If you think the Q route might be an option why not go for the original with 01 or 02 lens which can be bought around £100, even buying a toy fish eye it would be half the cost.

A big thanks to Ian for a fast and smooth transaction, now all I need to do is resist his K-5iis.

I have a 5-15mm lens for Q that is not used, one or two marks to body, optically clean, unboxed £50 inc recorded delivery.

I think you'd get a cracking used k-5ii for £450, that would be my choice.

Agree with John, I don't know how many camera you handled, but as we're on Pentax user and you've brought a Sony compact into the equation I think you should at least take a look at the Pentax MX-1, comes in well under budget and produces superb results as can be seen on the forum.

I don't know how old the children are, but best viewing is, in my opinion, this time of year making it cold out. Cold kids tend to lose interest quickly. Alignment and vibrations when touching the telescope are likely to be the biggest frustrations you'll encounter so you'll be wanting something that aligns easy and stays aligned.
At over 100x magnification it takes seconds only for the moon to travel through the optical plane.
I can only recommend you look at telescopes with motorised mounts, such as the 'Goto' telescopes which start at around £300 and go from there. Once aligned you can direct the telescope to objects and it'll pick them up and stay there, leaving you only to adjust the focus.
I took the following image earlier with Pentax Q mounted on Nexstar 4se, which was set to track the moon, there was no cropping. The Q is great for the 5.5x crop factor and focus peaking.

Hope you love it Don and I don't miss it too much.
Chris

Flashes now sold to Karl, thanks

Now sold, thanks.

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