheap slide to focus 40x microscope that was given away to younger cousins. I've been on the verge of purchasing a new microscope for a year and a half. I'm looking at three different price brackets:
$80 (The scope this article links to.)
Cordless LED biological compound microscope offers five magnification settings: 40X-100X-250X-400X-1000X
Widefield glass optics and optical glass lens condenser provide high resolution sharp clear images
45 degree inclined 360 degree rotatable monocular head with locked-in eyepiece
Cordless LED illumination with three AA batteries and wall-power adpter/recharger included
Sturdy solid metal framework with dual side focus
$130 Here
45-degree Inclined 360-degree Rotatable Monocular Head with Four Magnification Settings 40X-100X-400X-1000X
Precise Optical Glass Lenses; All-Metal Framework and Mechanical Parts
Separate Coarse and Fine Focus and Abbe Condenser with Disc Diaphragm
Built-in Tungsten Light with GS and CE Approval
5-Year Warranty Including Parts and Labor against Manuafcturing Defects
$195 Here and here. 8 settings up to 2000x
1st link:
High quality professional optical glass elements; 45degrees;inclined 360degrees;swiveling binocular head
8 levels of magnification: 40x-80x-100x-200x-400x-800x-1000x-2000x
4 achromatic objectives DIN 4x, 10x, 40x(S), 100x(S,Oil); 2 pairs of eyepieces: WF10X and WF20X
Sliding interpupillary distance adjustment; Ocular diopter adjustable on both eyetubes; Stage upward moving lock protects objectives and slides
Variable intensity illumination; Coaxial coarse and fine focus adjustment; Focusing knobs on both sides; Stain-resistant double layer mechanical stage; NA1.25 Abbe Condenser with iris diaphragm and filters; Rack and pinion adjustment condenser
2nd link:
Binocular Sliding Head with Adjustable Ocular Diopter on Both Eyetubes
Eight Magnification Settings 40X, 80X, 100X, 200X, 400X, 800X,1000X & 2000X
Graduated X-Y Mechancal Stage and Tension Adjustable Separate Coarse & Fine Focus
Precise Ground Glass Lenses and Sturdy Metal Framework
5-Year Warranty against Manuafcturing Defects
Here's what I'd use it for:
Looking at pond scum, amoebas, blood, sperm, insect parts, pollen, etc.
The $80 scope shown is an awesome value. Is it silly to consider paying $115 more for 1000x more magnification?
Is 2000x magnification complete overkill for these applications?
How can expect the 2000x magnification to compare to the 1000x? Is oil immersion required for 2000x?
Between the two $195 scopes, which one is best? I'd really appreciate some advice on this one.
How important is the apparent lack of a fine control knob on the $80 scope?
Would it be worth it to get the $130 scope when all it adds is a fine control knob, or would it be better just to choose between the $80 and $195 scopes?
I bought mine on amazon here's the link You can always get a more expensive one, but this one works for me!
I was looking at microscope similar to that one, it is an AmScope brand but looks almost the same and comes with a camera that connects to a PC (which he has as well).
As for those cell phone holders I have one for my telescope and it will not work for a tablet.
These seem cheap and decent: https://www.amazon.com/AmScope-Microscope-Magnification-Brightfield-Illumination/dp/B006FCI0G8/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1525928202&amp;sr=8-9&amp;keywords=microscope+with+camera
My district suggested we get these.
I just got it for fun, lol. I snagged this one off amazon, and then later upgraded the camera: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006FCI0G8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
It's a bright-field microscope, and not well suited for taking pictures of non-transparent, thick objects like weed - so I had to jerry-rigg some external lighting for it
I'm a scientist (chemical engineer in a research position, finishing my PhD), and my wife is molecule biologist. So we just thought it'd be fun to be able to look at stuff. and it's been a real blast!
A really neat aspect to having a camera is that you can also take videos. So i've got some cool ones of blood cells moving around. (and my sperm swimming around, lol)
Not 100% sure how UK shipping would work but I have [this one] (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B006FCI0G8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1) from amscope and it has a usb connection that lets me show it on the computer or project the image. It's not the greatest but lets you see onion cells just fine. I haven't tried blood yet, I should give that a shot.
This is the one I have and it's way better than the old high school microscope I used. If i could do it over I would get this one
This is what I'm using
I don't know enough to say that isn't a good deal. The scope could be very well made or sought after for the precision assembly or something else I could only guess at.
But considering the fact that you can buy a brand new warrantied scope for that price which includes USB outputs for digital imaging and recording (link)...
It's pretty hard for me to imagine this is a particularly good deal.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MX03Q0/?coliid=IGTKAK9Q261QH&amp;colid=2FMX9BJI3OTTN&amp;psc=1&amp;ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
I've used these before. They work well and they are well made really. I have an Amscope that cost $200 more than this one and I'd trade it in a heart beat. Hands down my recommendation. Been in my shopping list for years...
I'd recommend getting some kimtech wipes too and making sure you know all the care instructions. Keep it covered when not in use and all those things.
