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

[@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

[@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?

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@Cruz474]

I agree about the 8" Dobsonian lol. The 6SE was my first scope only because I was not new to the hobby. I needed a tracking mount and high focal length to do planetary astrophotography. I will always recommend 8" Dob as well for someone brand new who doesn't know anything. You'll never get rid of it for how easy it is to set up and provide good views.

[@lajo122]

Thx I may get it ans from which website did you get it from?

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!!

[@poggergen1937]

Hope it's serving you well! We love Ed. I went out an bought an XT10 after watching his videos, and it's really been treating me good because I live in a light polluted area. It's definitely difficult to lug around, even on the wheeled base I built for it.... Been about 3 years, and I feel like I'm ready to expand to something with Go-to. I might sell the dob, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to let it go.

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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....

[@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.

[@imhigh172]

sadly the 8” dobsonians raised nearly double in price from $400 up to $800, the price jump seemed to happen early at the beginning of this year and after spending nearly an hour researching a telescope that i thought was in my price range i sadly found out it is not the one for beginning astronomy.

[@HaruUch1ha]

It is still a great telescope for beginners! Honestly I always recommend investing a little more in your first setup becuase you'll instantly be blown away by the results, you'll become addicted, never sleep, and rejoice every clear night for the rest of your days! :D

[@jimmyfaulkner5746]

@@HaruUch1ha that would be lovely , I have wanted a telescope since I was a kid and have been thinking of getting one recently but don't have money to waste on something that disappoints my kids when I track down the planets or show them andromeda.

[@FerociousPancake888]

Not sure if you found one but I c an xt8 on Amazon for 650.

[@davehennessy2895]

@@jimmyfaulkner5746 If you think that a quality telescope is a waste of money or your kids will be disappointed this is probably the wrong hobby for you. I bought a used 12" homemade dobsonian off marketplace for $400 Cdn (probably $350ish US) and my kids were blown away, sure it took some tweaking but that's the fun of it. A real waste of money is buying a cheap telescope and being disappointed in the results (which I have also done). The big outlay out front will help make it a positive experience and if you decide it's not for you a quality scope will be easier to sell, just check out marketplace to see how well cheaper ones hold their value. Good Luck

[@JamesHoffa420]

@@davehennessy2895 "don't have money to waste on something that disappoints my kids" Reading comprehension obviously isn't your strong suit.

[@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

[@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 😄

[@johnmuth3971]

I took Ed's advice and got an the Orion XT8 for my first real telescope. I love it. Where I'm going down the rabbit hole is eyepieces (damn you Al Nagler).

[@giammy0]

Great choice. Got myself a 10inch skywatcher 1 year ago.

[@cryptojihadi265]

Great choices all around. That 8" will satisfy most users for a lifetime. Even if you do get the high end glass or light bucket bug you'll still want to keep that around. The eyepieces will last a lifetime and will be a necessity if you go for the more expensive scopes.

[@Mandragara]

31mm Nagler. The holiest eyepiece. Beaten only by the 21mm Ethos under brighter skies!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!!

[@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!

[@tuloko16]

With $50k i can get a house on a dark sky area and an 8”dobsonian. The most valuable thing i ever learned about hobby astronomy, and gladly i suck with it is: the best telescope is the one you take outside and enjoy the most. For me is heavly modified bushnell 3” reflector. Which i built a dob mount for it. This thing sits by the door and gets taken outside almost nightly. This thing really shines on the rainy season. Were if i see a hole in the clouds i can trow the thing outside and start observing, without cooling off or complex setups. One scope that i think fits well on this list on the sub $1K light bucket category is the sky quest 12”

[@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 😆

[@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 👍

[@eonsprite6109]

Binoculars are a really amazing starting point. I have 7x50. And if you have dark enough skys you can really see alot. Things like the, Orion Nebula, Pleiades, Andromeda Galaxy, you can slightly make out the Triangulum Galaxy, and you can just look anywhere in the sky and see way more stars then if you were just to look with your eyes.

[@tulganatsagdorj2090]

Fantastic Video! one thing I learned is that the 8" dob is still your best friend even if you have $50,000.00 to spend on other OTAs and equipments hahah.

[@BlueTrane2028]

I’ve owned about 6 different 8” Dobs. Every time I get away from one I regret it. I’ve become somewhat lazy of late though and would probably ditch the one I have in favor of one with go-to... but then again I have a C8 on a motorized EQ. Sigh. Decisions.

