Best Telescopes/Scope Combos at $200, $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 and $50,000 in 2022

Amazon affiliate links:
Orion Starblast Telescope amzn.to/3N3GYp9
Zhumell Z114 Telescope (same as the Orion Starblast) amzn.to/363jVdH
Orion XT6 Telescope (new version as of 2022) amzn.to/3z4TBuz
Orion XT8 Telescope (new version as of 2022) amzn.to/3FN54SX
Sky-Watcher 6” Dobsonian Telescope amzn.to/3CXUZAi
Sky-Watcher 8” Dobsonian Telescope amzn.to/3wkAQmt
TeleVue 24mm Panoptic (my favorite 1.25” eyepiece) amzn.to/3NtKHwl
TeleVue 13mm Nagler Type 6 eyepiece amzn.to/3t248F4
TeleVue 7mm Nagler Type 6 eyepiece amzn.to/31xtq2q
TeleVue Everbrite 1.25” Diagonal amzn.to/3JWEveT
TeleVue 2X Barlow (Much better than the cheap throwaway barlows found in cheap scopes) amzn.to/335DAaI
Heated gloves amzn.to/2R45aiW
Heated vest amzn.to/3nVoefs
Small planisphere amzn.to/2JAGvyK
Large planisphere amzn.to/3qsiRFh
The Cambridge Star Atlas amzn.to/3mDAakC
The Stars: A New Way To See Them amzn.to/3lvEUaA
Sky & Telescope's Pocket Star Atlas amzn.to/2VrcDrb
The 21st Century Atlas of the Moon amzn.to/3bsk4Hk
Turn Left at Orion (good beginner’s book about finding stuff) amzn.to/3fYPRQQ
My tiny 8X21 binoculars are here amzn.to/39RdfyP
A decent pair of 7X35 binoculars amzn.to/3mESBoV
A decent pair of 7X50 binoculars amzn.to/3g6amLB
The Orion 8X42 binoculars are here amzn.to/37vW1UK
Camera used for filming amzn.to/38QrkLv
Camera I’m using for 4K video and some B-Roll amzn.to/3D1pOmk
The lens I use for filming (80% of the time) amzn.to/38QIN6i
The lenses used for filming the rest of the time (17-40 f/4 and 24-70 f/4) amzn.to/3cITdpV and amzn.to/3ns4cck
My tripod amzn.to/2OEDhNo
My ballhead amzn.to/3cLeLSW
The softboxes I use amzn.to/3qSDp91
Wireless mic: amzn.to/3tQcRHv
My astrophotography book contains advice on telescopes observing, and taking pictures (based on my award-winning Dartmouth thesis, June 2020) 255 pages, 258 color images: amzn.to/2Jt1O5o
Top Three Recommended Beginner’s Telescope Video: • Top 3 Beginner's Teles...
Top Beginner’s Astronomy Books: • Top Beginner's Astrono...
For Complete Beginners, Part 1: • Getting Started in Ama...
For Complete Beginners, Part 2: • For ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS...
Hundreds of other telescope reviews on my web site at:
www.scopereviews.com

[@williamtrudeau5936]

This was as good as it gets. Thank you. You can explain anything to me. I am crystal clear on what to think. I am 81 years old, and can afford pretty much anything I want, and life is very short.

[@jlove24]

Which one are you getting? I want one as well

[@Reb1000]

Damn can I get one grandpa

[@wesleydockery2164]

Willian, I wish you nothing but blessings throughout the next 18 years on your journey to 100!! If you don’t mind me asking, could you please share your most valuable lesson/memory you’ve had through your life?

[@georgemorley1029]

Right, so 8” dob then?

[@lapua9828]

​@@georgemorley1029 he deserves the 10" tbh

[@TheNobbynoonar]

$400 on an 8” dob, $49’600 on a handbag for the wife!

[@arminulrich2319]

find another one

[@billvinson7859]

So true.

[@terrelldonald1830]

Dob , bag or wife?

[@hunter133official]

@@arminulrich2319 find another wife?

[@SuaveHousexx]

Am i reading that right? 50k for a handbag? If i ever dated a Welsh that asked me to buy a 50k handbag for her she'd get laughed at. If she followed up because she was serious, I'd leave her. She better be prepared to be a big girl and work for it herself.

