I would appreciate your opinion !

[layer-motor]

I just joined this group as I am considering buying a telescope for Xmas and wanted to know your opinions on a couple of models. I am looking around the $300 - $350 range (perhaps even to $400) and would like to view the moon, some planets and galaxies if possible and take some photographs. I do live in a city, but will be moving out to the country soon.

I cannot decide between:

 

Zhumell Z100 Portable Altazimuth Reflector Telescope

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ

SoloMark 130EQ Newtonian Reflector Telescope

Celestron 21049 PowerSeeker 127EQ

 

Or if you feel there is a good model not listed, let me know and I can check it out.

 

I have seen both good and bad reviews for each of these.

 

Your assistance if greatly appreciated!

[Tufty]

Hi there, I've just joined this week myself.  I know of celestron and looked at them myself.  I don't know the others.  My questions would be how new are you to telescopes? And what do you primarily want to look at? For that money you could get a 4" refractor on an eq mount.  But that's my personal preference as refractors tend to be more stable and beginner-proof, at least for me who trips over stuff.

[Nightspore]

AFAIK:

 

The Zhumell doesn't have a full length tripod. So might need a proper mount eventually.

 

The Starsense is a 127mm SCT... (I think), it may also require a better mount in the future. Is it this?

 

The Solomark, a Newtonian, looks more versatile than the SCT but I don't know about its overall optical quality. The carbon fibre OTA looks nice though.

 

The Celestron 21049 is almost certainly a Bird-Jones type, and should be avoided.

 

IDK, it's a choice between the Solomark and the SCT. The Starsense is the best quality, but the Solomark would be more versatile.