[@justcallmesomething8089]

@@BlueTrane2028 bot

[@BlueTrane2028]

@@justcallmesomething8089 as in I’m a bot? Nah.

[@minosvaidis]

Ed, there are many many brands out there. Some are actually the same manufacturer under a different name. Perhaps a video about weak and strong points of different brands would be nice?

[@edting]

Yeah, I've thought about that idea, thanks!

[@RandyG85]

@@edting hey Ed, I've been thinking about getting the 6" Dobsonian mainly for the price and then space, should I pay the extra and go for the 8"? Thanks.

[@DanielBoychuk]

@Welsh Lad how?

[@phakeacount2228]

My rabbit hole isn't that deep. I live in Ohio where I did binocular observing in the 1990s, including the 1996 appartition of comet Hale-Bopp. After watching From the Earth to the Moon in 1999, I wrote to you asking your advice about a first real telescope. I asked about achromatic refractors from Orion. You suggested that I get an Orion 8" Dobsonian. I looked around in magazine ads and on the internet and eventually took your advice, except I went with a Discovery DHQ model instead of Orion. 8" was the biggest one that would fit in my 1978 Chevy Nova. Also, I bought a Chinese 90mm short tube refractor, also from Discovery. It came with an EQ1 mount that I replaced with a Dob-fractor mount that I made from scrap wood. I also replaced the correct-image diagonal with a nice Japanese star diagonal. I have since given it away. In 2002, I acquired another set of mirrors from Discovery, 6" f/5, to build an airline-portable scope for a trip to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I took it there in March and had the most amazing night of observing the Virgo cluster. I also saw Omega Centauri. I brought it to the south rim Grand Canyon Star Party in 2003. I bought a home-built 5" f/12 refractor with baffling, flocking, and D&G lenses in early 2003 for the close apparition of Mars. In put it on an EQ6. In retrospect, I should have just gotten some high-power wide-field eyepieces (Nagler T6s) for the 8" Dob, because that scope is a planet killer. As it happens, I've had fun with the 5" and even shot some planetary videos with it. I eventually added a Denk II binoviewer which further improved the view. I could tell that Io and Ganymede were different colors. In 2005, Discovery had a sale on 12.5" f/5 Dobs. Since I had a small station wagon by then, I went with the truss model. I take it with me to Cherry Springs state park when I go there. It goes one magnitude deeper than my 8". !2.5" is the biggest scope I ever want. I can move it without a trailer. It's pretty easy to set up and to collimate. I can observe without a ladder. Still, I don't mind looking through other people's 20+" scopes at Cherry Springs. The most challenging targets I have found in the 12.5" were Stephan's Quintet and quasar 3C 273. I bought a tracking platform for it, and it was great while it worked, but it stopped working and the company went out of business. For the transit of Venus, I bought a 60mm Coronado solar filter. I found a used TV101 on a Astronomic's classified ad. A bird-watcher in Arizona was down-sizing to a TV85 and was selling the 101. I bought it and a TV Gibraltar mount. A couple years ago I bought a Celestron AVX mount for it so I could use the 101 as a planet scope. It's a bit more portable than the 5" f/12 and its EQ6, although the computerized set-up procedure is a pain. At one point, I bought a second hand Stellarvue short tube 80mm achromat and put it on a photo tripod. It has a really nice 2" focuser, so it does not stop down the aperture like on the Chinese 90mm I used to own. I take it with me to Cherry Springs to use as a back-up scope in case I forget part of the 12.5" Dob. (So far, so good.) A few years ago, I bought a C9.25 to use on the AVX mount to find and observe planets, including outer planets. I was trying to increase aperture and reduce physical size compared to the 5" refractor. The computerized mount made it easy to find Uranus and Neptune. It seemed like on bright planets that even after letting it sit outside for a long time, I could not focus. I don't know if it was still too warm, out of collimation, or what. I did see color variations on Uranus. Anyway, for that and for other reasons, I resold the C9.25. I rather regret getting rid of it. A couple years ago, I saw a classified ad for a rebuilt Meade Research Grade mount with a custom 8" f/8 Newtonian in a fiberglass tube. I bought it thinking is was the perfect planet scope: good aperture, long focal length, no false color, all on a mount that would support it. I got the mirror recoated and replaced the secondary and the focuser. I even built a wooden cart for it to move it out of the garage when I wanted to use it. Unfortunately, the weight of the mount makes it a royal PITA to move and the length of the fiberglass tube makes it wobbly even though the mount is capable of handing much heavier scopes. The slow motion controls are electronic and don't work that well, but when I do manage to get a planet centered, it produces a very good image. Clear and bright with accurate tracking. I'm trying to sell the thing. My most used scope, day-to-day is my 8" f/6 Discovery Dob. I use it as much as all the rest put together. It is the scope I use when I don't feel like putting the 12.5" together or setting up an EQ mount, which is most of the time. It tracks very easily because of something I did to the azimuth axis (can't remember what that was). The Terry Ostahowski optics are still nice and bright 21 years later and they deliver razor sharp views at high power. On one excellent night at Cherry Springs many years ago, I could see M13 and 92 naked eye. I did not have the 12.5" yet, but I was finding everything I looked for with the 8" that night. Since I received it (it was a wedding present from my wife), I've upgraded eyepieces, added a Rigel finder and some carry handles on the base. I added a fan. The oversized sonotube OTA is not only durable and thermally stable, but I was able to enlarge the 1.25" focuser hole pretty easily to accommodate a 2" focuser and a 27 Panoptic. (I needed a wide field for the Rosette. The metal R&P focuser that came with the scope is now on a 4.5" f/8 scope I made for my sister). Thank you for the advice you gave me in 1999 or 2000 (I received the scope in March of 2000, some time after I ordered it). I have greatly enjoyed your articles and now your videos.