[@Buzzygirl63]

I got started in astronomy many years ago with my dad's pair of binoculars. I still have a pair of 7x50s which I probably use more than any of my telescopes. They are so convenient!

[@sburke1859]

I bought an 8 inch Dob about 4 weeks ago and I am completely hooked! Words cannot describe the feeling I got on my first night and seeing the Orion Nebula live for the first time, what a rush! Wife said she has never seen me so happy, thanks for the great recommendations and also advice ( I was wondering what eyepieces to upgrade to and saw your Q and A where you recommended holding off for a while).

[@ryanyoder7573]

I don’t even have a telescope yet but am very interested in a high quality zoom eyepiece. Should be great for casual observing.

[@craigj6277]

Where did you purchase your DOB?

[@DJSteezy]

Do you mind me asking how much you paid? The prices in the video don’t seem to match up with what I’m seeing in real life. Maybe it’s Covid prices.

[@sburke1859]

@@DJSteezy $1000 NZD, I think the prices are higher than they should be, but I am happy with what I paid. Also worth noting in NZ that stock is unreliable as well, and after my purchase I found some at $800 NZD. Hope this helps.

[@wyatthicks8414]

Can you send me the link where you purchased it?

[@Seacoast68]

Great video Ed, I was lucky enough to purchase a 5" AstroPhysics refactor (130EDT on a AP400 mount) back in the 90's when the wait list was only a few months. My first scope was a Meade 8" newtonian (much like those behind you) which I purchased new back in the early 80's on a middle-school student's budget. Rounding out my collection is a Takahashi FC-76, my grab and go scope on a simple photo tripod. I purchased that one lightly-used back in '98 to chase the Caribbean solar eclipse. I still have all 3 and you have reinforced my conviction to never part with them. Keep up the good work!

[@user-iz9co4qf6z]

Ed Ting is the Bob Ross of astronomy. Keep up the good work Ed. Thanks

[@patrickmcdaniel2845]

Waiting 10 years and then sniffing the foam in a case........you are proving to me what I am beginning to see clearly........scope people are nuts! :P

[@CorneliusCreations]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@musician101]

I just got my Orion XT8 in and assembled last week after 5+ weeks of shipping, love it. Bought it due to your reviews. Thank you!!

[@knightclan4]

My first scope is a 10" Zhumell and I love it. I immediately upgraded the highpower eyepiece to a baader Morpheus and glad I spent the extra money. Saturn, Jupiter and the moon are amazing.

[@RaysAstrophotography]

Great collection recommendations Ed! I personally like Orion XX14g. I was able to buy from a next-door state club member. One of the best telescopes, I ever used for visual or astrophotographic use!

[@mattt264]

Love the detail without going overboard considering all of the telescopes you covered. Thank you for the recommendations. An 8 inch dobsonian sounds like the winner for me.

[@ThatConcertGuy]

Always loved space but never had a telescope and last few days been reading up on them but your videos help simplify the learning process so much. Thank you so much man.

[@MrJodylac]

I am a new subscriber who has been watching your videos for several months and what made me subscribe today is you have just enough of the right smart a** to make me realize that I need your attitude in my life. Thank you for coming along at the right moment!

[@vandakat]

I just bought my husband the Celestron 8se last week (first telescope) and now I already want the 8” Dobs! 😁😉 Thank you for another great video, Ed!

[@edcar61]

Good lord Ed, I am already down the rabbit hole. I need therapy. LOL

[@mikewallace8087]

You're really in trouble if you meet the talking Cheshire Cat speaking with the Sterling Holloway voice.

[@KERBROES]

This IS THERAPY

[@dcobbism]

After watching this I'm feeling even better about my first scope being the 8" DOB I got a month ago, thanks Ed!

[@lucasphillips2177]

what have you seen? thinking of getting one

[@cryptojihadi265]

@Lucas Phillips trust me, it's the ONLY way to go. Will last most a lifetime, but after you've used it to check out some planets galaxies and nebulae, you can decide if you want to focus on planets and astrophotography, then get a high end refractor, or if it's more visual observation of deep sky objects, go with a large reflector.

[@Cruz474]

Oh yeah, trust Ed. You'll never get rid of it. Even when you give in to your aperture fever, the 8" is still coming out on many nights.

[@Cruz474]

@@cryptojihadi265 You got it the other way around. SCT's are the planet cannons (reflectors). People tend to use refractors for deep sky. I went the reflector path. Feels good to be able to see what I am imaging lol.

