There is a vast range of astronomical equipment available to the amateur astronomer and this pocket-sized handbook will help the amateur make an informed choice about which instruments are best suited to his or her needs covering binoculars, telescopes, eyepieces, filters, and motors. All selection criteria are taken into account, such as level of experience, budget, and observation site. This handbook will help complete beginners make their first purchases, and provide advice for more experienced amateurs wishing to upgrade their equipment. Hervé Burillier runs his own specialist astronomy bookshop in Vannes, France, stocking over five hundred titles. He is a member of the French Astronomical Society (SAF) and of the French Association of Variable Star Observers, and has written the column Observing the Sky in L'Astronomie (the monthly publication of the French Astronomical Society) since 1990. Christophe Lehenaff is an experienced amateur astronomer and specialist on astronomical equipment. He is the author of several French astronomy books.