[@edting]

Nice story, thanks!

[@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

[@darkwood777]

I have two changes to your selections. At the $5000 level, I would spend half of that on a high quality equatorial mount and the other half on the OTA of your choice. At the $50,000 level, I would use half of the money to lease a parcel of land at a dark rural site where a permanent mount and observatory building can be installed.

[@BlueTrane2028]

Agreed on the dark site. I’m thinking of at least getting a storage unit near one of my favorite spots to keep my largest telescopes in. Don’t need 12” of aperture under Bortle 8...

[@karllestal4212]

I even suggest at 5000 dollar level build backyard observatory for 4900 dollars and buy pair of binoculars to use them in side of it. I did all these steps. brought c5 and it was terrible, then heq5 + 80APO (after 8 years sill using it) + and about year ago made my own observatory. It cost me about 2000-2500 dollars but its worth of every cent. I can cost much less but i did it on full con foundation, 20m2 and with warm room. If i only knew 8 years ago i would build observatory first and then rest of the things.

[@metatechnologist]

Yup. Personal observatory building. I think they make plastic ones you can buy now too easier than building a deck. Plus the robot controls and ccd equipment so you can have remote operation of *your eight inch dobsonian* .

[@GaryMCurran]

Ed. seems that most of this stuff is for visual astronomy. I'd like to see something for astrophotography. I do have a couple of comments, though. First, as an AVX owner, ditch it! I hate my AVX. I had to literally tear it apart and rebuild it to get it to work. Right now, because I lost most of my AP stuff when I was evicted a couple of years ago, it's sitting in storage, but if I was buying a new mount in that category, I would look long and hard at Explore Scientific's EXOS-2GT with PMC-8. I realize that the mount is basically a Meade LX series mount, but with belt drive I prefer it over the AVX. I would also look at the iOptron CEM 40 mounts, although they cost a bit more money. In fact, one with iGuider, the 1.75" LiteRok mount and such actually blows the entire $2,500 budget in one fell swoop, and then some! In the $2,500 category, I'd look at the EXOS-2GT, a William Optics ZenithStar 81 with the flattener/reducer. We're about $1,800 or so. On top of that I'd add a GSO 6" R.C. or either a Meade LX65 or LX85 6" S.C. This of course assumes that I already have a 2" Star diagonal and eyepieces, or those will be purchased extra. Too bad that Explore Scientific no longer offers that 6 piece Erfle design for $400.

[@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.

[@CorneliusCreations]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@MrAstrojensen]

I think that once you cross the $1000 threshold, possibly even the $500 one, the number of good choices explode and will start to strongly depend on your specific interests. An 8" dobsonian is a fine choice for general observing, but it's not the best choice if you're heavily into solar observing, for example.

[@kevingumfory]

What is general observing if solar observing is not ?

[@SWAGGER4us]

Any other recommendations this year !?

[@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.

[@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!

