Re: Newbie Dob again...
clydec_at_nyc.rr.com
Date: 02/27/05
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Date: 26 Feb 2005 17:55:48 -0800
Mike Simmons wrote:
> OK, it's a bit embarrassing but I have to admit I haven't kept up on
all
> the latest bargains. I haven't had enough time to read all the posts
here,
> either, having just returned from a funtastic trip to another
observatory.
> It's the same old question -- what scope for a newbie. I'm not the
newbie
> but my son-in-law would like to replace his junk department store
scope
> with something better. He bought it just before I knew him and I
didn't
> have the heart to tell him to trash it (yes, it's really that bad).
But
> he's come around on his own. I've given him some big binos in the
past but
> now I have the pleasure of being able to help him with a good
telescope.
>
> I'm going to go with my own long-term bias and get the most quality
> aperture for the money since the money that's available isn't going
to buy
> a nice SCT or anything like that. And I'm going with my own bias for
> star-hopping for newbies. Please don't bother start a flame war over
which
> is best for newbies since it's not relevant to this thread -- unless
you
> want to pay for the scope, of course!<g>. Mediocre optics are out
but with
> the available money they're not going to be custom. A Dob will be
the way
> we go here. I've helped others a while back with evaluating, for
example,
> Orion vs. Discovery but I haven't kept up on them. And there are so
many
> possibilities from the two Chinas that I keep reading about on s.a.a.
So
> I'll just ask (and ignore the trolls and highly-biased responders) --
6"-8"
> Dob, quality over form, bang for buck and the newbie will have all
the help
> he needs. Is there a favorite or two these days? What's worth
> considering? Just point me in the right direction and I'll take it
from
> there.
>
> BTW, I'm purposely not stating how much money will be available since
that
> will have to be weighed against what scopes are available and what's
> necessary. I'll work out where our price point is when I see what we
need
> to commit to.
>
Mike,
I've had an Orion XT6 Dob for over 4 years now and continue to be
delighted with it. It routinely bests my TV85 on lunar/planetary views
and has even edged out a couple of 4" apo's in side by sides on Saturn,
though admittedly it was quite close. I "know" several folks from
online exchanges who have the Hardin 6" f/8 Dob and are delighted with
that scope as well. The Orion is priced now at $250 and I paid over
$300 for mine when I bought it in 2001. Of course, an 8" Dob would be
a great choice as well with it's greater light grasp, but I will say
that I had the Orion XT8 before the XT6 and the 6" f/8 is noticeably
sharper on the planets. Of course it could be just mirror variance on
mass produced mirrors. Discovery is certainly another option, but to
answer you question, I think it's still safe to say that a 6 or 8" Dob
is the best bang for the buck going for a newbie. Oh yeah, there's
line called Stargazer Steve dobs that get high marks on the Talking
Telescope list and elsewhere.
Clear skies,
Clyde
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