Sounds like a cool project! This is the one i use at home- i don't know if it's available in the US (just guessing thats where you are) but i cannot recommend it enough. They have their own site too.
This is an alternative availble in the US - i have no experience with it but it seems okay, also has a connection to your laptop to make it easier to share your results!
I bought this one! I kind of regret not springing for the one with the 3.0 MP camera, would have made for some sharper shots.
Could I get your opinion on these? My area is as bad as it gets for light pollution so didn't want to blow too much on binoculars but these seem to have good specs at a good price.
Could you give a few examples of "higher end astronomy binoculars"?
I got a set of Celestron Upclose G2's from a friend and I'm pretty happy with them, but I'd like to know where I might go next. Should I get an even better set of binoculars, or should I just go straight for the telescope?
Something alone these lines? or this? Or any other specific suggestions
I really like these celestron usb scopes . The image quality is good for the price and they are robust enough to take a beating.
I own this one. The manual focus takes a bit to perfect and the post is not long enough to get anything bigger than a small cent in the frame (I bought a dowel to extend the crap out of it and can get Morgans and bigger in the frame now), but it takes some amazing shots. Will need a light ring setup in order to photograph slabbed coins but all in all it is a really good microscope.
*disclaimer I live near Atlanta so some of the pictures are hazy. There are a few planet pictures in there but my Iphone really cannot deal with that faint of light. You can do whatever you want with these pictures, I just love to share them with people.
These are all the moon pictures I managed to grab before the harvest moon and of course the harvest moon itself, I took the pictures using an Iphone 4s.
I use this telescope; however mine is a bit larger - they both look the same though.
This is great info. It makes me realize that what I'd hoped to do is probably impossible, but makes me excited for the other possibilities that exist. Even if I just use the telescope for viewing, but can use a camera and tripod separately to recreate an image similar to the stacked M42, I would be incredibly thrilled.
Would getting a telescope like this one potentially help alleviate the focal length issue, or would it still limit me to exposures that are too short (if I were to try the same methodology of stacking): http://www.amazon.com/Orion-09007-SpaceProbe-Equatorial-Reflector/dp/B00D05BKOW ? I know it wouldn't be as good for viewing the DSOs, but if it gave me more of an opportunity to try astrophotography on them, it might be worth the trade off.
this one is good
I have an Orion 130ST with a cheap Orion drive. I mount my camera on the tripod for photography but when I mount it to the telescope, I get that ugly coma issue stuff.
I understand that a coma corrector corrects coma issues but I'm wondering if it would help on such an inexpensive scope like I have. I'm considering putting some money into a new mount and I'm wondering if I can get away with using my current scope.
I would probably need a new focuser as well. Is it worth the upgrades or do I just get a new scope?
I've done more research. Do you have any opinions on this or this?
Thank you for your detailed reply. :)
About the optics type issue, thanks for pointing out which of those have spherical mirrors. I'm aware of the problems spherical mirrors bring in but somehow I forgot to check that when browsing for scopes. haha It's my first telescope purchase, so I asked help for that reason. :) Also I know those mounts are not very very sturdy but for this price range I know I have to make some compromises. I guess for now it would be better to buy a scope with a parabolic mirror and ideally upgrade the mount at a later time when a bit more cash flows.
Last thing. What do you think of these if I may ask? Skywatcher Explorer 130p and [Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D05BKOW/ref=psdc_499154_t1_B0000XMSWK). Optics for both are stated to be parabolic. Are dobsonian still better than these? For planetary/lunar observation too?
thanks
Good question! Something cheap, can't remember if Amazon or eBay, I'll go look...
So, it was a bit over a year ago, and the Amazon link goes to a different and more expensive unit. This one looks to be pretty much the same as the one I have (these are cheap Chinese items), and the only difference is that I mounted mine on a little desktop camera tripod to make it easy to set up different objects and put them in proper focus.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038LX8XE/?coliid=I1TOJTBWZ7SY8K&colid=1TM050NZ9C1HA&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Yes.
But it's not about the camera nearly as much as it is about lenses. For example, you can get a Canon 65mm macro lens that reproduces the images 5x bigger than lifesize. (In other words, 5x zoom). Next, you can 'crop to zoom' meaning you can just take the middle of your image to zoom in more.
A top-of-the-line professional digital camera these days is 36MP or 50MP (full-frame, or medium format, respectively). Consider that your average facebook photo is, what, 0.5 megapixels? You can zoom in quite a lot with cameras like that by just cropping and still have an acceptable image.
Also, there are digital microscopes like this one that offer 20x to 200x zoom.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Handheld-Digital-Microscope-Pro/dp/B00CMJ1I08/
Their image quality is far lower than that of a professional digital camera with a macro lens, but they are in fact digital cameras.
Now, you might say: "Yes, but they accomplish this by using a lens with a large magnification. I meant just using the digital camera itself." All digital cameras need some sort of lens in front of the sensor to focus light, just like a normal camera; just like any microscope. (They don't necessarily have to be lenses, you could use mirrors and other things as well.) So it's less about the high resolution of the sensor and more about the lens, but a high resolution sensor does help to letting you crop to zoom.