[@jasonpatterson8091]

I think that these videos deserve their own drinking game. Take a shot every time Ed recommends an 8" Dobsonian!!! :-)

[@NebuloCity]

Great video, Ed. Dobsonian was my first buy (10”), recommended by many astronomers and Astrophotographers. Such an incredible scope. Featured recently to, like you, share the love with this amazing scope. Thx again!

[@magicbeans6153]

brilliant as always ed! this is the telescope equivalent of what i used to do with pc components , ending up at the "what u can get if money is irelevant" selections and making the most ridiculous setup . if only hey!

[@Kaylie.Dunstan]

I started with a Celestron C6 on an AVX mount. It took me 2 trips to walk it up several flights of stairs to get to the roof of my apartment building at the time. I then found a second hand 10” Skywatcher Dobsonian for sale. Since you can separate the tube from the base, transporting in 2 goes isn’t a problem. Really happy with the purchase but found star-hopping very difficult for DSO’s. So I added a push-to function with an Argo Navis. It’s actually more accurate than the Celestron slewing. Then I found on so many occasions that there would be beautiful sunshine during the day and then right at dusk, the clouds would roll in. So I waited for an 80mm Lunt 1800 double stacked solarscope to come up for sale and went for it. SO glad I did as the detail you pick up on the sun is phenomenal. I have also ordered my dream scope by SDM (Australian equivalent to Obsession). A 20” with an f3.3 mirror made by Hubble Optics. The scope also has a built-in coma corrector for such a fast focal ratio. Despite the large aperture, it’s only going to be 5’3” at the eyepiece pointing to zenith and can be assembled/disassembled by one person in several minutes. Clear skies 👍

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

Hey Ed! I absolutely love your channel! You are so knowledgeable about the hobby and your passion is infectious! You are also really clear and concise and i am learning so much from watching your videos my friend! Thank You so much Ed! Wes, Liverpool, UK.

[@dotto9982]

I subscribe to a few various KZbin channels, but this is the only one that when I see a new video is posted I actually get excited to watch it. Always amazing work. Thanks Ed

[@amyh4606]

Ed is a treasure. I remember his telescope review site from 20 yrs ago.

[@mj1653]

at this point any scope in stock would be good.

[@thecircuitbox]

For real.

[@chhaylab7520]

I feel you

[@snaxs2000]

Yea! Who's hoarding all the telescopes!?

[@WarguyPlayz]

At this point anything involving astronomy would be nice in stock

[@BackyardObservatory]

You know it's bad when vendors can sell a used C8 for more than new C8.

[@tjzambonischwartz]

A lot of people underestimate how much ass a small dobsonian can kick. I got a 6" Orion "DSE" dob circa 1998, and other (and larger) scopes have come and gone but this one scope remains the workhorse in my arsenal. On Thursday night/Friday morning I did a quarter of an A.L. observing program (Urban Club) in a single night in my backyard with it and it was wonderful. They truly are lifetime scopes. I got my first job to afford that scope when I was 14 and have spent the intervening 23 years improving and altering it. Upgraded focuser, improved bearings and friction brakes, counterweights, flocking, cooling fan, collimation improvements, the list goes on. They're not just great scopes to begin with, they're a great platform for hot-rodding. Those old DSE Dobs are interesting. The optics were figured by Terry Ostahowski when he was the optician for Discovery, and they were the OEM for Orion. Crude OTAs (hence all the modding) but spectacular optics.

[@BlueTrane2028]

My first real telescope was an 8” Celestron Sonotube Star hopper. I regret selling it, but I could fit my 12” flex tube skywatcher into a Honda Civic but not that Celestron. Someday I’ll get it back or one like it.

[@travismays3906]

I've been wanting a telescope for years and never pulled the trigger. Thanks to your videos, I have the Apertura AD8 Dobsonian on my Christmas list. I can't wait to start exploring the skies! Thank you Ed!!

[@takawlm7632]

Hey Ed, for me one thing did not came out clear in this video: what do you think about an 8“ dobsonian?

[@edting]

Haha, I'll make it more clear next time!

[@bloodstone2000]

I always look forward to your next video Ed.. You never disappoint! Thank you.

[@edting]

Thank you so much!

[@bloodstone2000]

@@edting Very Welcome. And thank you. You have been my absolute go to resource for a long time. And there's a good reason for it. You're Style of teaching is Refreshing..

