New Telescope

[UK1]

Hi

I am thinking about buying a new scope come up with 2 but not sure which is the better buy....... just asking the experts you guys ...many thanks ...and the scopes are
BK DOB 12" SynScan GPS a skywatcher.............or
Orion skyquest xx 12G from Bintel

Both are 12" goto Dobs

[Dboots]

Hi,

I have a Skywatcher 14" goto dob and could not be happier. It is easy to assemble and use. I am sure that the 12" Skywatcher would be even easier to use.

FYI, Astro-Pete's has a 14" dob at a great price. Link below:

http://www.astropetes.com.au/telescopes/Skywatcher_GoToDob_14.html

Duncan

[doppler]

I have a 10" skywatcher dob (not GOTO) and am happy with the quality of the assembly and the optics, I asume that the 12" would be of similar quality. I have no experience with orion scopes but as a point of interest most skywatcher dobs have the primary mirror set far enough up the tube so you can get focus if you want to attach a camera at some stage, not sure about orions. They are probably both good quality scopes.

Cheers Rick

[madwayne]

Hi

I have the Orion 12" solid tube goto dob. Excellent build and a really nice telescope. Goto is excellent and as other members have said quick and easy to setup.

The solid tube is a big beast but I'm 195cm tall so my arms are long enough to carry it length ways outside, taking the base out just before. Collimation is pretty much held but I do check it with my laser every now again. I went the solid tube for that reason on the advice of Michael at Bintel. I've tried getting my DSLR to focus in it but have up. If I want to take a photo I have a Tak for that :)

Good luck with your decision and I hope my insight is of benefit.

Wayne

[rustigsmed]

i have the 12" skywatcher goto, it is excellent what else can i say? as mentioned before, dslr can reach focus without moving the mirror also which is a bonus. here is perhaps the last pic i took with my 12" SW goto (before capturing with my newer EQ8)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/80336656@N07/14167021549/in/photostream/lightbox/

cheers

[raymo]

Why did you give up on focusing with a DSLR Wayne? It takes seconds
to attach a DSLR. Did you fall into the trap that countless other SW
owners have, and not understood the adaptor system? I really don't
want to sound patronising, but so many owners have had trouble
with the adaptor system, that I thought that you might be another one.
If I'm trying to teach my grandma to suck eggs, don't hesitate to say so.
Just discard the large 2"adaptor, unscrew the tube that 1.25" eyepieces
slide into from the bevelled plate that fits directly into the focuser, and screw the camera's T-ring onto the male thread that is revealed. All done.
Incidentally, Russell's pic shows that you can get decent images from an alt/az scope, not as good as the Tak,obviously,
but in a small fraction of the time.
raymo

[madwayne]

No dramas Raymo, I have a premium 4" refractor for taking photos and an EQ6 that is a really good one. I'll keep the 12" for looking through, it gets more work than the Tak these days. The simplicity of a couple of minutes to get the Dob up and racing versus the frustration and time investment of astrophotography in both pre, during and post capture doesn't appeal to me much these days. Besides the weather is so fickle where we live now you usually get one or two decent nights every moonless period so getting the dob out has far greater appeal.

My 12" would definitely be a mirror move job and I'm not touching it. I like it the way it is as it just works. I tried for the Saturn occultation 6 or so months ago that was enough :)

Wayne

[raymo]

I'm a dill Wayne; I didn't notice that you have an Orion scope.
Raymo

[madwayne]

LOL Raymo and apologies to UK for hijacking his thread.

Wayne

[SkyWatch]

Back to the initial thread. ;)
I suspect that the optics of both scopes would be pretty much identical. The differences would be more in the ease of set-up/portability. The Skywatcher system is very quick and simple: just pull the top up, lock and off you go. The Orion would take a little longer to attach the truss, but the advantage of the Orion is that the base can be easily dismantled for travelling, so it would take up less room in the car...
Not sure why Orion includes an illuminated 12.5mm Plossl eyepiece: an unusual add-on. I notice that the Orion has a cooling fan too, not sure about the Skywatcher- but it is a good idea.
However, that 14" Skywatcher looks like a good buy if you are able to cope with a heavier arrangement!!

Good luck!

- Dean

[UK1]

Hi Many thanks to all the replies
Rob

[AG Hybrid]

Grab the Orion. They have the same optics(Synta) The Orion can be broken down into pieces. Including the rocker box(mount). The Skywatcher will be in 2 pieces (OTA + Mount). That being said the Skywatcher strut tube OTA is super easy to collapse and pack away in one go if you are capable of handling it. Unless of course the new 12" Skywatcher mounts now also break down.

If i could do it over again I would get the Orion goto. Then again. When i got my 12" the goto models didn't exist yet.

[rustigsmed]

as i understand it the 12" mount does not break down (I have one) but the 14" and 16" mounts do break down.

of course the strut collapsible is great for storage etc.

cheers

rusty