Celestron Omni XLT 102 102mm f/9.8 Refractor EQ Telescope

High quality starter scope!

I'm brand new to astronomy and this was my first purchase. It was exactly what I was looking for. One purchase that would not leave me wanting or needing better quality accessories. A lifetime of enjoyment can be had with everything in the box. It's not perfect, but it's pretty close for the price you're paying. (I do plan on upgrading as I go but only to enhance an already excellent experience.) The whole setup is sturdy and built to last. Very little plastic to be found on this set. The tripod/mount is reliable and doesn't shake which makes for a pleasant viewing experience. Once you're polar aligned, center your target, and twist one knob to track it across the night sky. It's really that simple. I have enjoyed the learning process that this scope invites the beginner like me into. So diving into how an eq mount works and learning the night sky the old fashioned way has been delightful. If you're not liking the sound of that, this scope may not be for you. The views through the eyepiece are out of this world! Amazingly bright with crisp clarity. Moon craters, cloud bands of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn and more are all clearly visible, even at 40x magnification. Other reviews do point out the chromatic aberration and that is something you will experience with this telescope but it is not a deal breaker in my opinion. Paying triple this price just to get an apo is just not worth it to a beginner like me. Especially since I'm not really into the photography side of things. I haven't used any type of filters yet but I'm told this is something that will help with all that. This is somewhat easy to travel with but not the easiest. The OTA is long and about 12 pounds. The tripod/mount is around 40 pounds. It's definitely better than a large Dobsonian but if portability is what you're looking for then I believe there are better options out there for you. I mostly move it back and forth from inside the house to out on the deck and have no problems with that.