lo-cost 'scopes

nytecam · #1 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 11:15 PM

Visited local Lidls today and they had two scopes that may appeal ...

a]Bresser astroscope 70mm aperture f/10 refractor/ eyepieces/ finder/ tripod/ planetarium CD etc £58

b]Bresser astro/birding scope 90mm aperture x25-x75 zoom angled eyepiece/ camera clamp/adapter/ tripod etc £98

No opportunity to test but Bresser scopes usually solid and good value

ps: I've no connections to Lidls

SusieBee · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 12:01 AM

Didn't know Lidls sold anything like that

Good prices for beginners, will have to find my nearest Lidl store!

carlos_dfc · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 01:50 PM

I own both of these models, which I've bought when they've been on similar offers previously...

The 70mm refractor
I bought it primarily because at the time it came supplied with a EQ-2 class Equatorial mount, yet the package price was cheaper than buying an EQ-2 on it's own - and I was in the market for a EQ-2 to mount my 90mm Mak-Cass.
I never touched the Bresser telescope for a couple of months, but when I eventually got round to looking 'through' it - I was pleasantly surprised.
Nice sharp optics, a couple of the supplies eyepieces aren't too bad, and another bonus - the finderscope gives an upright view.
Much, MUCH beter than the 60mm Tasco refractor that so many of us amateur astros started off with - and a good bit cheaper too.
The current mount isn't as good as the previous EQ-2 - but the price of the package is lower.

The 25-75x90 Spotter-scope.
Not the greatest quality spotter in the world - but still very capable - and a bargain at the asking price. The camera clamp alone normally costs about £35, and it's a £25 tripod.
Field of view (FOV) is a bit narrow at the lower magnifications - but zoom up past 35x and it grows to a respectable width. Quite sharp, it gives pin-point star images across most of the FOV, below 50x, but focusing does get critical above that - though you CAN get a very sharp image at high magnifications with care.
You do get some CA at high powers - also some coma around the edges when you move up the zoom a bit, and get wider apparant fields of view - but you expect that from what is a relatively 'fast' achromatic objective lens.
The 90mm aperture gives a nice bright image, making it OK as a grab'n'go for sky-watching - I've seen some nice cloud band detail on Jupiter with it, and if I keep the magnification down below 40x-50x, it's useful for looking at some of the more prominent deep-sky objects, such as the Perseus Double-cluster, Andromeda Galaxy, Oriion nebula, etc....

carlos_dfc · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SusieBee

Didn't know Lidls sold anything like that

Good prices for beginners, will have to find my nearest Lidl store!

Keep an eye out for their Bresser 10x50 binoculars - usually on sale for between £9-99 and £14-99
As good as many £60-£80 binocs I've looked through.
Quality-control can be a bit patchy though - before buying, look through to make sure they aren't mis-aligned.

Pretty decent binocs, at an amazingly low price.

Here's the Lidl website Susie - there's a store locator under the 'Service' tab.
http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages/i.home
Just checked, and they don't seem to be on sale (yet) anywhere local to myself

SusieBee · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 10:10 PM

Thank-you Nytecam for info in this thread really excited now to get to Lidls

Always thought it would be a really expensive hobby to start up and way outa my reach so really pleased!

And Thank-you so much carlos_dfc for taking the time for brilliantly detailed info in reply and link. Found local store oooo I'm on my way to Lidls...lol
Was after binoculars too so excellent. Going to have to drop some serious hints to family for early B'day & Christmas pressies

Great advice guys! This place is Great

Cheers SusieBee