- I bought my first telescope whilst working in Japan, over 10 years ago. It's a 4" (100mm) Cassegrain 'scope with a claimed focal length of 800mm. It's alright, but it could be better. Its 0,965 " eyepieces don't allow the best of viewing and the accuracy of the primary mirror is suspect - however, I've enjoyed many hours viewing with it over the years. It came with a sturdy Az-El mount with slow-motion controls which was much better built than the flimsy ones that accompany the usual store 'scopes. I soon fixed the mount to an equatorial wedge and later added home-built motor drives to both axes. Although it does what it was built for , the mount isn't sturdy enough to support the Newtonian described below.
For wide field viewing, it's true what the books say - a pair of binoculars take some beating.I use a pair of 7 x 50 s for casual observing.
NEWTONIAN 6 1/4" AND DOBSONIAN MOUNT
More recently, I completed the construction of a 6 1/4" 48" Newtonian telescope. No, I didn't grind the mirror - needing a quick fix and the assurance of getting a good mirror, I bought one with the corresponding flat from Beacon Hill Telescopes Cleethorpes U.K. Construction details and plans are here.
Here is my Newt on its Dobsonian mount.
Well, this is the sharp end.