[@Kotius_]

the 8 inch dobsonian is in my xmas list

[@jasonpatterson8091]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@TheNobbynoonar]

For what it’s worth, here’s my list. 1st scope, 80-90mm achromatic refractor. 2nd scope, 8” dob or 8” SCT or 5” APO refractor on an eq Mount (doesn’t have to be goto) 3rd scope, light bucket (if your skies are dark enough) Also consider building an observatory of some sort if you have the space and time. Doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just something to keep your scope dry and keep the wind away when you’re observing.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@austinmatzner9064]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@alainmaury5941]

Mostly OK for the small budgets, very different for the higher prices. In the $50000 I would put a pair of Swarovski binoculars, also something your great grand children will still use and exceptional quality. I would clearly not mess with crazy priced small aperture refractors, unless you need pricy finders :), or you are indeed into foam smelling, and purchase a planewave CdK on a planewave mount and a zwo6200 or QHY600 CMOS camera (plus filter wheel, OAG, etc...). At this price level, forget about 1990 technology worm gear mounts. Or better yet, a newtonian short focal length OTA with a wide field corrector made for astrophography (with the small pixel CMOS don't need to go meter long focal lengths). Or maybe a RASA 14 with the same camera. And a light bucket indeed for visual pleasure with several thousands of dollars 100° field of view eyepieces.

[@hypersphereengineering6015]

I waited 10 years for my Astro-Physics 130 GTX, got on the waiting list in July 2007 received the scope in Feb 2017. Best scope I've ever used. Photographed Jupiter last night .

[@edting]

Congrats on the AP130! Nice....

[@hypersphereengineering6015]

@@edting Thanks, I have a few videos on my KZbin channel of some remote control video from the Observatory back to the house. Will be uploading some Venus and Jupiter footage later today too kzbin.info/door/HLVdrBszowboNe8RwzHe7A

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@SDisonYT]

I recently found a Zhumell Z130 for $199 on Amazon. The price went back up to over $300 shortly thereafter, but if you are patient and check everyday, it does drop under the $200 mark once in awhile.

[@jack_3.5mm]

So I was about to buy my first telescope, already having a pair of 15x70 binoculars that I only used to look at the moon. The other night I've started to look at the stars, and after the first time seeing Pleiades, I gave up the telescope and invested in a better tripod for my binos. This set up will be more than enough for me to explore the night sky.

[@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 👍

[@kiwihapgar]

This made my day- just pay what the seller asks! You left off the Fee's for the Divorse Lawyer! Love the channel.

[@johnmeggers5059]

Ed, you should probably update this (if you haven't already) because at current new prices, an 8-inch Dob is WELL over $500. May be able to find a used one at that price, but even that's probably iffy.

[@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!

[@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.

[@nexpreet]

These videos are funnier than any comedy show you can find

[@edting]

Ha, thanks!

[@cday131]

The Zhumell z130 looks to be a good alternative to the OneSky if you don't mind something that is a little heavier and less portable. It's the same size/price, has the same eyepieces, comes with an eyepiece holder, has a less primitive focuser, doesn't need a homemade light shroud, and it seems to come with one of those dust covers that double as a focusing tool. The OneSky does donate half its price to a charity and has a neat retractable secondary mirror though. That model exists outside the U.S. as the Skywatcher Heritage 130p and there's even a bigger version called the 150p.

[@edting]

Good points, thanks.

[@BlueTrane2028]

I’ll also add that I sold my OneSky recently. If I want one again they are cheap enough. I just don’t like table tops and none of the mounts I tried the OTA on were speaking to me.

[@ishanr8697]

I got a 10 inch Dob at around $500. If only I could pay for dark and clear skies!

[@slo_z31]

ikr lmao

[@ziggyfrnds]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@markihde4381]

I started with a G11 mount and built my OTA collection from there. 110mm apo, 80mm apo and an 8" f/4 Newtonian, in that order. Then, I had an "oops" moment when I then got a 6", f/12 achromatic refractor. A mount that can handle it will cost many times the price of the refractor, but I enjoy just looking at that beast in the packing crate. I enjoy your videos. Keep them coming! Thanks, Ed.

[@markihde4381]

P.S. I viewed the 2017 North American solar eclipse, using nothing but the sun's image reflected off my wrist watch crystal and a pair of sun glasses. It worked great!

[@gary122]

I like the Losmandy mounts!