[@enzocarter6765]

Totally agree

[@ziggyfrnds]

Made my day with a new video. Thanks Ed Ting!

[@austinmatzner9064]

My friend your humour has directed me to the glorious 8" dob and I cant argue anymore. It's fantastic.

[@myidahohomestead.7123]

Years ago when I was young and dumb I got a cheap scope from Walmart. Last year I upgraded to an Apertura AD 12. Its big. It's not for everyone. But I love it. Ive seen it for $900+ to over $1800 depending on availability. Ive built a cart for it and added a few accessories. I thought about the 8 inch. I just was worried I'd spend the money then still want something bigger. Finding new targets is always exciting.

[@TechnoShamanism]

So happy I discovered this channel, love your content, thank you!

[@mikew735]

Thank you for taking the time to do this.

[@denisberthier522]

Thanks Ed, very smart advice. I never fail to look at your videos and read your tests (for 20 years). Denis, from Boulogne Billancourt, France

[@stevepalmer1346]

Great video as usual, love all your videos

[@kimberlymarkus6387]

I have the xt8 to it is amazing. Now saving up for a upgrade but il take my time to decide what i want.

[@humlakullen]

Awesome review... Thanks a bunch.

[@Erniej270]

Great video and great advice as usual! My 1st scope is an 8” Orion XT8 😀. Definitely my forever scope. Getting into Astrophotography so built a Deep Sky Rig. Explore Scientific Essential Series ED 80 mm APO on a Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro.

[@kenhollar5930]

I bought my first scope in the mid 80's, a C8 on VSP mount. It is only scope I owned and used until start AP about a year ago. I bought motors for my VSP and smaller ES ED80. I'm hooked on AP now.

[@srb20012001]

Loved your presentation, T!

[@astroimagers]

I started with a Meade ETX 90 and was very useful under $500. 12" dob also fits well in a minivan. 10" could fit in a car. 8" dob for sitting down but I say go with a 12" if you can. A good upright position too. Satisfying the aperture fever.

[@JamesEscobar]

Let us all share our existing or new found passion by sharing this channel with friends and family! See if we can help grow this Wonderful channel! Thank you Ed for your recommendations and taking the time to share your many decades of experience. I am new to astronomy as a hobby and you have saved me from some pretty costly mistakes. Fantastic channel!

[@johnrobinson4445]

Good choices. My C6 (OTA only) has been my all-around scope.

[@lar113]

I'm just beginning on my collection. I have a 70 mm refractor, had it for years, now I am using it since I have retired. I bought a pair of 10 x 42 binoculars this past week. I am thinking of getting a tripod for the binoculars or buy a 7 x 50 set. I've been looking at telescopes too.

[@ITProjectManagerMan]

I’ve owned 15 different scopes in the last 25 years but the first scope I purchased new and the scope I kept after selling most of the others is the Orion XT8i Intelliscope DOB. It is simply the best all around scope of any I have owned or have looked through. I belonged to the Antelope Valley Astronomy Club for many years and I got to look through many scopes at star parties all over Southern California. I never get tired of looking through the eyepiece of this scope.

[@arizona5868]

Thank you so much absolutely amazing 🙏

[@mpops3994]

Great video as always! Could you do a video explaining the differences of premium grade mirrors over commercial? Thanks

[@mattl1758]

Thx so much for the info

[@_WorldWorks]

Thank you for making such great videos!

[@astrophysicistguy]

Yes! I have an Orion XX14G and I built a wheel barrel mount on it so I can easily wheel it out of my observatory where it is housed along with my WO GT81/EQ6-R pro AP setup to do visual. Therefore I do us3 it ‘every night’. In visual aperture is king so you need the biggest aperture you can handle, period

[@UReasonIt]

I have had a lot of telescopes over the past 35 years in the hobby (mid to low-end). Ed of course has more and a great deal more experience :). I've never owned an 8" dob, but have has a couple of 10's and a 12.5. Both were super viewing joys and I'm sure the 8" would be as well! As I have gotten older, my scopes have gotten smaller. I enjoy one that I can grab in one hand and eyepieces/coffee in the other. If you are in a light-polluted area (most city/suburbs are), you will most likely do quick impromptu sessions and a smaller grab-n-go will get you involved with the sky more than a larger scope many times. If you have the money, space, and want more than one scope, I always enjoyed a dob and an 8" SCT. Adding bino viewers to the SCT can make for some long enjoyable scanning sessions! One of the things I recommend is working on getting a good 3-5 eyepiece collection. This can be an expensive venture itself, but they will stay with you as you navigate the great scope safari. A good start is a 26mm Plossl, 14mm-16mm (Plossl or inexpensive widefield), and an 8mm-10mm Plossl for planets/moon. If you have the money, a 19mm Panoptic would be a great eyepiece to have as well.

