What starter telescope should I get for ~$150?

Hello all,

I'm looking to buy a starter telescope for myself. This is what I am looking for:

  • Budget: around $150. If I really enjoy it, I don't mind wasting $150 for starters, but am really not willing to invest $300 for a passing passion.
  • Conditions: city balcony - get home, relax in the company of stars ;). Will travel to the mountains now and then.
  • Observe and photograph planets.
  • Reflector, should be better at this price range and better viewing position
  • Equatorial mount if possible
  • Looking for 150x magnification. Have observed stars and planets at the local observatory at that magnification, was really impressed. Not expecting the same amount of details.
  • Focal ratio around 10. From what I read, this would be best for planetary viewing.
  • Should come with a tripod
  • Don't care about finders too much
  • A smartphone mount would be nice, but I can buy / build one separately

Browsing the local astronomy shops and classifieds I found a few telescopes that fit the bill. Please note, prices in Europe are slightly higher than in USA. Here they are, in order of preference:

Opticon Zodiac 76/900 EQ

  • 900mm focal length
  • high magnification (supposedly 450x, but am not sure about the image quality)
  • equatorial mount
  • never heard of this manufacturer, can't find a site.

Celestron Astromaster 130/650 EQ UPDATE: actually a Skywatcher Skyhawk 114/1000 EQ (seller mislabelled item)

  • 114 aperture
  • 1000 focal length
  • spherical mirror
  • equatorial mount

Skywatcher Luna 76/700 EQ

  • equatorial mount
  • well known manufacturer

Orion Spaceprobe 3 76/700 AZ

What do you think? Am I far off the mark? All comments are appreciated.

Posted Oct 28, 2017, 8:30 AM UTC · edited

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