Where to get observing equipment?
I've been using a pair of Wal-Mart binoculars for observing for a while now. They work okay, but they don't seem ideal for astronomical observation. Before I work my way up to a scope I think I'd like a better pair of binoculars and a tripod. Does anyone have any recommendations of where to get good equipment in the Salt Lake area? Thanks! -- Michael W Thelen Luck favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur
I'll second what Josephine said about waiting to hear from Chuck Hards about binoculars. When you start to look into scopes remember that SLAS members can borrow Dobsonian and Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes at no charge and try them out at home for a few weeks. patrick On 26 Oct 2007, at 17:13, Michael Thelen wrote:
I've been using a pair of Wal-Mart binoculars for observing for a while now. They work okay, but they don't seem ideal for astronomical observation. Before I work my way up to a scope I think I'd like a better pair of binoculars and a tripod. Does anyone have any recommendations of where to get good equipment in the Salt Lake area? Thanks!
On 10/26/07, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> wrote:
When you start to look into scopes remember that SLAS members can borrow Dobsonian and Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes at no charge and try them out at home for a few weeks.
I highly recommend the loaner-scope program to club members who are scopeless. When I was a new SLAS member I borrowed one of the club's Dobsonian scopes and took it out to Rush Valley. The scope that I borrowed came with a couple of eyepieces, a Telrad, and a couple of Brent Watson's finder-chart books. That was a fabulous combination because it enabled a newbie like me to get a taste of the skies quickly and painlessly. Kudos and thanks to those who now maintain the loaner-scope program as well as to those who have kept it going through the years. Chris
Mike,
You might check out Ritz Camera on State Street at about 23rd South. A SLAS member works there as a buyer ( Bill Cowles) and they have as good a selection as any place in town. The loaner scopes are also a very good option. The Clark Planetarium also has some astro equipment and that exhausts all the retailers in the Salt Lake area that I know of. Erik Hansen I've been using a pair of Wal-Mart binoculars for observing for a
while now. They work okay, but they don't seem ideal for astronomical observation. Before I work my way up to a scope I think I'd like a better pair of binoculars and a tripod. Does anyone have any recommendations of where to get good equipment in the Salt Lake area? Thanks!
-- Michael W Thelen Luck favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur
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You might also try Sportswarehouse on 7200 and main or even Cabelas. They have a lot of hunting quality binoculars and spotting scopes but they are very high quality Bob Bob Moore Commerce CRG - Salt Lake City office 175 East 400 South, Suite 700 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Direct: 801-303-5418 Main: 801-322-2000 Fax: 801-322-2040 BMoore@commercecrg.com www.commercecrg.com -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2007 9:59 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Where to get observing equipment?
Mike,
You might check out Ritz Camera on State Street at about 23rd South. A SLAS member works there as a buyer ( Bill Cowles) and they have as good a selection as any place in town. The loaner scopes are also a very good option. The Clark Planetarium also has some astro equipment and that exhausts all the retailers in the Salt Lake area that I know of. Erik Hansen I've been using a pair of Wal-Mart binoculars for observing for a
while now. They work okay, but they don't seem ideal for astronomical observation. Before I work my way up to a scope I think I'd like a better pair of binoculars and a tripod. Does anyone have any recommendations of where to get good equipment in the Salt Lake area? Thanks!
-- Michael W Thelen Luck favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Don't rule out pawn shops. Even if the collimation is off, Gallenson's in SLC can collimate binos for about $30 (last time I had it done). You could use that as leverage to negotiate the price. My favorite binos now are Meade 10x42 for which I paid $30 a couple of years ago. Optical quality an 8 on a scale of 10, lightweight, compact, and I just keep them in the car. No need to spend big bucks. Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Bob Moore Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:07 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Where to get observing equipment? You might also try Sportswarehouse on 7200 and main or even Cabelas. They have a lot of hunting quality binoculars and spotting scopes but they are very high quality Bob Bob Moore Commerce CRG - Salt Lake City office 175 East 400 South, Suite 700 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Direct: 801-303-5418 Main: 801-322-2000 Fax: 801-322-2040 BMoore@commercecrg.com www.commercecrg.com -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of erikhansen@TheBlueZone.net Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2007 9:59 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Where to get observing equipment?
Mike,
You might check out Ritz Camera on State Street at about 23rd South. A SLAS member works there as a buyer ( Bill Cowles) and they have as good a selection as any place in town. The loaner scopes are also a very good option. The Clark Planetarium also has some astro equipment and that exhausts all the retailers in the Salt Lake area that I know of. Erik Hansen I've been using a pair of Wal-Mart binoculars for observing for a
while now. They work okay, but they don't seem ideal for astronomical observation. Before I work my way up to a scope I think I'd like a better pair of binoculars and a tripod. Does anyone have any recommendations of where to get good equipment in the Salt Lake area? Thanks!
-- Michael W Thelen Luck favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://gallery.utahastronomy.com Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com
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Thanks for the great advice and recommendations, everyone! I'll check out the options you mentioned, and look forward to joining the SLAS soon and trying out some scopes as well. -- Michael W Thelen Luck favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur
On 28 Oct 2007, at 23:04, Michael Thelen wrote:
...and look forward to joining the SLAS soon and trying out some scopes as well.
A few SLAS links you may find of interest: Main http://slas.us Member benefits: http://slas.us/membership_benefits.asp Application: http://slas.us/docs/SLAS_MEMBERSHIP.pdf Cheers, patrick
participants (6)
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Bob Moore -
Chris -
erikhansen＠TheBlueZone.net -
Kim -
Michael Thelen -
Patrick Wiggins