[@Rich-hy2ey]

I almost bought a 4 inch Quantum Maksutov way back when. But inflation forced me to buy an 8 inch SCT. That was a better choice for me as it turned out. You can't beat aperture, most scopes have decent optics today and with light pollution what it is now in most cities, if you want to see anything beyond planets, aperture is key.

[@relicw88]

ur catalogue of knowledge iz appreciated

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

This was excellent… Smiled from ear to ear!

[@edting]

Haha, thanks!

[@justice_1337]

I got some celestron 7x50 binoculars a few years ago. They are pretty nice for short observation. It can be hard to discern detail due to fatigue holding them up. The Moon, Andromeda, Jupiter, Saturn, Pleiades and Orion Nebula are all easy targets with them. Of course terrestrial viewing is also great. If you are a casual observer get a casual telescope. In other words, 8" dob 😄

[@KingsMom831]

TYSM for making this video!!🙏😊

[@astroanthobbies3801]

I just got a Bintel 8 inch dobsonian today! It’s my first purchase into the hobby. Super excited and glad to see so made the right choice. Seemed to be the best option here in Australia 🇦🇺 Cheers for the review!

[@TheBigbrizzle]

Based on your videos I decided to purchase my first telescope, an 8” dobsonian! I just ordered the Celestron Starsense Explorer 8,” well my girlfriend funded it as a gift knowing I’ve loved astronomy since a kid. And I actually live super close to Torrance CA (Redondo Beach) so I’ve asked to come pick it up in person in hopes of getting a glimpse of their facilities. Really excited, thanks Ed!

[@PP-ec6cw]

How is it? Are u still using it?

[@TheBigbrizzle]

@@PP-ec6cw it’s a great scope! I’ve since bought a televue 9mm delite eyepiece and a 2x barlow and have had some great views of planets from my deck here in Redondo Beach. I also took the advice from Ed to join a local astronomy club, the LA Astronomical Society and have become completely spoiled looking through club members’ amazing scopes. I also visited Mt Wilson observatory and looked through their 60” reflector! So all in all I’m still loving astronomy and am getting more involved with local events.

[@ChristopherSibert]

The recommendation "for $1000 I would get an 8" Dobsonian for $400 and save the rest of my money" really just convinced me to get an 8" Dobsonian and save the rest of my money 👍

[@aldebaranx6999]

You are just great. Thank you.

[@kimberlymarkus6387]

Wow this is a great video helps so much thank you

[@entropytango5348]

Another great video Ed

[@aemrt5745]

Got a classic Meade 826 (8in Newtonian on a GEM mount) back in 1983. Still use it. Have the classic Orion 80mm shorty with either an Alt Az or GEM. For my back deck have a Celestron 102mm f/9.8 refractor on a Vixon GEM. Love it for suburban night time and white light solar. Finally have a Lunt 50mm hydrogen alpha solar scope (great package at a reasonable price). Paid $1,800 for all (refractors were used and I counted in 1983 dollars for the Newt). Now, for $2,500 a good scope may be the Orion xx12g (12 in goto Dob). I ordered one in January, and still waiting on delivery!

[@juandavidbarrada]

Great video as usual! I’m already dreaming with that budget! 😏😏😏😍😍😍

[@marcelomundoPR]

I love my XT8, its so easy to set up and have great performance for visual use and planetary ap.

[@jiffijoff9780]

Being very honest here: I didn't watch this video for the budget recommendations but for those little islands of humor and entertainment in between. Man, I haven't been disappointed 🙈🤠💪🙂👍

[@amyh4606]

I love when he said the 8 Orion dob may be your favorite. It will be our little secret. He's been reviewing telescopes since the internet started. He's the real deal. I image at a any star party he goes to, he's a rock star

[@johnm.karian5295]

Clear Skies - Priceless!

[@eightmilesupwind9030]

OMG... This video is crazy... Crazy good.