[@ITProjectManagerMan]

My first serious scope was a …. Orion SkyQuest XT8i Intelliscope and it is by far my favorite of all the scopes I have owned, played with and sold. I still have my DOB though, its a keeper. 😊

[@jamesblank2024]

I don't see the utility of a lot of small scopes hanging around. Given a $10k or $50k budget it would be: binoculars: 7x35 vintage WF 10x50 or 12x50 WF 20x80 25x100 Quality tripod for binos. 16" or larger computerized dob. Eyepieces. Home observatory with warm room with windows like a control room, book shelves, table and outlets for PCs, fridge, microwave, coffee maker, clock, thermometer, astro posters, interesting toys to touch, storage cabinets, padded chair. Wood paneling. A hang out for alone or with a friend. I would probably have an intercom from warm room to roll off area! My advice for those starting out: If you have light polluted skies, you will see more objects with an SCT 8" that has goto. The objects are just too dim to find by hand. You will do a lot of driveway observing.

[@stevenryles2773]

Wow difference in US and Aussie dollar's is unbelievable I just bought a vixen 130mm Newtonian reflector on the Porta ll altazimuth mount it's a fantastic scope it was $1195 I think it's worth the money the mount is a solid sturdy mount the OTA gives fantastic views I also own a Meade ETX 90mm which cost $1000 It's like you say a Jack of all trades but a master of none. Wow some of those high end scopes had me drooling. Thanks for another informative vid. I share you vids on the astronomy page I'm on and you always get plenty of likes. Cheers mate.

[@edting]

Yes, many Australians have written to tell me about the exchange rate issue.

[@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

[@nicholasb8900]

Was watching your video outside at night just north of Austin, Texas (May 12, 2022 around 9:40 at night) and just happen to look up and see a bright light (thought it was a plane with landing lights) but then I saw it didn’t have green or red strobes. Pull out my app and confirm it was the ISS. I have been interested in a scope but so far all I have is pair of binoculars. Great to be able to enjoy the chance encounter I had just because I happened to look up. Can’t wait to get my 8 inch DOB

[@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.

[@asdercks]

bit the bullet and bought an Orion xt8 as a Christmas present, can't wait to start using it, although I had to lie to my wife about the price of the telescope, they're in the $650+ dollar range now

[@mitrovarr]

Some commentary I'd add to this: If you can stretch a little at the $200 price point, the Starblast equatorial doesn't have to be set on something and comes with better eyepieces. I think it's $220. The 8" dob should be adjusted to one's size and strength. If you're a little beefier, 10" is not that big physically and barely costs more (12" is a different animal, though). If you are smaller, maybe go 6". The Nexstar 6 SE is notable in being probably the physically smallest and lightest 6" aperture scope (and it has goto and tracking!) It is a fantastic choice if you need something portable and is a very strong contender in the travel scope space. Even if you upgrade later it is always useful. The 11" SCT may be worth considering as a strong general purpose telescope in the ~$5000 range.

[@edting]

Thanks for the commments!

[@JohnScherer]

Ed, I'm surprised you didn't pick one of the systems from Planewave! $11.5k for the direct-drive mount and $10k for their CDK12.5 telescope. They have a 52mm imaging circle.. My dream system!

[@peter7624]

Woke up at 2:30 AM talking to myself. "Got to get an 8" Dobsonian".. "Got to get an 8" Dobsonian...

[@TechnoShamanism]

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

[@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

[@simul8guy75]

Good luck finding any of the $200-$2500 scopes either in stock or without the asking prices doubled from pre-COVID pricing. The suggested retail price for a Meade 6" LX65 ACF is $1109 on the Meade website. There are two sellers on Amazon that claim delivery dates in the middle of June with a $2150 price.

[@officialgood-boy8946]

I just started with an 8" dob and im already enjoying it out of the box, even with the lower power eyepieces it came with. I can't wait to get my hands on some solid lenses and filters. I will say i did end up paying more, I spent about 500 on ebay for a new dob and another 120 in shipping. I only found the dob at one place for 400 and they didn't ship US. Everywhere else it was almost double, and since I dont know of any brick and mortar astronomy shops near where I live I figured ~600 total was acceptable.

[@edting]

Sounds like you are doing well. I'll save you some money. Don't buy any eyepieces. The 25mm that came with the scope is all you need for now. Eyepieces are rarely your bottleneck in the beginning. The filters are useless, don't buy them.

[@TandemAdventures]

I don't even look at stars and I'm going out and buy, you guessed it, an 8" Dobsonian!

[@marcelomundoPR]

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