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Observing and Imaging Group
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Topic starter
Looking at the John Lewis website this morning to do a bit of Christmas shopping... and I couldn't help but notice the number of telescopes that they have for sale at the moment, no doubt due to the infamous "Man on the Moon" advert.
Thought I'd look at the scope "as seen in our TV advert" here: http://www.johnlewis.com/celestron-astromaster-lt-60az-plus-refractor-telescope-with-moon-filter-and-175x-eyepiece/p705105
This is a joke, right?!?
So we have a 60mm crappy refractor, 700mm focal length. Even in the best of conditions, you'd be lucky to push this beyond 100x magnification (120 is theoretical maximum) - optimum is about 15-30x (25mm eyepiece would be ideal)... but this scope is being sold with a 4mm eyepiece!!!! On paper, 175x magnification... in reality, with an resulting exit pupil of 0.34mm(!), you'd be lucky to see a torch being beamed down the telescope tube, let alone a star or planet.
And to top it all, look at the tripod's spindly legs! Even if you got something in the field of view, the slightest touch of the scope would mean that you wouldn't see a thing.
Even worse... the scope is out of stock... going to be some very disappointed kids at Christmas. Sorry for the rant, but I'm bloody annoyed at this kind of stuff.
Posted : 03/12/2015 12:31 pm
Unfortunately it has been picked up and spoofed by Aldi who advertise a telescope cheaper. Both companies conning customers??!!
Posted : 04/12/2015 1:15 pm
Topic starter
Unfortunately it has been picked up and spoofed by Aldi who advertise a telescope cheaper. Both companies conning customers??!!
You're right, Brian... the Aldi scope isn't great either. However, at least it's a 76mm reflector and comes with 4 eyepieces - the longest focal length one being 20mm, giving a more appropriate magnification of about 35x. It's still a rubbish scope... but you'd be able to see stuff in the night sky.
The John Lewis offering is criminal, in my opinion. Not a hope of seeing a single object.
Posted : 04/12/2015 1:33 pm
