Best Value Telescopes.

In this section of the website I will recommend my 'best value' new telescope in each of the following categories:  See my guide to second-hand telescopes for even better prices!

Refractor (Planetary EQ scope),

Newtonian (All-Round EQ scope),

Dobsonian (All-Round AZ scope),

Go-To Telescope (All-Round AZ scope),

Maksutov - Cassegrain (Planetary EQ scope).

Best Value NEW REFRACTOR - Children and Parent's Sharer (All round sharer AZ scope)

Best Value NEW NEWTONIAN - Children and Parent's Sharer (All round sharer AZ scope)

Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope (SCT) - There is NO 'best value' SCT.  (See bottom section)

My Recommendation is that if you're just beginning on your astronomical journey, and you know it's the planets that you want to observe, mainly, you could not do much better than getting yourself a SkyWatcher EvoStar 90 on EQ2.

This telescope will serve your solar system astronomy needs for many years.  This is a serious, good-sized, optically excellent refractor! 

It is bigger than the minimum size I would recommend for refractors (70mm), but it is such great value that you really should try to get the 90mm Evostar on EQ2 or, especially good on EQ3 (The EQ3 is much sturdier, but that is not to say that the EQ2 is not adequate for the job.)

The equipment level is good with two eyepieces and a Barlow lens (Giving 4 different magnifications - More than enough to start with).  Available new with an optical finder. It is of such a size that it will show the detail that you will want to see.  The optics are very good in this model. Beautiful to look at and very beautiful to look through!  Stars visible everywhere!

The telescope is mounted on a good design equatorial mounting, with 'slow motion knobs', which is easy to set up and will allow you to follow the heavenly bodies easily (See my 'Mountings: Complete Essentials' page). 

This model is not too heavy to move in and out to the observing site even for young teens and it won't break the bank.  If you decide astronomy's not for you, you can quote this guide when selling and you'll get a good price. :o)

I have no affilliation with SkyWatcher Telescopes, I recommend them because they are good quality and excellent value for money!

 Pic: The Evostar 90 on EQ2 (If it comes with an awful RDF finder like this one did,

replace with 6x30 optical finder. See Finders page.)

I'm often asked...

by people who have read my Telescope buying guide 'Complete Essentials', the following question.

"I'm just starting in astronomy, what is the cheapest 'proper' telescope that I can buy that will show me all the wonders of the planets of the solar system and galaxies, nebulae, double stars and star-clouds?"

My recommendation is that, even if you're just beginning on your astronomical journey, you really need to think about getting yourself a SkyWatcher 130P or 150P, Parabolic Newtonian on EQ2 or EQ3-2.

Pic:  SkyWatcher 130P Explorer EQ2, Courtesy SkyWatcher Telescopes

The 130P - EQ2 is a good size at 5.1" (130mm) diameter for great views of astronomical objects.

The 150P is a bit more expensive, but comes on a much sturdier EQ3-2 mounting and collects more light with its 5.9" (150mm) parabolic mirror.

They are both f5 instruments and so are equally good at deep sky, with the exception that the 150P collects 1.33 times as much light.  That's getting on for one and a half times and that equates to about half a magnitude.

IF your budget is limited, or you're not sure of setting up a heavy telescope, you will have a great experience with the 130mm (5.1") f5 Wide Field Newtonian Reflector on an EQ2 Mounting. It really is a fantastic telescope with nice sharp images.

The 130P is the only Newtonian reflecting telescope under 150mm (5.9") that I recommend for adults starting out and wanting top quality images.

The 130P is of such a size that it will show the detail and the faint stars that you will need to see.  The optics are very good in this model and give pin sharp star images. The 150P, even more so!

The equipment level is good with both these scopes, with two eyepieces and a 2xBarlow lens (Giving 4 different magnifications - More than enough to start with).

The telescope is mounted on a proper equatorial mounting, with 'slow motion knobs', which is easy to set up and will allow you to follow the heavenly bodies more easily (See my 'Mountings: Complete Essentails page).  

The 130P model is not too heavy to move in and out to the observing site even for teens and it won't break the bank.  If you decide astronomy's not for you you can quote this guide when selling and you'll get a good price. :o)

The only drawback regarding this excellent telescope is the 'Red-Dot' finderscope, which you can, and should replace with at least a 6x25mm, or better still 6x30mm finder (Around £40 - £45 -New).

I have no affilliation with SkyWatcher Telescopes, I recommend them because they are good quality and excellent value for money!

