As a service to my American readers, I went looking on the Internet for US dealers that stocked TAL telescopes.
The first one I found was TALteleoptics who have some of the range, Sadly, the only "Newtonian" 'scope they stock that is the small TAL-65 model, which has the smaller eyepiece size of 0.96", and they want 200 bucks even for that!
The "standard" fitting for eyepieces is 1.25" (or 2" for larger 'scopes), and a MUCH smaller range of eyepieces and accessories is available in the 0.96" size.
TALteleoptics have a larger 75mm refractor scope, but that costs 440 bucks, and the small 75mm lens is not going to compete with the larger 120mm mirror of the TAL-120 OR the 110mm mirror of the TAL-1, and remember these two scopes are priced more than 100 dollars less!
The TAL 75R refractor would be a LOT more portable, but that's about it.
I can't find any other US dealers at the moment!
You could try asking TALteleoptics if they will import a particular 'scope for you, but as most folks like to see the product, and ask questions about it, that is of limited use.
Other than that, you can order the larger (and dearer!) models direct from the factory in Russia, or get a friend to ship one from Europe to you - but beware, they are heavy! (a TAL-1 and mount weighs in at over 40 pounds, and that is before you box it up for shipping!)
Other US distributors such as Talscopes used to exist, but they seem to have ceased trading.
Looks like it is going to be Ebay or Craigslist!
It would be easy to put it down to politics or a perception of foreign, inferior, products, but seeing as most 'scopes sold in the USA are made in China (even though they have nice "Western" names like SkyWatcher and Celestron), it is hard to believe that anyone other than the hopelessly ill-informed would be swayed by such factors.
TAL 'scopes are a little heavy, but they are MUCH stronger than more modern lightweight 'scopes, and as such are particularly suitable for schools, clubs, and amateur use - that's part of why I'm getting one!
The first one I found was TALteleoptics who have some of the range, Sadly, the only "Newtonian" 'scope they stock that is the small TAL-65 model, which has the smaller eyepiece size of 0.96", and they want 200 bucks even for that!
The "standard" fitting for eyepieces is 1.25" (or 2" for larger 'scopes), and a MUCH smaller range of eyepieces and accessories is available in the 0.96" size.
TALteleoptics have a larger 75mm refractor scope, but that costs 440 bucks, and the small 75mm lens is not going to compete with the larger 120mm mirror of the TAL-120 OR the 110mm mirror of the TAL-1, and remember these two scopes are priced more than 100 dollars less!
The TAL 75R refractor would be a LOT more portable, but that's about it.
I can't find any other US dealers at the moment!
You could try asking TALteleoptics if they will import a particular 'scope for you, but as most folks like to see the product, and ask questions about it, that is of limited use.
Other than that, you can order the larger (and dearer!) models direct from the factory in Russia, or get a friend to ship one from Europe to you - but beware, they are heavy! (a TAL-1 and mount weighs in at over 40 pounds, and that is before you box it up for shipping!)
Other US distributors such as Talscopes used to exist, but they seem to have ceased trading.
Looks like it is going to be Ebay or Craigslist!
It would be easy to put it down to politics or a perception of foreign, inferior, products, but seeing as most 'scopes sold in the USA are made in China (even though they have nice "Western" names like SkyWatcher and Celestron), it is hard to believe that anyone other than the hopelessly ill-informed would be swayed by such factors.
TAL 'scopes are a little heavy, but they are MUCH stronger than more modern lightweight 'scopes, and as such are particularly suitable for schools, clubs, and amateur use - that's part of why I'm getting one!
If you want World Class Optics, it cost money.
ReplyDeleteTrying to get it all at dirt cheap prices is a nice concept, but not a realistic one. Its also unfair to compare current prices with 15-20 year old prices.
As you said, Craigs List or Ebay or a trip to Walmart at the end will get you dirt cheap.
Thanks for your input.
ReplyDelete1) If you really want "World Class Optics", then the best thing to do is join an astronomical society in your area, and go with them on a visit to a BIG telescope, when you can look through more dollars worth of optics than any of us can afford.
2) Not sure I understand your comment about 15-20 year old prices - Tal-1 telescopes are sold in Western Europe NEW for about 300 dollars (equivalent) or a little more.
Tal-120 scopes are priced the same.
I could get shipping (surface) for a dozen or more of them for about 150 bucks, so there is no reason to not import them "IF THE MARKET EXISTS..." (Air freight is more like 150 dollars each!)
My Tal-120 is "new-old stock", so is new, but about 7 years old, and I paid a good bit less than the prices I quoted for it - I was trying to show what YOU can get, not some one-off reduced price I got (which you may or may not be able to repeat!)
3) Walmart sell many things, but not TAL scopes.
Craigs list or Ebay allow you to get a second-user scope, and appears to be the only source to currently get ANY medium or large TAL scope in the USA
By "going on a visit to a BIG telescope", I am not talking about some friend with a 20" Dobsonian - I mean a large University or National telescope in some major observatory.
DeleteThe sort of 'scope that costs the same as a house - a big house :-)
Any of the rest of this "I've got World Class Optics" stuff is just so much advertising.
For the size of scope you have, the target is diffraction limited optics. Once you get there, that is it. It only gets better by getting bigger, or moving to a better loaction for a clearer view (that's why the Hubble is outside the atmosphere - no more cloudy nights!)
My work shift patterns and the lighter nights of Spring mean my observing time is reduced at the moment, so there is little point me buying a $5000 telescope to keep in the garage for much of the year ...
Also, we wanted a telescope that is "good enough" to see stuff like Saturn, yet we are not too panicky when our 10-year old daughter touches it :-)