[@captainrehab2047]

I got a good laugh watching this! I agree about the 8” Dob. I use binoculars on the boat in the Caribbean and also that it is good advice for newbies to use binoculars. My current grab and go scope is a 5” Orion Mak on a Orion equatorial mount with a custom maple and bubinga tripod. When I want great planet views I use my old TV Plossls or circle T orthos with my AP Star 155 f9 on a Losmandy G11 mount. I did not over pay for my AP but I did wait almost 1 year before Roland shipped it. Very rare and beautiful doublet lens! Paul Senior Member SPIE

[@Astrogator1]

Storm coming, too cloudy to go out and look😟 But having spent most of Astro viewing with binoculars completely agree!! Moved on to refractor and 180 mm MNin last year and 1/2

[@darrell9546]

The 8" Dob, $400, plus invest in some decent eyepieces, for the $1,000 option.

[@ronstewtsaw]

Has Ed done an eyepiece video? I know he has talked about them from time to time.

[@jonathanbush1936]

My thoughts as well. A good 8” Dobsonian and a pair of (very) good TeleVue eyepieces and I’m done spending. ;^)

[@BlueTrane2028]

Eyepieces are definitely way up there in importance. For the Orion and Skywatcher 8” Dobs, I ignore the 2” focuser and use a 24mm 68 degree for lowest widest field. Massive vignetting with a 30mm 82 degree. That eyepiece is dynamite in my 12”, but the 8” secondary is too small to light it up. I know, there are other 2” eyepieces, but that 30mm should be great for field of view and exit pupil... and it’s not. Knowing that should send a few dollars in a better direction. The thing that bothers me the most is I really liked my old Sonotube Celestron Star Hopper 8” Dob and I sold it in pursuit of 2” goodness. Should never have done that, it had the importance of being my first serious telescope.

[@metatechnologist]

Funny how no one really talks about those very much or have lengthy videos about building them....

[@Smood47]

This video is awesome. You rule Ed.

[@josenorono3643]

Thanks Ed for another concise and educational video. My comment is in the 50k level, what about a TAK 150B or Stellarvue SVX140T in a Paramount or AP mount? or even a Planewave CDK14? I think that with that budget you should be thinking in a permanent observatory.

[@AstroSoundscape]

Interesting video Ed I have a Sky Rover 80ed Telescope. I'm told it's basically the same as many brands just without the badge. Interesting in this mid price point how much comes out of the same factories.

[@TheTimeDetective42]

I used to read your site in the 90s and early 2000s! NICE NICE NICE that you have a channel!

[@edting]

Glad to have you here, Charles!

[@tomsbasement4884]

I just got a Celestron NexStar 130SLT (sub-$500 on sale) for my wife as a Christmas gift. She talks about having a small telescope and using it with her father when she was a child in the 70s and I figured I'd get something entry-level to gauge her interest and see if we could make this a new hobby together. I remember being awed by the night sky during my deployment for Desert Shield/Storm, never thought of using a set of binos at that time. After watching some videos, I certainly hope that I did not make a mistake by not getting the 8" instead. I appreciate your videos and sharing the knowledge you have acquired.

[@bradleyfrederickson9536]

I live in Alaska and in about 2 weeks I will not be seeing stars again until August as I live in Alaska. Thank you so much for this video tho it's so informative!! You made it easy to find a great telescope for an amateur like myself.

[@scgeek12]

Well , I just bought an Orion XT8, seemed like you recommended it a few times lol! First telescope , can’t wait :)

[@MichaelEdelman1954]

I bought and sold a lot of telescopes over the years. Refractors from 2” to 7” (a really nice example of Meade’s APO), reflectors from 6” to 18”, and cats from 50 to 90mm. What I discovered is that I hate fuzzy images, and I hate long setup times. For the past 20 years, though, I’ve had the same two scopes: A TeleVue Pronto on their cheaper alt-az mount and a Questar 3.5. The Pronto is my casual scope for quick views or just touring the sky. The Questar is for when I want to spend time looking at planets, watching transits, and photographing eclipses. They take up very little room and they’re super easy to transport, too.

[@mistyblu4485]

Thanks for the tip. I took an intro to astronomy about 10 years ago and finally ready to get a telescope. I still might get a dob "8 tho lol

[@Peirithous]

Good info❣️❣️ onwards to getting a 🔭

[@kevingumfory]

Ed just gives it to you. No bs no commercial sales pitch. No sponsors telling him what he has to say. Keeping it honest and simple.

