We are authorised dealers for ATIK Instruments, Ba'ader,  Bosma, Ferrari, Guan Sheng Optical, iOptron, Long Perng, Lumicon,  Saxon, William Optics and many other brands...and Lay-By is available, too!
We have far more stock than any other telescope or binocular dealer in Australia...for your convenience! Immediate delivery on most models!!

   ***AUSTRALIA'S PREMIUM TELESCOPE IMPORTER AND STOCKIST***

*** FREE FREIGHT Australia-wide for all our new complete SKYWATCHER and CELESTRON telescope/mount/tripod packages, mount/tripod packages and OTAs!!! Limited time offer *** ALL-NEW!! LONG PERNG TRIPLET and QUADRUPLET "jewel-like" APO carbon fibre refractors due March!! Compare to Meade, William Optics, etc. *** SUPER CHEAP freight costs for all new telescope packages! Yes, we will better genuine competitors' Australia-wide freight rates!! *** Check our telescope price comparison charts on our Celestron and Skywatcher pages... *** INCREDIBLE SKYWATCHER SALE continues ad infinitum...

  See www.atik-instruments.com for more Atik astrophotograhy info...

PLEASE NOTE THAT FROM 1st JANUARY, 2012 THE SHOP WILL BE OPEN MON-FRI 10am to 4:45pm. THE SHOP WILL NOT OPEN ON SATURDAYS.

WISHING EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FREE FREIGHT AUSTRALIA-WIDE for all our new SKYWATCHER and CELESTRON telescopes. Applies to new sales from 11-01-12.

      We stock many hundreds of telescopes and thousands of accessories!
     Who else in Australia can supply such a massive selection from stock?

*** LONG PERNG ON SUPER SPECIAL***

 LP 110mm f/6 ED C.F. OTA, now...A$1499
 
LP 3mm, 1.25", 7-element eyepiece...A$59

LP 2" Crayford microfocuser for reflector...A$149

Most products ordered from us ship same day!

New super cheap freight rates Australia-wide!!
     
We mail order worldwide. Contact us now to order! Updated 11-01-12

Telescopes, cameras and spotting scopes

Atik Bosma Celestron Meade Ferrari Guan Sheng iOptron Long Perng Skywatcher William Optics

Telescope accessories and eyepieces

Andrews Atik Ba'ader Celestron General accessories Guan Sheng Long Perng Skywatcher William Optics

Used and Surplus Stock

Used and Surplus Stock

                                               REFRACTOR BASICS

A single objective lens is the most basic lens for a refracting telescope.

Most refractors have a "compound" (two lenses grouped together) objective lens and these will provide improved image quality with reduced optical aberrations (e.g. chromatic aberration, in particular) when compared to a cheap single lens refractor.

A "doublet" (two lenses spaced apart) objective lens refractor performs better than a compound lens refractor.

A "triplet" (three lenses spaced apart) objective lens is generally regarded as the best lens system for a refractor.

"ED" means "extra-low dispersion" of light. ED lenses reduce light scattering, resulting in improved contrast.

There are several grades of ED lenses - the best being FPL-53 which is the highest grade of fluorite ED lens. FPL-51 is a more common, slightly lower grade, but lower cost ED lens. Incorporating an ED lens into a triplet lens design is generally regarded as providing the best possible optical performance in a refractor, at reasonable cost.

APO = apochromatic = colour free.
OTA = optical tube assembly.
 
Magnification may be calculated simply by dividing the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the actual eyepiece in use. E.g. a telescope with a focal length of 900mm fitted with an eyepiece of 10mm will deliver a magnification factor of 90x. In this example, adding a 2x Barlow lens will double magnification to 180x.

A Barlow lens effectively reduces the focal length of the eyepiece in use, therefore increasing the magnification. Barlow lenses can reduce some optical aberrations. Barlow lens have negative optical characteristics. They act similarly to a magnifying lens. Telescopes have positive optical characteristics.

The maximum recommended/advisable/useable magnification for most telescopes is generally regarded as being double the aperture (in mm). E.g. a telecope of 100mm aperture would have a maximum recommended magnification factor of about 200x.

Low quality telescopes often advertise high magnification levels on their boxes - beware of them! Generally speaking, the higher magnification printed, the lower the quality of the telescope. Often, the first thing to throw away is the Barlow lens...

Whilst we are more than happy to help you, we regret that we simply don't have enough time available or the mental stability to answer hundreds of questions, hi!
That said, we always help customers far, far, more than is normally expected... 

                                                     SHIPPING NOTES

Insurance cover for goods in transit is available from us for only $2 per $100 value of goods. Please advise us if you require this option when ordering.

Please consider insurance because we are not responsible for loss of parcels or damage sustained by parcels - the carrier is responsible! We do pack well!
Please do NOT write <fragile> on anything you send to us as doing so greatly increases the risk of damage. Please try to "double-box" all items sent to us.

                                    Compliments recently received

"Many thanks for the fantastic and efficient customer service your company provided on the purchase of my telescope. A lot of businesses could certainly take a few tips on good salesmanship that your store provided. Again, many thanks". Robert M. (Received 22-11-10 by postcard).

"My name is Adam, I recently ordered yet another piece of equipment from your company, and it arrived today. 
I was greatly satisfied with the result. Quick Shipping, Professional Staff. What more could I ask for! Your staff member Luke even took the time to call me back, when the stock I was seeking was back in store. This was very much appreciated! I have no problems whatsoever recommending your company to anyone who enquires!
And I will be sure to shop with you again. When the need arises.
So until my next order, Regards, - Adam". (Received 19-11-10 by email).

Dear Lee and staff: Just a quick note of appreciation. I have been buying both amateur radio equipment, and lately, astronomical equipment from Andrews for a number of years now. I have always been impressed with your business ethic, the high levels of service, and of course, the inherent competitiveness of  "Andrews Communication Systems".  My latest purchase of a Guan Sheng RC8, has proved to be an absolutely phenomenal piece of optical engineering, and even if I tried I simply couldn't fault it. With kindest regards. Looking forward to "doing" further business with you.:
John Green VK2NIX. (Received 11-11-11 by email).

Hi Luke and everyone,
I just wanted to write and say thank you for your help. I've bought several things from you and I'm happy with the products and service - you guys are great. I'll be in contact soon. Want to put the money together for a guide scope and guide cam. Once again - thanks for everything.
Very happy customer.
Mike. (Received 10-12-11 by email).

We receive many compliments annually and publish them from time to time.

                                                           Lee's blog

We offer our technical expertise to those who purchase products elsewhere (often from overseas). Our optical manager, Luke, has a university degree in Cosmology.
Does your telescope supplier have such qualified and also well-proven expertise?
We import and support high quality products at often the best prices in Australia.

Interestingly, we're finding more and more long-term astronomers are turning to us
as their preferred supplier, after becoming increasingly frustrated when trying to
obtain product within a reasonable price and time-frame from local competitors.

Our super-cheap freight rates are cheaper than competitors' super cheap rates!!
We always report to the ACCC competitors who practice resale price maintenance.

We continually export to New Zealand and many other countries and, in fact, also sell our goods in New Zealand personally by regularly visiting field days there! We also have a truly outstanding New Zealand agent, ensuring our New Zealand customers enjoy excellent product support. We offer genuinely friendly and helpful service to all!

The Arctic Moon at Kakslauttanen, 250klm north of the Arctic Circle, near Ivalo, northern Finland, at 6pm on 5th January, 2010. See www.kakslauttanen.fi for more information.