Barska Travel Scope opinions

Does anyone have any experience with the Barska Travel Scope 70mm
achromat?

They are selling them at Restoration Hardware, and my wife has taken a
temp holiday position with them so we can get a big employee discount
on some furniture. I can get this scope for $60, and I'm wondering if
it's worth it.

From what I can tell, the brand seems to be well thought-of for
binoculars, so the glass will probably be fine, and the focuser is
1.25", which is a rarity in the $60 price range.

I'm thinking it will make a reasonable wide-field scope to offset my 8"
f/6 dob. If nothing else, $60 is a good price for a 70mm finder, right?
Thanks,
Mike

I'm thinking it will make a reasonable wide-field scope to offset my 8"
f/6 dob. If nothing else, $60 is a good price for a 70mm finder, right?
Thanks,
Mike



Mike: I haven't seen this scope in person but other similar Barska scopes
appear to be poorly made and a good value.

My suggestion would be to consider the www.apogeeinc.com $100 Wideview, an
ST-80 clone with a tripod, real 6x30 finder, a couple of Kellner 1.25 inch
eyepieces and a 1.25 correct image diagonal. These are not TeleVue quality but
they are a pretty good deal for $100. I bought a couple of previous version,
one for my mom. The other day I had a chance to look though it briefly and I
was impressed with how well it did for an 80mm F5 scope.

Jon

Jon,

Poorly made and a good value? The typo almost got me there

Yeah, the Apogees have always been on my short list for an inexpensive
refractor if I decided to get one.

For $60, I was just thinking the Barska would be a decent target of
opportunity. At full price, no way I'd choose it over the Apogee
though. I'm not really in the market for another telescope right now,
unless it was an exceptional value. I still need to check out the
Barska in person, but if saa has no experience, it can't be that good.
-Mike

Jon,

Poorly made and a good value? The typo almost got me there

Yeah, the Apogees have always been on my short list for an inexpensive
refractor if I decided to get one.

For $60, I was just thinking the Barska would be a decent target of
opportunity. At full price, no way I'd choose it over the Apogee
though. I'm not really in the market for another telescope right now,
unless it was an exceptional value. I still need to check out the
Barska in person, but if saa has no experience, it can't be that good.
-Mike

My suggestion would be to consider the www.apogeeinc.com
$100 Wideview - Jon

Jon, any guesstimates on the weight of the ST-80 clone itself is? I was
thinking along the lines of using it as a finder/guide scope to
suppliment or eliminate the 8x50 finder on my 8" reflector. The Apogee
price is right.

Have looked at the SpaceProbe 130ST which is 6.9 lbs for the tube and
optics, a bit more wt. than I'd prefer to add to the setup. Any other
light wt. suggestions on reflector/refractor finder/guide scopes?

Rgds,
Louis

To reply by email, remove
"spam" from my address.

Jon, any guesstimates on the weight of the ST-80 clone itself is? I was
thinking along the lines of using it as a finder/guide scope to
suppliment or eliminate the 8x50 finder on my 8" reflector. The Apogee
price is right.

Don't know what it weighs, probably a bit less than the ST-80 due to the
plastic focuser. I might be able to weigh the old one today, if so, I will
report its weight.

Have looked at the SpaceProbe 130ST which is 6.9 lbs for the tube and
optics, a bit more wt. than I'd prefer to add to the setup

I have an SpaceProbe 130ST fitted with a 2 inch focuser. People must be
getting sick of me writing about it but mine is a winner. Optically I believe
it is better than the ETX-125 I had and of course it does a nice wide FOV.
With a Paracorr it provides nice well corrected 3 degree FOVs.

Jon