Re: ATM "J&R" crappy Celestron telescopes

[The Silent Observer <silent1@ix.netcom.com>]

"Asaf S.-T." wrote:
> 
> Hi ya' all,
> 
> Today I visited in the Electronic store in Manhattan,
> "J&R".. I bought a shutter Release and a slow film, to
> take star trailsa through my sisters great Camera. I
> pressed the "button" of the shutter release, and it
> doesn't open again! Any ideas?
> 

Most cable releases don't have an internal return spring -- they depend
on the spring in the shutter release of the camera to return the cable
to its "resting" position.  You should be able to manually return the
cable by first making sure the locking screw is loosened, and then
pushing the release plunger (on the screw threaded end of the release)
back into the housing -- this will in turn push the "button" end back
out, ready to install the cable release on the camera.

> Anyway, I saw a display of many telescopes of
> celestron, a few good designs. I wanted to check them
> out, since I don't get to see much telescopes in my
> area. So I tried mooving a 4.5" Equaterial Newtonian.
> It started shaking in my hands! All of the scopes were
> sitting screw-loosened on their mounts, and they want
> 1000 bux for a piece of crap? I say this is no way to
> treat scopes..

I'd guess the store staff did the minimum necessary to put the scopes on
display -- which means just putting the screws into the holes, not
tightening all of them.  That's not really an issue for a scope display
that normally won't be handled.  FWIW, the telescopes you see in
department stores are commonly of relatively low quality, but even so,
if assembled correctly according to the directions by the end user,
they're steady enough for casual use.

I ought to know; I've got a Meade 4400 -- the kind of scope you were
seeing, except I paid only $200 for it new.

-- 
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Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer           NAR # 70141-SR Insured
Rocket Pages             http://members.aol.com/silntobsvr/launches.htm

Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.