I couldn't vote for the mount,as I only purcased an OTA,to make a Dob with and because I used to have the Later Tasco 302012 114/900mm model,which was an excellent telescope.

After mounting it on an EQ2 mount and collimating it,the views were very good.

Replace 5x24 finder and cheapy ep's and you'll have a very good telescope.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 5
Date: 02/04/2006 06:03:48 am PST

Replies: 1

Mention Tasco telescopes and you can't help thinking poor quality!
Poor optics,terrible 0.965" Huygens and Ramsden Eyepieces and a useless 5x24 finderscope that is stopped down to about 10mm(plastic imitation just about sums it up really).

Indeed the 302012 does come with a 5x24 finder and those awful eyepieces I mentioned(the more recent "Luminova"version has awful 1.25" H&R eyepieces and an inadequate EQ1 mount).However If you buy some decent quality eyepieces(this scope has a 1.25" focusser that comes with a 0.965" adapter,not all 0.965"ep's are bad either,I have some 0.965" orthos that take some beating)and a 6x30 finderscope or red-dot finder and make sure it is properly collimated,the result is a very good telecope which is better than many other similar models.

I owned mine for over two years and enjoyed using it a great deal,once I had made those minor improvements.My Son has now had the scope for three years and hasn't bothered me for another one yet,so it must be good!

I don't think you can buy the 302012 new now,the Luminova version has the same tube assembly,but does not have the sturdy wooden tripod and EQ2 style mount.I have seen the 302012 selling at very cheap prices second hand and can highly recommend this underrated telescope.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:8 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 5
Date: 02/01/2006 09:14:06 am PST

Replies: 0

Not a great telescope,I used to own a Meade ETX 90 RA and had better views with that despite the smaller aperture,I wish I'd held on to it now!
Tracking abilities are woeful,it just does it's own thing really and trying to keep anything in the eyepiece for long is a waste of time,I usually end up switching the tracking off and use it manually.
The optics are quite poor really(at least on mine),I have a thirty year old 90mm Newtonian,which takes 0.965" eyepieces and despite this easily outperforms the N4.
If there are any plus points it must be it's ability to locate objects.When it is properly levelled and pointed north,it is quite accurate(particularly in two star alignment mode)and the requested object almost always ends up in the field of view.
Also the optional tubular steel tripod is rock solid,even in quite windy conditions.
I haven't enjoyed my time with this telescope and can't recommend it,buy an ETX instead!

Overall Rating: 4
Optics:5 Mount:5 Ease of Use:4 Value:2
Weight: 5
Date: 02/01/2006 05:44:46 am PST

Replies: 0

There may be better 15x70 bins available,but I haven't seen any better value ones than these.The optics are really pretty good and they are light enough to hold by hand for short periods,though I usually mount mine on a photo tripod.

Used them the other night and had great views of M35 in Gemini,all the Messier open clusters in Auriga and M42 in Orion was impressive.

I could quite easily make out M81 and M82,which surprised me considering the light pollution is quite severe where I live.
These binoculars are a great bargain that I can highly recommend.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 5
Date: 02/01/2006 05:20:09 am PST

Replies: 0