What model make etc would suit as I know little about these, thanks in anticipation
2007-03-12 09:50:02 · 13 answers · asked by ? 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No question that binoculars would work well but the higher power ones can get very expensive. A cheaper alternative would be a good spotting telescope (like a binocular with one lens). For example, Orion Telescopes has one that has 18x-36x zoom lens with a 60mm aperature for $100. Orion makes high quality optics. That plus a tripod to attach it to would be a great scope for looking out to sea.
2007-03-12 10:33:52 · answer #1 · answered by Twizard113 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I use 10-25 x 50 bins.
I have used a 525x telescope, which is ridiculously powerful ( I can see the markings on a seagull at 3/4 mile).
Don't go over 50x whatever you choose, even with a tripod, if there's a good wind blowing it'll move about.
2007-03-13 19:15:56 · answer #2 · answered by Do not trust low score answerers 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forget Tasco telescopes........ I bought one off Ebay in summer 2004, only to find out through the Astronomy YAHOO! groups they were like the Astronomy equivalent of owning a Reliant Robin (use cheap optics)... but are savable if you don't mind forking out an extra £50 for a better lens for Astronomy purposes like an Orion Explorer II zoom eyepiece + £16 for an adaptor to make a 1.25" eyepiece fit in a 0.926" hole.
http://www.telescopehouse.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerid=37301lyYpdZOOyyC8IYPkREOGcHKUDdT&action=lnk
http://www.telescopehouse.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerid=6A5EB129B6904075AB199760717258D6&action=lnk
Even then it was next to useless at looking about 2miles across the valley towards Larpool Hall hotel (Whitby) with the standard lenses & eyepiece it came with... all a little bit too powerful to be much good.
However a pair of 10x50 or 12x50 binoculars can be more usefull, than a telescope when it comes to observing stuff on land + across water.
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/jdcouk-astro-21/203-9338484-3266364?_encoding=UTF8&node=3
I got by fine with mine (a pair of 10x50 Carl Zeiss from the former East Germany JENA factory).... despite the fact I kind of broke one side of them in around 1988 / 89 when I was 9 or 10yrs old......... even the pair of 8x21 Practika binoculars I got free for joining the "Readers Union" anglers book club (£24.99 otherwise) do a pretty good job when I wander down Whitby's Pier, looking both out to sea + across the bay towards Sandsend (the eyecups are also just the right shape & size to stick the lens of my Fuji A345 Digital compact camera in, and use them as a makeshift add on zoom lens for photographing birds or ships just out of range).
Your best bet would probably be these 12x50 Pentax ones
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/jdcouk-astro-21/detail/B000067O8G/203-9338484-3266364
which is probably about as powerful as you want to go without needing additional support to keep them steady.
2007-03-12 17:15:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you might be better off with a good pair of zoom binoculars.
a telescope would not have to be too powerful, too much magnification reduces the quality of the image you see...and there tends to be a lot of haze over the water to start with.
there are plenty of smaller telescopes that would suit, but you really need a tripod as well, some come with the scope, some do not.
check this one out, should be ideal for a first scope and a good deal at the minute.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2702832.htm
2007-03-12 16:57:57 · answer #4 · answered by safcian 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Seriously, don't bother. You will get just as much with a good pair of binoculars. A telescope is only worth it if you are a serious astronomer and only want to look at planets.
2007-03-12 17:15:04 · answer #5 · answered by the_emrod 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good idea. Look for a local observatory. You'll get the big picture, so to speak. Plus, you can ask the experts for advice on buying a telescope.
2007-03-12 16:53:24 · answer #6 · answered by Konswayla 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You would be far better off getting a decent pair of binoculars and a tripod stand - believe me I learnt the hard way - Binoculars will be more portable and easier to have in a permanant position in your window.
2007-03-12 16:54:10 · answer #7 · answered by gaviscon 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
look on e bay get the most power full binoculars on a stand
2007-03-12 17:01:40 · answer #8 · answered by ray j 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Binoculars may be more handy for you. Or you can check out
www.meade.com
www.tasco.com
Either way...BE CAREFUL WHEN THE SUN IS OUT
2007-03-12 16:55:21 · answer #9 · answered by Mark M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You will need binoculars for the Baywatch effect..
2007-03-12 16:53:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