Pic: This second hand SkyWatcher 130P I bought off ebay for £90 was perfect!

For some reason the 130P comes with an RDF... Swap for 6x30 optical finder - You'll thank me!

My recommendation is that, even if you're just beginning on your astronomical journey, and you like the idea of a manual and simple to use Dobsonian design, you really need to think about getting yourself a SkyWatcher 150P Classic Dobsonian or the SkyWatcher 200P Classic Dobsonian.

The 150P f8 has a good size 150mm diameter parabolic mirror that gives great views.

The 200P f6 is more expensive, but collects more light with its faster 200mm parabolic mirror.

They are both AZ instruments and so they cannot be used for more than basic astrophotography and very high magnifications present their own problems. However, the mounting is smooth and easy to operate.  The equipment level is 'standard' with two reasonable eyepieces and a Barlow. You can always buy more eyepieces as you become experienced, but for now, four magnfications is good enough to be getting on with.

One of the best things about the Dobsonian is that manufacturers have had to supply an optical finder as these telescopes have such a broad capability and they know that a Red Dot finder won't do!

IF your budget is limited, or you're not sure of setting up a heavy telescope, you will have a great experience with the 150mm on the Dobson Mounting.  I have seen detail markings on Mars with such an instrument and that impressed me greatly.

The SkyWatcher 130PS AZ-GTI

This is a lovely instrument with the smallest parabolic mirror I would recommend. (Most other 'starter' GoTos are, in fact, even smaller!)

This model has a Red Dot finder, which isn't as easy to use as a simple magnifying finder, but nevertheless, does the job of helping you set up the scope on bright stars.  I would recommend replacing the Red Dot with a proper, easier to use, 6x25 or 6x30mm (No need on a GoTo for anything bigger as you sight on 1st magnitude stars).

It has a great design and is simplicity itself.  It is controlled by an app on your mobile phone via its own WiFi transmitter/receiver!  Once you have aligned on a couple of stars, you can dial in almost anything you want to view and the telescope will slew for your pleasure. The object should appear in the telescope eyepiece... Once there, the telescope mount tracks it and keeps it there! 

(If your scope fails to find objects after you have aligned on the two stars, you may have to see the 'GoTo Mounting' section of my "Mountings: Complete Essentials" Guide).

An ideal way to see many objects without the hassle of having to find them for yourself in the limitless space of the universe!  Even experienced observers would appreciate the ease of finding the ten brightest Asteroids!

The mounting can be battery driven for remote viewing or mains powered with the purchase of a power pack for home use (not included but recommended).  It comes with two eyepieces as standard and will show you many wonders of the night sky.  I would also recommend the purchase of a good quality achromatic Barlow lens (See my 'Magnification' page, for details of Barlow lens function and operation).

I have no affilliation with SkyWatcher Telescopes, I recommend them because they are good quality and excellent value for money!

That's More Like It!

Here's the scope with a 6x30mm light collecting, magnifying, cross-hair finder.

Much more accurate and easier to use than the 'Red Dot' (In my experience).

The Red Dot finder doesn't seem to adjust to a brightness dim enough, or have a small enough 'dot' at 1x to be very accurate. I find that the crosshairs of a 6x finder make lining up, on even a first magnitude star, a much simpler job than with the glaring splodge of a Red Dot.

This excellent, classic achromatic 30mm finder, with the right fitting, was £16 (Including postage) from eBay.

Pic:  Lining up on a star with an RDF... What star?

'BEST VALUE'  NEW CATADIOPTRIC TELESCOPE:   MAKSUTOV-CASSEGRAIN

I'm sometimes asked...

"I wan't a compact but awesome telescope to start my astronomy journey. Which 'Mak' would you recommend?"

If you want to start off with a Mak, then there are a number of different sizes, and a whole new world of expense to consider before you take the plunge.  The price of a Mak can be prohibitive to the newcomer to astronomy.  You'll get a lot of telescope, but it's a lot of money to lay out if you're not sure if astronomy is for you!

Eg: The Celestron Mak 90 has a retail price (new) of £189 just for the OTA, or up to £300 for a mounted GoTo version of this 90mm f13.9 telescope.  Which is roughly 175% of the price of a new SkyWatcher EvoStar90 EQ2, a 90mm f13 refractor.   You see where I'm coming from? Same image quality, but nearly double the price!

  Pic: The SkyWatcher Skymax127 with my 40% SuperFinder!

Even second hand, the price is much higher... I recently sold a basic Celestron 90 Mak telescope for £245 and, in the same week, a superb Konus 90mm f13 refractor for £177.  That is almost £70 less for the same image scale as the Mak, better light gathering and marginally better image detail quality!