[@WhirligigGirl]

FYI: SkyWatcher sells the Heritage 130P, which is identical to the AWB OneSky 130. Zhumell sells the Z130, which has the same optics, but the tube is not collapsible to save space and it's a fair bit heavier. The Z130 also has tube rings, letting you set the eyepiece angle to be more comfortable for whatever your viewing position is. European sellers have mostly different telescopes at different prices and it seems like EU scopes are more expensive for what you get. I would also seriously consider a 6" Dobsonian if you're in the $200 price range. It's actually more like $300-350, but if you can save up just that bit extra, or find a used/open-box dob, you'll have a better telescope in most respects than these tabletop telescopes. Longer focal length, larger aperture, better optical quality. The one thing to note is that many 6" dobs don't have metal focusers, so Ed's favorite dob seller, Orion, won't work well. Apertura's DT6 and SkyWatcher's Classic 150P are both good examples with all-metal focusers. I like my DT6 fine. A 6" Dob is right at the limit of what you could class as budget telescopes, but it is also possibly the best beginner telescope.

[@georgesaar9687]

Through the years I have read all of Ed's Telescope Reviews and enjoyed his videos. Even my wife enjoys his video reviews. Ed always tells it like it is, which is refreshing and I have purchased many telescopes, though the years, after reading or listening to his reviews. Thank you, Ed, for your great sense of humor, which is very important in this hobby of ours.

[@edting]

Thank you so much!

[@georgesaar9687]

@@edting Just wanted to tell you that, recentI, I was fortunate to find someone who collected vintage Takahashi FC series refractors and sold me his beautiful 1990 FC-100 F8 fluorite refractor. Wow….you were correct in stating that if there was one scope to rescue from your house it would be that one! I heartily agree. The focuser is like butter and holds focus so well. I was splitting doubles the other clear night and it is a great splitter and takes power like a champ! ! mount the FC-100 on my Vixen Porta 2 mount (on Televue wood tripod). Perfect balance, although I may go for the stronger Stellarvue M2 mount as the Vixen is at it’s useable limit with heavy eyepiece and finder scope.. Only thing is there is no "slo mo controls" on the Stellarvue mount head. (That is what is so good about the Vixen Porta). How about doing one of your excellent video reviews on the Stellarvue M2 with the (massive) FC-100 mounted on it (or even the 115mm AT…or TAK 120mm? Just a thought. BTW, my wife always enjoys your vids about Astro equipment and she is at her wits end on my collection of telescopes, eyepieces, mounts and binos, since our retirement in the Shenandoah Valley escaping the confines of Long Island, NY. You really are an asset to us amateur astronomers and telescope junkies out there. Keep the reviews coming!

[@rodneyjohnson4794]

on this reccommend i bought an orion st80 kit. it is sturdy, does its job, and not hard to get accessories for. i've been buying used eyepieces off ebay and not been disappointed. i did spring for a correct image diagonal because i get confused. i bought an eq mount (a factory second) for it and found i prefer my camera tripod. it doesn't track, but i'm not ready for that yet. the second reason i bought it (that no-one seems to mention) is its portability. i have a re-purposed padded case for it and a camera bag for the eyepieces, etc. all three (including tripod) fit on a bicycle in a pair of saddlebags and a carrier rack. life is good. any problems i had could be marked up to 'operator error' since i am new at this. true, i haven't seen infinity yet, but i'm looking. we do have cloud issues here, but i get out when i can.

[@tick_magnetedschaper5611]

I have an old Meade 8 inch Dobsonian. I am now thinking of a Go To Telescope. I know very little about them. That's why I am watching your videos. Thanks!

[@thanhvi3348]

Yes, I did what you said. I first use my eyes as my first for scoping. Then I use a binocular to pinpoint with celestrial stars I am looking at. Then I use my first Celestron that I bought at the Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri. I am wanting to upgrade to a 800-1000 Telescope

[@genevievemayet630]

This is brilliant 🎉

[@francescodenegri2595]

Hey great video! Thank you so much. Is Celestron a reputable company? I am looking into a 10x50 outland model. Thanks Ed!

[@hughfisher1969]

Ed, I truly enjoy all of your videos. I’m sending this to a friend. BTW, any chance you would recommend an 8” Dobsonian reflector ?LOLOL

[@edting]

An 8" Dob? What's that??? Haha.

