I have two 8" f/4 dobbie's. Bloody awesome rich field scopes. With a 30mm 82° eyepiece I can get a 3° FOV - that's the whole of the Veil Neb
These two Newts are also the only Newts I use a coma corrector with. Been using the Baader Mk IV for years as it adds no magnification factor, weighs bugger all and the focus shift is very little. I onlly use the corrector with with my 30mm & 24mm 82° EPs, and nothing else. Image is stunning with my 13mm Nagler without it. Coma probably is there, but along the very edge of the FOV, but who cares - you don't observe there. You really don't.
At home my solid tube 8" is my grab'n'go scope as it is always ready. Also a great outreach and sidewalk astronomy scope as it so light and easy to move about and for novices to use.
From a dark site, it is a beast of a rich field scope! 8" aperture with a 3° TFOV.
It is also no slouch when I push it to 400X on the planets.
The solid tube scope I also put onto an NEQ6 for photo.
Large secondary? Yes. And, so what? Think it's like looking through what? Pea soup or a brick? Not at all. Lovely crisp views, gorgeous massive Eta Carina views complete with dark pillars even from my home in Sydney, through to wee white ovals on Jupiter. Funny thing is I don't hear the same criticism of a large secondary in f/3.5 and faster monster dobs
Not with the same fervour.
So, yes, an 8" f/4 scope makes for a great visual instrument. Not tried one? Don't dismiss it until you do. Perfect all in one scope? No. Let me know when you find it though...
Alex.
Edit: I added a pic of each 8" f/4 dobbie.