My Recommendation?
I have had several Maks over the years. I cannot speak highly enough of my SkyWatcher SkyMax127 (Pic). This was a beautiful instrument and came mounted on the SW EQ3 SkyScan2001 mount for £405 (New, 2018).  Which I thought was a very good price!  BUT, think carefully, do you really want all the extra expense for the same capability?

Deep Sky:
This 127mm Mak will gather enough light to show magnitude 13.+ stars, but you will find it is very neutral on DSOs. I would say any above Mag 8.0 will be visible, but detail in the fainter ones falters with the long focal ratio catadioptric system.

Pricewatch: 

The SkyWatcher SkyMax127 Mak on EQ3 NEW will cost you about £540 (January 2024)

It's not my place to tell you where to buy from - But if you search for 'SkyWatcher SkyMax127' you will find them.

Best Value NEW REFRACTOR - Children and Parent's Sharer.

The Celestron Astromaster 70LT-AZ : Is my recommended children's starter scope.

Comes on a good adjustible tripod and AZ mounting, but without slow motion controls. 

I recommend AZ mountings for sharing telescopes as they are easier for children to set up for themselves, which helps their involvement in the observation process.

Comes with two magnifications, 35x and 70x, which is ideal for starting out and especially for sharing (See 'Supporting Parents' section).  To extend the magnification range in future you could buy a good quality Plossl eyepiece with focal length 6mm which would give 116x and would be ample for planetary and lunar observations with a shared telescope.

Everything you need in a refractor for sharing, to give your child a great start into astronomy. A telescope that will last and be useful for years!  Being a Celestron, the RDF finder is a fixture!

Pricewatch:  Celestron Astromaster 70LT-AZ.  New from £149 (January 2024)

Best Value NEW NEWTONIAN - Children and Parent's Sharer.

The SkyWatcher Pronto1145PS-AZ is an excellent instrument, ideal for a sharing telescope.

This lovely Newtonian has a 114mm f4.4 PARABOLIC mirror to give great definition in the image, good light grasp for the brighter DSOs, a wide field of view and slow motions on the mounting.

Comes on a good adjustible tripod and AZ mounting with slow motion controls.  I recommend AZ with slow motions for sharing telescopes as they are easier for children to set up for themselves, which helps their involvement in the observation process.

Comes with two magnifications, 20x and 50x, which is ideal for starting out (See 'Supporting Parents' section).  To extend the magnification range in future you could buy a good quality achromatic 2xBarlow, which would give you two more magnifications (40x and 100x) which would be ample for many observations with a shared telescope.

Everything you need in a Newtonian for sharing to give your child a great start into astronomy. A telescope that will last and be useful for years!

(Bin the RDF - Get an optical finder! See Finders Guide)

Pricewatch:  SkyWatcher Pronto1145PS-AZ.  New from £199 (January 2024)

In these web pages I have tried my best to educate the would be buyer of telescopes, that you don't have to spend lots of money to get a great and capable telescope. I undertsand that SCTs have huge manufacturing costs - But these telescopes are not any better image or capabilities wise, and so they are NOT worth the outlay, in my opinion.

I've never owned one, but I have looked through plenty, and I cannot see the attraction! Compared to other telescope sizes the SCT produces a similar image quality for three or four times the outlay.

In 1999 I was shown round a Celestron C5 by an enthusiast who seemed to think that paying £600 (in 1999) for a 5" telescope was something to boast about. There was also a SkyWatcher 130P (A new model back then) available to look through (Available for a quarter of the price), which gave equal planetary image quality and better DSO image brightness... Nuff said!

Pricewatch: 

The Celestron Nextar 5SE NEW will cost you min £999  (January 2024)

For a 125mm f10, AZ GoTo instrument.

I found a second-hand eBay C5 for £875. Buy It Now (Collection only)

Not good value, even second-hand!

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A General Note on 'My Recommendations':

The telescopes I recommend are well made, optically good, well designed, operate well and represent great value for money, even NEW! If you pick up a good example second-hand these represent superb value for money and excellent quality.  I hope you will trust my expert advice in this matter.

I have no affiliation with SkyWatcher Telescopes, it just turns out that of all the different telescopes I have used over the years, they represent brilliant quality and excellent value for money!  I can put my hand on my heart and say I would feel bad recommending some other popular telescope makes to you.  Some are good value, but the BEST value is usually SkyWatcher in my opinion.