[@Kotius_]

the 8 inch dobsonian is in my xmas list

[@vinnytube1001]

I'd be curious for a vid with your thoughts on push-to systems. In some ways it seems like a great way to lower the entry barrier, especially for perhaps a young child. The Orion push-to system looks nice, although has a learning curve, and there's a noticeable price and weight reduction plus battery life improvement. The Celestron push-to system has a way better UX, but they charge dearly for it, since it's just some molded plastic and a mirror (to send an image to your smartphone camera).

[@psiddarth3581]

Great video 👍👍

[@mikew735]

At or around 13:50 the joke about the guy who just smell's the foam and then closes it up until next time. I was dying, thank you for a bout of deeply felt laughter.

[@christianadelatour850]

I’m sooooo Happy with my AT 72 ED II ..... I also like my SW EVOGuide50 as a 50mm Straight thru telescope

[@jeffdutton1910]

I have a 10" DOB, Orion Megaview 20X80 binos on a home made mount, Kite 10X50 binos, and a TeleVue np191is. I've never actually looked through the TeleVue, it being my imaging scope. My fave grab 'n' go...the Kite 10X50 binos...awesome glasses that I've tricked out with a monopod which I sometimes stick into the toe of my boot to help steady them a bit.

[@georgesimon1760]

I started with an 8" act on a fork mount and it was much easier to use than the dobs I've tried to use.

[@ryanweiss7560]

Ed - as someone who has owned two Astro-Physics scopes (130GTX and Stowaway), I'll have you know that there is no foam to smell in the new Stowaway case! Just kidding, the 130GTX is long gone (replaced with a CFF160) but the Stowaway sees regular use and is perfect for taking on trips to remote locations in northern Michigan. Not only is it a great small refractor for astronomy use, but it is also an incredible birding/wildlife scope in the daytime. Also, for anyone who is interested, it is free to be on Astro-Physics' waitlists. I signed up for the 130GTX and forgot about it for close to a decade until they emailed me. I just used other scopes in the meantime!

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Excellent taste. Absolutely adore my 6SE and 8” Dob. Important to note for those living in light polluted suburbs, make sure you can move your scopes in a car to darker sites. Meaning “can they fit” plus friends? Scopes north of 10” aren’t easy to move.

[@BlueTrane2028]

Yep. There’s a reason my 6SE sees more light than the rest. But, I absolutely have trucked around my “big” scopes too. I intend to bring my 12” Meade SCT to star parties once everyone stops losing their minds about gatherings.

[@scotth6814]

I have seen some REALLY big scopes built onto dedicated trailers. Keep it in the garage, hook it up to the car when you want to go to dark skies.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@scotth6814 oh no doubt, but then you’ve got a lifestyle… it’s almost an entire car space in a garage. Where my 8” Dob just chills by the water heater, they look like cousins 😆

[@CaliforniaBushman]

A dude on the L.A. County coast during the Jupiter/Saturn Conjuction had a tiny 3 - 4" by 1' long Schmidt Cassegrain reflector he bought used at OBT in Oceanside, CA. A nice one. He mounted a google pixel phone on the back and had pics equalling eyepiece views that rivaled what I've seen in big Astrophysics refractors at star parties on The University of Arizona canpus outside the Astronomy Dept. Especially of the Mars Opposition earler last year. Very impressive stacked choices off an older model pixel phone, mind you. Easily better images on that phone and his eyepieces than through the eyepieces of the cannon SLR mega telephoto lens crowd up and down the Esplinade in Redondo Beach, CA. Simple, killer portable rig, and gear for planet astrophotos.

[@markmalasics3413]

Hello Mr. Ting! I am very surprised that you don't have a larger subscriber list. Your videos are clear, concise, full of useful information and presented in a professional manner. Your videos sure beat the heck out of most of KZbin content, made by sloppy, uneducated "content creators." Now that I have also subscribed I am looking forward to seeing more excellent content from you. Keep up the excellent work.

[@edting]

Thanks for your nice comments. While I am well-known in the astronomical community, I have traditionally done little to no self-promotion, relying instead on word of mouth. I also refuse partnerships, brand ambassadorships, and other similar agreements, which has probably slowed the channel's growth. If I wanted to, I could have cashed in a long time ago! But this is the way I like it.